Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x611865058

(http://www.herald-dispatch.com/content/sites/herald-dispatch/1218_leah_hickman/0/g1181824abc31afcc98ac3a4a6330fef00bf107a68e97f5.jpg)

Search is on for missing student
Dec 17, 2007 @ 11:18 PM
By ANTWON PINKSTON
The Herald-Dispatch

HUNTINGTON-- Huntington police are looking for a 21-year-old Marshall University student whose family reported her missing since Friday.

Sherry Russell, of Leon, W.Va., told police that the last time she talked to her daughter, Leah N. Hickman, was early Friday afternoon. She said she and Hickman talked about coming home for the holidays and that Hickman's dad, Ronald Hickman, was worried about the weather.

"Then I called her later on that evening and her phone went straight to voicemail," Russell said. "The third time I called, it said her voicemail box was full."

Russell said the family became worried and contacted the police after Hickman didn't show up for work Saturday or Sunday at Dress Barn on Merritts Creek Road.

Huntington Police Sgt. John Williams said detectives consider every missing person case to be serious and that they haven't found any reason why Hickman would be missing.

When police checked Hickman's apartment in the 400 block of 8th Avenue, they found that her car, purse, coat and keys were still at the apartment, which Williams said is unusual.

"We've contacted friends, neighbors and no one has seen or heard from her. She usually keeps close contact," Russell said.

Hickman's roommate and older sister, Jessica Vickers, said she had last seen Hickman pack her bags Friday before going to spend the night with a friend. Vickers said that when she returned to the apartment Saturday, Hickman's bag and the rest of her items were still there.

Thousands of flyers with a picture of Hickman have been put up in neighborhoods, restaurants and service stations from Huntington to South Point, Ohio, Russell said. Local churches and churches spreading as far as Illinois have become aware of the missing woman and have either prayed with or contacted her family.

Hickman is a junior at MU and is majoring in journalism. She is described as a white female, 5 feet, 4 inches tall, about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

"Leah wanted a job that she could use to help people," Russell said. "She is a thoughtful and caring person and I couldn't ask for two better daughters in the world."

Anyone with information regarding Hickman's disappearance is asked to call the Huntington Police Department at (304) 696-4444.

what beautiful eyes she has.  Saying prayers they find this young lady safe.

Her myspace site:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=51341948

WOW....that is the first thing I noticed too! Her eyes....wow.
:(

FYI - I had originally placed the mothers name in the title of this thread instead of Leah's.  Corrected now.

OHHhhhhhhhh ok ty! I thought I had lost my mind there 4 a few...  :wink:

Charleston Gazette (West Virginia)
 
December 20, 2007, Thursday 
 
NEWS; Pg. P1C 
 
505 words
 
 
Missing Marshall student's family mounts a search
 
From staff, wire reports
 

Friends and family members of missing Marshall student Leah Hickman are busy knocking on doors and posting fliers with her picture on them.

They're using the Internet networking sites Facebook and MySpace to get the word out about her disappearance. Hickman's sister, Jessica Vickers, spoke live via telephone to MSNBC Wednesday morning.

The more people who know about Hickman's disappearance, the better the chance of finding her, said Huntington Police Sgt. John Williams.

Hickman, a 21-year-old Marshall journalism student, hasn't been seen since Friday. Her family expected her home for the holiday break, but became concerned when she failed to report to work at Dress Barn in Barboursville Saturday and Sunday.

Her car, purse, coat, keys and packed bags were found at the Huntington apartment she shares with her older sister, in the 400 block of 8th Avenue.

State and Huntington Police searched the area Wednesday. Williams said there are several abandoned buildings along the block, but it's a relatively safe residential area.

Hickman's cell phone hasn't been used since her disappearance, and police do not know what she was last wearing, Williams said. She is white, 5-foot-4, about 125 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Hickman last spoke to her mother, Sherri Russell, on Friday about traveling home to Leon.

"It's just really odd and totally out of character. Leah didn't have any enemies; she's the most caring loving person," said K.D. Crank, Hickman's friend. "I'm just confused. I don't know who could have done something this awful."

Crank said friends and family have passed out more than 500 fliers in Huntington, Milton, Point Pleasant and surrounding areas.

She said anyone wanting to help can print fliers to distribute from the Facebook group called Please Help Us Find Leah Hickman.

Dress Barn is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. The Huntington National Bank has administered The Leah Hickman Reward Fund. Another account has been setup with the bank to support the family. Donations to the fund can be made by calling 526-4600.

"We encourage anyone with any information concerning the disappearance of my sister to please contact the Huntington Police Department," Vickers said. "We are working to find her. We've handed out fliers to all of Huntington and surrounding areas, canvassed the community, called all of her friends - we don't know what to do next."

Hickman's family and friends have organized a candlelight vigil for 6 p.m. today on the Memorial Student Center plaza at Marshall.

Crank said Hickman's and her family's friends are working to put together a benefit concert Friday at Buddy's Bar-B-Q in Huntington to help the family with any costs incurred in their search for their daughter.

Hickman graduated from Christ Academy in Point Pleasant and is a junior broadcast major at Marshall.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to call the Huntington Detective Bureau at 696-4420.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020825&docId=l:719262466&start=13

Another sad ending . . . Leah's body was found today:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4042000

God bless her family.

I can barely stand to read here anymore. It's just heartbreaking. Each week we seem to lose 2 or 3 kids of varying ages, but all of them full of promise.

I feel so sad for Leah's family. She did have the most amazing eyes, and it sounds like she was a really sweet girl with lots of friends.
May she rest in peace.

I hope they catch the scumbag who did this to Leah.

(http://bestsmileys.com/crying/12.gif)
I am at a loss for words...this is horrible. Obviously the perp is someone who knew the building and just where to hide this pretty young woman...how sad.

Discovery of body intensifies missing student investigation
December 22, 2007 5:08 PM

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.

Investigators removed the body of a young woman found in a crawl space at the apartment of a missing Marshall University student this afternoon.
Huntington Police Lieutenant Rocky Johnson says the body has been sent to the state medical examiner's office in Charleston for an autopsy. Johnson says police strongly believe the body is that of Hickman, but a positive identification will be made by the medical examiner.

Hickman has been missing since December 14th.

Authorities also barred traffic from a three-block area around the building. The Herald-Dispatch newspaper reports that forensic investigators worked through the night and were expected to remain at the scene throughout today.

Marshall University spokesman Bill Bissett declined to comment until a positive identification is released.

Information from: The Herald-Dispatch, http://www.herald-dispatch.com
http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/wv/news5.shtml

PRESS RELEASE VIDEO
part 1
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/x808404686

part2
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/multimedia/x808404688

Dec 24, 3:27 PM EST

Body ID'd As Missing W.Va. Student

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A body found in the crawl space of an apartment building was identified Monday as that of a missing Marshall University student.

The death of Leah Hickman, 21, is being investigated as a homicide. But police have refused to say how she died.

Investigators found the body on Friday in a basement laundry room in the building where Hickman lived. The journalism student had disappeared sometime after making a cell phone call Dec. 14, police said.

Her phone is missing, but her keys, purse, car and luggage she had packed for a trip to her parents' were found in her apartment, police said.

"If it was July it would still be a tragedy, but at this time of the year it's very hard," Capt. Steve Hall said.

Out of respect for Hickman, the clothing store in Barboursville where she worked, The Dress Barn, closed on Saturday and Sunday, two of the busiest shopping days of the year.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MISSING_STUDENT?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12576086.html

Police say they have recovered evidence from Hickman's apartment building but are releasing little additional information.

Police say they have no suspects at this time and continue to conduct interviews. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook would not comment if investigators were looking out of state.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are some interesting comments on the link above from 'readers'.
One says News13 reported she was found wrapped in plastic. I could not find any confirmation on that.

http://www.huntingtonnews.net/local/071228-rutherford-localleahhickmanfuneral.html

Reward Will Pay Funeral Expenses for Hickman
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) – When Leah Hickman’s friends first discovered her missing and began taping ‘Where Are You?’ posters everywhere, the 21-year-old broadcast journalism student’s employer offered a $10,000 reward for her safe return. With Hickman’s body found in the crawl space of her Eighth Avenue apartment Friday, Dec. 21, the money will now go to cover her funeral expenses.
 
The Dress Barn’s Merritt’s Creek store had closed soon after the details revealed that a woman’s body had been found in the building. Despite it being the height of the Christmas shopping period, the corporation showed their respect for their former part-time employee and the emotions of their employees and shut down that weekend.
 
The shut down covered a time period in which the week before Ms. Hickman had been scheduled to be on the job. The corporate headquarters determined that rather than have her co-workers attempting to be in a mood of Christmas cheer for their customers, the Barboursville location would shut down for two days in her memory.
 
Now, according to published reports, in the true spirit of “family,” the money that would have gone for information on her safe return will be given to her family to cover the expenses of her funeral.
 
Scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Point Pleasant National Guard Armory, the funeral director anticipates 500-1,000 mourners. Visitation begins at 1 p.m. that afternoon. The Barboursville location will not close but workers from other Dress Barn locations will replace Leah’s co-workers that
day.
 
Since the Christmas Eve police briefing at which Huntington Police announced that the state medical examiner’s office had made a positive identification, nothing new has been revealed by HPD, which remains tight-lipped, saying discussing too many details of her murder may hamper their investigation.

Nut44x4 thanks for posting the article about the Dress Barn. This company has acted with a lot of compassion and Leah must have been very well thought of. I am sure that Dress Barn's actions have made this a little easier on Leah's family and friends.

The Dress Barn is an extraordinary company. I will certainly buy something from them if I'm ever in an area where a store is located. I hope that the company's compassion for Leah's family results in increased sales for them. They have certainly gone above and beyond what most businesses do in this day and age. I commend them, and their management, who made these decisions.

http://www.insiderpages.com/store_finder/find/dress_barn

http://www.itcilo.it/actrav/actrav-english/telearn/global/ilo/code/dressbar.htm

Dress Barn is definitely to be commended.  It's good to see there are still businesses that care about the people that work for them, and are willing to go the extra mile. 

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x1286154988

Questions abound in Hickman murder
Jan 02, 2008 @ 11:13 PM
By CURTIS JOHNSON
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Detectives could release more information this week in the disappearance and death of Marshall University student Leah Hickman.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said investigators are waiting for laboratory work to be processed. He declined comment on the nature of those tests. He said he may provide more information later this week.

Hickman, 21, was last seen and heard from on Dec. 14. Police discovered her body a week later in a crawl space underneath the student's apartment building at 403 8th Ave. The crawl space was connected to a common laundry room.

So far, police have provided few answers in a case that has spurred many questions. The department has not named any suspects, ruled out any friends or family, released Hickman's cause of death or said if they believe her killing was a random act.

Two criminology professors said the lack of public comment is not unusual. Penn State's John Kramer and University of Cincinnati's Edward J. Latessa said police have several reasons to keep information close to the vest, but both professors said police departments have dual responsibilities -- one to solve the case and the other to limit public fear.

Holbrook said his department recognizes both obligations, but detectives also want to be cautious and sure of the case. That will keep investigators from saying one thing and being forced to correct it later. One example is the random or targeted nature of Hickman's death. He said he hopes to answer that question soon, but encouraged people to make inferences by the department's "non-response."

"I think you can make common sense inferences," he said. "If we felt like there was a major problem there, we would be very obligated to warn people. But at the same time, we've got to be careful not to allow the statements we make -- or not make -- to send a message that we're not looking at a certain place or we are looking at a certain place."

Latessa and Kramer said Hickman's killer may be the only person who knows specific details of the case, such as the victim's cause of death. They said not releasing those specifics will help police authenticate any confession. On the other hand, both said police sometimes will strategically release information at times to assist the investigation.

Latessa said holding back the information also can prevent copy-cat incidents, keep the killer guessing and prevent that person from covering his or her tracks.

Latessa explained the typical investigation begins with the victim's family, friends and acquaintances. He said it is part of "playing the odds." Solving the case gets much tougher when those inquiries reveal nothing.

"It could be a whole bunch of people then," he said. "I suspect police have some suspects, and they don't want to spook them. ... If they don't have any suspects, if they think somebody is on the loose and the public is in danger, then they do have a responsibility to say that."

Latessa said police should be given the benefit of the doubt, but he and Kramer said that benefit does not last forever. They believe public pressure typically fuels the release of information.

The public is interested, but not fearful when a homicide involves a domestic relationship or dispute between two people. Latessa said that changes when the killer is unknown. At some point, he said the public has a right to know a victim's cause of death.

"In a case like this, people would get real worked up," he said. "They are afraid. This is the kind of incident that appears to be random. It could happen to anybody. The fact that she was a young college student, often that makes it even more terrifying because people think it could happen to their children."

Kramer said the combination of leaks and a lack of information can make the situation seem more frightening, and the police department has to balance its responsibilities to catch the offender and limit concern.

Kramer has taught for about 37 years. The Penn State professor heard about Hickman's case when it garnered national media attention. He said public concern could increase as the spring semester nears. It begins Jan. 14.

"They have another six or seven days before parents are really turning their attention to the kids leaving home and coming back to the university," he said.

Police received some criticism, especially on the Internet, for not finding Hickman's body sooner. Some asked why canine units did not find her when they were used to search the apartment building.

Latessa agreed with Holbrook in saying the use of canines is not a perfect science. The professor said it depends on the age of the scent and the existence of conflicting smells. For instance, he said a laundry room would give off many aromas.

The National Weather Service said overnight low temperatures between Hickman's death and her discovery ranged between 17 and 37 degrees.

Latessa said cold temperatures could affect a victim's decomposition. Holbrook agreed, saying the canines' success could be affected by "lack of decomposition."

Holbrook declined further comment, but said he will possibly provide more information toward the end of this week.

At a Dec. 24 press conference, Holbrook said explaining the canine issue would have been "unproductive" to the investigation at that time.

It sounds like the police have a suspect in mind, and that they're trying to build a case against that person. As soon as they have the forensics back, maybe they can make a move. I really hope the person that did it left behind some strong evidence for them to use, because that person needs to pay for what happened to Leah.

I agree...I have a feeling they will solve this one soon  :wink:

Leah Hickman Case Causing Fear Save Email Print 
 
Posted: 6:14 PM Jan 2, 2008
 
While Leah Hickman's body is finally resting in peace, many people in Huntington are living in fear. With no arrests, no suspects and no leads in this murder case, an uneasy feeling is setting in.
With no motive and no explanation, it's hard to relax.
A killer is on the loose. Who can relax knowing that? Police are working very hard and they're still working this case around the clock, but they're coming up empty and that's leaving many full of worries.

Despite the sunny, clear day, an uneasy, eerie cloud still hovers over the neighborhood where Leah mysteriously disappeared. Her body--found one week later in the basement of her apartment building.
Young women who must walk through here, travel in groups and with hurried steps.

“It makes me real nervous. My sister lives on 5th St. and my dad on 1st St. I walk this alley constantly,” said Courtney Otts.

Because Courtney often has no choice but to walk alone, she packs her companion.

“My dad bought it for me a week ago to be on the safe side.
Does a knife make you feel safer? Yeah, because I know how to use it. I was in the military. I'm good with a knife,” said Courtney.

“I used to go to work and about my day and didn't care if anyone knew where I was. Now, I call my parents when I leave for work and when I return from work. I don't go out at night and if I do someone always knows where I am at all times,” said Stacy Haverland.

Stacy lives all the way across town from where Leah disappeared. But, because she's a Marshall University student in the same age range as Leah, she's worried.

“I’m actually very nervous and I’m surprised the person is still out there,” said Stacy.

“Do you have any reason to believe he or she will strike again? No, not at this time,” said Lt. Rocky Johnson.

Lt. Johnson has worked the case around the clock. He says he wishes he could put people's minds at ease, but the truth is--there are still too many unknowns.

“It could be a random act--not sure. We're not looking at that right now, but it could be and we want to caution people to be aware--don't be scared or paranoid,” said Lt. Johnson.

Comments continue to pour into our webchannel at wsaz.com--many about this fear factor.
Beth, the parent of a Marshall student, wrote, "as a parent, it is a terrifying thought to send my child back with a killer out there".
However, not everyone is so worried. Another person wrote, "also, as a Marshall student, I am not afraid to go back. I practice common sense safety and know how to protect myself".
http://www.wsaz.com/newswestvirginia/headlines/12944387.html

Lots of comments and a video on link.

I'm confused now. Aren't those police statements kind of conflicting?
Maybe it's  purposeful media manipulation to make the perp think he's gonna get away with it, and it's not a bad thing to caution people to be more careful. College campuses, and the surrounding areas, are dangerous places at times
Poor Leah.

Indeed pdh3, they are!!


I found this today.....
Student safety top of mind at Marshall
Jan 14, 2008 @ 10:58 PM
By BEN FIELDS
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University classes resumed Monday, one month after slain broadcast journalism student Leah Hickman disappeared.

Even though Hickman's body was found off campus, students who came back to class Monday said they were somewhat rattled by her killing.

"It really makes you wonder who you can trust and who you can't," said Marshall student Courtney Ferrell, who lives off campus in Huntington. "You've always got to watch your back no matter who you're with."

Hickman, 21, from Mason County, W.Va., was last seen and heard from Dec. 14, 2007, just a couple of days before winter break began for most Marshall students. Police discovered her body a week later in a crawl space underneath her apartment building at 403 8th Ave. The crawl space was connected to a common laundry room.

Sophomore Katelyn Neff, who commutes from Barboursville to the university, said she has been taking extra precautions to make sure she stays safe.

"I know the area, and I know crimes happen, but it makes you stop and think about everything," she said. "I work late at night, and now I have a friend watch me when I walk to my car after I get off work, or I have someone walk with me. And my family is making sure they keep the house locked up now."

Many questions about Hickman's death remain unanswered. Police have not named a suspect, ruled anyone out of the investigation or released the victim's cause of death.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook also declined comment when asked if Hickman's death was a targeted attack or a random killing. He said detectives have "a strong feeling one way," but he believes it would be irresponsible to describe that theory without complete lab results to strengthen any determination.

"The minute we go out on a limb and make clear-cut statement like that, we're setting ourselves up for disaster," he said.

The Huntington Police Department has been waiting for test results of forensic evidence for at least two weeks. Holbrook said the results are critical to the investigation. He has said his department cannot rush the West Virginia State Police Crime Lab any more than it already has.

"We're on the edge of our seats waiting like everybody else," he said. "We hope that gives us a link to a suspect and helps with the identification of a suspect."

Holbrook said his department realizes its obligation to limit fear and panic, in addition to its responsibility to not jeopardize the investigation. Officers worry that releasing specific parts of the investigation, such as the cause of death, could make the case more difficult to solve.

Many Marshall students said they feel safe on campus and in the surrounding area of Huntington, despite the troubling nature of the case.

"I'm a little more conscious of my surroundings," said Sara Vorac, a junior from Columbus who lives off campus. "But, for the most part, I haven't really thought about it a lot."

"It's a little bit creepy, but it doesn't really bother me that much," added sophomore Casey Carande.

Still, others said they now look at Huntington a little differently.

"It's scary," Neff said. "Not on campus, so much, but the outside area."
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/homepage/x1137608132

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/12576086.html

UPDATE: JANUARY 26
From the Associated Press:
The director of the State Police Crime Lab says DNA tests are ongoing on evidence in the death of Marshall University journalism student Leah Hickman.

Soraya McLung says the lab has finished testing the first set of evidence sent by Huntington police investigators. But she says tests on a second set of evidence are not finished.

McLung and Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook declined to say what is being tested.

But Holbrook says detectives hope the tests lead them to a suspect.

Hickman was last seen alive Dec. 14. Her body was found in a basement crawl space in the Huntington apartment building where she lived Dec. 21.

While tests are continuing, Holbrook says detectives continue to question people and have eliminated some suspects.

Does anyone know why these DNA tests would take so long??

 :smt102 backlog, perhaps? Possibly could be just that some forms of DNA testing take longer than others.

Anyway.......I found this today.

Police Release More Details About Leah Hickman's Death
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008 ; 02:26 PM
Updated Thursday, March 13, 2008 ; 02:51 PM
http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=35988

Victim was strangled.
HUNTINGTON -- Police think a Marshall University student's who was found dead in her apartment building late last year was strangled.

Huntington Police Capt. Steve Hall along with Chief Skip Holbrook and FBI Agent Joe Ciccarelli held a press conference Thursday to discuss the death of Leah Hickman.

The cause of death has been determined to be strangulation, but police said she was not sexually assaulted.

They also say that the killer may be someone familiar to her.

They added that she was home on break and the crime did not happen on campus.

Police have some leads they are pursuing, but cannot release any further information as it is an ongoing investigation.

Further testing will be done by the FBI.

Hickman's body was discovered in a crawl space of her Huntington apartment building in late December. She was reported missing earlier that month.

Neighbors React to Latest Hickman Information
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008 ; 08:02 PM
Updated Friday, March 14, 2008 ; 01:01 AM
http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=36026

HUNTINGTON -- Those living near the apartment Leah Hickman's body was found react to the latest developments.

Neighbors say the street haven't been the same since the day police found Leah's body. Many say they've been on guard every since.

None of them walk these sidewalks alone anymore.

While it does bring some relief to know police believe her killer was someone she knew and it wasn't a random act of violence, they say until that person is behind bars, they can't move on.

"The only thing that's going to make me feel better is to hear that there's been an arrest," said neighbor Jennifer Perry.

Her husband, Jack Perry, added, "It's unnerving because you're used to living here and you have a certain comfort level and when that's violated it changes your life."

Ribbons still line the apartment building. Neighbors say that serves as a constant, haunting reminder, but shows they haven't forgotten.

March 14, 2008

Marshall student was strangled

Police withheld cause of death from family, public


HUNTINGTON - Leah Hickman, the 21-year-old Marshall University student who was killed last December, died of strangulation, Huntington police said during a news conference Thursday.

Capt. Steve Hall said there was no evidence Hickman had been sexually assaulted.

Hickman, a broadcast journalism student, was found dead in a crawl space in her apartment building Dec. 21. She was reported missing Dec. 14, after she did not show up for her shift at the Dress Barn in Barboursville, where she worked part time.

Hall said police do not think her death was a random act. He reiterated that investigators have believed from the beginning that the killer or killers knew Leah and were familiar with the layout of her apartment complex.

Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook would not say whether the department has a suspect in the murder. He said investigators have not excluded anyone as a suspect and have interviewed more than 50 people in relation to Hickman's death.

He also declined to discuss a possible motive.

He said investigators informed Hickman's family of the cause of her death Wednesday, even though police have had the information for some time.

Investigators did not release the cause of death to Hickman's family or the public earlier in order to use it in interrogations and interview processes, he said.

Holbrook acknowledged that Hickman's family has been subjected to rumors and speculation within their hometown of Point Pleasant because of the lack of information. He said police have tried to keep the family as up to date as possible with new information and developments.

"Except for the family there really isn't anyone closer [to the killing] than we are," Holbrook said.

Holbrook reiterated that no connection between Hickman's slaying and Marshall University has been found other than she was a student.

When Hickman's family reported her missing in December, students had already left campus for winter break, and her body was found off campus, he said.

Hall said some evidence found at the scene will be sent to the FBI for further testing.

"This is new testing; we're not retesting," he said.

Hall and Holbrook declined to give a time frame when they would know the results from the tests.

"It's a very difficult case we have very limited evidence that we are working with," Holbrook said.

The West Virginia State Police Crime Lab can do nuclear DNA testing, but not mitochondrial DNA testing, said Lt. H.B. Myers, head of the lab's biochemistry section. Where there is only one copy of a nuclear DNA in a cell, there are multiple copies of mitochondrial DNA, he said.

"So there may not be enough for our type of testing but there may be enough for mitochondrial testing," Myers said.

The last known person to talk to Hickman was a friend who talked to her on her cell phone late in the afternoon of Dec. 14.

Hickman's keys, purse, car and the bags she'd packed to go to visit her parents in the Point Pleasant area were found at her apartment, which she shared with her sister.

http://wvgazette.com/News/200803130815?page=2&build=cache

I believe they do and I believe it is a family member.
If indeed the FBI is doing Mitochondrial DNA Analysis, then that means 'family' DNA.
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july1999/dnaf1.htm


IMO her sister killed her.
I have been checking daily for news in this case. This crime was 'personal'.

Here are some photos from the Vigil held in December BEFORE she was found.
2 are of her sister.
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/gallery_news/x607056243

read the captions...then look at her

I sure wish I had news with answers to this young woman's murder, but I don't. I did find this...>
http://www.myspace.com/rogeraparker
 :smt089

Remembering Leah Hickman

Posted: 4:37 PM Nov 22, 2008

POINT PLESANT, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's been almost a year since Marshall University student Leah Hickman was found murdered in the basement of her apartment building.

Now her friends and family are working to keep her memory alive.

Hundreds of people gathered in Point Pleasant Saturday to run in the Leah Hickman 5k.

Organizers say they wanted to show the family and community that they have not forgotten about the case.

We caught up with some of Leah's friends who say time of year is pretty tough with the holidays ahead.

No arrests have ever been made in Leah's murder.
http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/34932399.html

Interesting comments>>....
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: citizen on Nov 22, 2008 at 07:37 PM
good job HPD,,,,,, for nothing

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Posted by: ... on Nov 22, 2008 at 05:59 PM
and still no arrests. do the men of the HPD not look at this picture daily? if not, they should be required to!!! it's sad that the people in our town that we expect to handle these types of things appropriately, efficiently and successfully have failed us so miserably.

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Posted by: Bob on Nov 22, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Thanks to everyone,. A special thanks to David and Connie Pyles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by: Donna on Nov 22, 2008 at 05:08 PM
I would like to know what happened with the dna results the law enforcement were waiting on...they said they had a possible suspect pending the results...
 

Leah Hickman's death still a mystery
December 13, 2008
HUNTINGTON -- Christmastime always will be wrapped with a sense of loss for the families and friends of Leah Hickman.

The 21-year-old from Leon, W.Va., died one year ago today. It took place at the Marshall University student's off-campus apartment located at 403 8th Ave. Police found her body seven days later. The case remains unsolved.

Leah Hickman's death rattled a community, captured national attention and left lasting effects that forever altered many lives. It means emptiness for her parents. Her half sister, Jessica Vickers, felt more isolated and depressed. The victim's friends realized the shortness of life and pushed toward accomplishing their goals.

Some emotional wounds are beginning to heal, but those closest to Leah Hickman said no arrest means no closure.

"My heart just can't accept it -- that she is really, really gone," said her mother, Sherry Russell. "It's hard to believe that I have to live the rest of my life without her. I can't understand why anybody would want to hurt her."

Investigators for the Huntington Police Department say Leah Hickman was strangled as part of a targeted attack carried out by someone familiar with the layout of her 8th Avenue apartment. Police found her body hidden in a crawl space located underneath the apartment building. It was connected to a common laundry room.

The investigators say they have a working theory about her killer's identity, but lack evidence needed to prosecute. Some hopes lay with mitochondrial DNA testing in Phoenix.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook will not describe specific evidence, but the state-of-the-art lab generally examines hair, bones and teeth. Holbrook said the first tests were inconclusive. Investigators do not anticipate additional findings until early 2009.

"We've been focusing in a general direction from the very beginning, and that is where we remain today," he said.

Leah Hickman's death captivated many in the region. It also spurred criticism of the Police Department, but her families and friends stand behind the investigation. Vickers embodied many of their comments. She said she knows the detectives are emotionally involved in Leah's case and she feels confident they are doing everything they can.

"I have faith that whoever took her from us will one day be judged," she said. "I hope that it's here on earth, but if not I know they will stand before God one day and He is the ultimate judge."

Parents struggle to cope

Leah Hickman was the daughter of Sherry Russell and Mason County Assessor Ron Hickman. She was born Nov. 22, 1986. The parents parted ways about eight years later, but her love for both continued.

"Her only problem was she didn't have enough time to spend with them," said her longtime friend Caitlin Starkey.

Both parents still struggle to cope with the large void brought by her sudden death.

Russell wears a necklace with Leah's photo. She also wears a memory bracelet on her wrist. She remembered her daughter as selfless and full of love. Leah volunteered to do dishes upon visits home. She called her mother almost every day and every conversation included an "I love you, Mom."

"She always hugged me," Russell said. "If she had been gone for an hour and came back into the house, she hugged me. She would kiss me on the cheek and turn her cheek for me to kiss her."

Leah Hickman loved Christmas, and her family will notice the void every year. It is personified for Russell at the Christmas tree, which Leah helped decorate each year. Russell also misses her daughter offering advice about what to buy and acting secretive about the gifts she purchased.

Russell said those holiday traditions, kisses and hugs have been replaced with the toughest parts of the past year.

"Doing all of these things a mother shouldn't have to do, like picking out a headstone and going to the grave site and putting grass seed on it," she said.

Leah Hickman was her father's only child. He struggles to express his sorrow in words. Many times his unoccupied mind quickly fills with her wants and goals for life. Those plans included grandchildren for her father. It is just another thing her death leaves him without.

"It's just been very, very hard to deal with," he said. "I think about her each day and what a wonderful, sweet, special daughter she was."

Ron Hickman was first elected as Mason County Assessor in 1996. He ran unopposed in this year's election, but he calls the 2008 campaign the toughest of his political career. Leah frequently attended dinners and other functions. She had looked forward to using lessons from journalism school to bolster her father's campaign.

The national attention garnered by Leah Hickman's case surprised her mother. Russell said the national podium is usually reserved for big cases, and it was difficult to realize her small-town daughter was a missing, young female who reached that level.

Russell said the coast-to-coast attention produced overwhelming support. For the first few months that support arrived in the form of letters, cards, books, Bibles and other items. She estimates 72 Dress Barn stores participated in the giving. Her daughter worked part-time at the clothing chain's Barboursville location.

"It was awesome," she said.

The support was much needed. Russell would deal with the tragedy on two fronts -- the sudden loss and widespread speculation that Vickers was involved. Russell is mother to both women. They were half sisters and roommates.

Any such rumor remains unsubstantiated by police. Russell said the widespread speculation was torture and created much of the pain she endured over the past year. She described those people as cruel and attributed their beliefs to watching too much television.

"I know she didn't. I know she is not capable of it. I know the police are doing everything they can to gather the evidence they need to successfully convict the right person," she said. "When they do, these mean people will have to eat their words."

Death of sisterhood

Jessica Vickers said she never has been an outgoing person. She considers herself shy and isolated. The death of her half sister reinforced those character traits and pushed her toward depression.

Vickers said Leah Hickman's death was a "complete upheaval" to an otherwise normal life.

The two girls had been roommates since the fall 2006. Friends and family said Leah initially wanted her own place, but agreed to stay with Vickers to help her half sister with rent.

Vickers said it was an interesting time period, in which they grew closer. The two siblings had separate lives, but still found time for each other. Vickers remembered scary movies that cuddled them together, Sunday breakfasts at Bob Evans and late-night trips to Wal-Mart and Taco Bell.

Vickers described her half sister as loving, vivacious and completely full of life.

"It was hard to be around her without a smile on your face. If you didn't, she was the first to try to make it there," she said.

Vickers particularly remembered her half sister's giddiness and the way she would giggle. Vickers said Leah would burst into her room excited about the most trivial thing.

"Five seconds later, I would turn around and she was completely asleep on the bed -- passed out from exhaustion from having to tell this wonderful story," she said.

Vickers already had experienced the death of about 10 relatives. In those instances she grieved and eventually moved on, but coping with Leah's death only proved more difficult with time.

The grief eventually caused Vickers to shut down one day at work. It became too much and forced her to seek help. It was assistance she had hoped to avoid. She had planned on helping herself and staying strong to assist others in her family.

"I have definitely had moments where it has honestly just hit me like a ton of bricks, and I couldn't breathe just imagining what she had to have gone through," she said.

Vickers, who became front and center of the week-long search effort, quickly retreated. She didn't grant interviews and some criticized her lack of emotion. Some used that to fuel rumors about her possible involvement.

"The best way I deal with things is alone," she said. "I don't put a lot of emotion out there, and I know some people thought that was weird. They expected to see a show, I guess. They expected to see all of us just completely falling over each other and not being able to get out of bed. That's not how we are.

"It's nobody else's business when I cry or why I cry," Vickers added.

Vickers quickly learned about the unsubstantiated accusations. They were publicly posted on Internet message boards and bantered about around local water coolers.

Vickers said she wanted to run out and scream, but resisted the urge. She became more frustrated and secluded as the accusations made her feel paranoid at work and elsewhere.

"It's been a lot easier to stay in my apartment and not have to face people," she said. "I would look at a customer and think, 'What do they think about me? What do they think I'm capable of?'"

Starkey, Leah Hickman's best friend, defended Vickers this week. She said the duo did not have problems. She believes they got along well together and never fought. She called it a testament to their maturity.

"I get really, really serious when people blame Jessica," she said. "Not only does it not make any sense, but it also seems insensitive to a sister trying to grieve."

Vickers elects to cope with Leah's death by focusing on the fact her half sister will never return home, instead of imagining the horror she endured.

Death of friendships

Leah Hickman's death shattered Starkey's support and belief systems. It also altered the lives of other friends, such as Ashley Russell and Kimberly Schoonover.

Starkey was her best friend. The girls went to the same Christian school. They worked a summer job together at a locks and dam. They joined each other at Marshall University.

"We were always together," she said.

Starkey was convinced police would find her friend alive. She was devastated to hear otherwise.

The death shattered Starkey's support structure. Hickman was the person who Starkey called at the first sign of any emotion.

"Leah was basically my rock," she said.

Leah Hickman's death also pushed Starkey forward. She said it forced her to recognize the shortness of life and the need to accomplish her professional goals.

"It really makes you think, 'I may not be around tomorrow,'" she said. "I want to have all of those things she wasn't able to have. I want to do it for her."

Ashley Russell, who is no relation to Leah Hickman's mother, shared a similar story. She met her friend in Christian school and moved to San Francisco after her death.

Ashley Russell said Leah was an amazing person, one who had everything going for her. That passion and direction influenced Ashley Russell to push toward her dream of attaining an arts degree.

Leah Hickman's death also prompted Ashley Russell to be more cautious. She found herself looking for apartments with no fire escapes attached to windows and other precautions to ensure her safety from intruders.

"The fact it could happen to somebody as sweet as her -- it just doesn't seem right," she said. "Suddenly I found myself placed in a situation to where if it could happen in a small town to her, well it could happen to me here in the big city."

Ashley Russell and Kimberly Schoonover exemplify those friends who gather at MySpace.com. Both have moved to other areas. They do not know each other, but are joined in sadness over Leah. Her personal Web page is a place where grief lingers today as many share stories about their friend who passed on.

"It's a way to tell her what's going on," she said. "It's almost as if, in a way, she is still there. Just writing on there to tell her what is going on, it's almost like praying."

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x362300134/A-year-later-Hickmans-death-remains-a-mystery?r=p

hoping that Leah's family sees some kind of justice in her case.  its hard to sit back and watch, esp knowing they have someone in mind.
I myself, still have her sister in mind.  Goes to opportunity and who was with her "last"
I always think about this case and family. 

Oh, I agree Cat....I agree. The sister, indeed!! I have always thought so!

12/14/2009
 
Two Years Later

The leads are few and far between.

Two years after the murder of a 21-year old Marshall University student, Huntington Police Sergeant John Williams tells MetroNews investigators are still hoping for some kind of break in the case with the help of either new technology or new information.

"DNA is advancing in leaps and bounds and things, just a few years ago, that you can pull up now, it's always advancing," Sergeant Williams said on Monday which marked two years since Leah Hickman from Mason County was killed.  No suspect has ever been publicly named for her murder.

Her body was later found stuffed into a crawl space at her Huntington apartment building.

"We have hopes that anybody with any type of information pertaining to this would come forward and feel convicted enough to send that our way," Sergeant Williams says.

Last year, Huntington Police said they did not think Hickman was killed randomly.  They believe she knew her killer.  "We went back and reinterviewed individuals involved in the case, trying to ascertain some more information.  We called the parents in, some of the friends and whatnot," he says.

Sergeant Williams has been part of the Hickman investigation for the past two years.  He says the hardest part about it is not having answers for Hickman's parents.

"In investigations, you're used to, sometimes, investigations being lengthy.  You can live with that, but you never actually get over having the deal with the pain of the families," he says.  "That's probably where the most frustration comes from.  You'd love to be able to provide those answers so they can move on with their lives."

Hickman disappeared at this time of the year back in 2007.  It took a week to locate her body in the apartment building where she lived on 8th Avenue in Huntington.

http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=34109

Three Years Later, the Leah Hickman Murder Case Remains Unsolved
It was three years ago Tuesday that Leah Hickman disappeared, and she was later found murdered in Huntington. The case remains unsolved.
Posted: 7:12 PM Dec 14, 2010

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Three years ago on Tuesday, a family received troubling news -- their Marshall University student was missing.

A week later, Leah Hickman was found murdered.

It's a case that still haunts family and police as much now, if not more, than it did then.

"There are happy moments and then, when I get away from everyone, there's a big crash and I remember my baby," Ron Hickman said.

That's been the heart-wrenching routine for Ron Hickman nearly everyday for the last three years since his daughter, Leah, was found murdered.

"It's still very tough. She was special," Hickman said.

In December 2007, Leah was just 21 and a broadcast major at Marshall University. She disappeared one day and -- a week later -- was found dead -- wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a crawl space in her Huntington apartment building.

Her killer is still on the loose as of December 2010.

"There's a fine line between disappointment and anger," Ron Hickman said.

For him, the wait is maddening. But, for Huntington police, wait is all they can do.

"What we collected from the crime scene we hope technology will evolve where we can use that to determine a suspect," Huntington Police Lt. John Williams said.

Williams has been on this case since day one. He says no one is more frustrated than he is. But, the minuscule amount of DNA collected at the crime scene severely limits their options now.

“The evidence we got opened a few more questions, and it's not enough to pursue a strong case,” Lt. Williams said.

For Ron, everyday is a struggle -- a struggle to relive the memories while comprehending the reality.

One thing he knows: "I’m going to continue to fight for justice for my baby until my last breath,” he said.

Police and family are still asking for anyone who may know anything to call police.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Three_Years_Later_the_Leah_Hickman_Murder_Case_Remains_Unsolved.html?ref=086

recap at link...I remember getting all wound up over this one because the killer is right under their nose.