Dead serial rapist Walter Leo Jackson linked to cold case murders from nearly 30 years ago: FBI

A convicted serial rapist is now believed responsible for the sexual assault and murder of a lesbian couple in Shenandoah National Park nearly three decades ago, authorities said.

Walter Leo Jackson Sr. murdered, raped and then slit the throats of Laura “Lollie” Winans and Julianne “Julie” Williams, whose bodies were found at a Virginia Park campground on June 1, 1996, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Jackson linked to the crimes.

Police believe the women were murdered by Jackson on May 24, 1996.

Genetic evidence from the women’s remains and clothing was submitted to the national DNA index as authorities renewed their efforts to solve the case in 2021. A positive match was found for Jackson, who was 70 when he died in an Ohio prison six years ago.

“Even though we had this DNA match, we took additional steps and directly compared the evidence of” the murder victims” to “a cheek swab” containing Jackson’s DNA,” the FBI said. “These results confirmed that we had the right man and could finally tell the victims’ families that we know who is responsible for this horrific crime.”

United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said he hopes the arrest after 28 years “provides some small measure of comfort” to the Winans and Williams families.

Jackson, who went by “Leo,” had a long criminal history, including kidnappings, rapes and assaults.

Jackson, a residential painter by trade, was said to be an avid hiker who regularly visited Shenandoah National Park.

At the time of the murders, “we believe he was driving a 1984 Chestnut Brown AMC Eagle 30,” the FBI said. “Jackson later drove a 1979 Ford Econoline 250 van. Jackson was known to use temporary tags, change license plates and frequently change vehicles.