THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120400
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Naval investigators said Tuesday that they are exploring a possible link between the unsolved slayings of two local Navy women and a blood-drinking rapist now in a Florida prison.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents recently began sharing information with Florida police concerning convicted rapist John Brennan Crutchley, who is also a suspect in at least six Florida killings.
Crutchley had access to the Norfolk Naval Air Station during the time two Navy women were slain at the base, more than a decade ago.
Information developed recently has led local NCIS agents to explore Crutchley as a possible suspect, according to Wayne Bailey, special agent in charge of the local office.
Bailey declined to elaborate on what that information was. Crutchley has been in the Florida prison since 1986.
``At this juncture, it is very preliminary,'' Bailey said. ``The information in its current state has piqued our interest for a variety of reasons.''
While in Brevard County, Fla., in 1985, Crutchley kidnapped a 19-year-old woman, raped her and drank half her blood, according to testimony. The woman escaped and Crutchley was later convicted of the assault. Charges of robbery - for taking the woman's blood - were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Prosecutors in Florida have tried unsuccessfully to pursue murder charges against Crutchley. His former lawyer said in 1989 that Crutchley was prepared to confess to at least three murders and lead police to the burial sites, but negotiations between Crutchley and the prosecutors fell through.
From 1979 through 1983, Crutchley worked for a Washington-based defense contractor and had access to the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
During that time:
Pamela Anne Kimbrue, a 23-year-old Navy messenger, disappeared from the base on March 25, 1982. She was later found dead in her car, submerged at the end of a seaplane ramp. Her killer tied her arms behind her with clothesline and tried to strangle her. Left behind was a green ski-type mask and fingerprints that didn't belong to the victim or her boyfriend.
Carol Ann Molnar, a 21-year-old Navy clerk, disappeared Feb. 6, 1983. Her decomposed body was found three months later partially buried under rocks of a sea wall at the Norfolk base. She had been strangled.
Bailey declined to say whether the unsolved slayings on the base bore similarities to others for which Crutchley is suspected, or to the rape for which he has been convicted.
``The investigations are open and are being actively pursued,'' Bailey said. ``We are sharing information and obtaining information to make an informed decision as to viability (of Crutchley) as a suspect.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
John Brennan Crutchley is in a Florida prison for raping a
19-year-old woman in 1985. According to testimony, Crutchley drank
half of the victim's blood. Naval Criminal Investigative Service
agents are looking into whether Crutchley could be a suspect in the
deaths of two women at the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
KEYWORDS: RAPE MURDER U.S NAVY BASE FLORIDA by CNB