A major breakthrough has emerged in a decades-old Virginia cold case after authorities arrested a suspect nearly 40 years after a young woman was found raped and murdered near the library where she worked.
Police confirmed that 66-year-old Charles Berry was taken into custody in Connecticut in connection with the 1986 killing of Roberta Walls, a 22-year-old Virginia Beach woman whose case remained unsolved for decades.
Investigators say the arrest marks a significant development in one of the region’s most haunting homicide investigations.
Victim Was Found Near Her Workplace
Roberta Walls was last seen alive on the evening of May 14, 1986, at the Bayside Public Library in Virginia Beach, where she worked. Authorities said she had planned to meet friends after leaving work.
The following morning, her body was discovered in a field behind Old Donation Elementary School, located near the library. Investigators reported that Walls suffered multiple stab wounds and had been sexually assaulted.
The violent nature of the crime shocked the local community and launched an investigation that would span almost four decades.
DNA Technology Helped Revive the Cold Case
For years, detectives struggled to identify the killer. However, advances in forensic science eventually gave investigators new leads.
In 2017, authorities re-examined preserved DNA evidence collected from the crime scene and from the victim’s body. The updated analysis reportedly helped narrow the suspect pool and generate a clearer picture of the individual investigators were seeking.
Officials have not yet revealed all details surrounding the evidence that led to Berry’s arrest, but police confirmed that the long-running investigation remained active over the years.
Suspect Faces Extradition Proceedings
Charles Berry was arrested in Newington, Connecticut, in coordination with Virginia Beach police officials. Reports indicate that a grand jury indicted him in connection with the murder case.
Authorities said Berry is currently being held on a multi-million-dollar bond while extradition proceedings move forward.
Law enforcement officials are expected to release additional details during a scheduled press briefing regarding the arrest and the decades-long investigation.
