THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070442
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LURAY LENGTH: 34 lines
The FBI and the National Park Service offered a $25,000 reward Thursday for information that cracks the case of two female hikers who were slain at their campsite in the Shenandoah National Park.
After spending six days collecting evidence, investigators on Thursday opened the rocky horse trail that passes the campsite, which was about a tenth of a mile from Skyline Drive and a half-mile from Skyland Lodge.
The women's tent had been pitched within sight of the trail, just beyond some saplings in a stand of hardwood trees, according to Tim Woosley, a ranger in charge of backcountry camping.
The trail near the Skyland stables leads to a fire road that makes its way to the area's other main attraction, Big Meadows.
The rugged terrain complicated the work of investigators, Park Service spokeswoman Robbie Breckwehl said. ``It was difficult to gather evidence at the scene.''
FBI agents could not get their mobile crime lab truck, a standard resource in such cases, to the scene.
Park officials revealed no new details about their investigation and said they had no suspects.
Rangers began distributing nearly 600 reward posters that include three pictures of Julianne Williams, 24, of St. Cloud, Minn., and Lollie Winans, 26, of Unity, Maine. A fourth picture shows the dog they were hiking with, a golden retriever mix who was unharmed. MEMO: Anyone with information may call 1-888-856-2467. by CNB