Sergeant John Elliott

The DNA analyst, she was the one that helped me with this case. She was the one that looked at the evidence, processed it. She was able to identify semen that was on her dress. However, she classified it as too degraded to get any type of DNA profile.

The DNA analyst, she was the one that helped me with this case. She was the one that looked at the evidence, processed it. She was able to identify semen that was on her dress. However, she classified it as too degraded to get any type of DNA profile.

Her suggestion was to hold off until technology gets better. She just said that there's semen there. Right now, with what we can do, she classified it as degraded and that, in her opinion, years from now, the semen might have some value based on new technology.

Her suggestion was to hold off until technology gets better. She just said that there's semen there. Right now, with what we can do, she classified it as degraded and that, in her opinion, years from now, the semen might have some value based on new technology.

Vicky's case occurred in August of 1979. And if you remember, the autopsy during that process recovered a projectile.

Vicky's case occurred in August of 1979. And if you remember, the autopsy during that process recovered a projectile.

Our projectile that was recovered from Vicki Belk was later tested with another robbery case that occurred in the same area because that type of gun was found in the robbery and the shooting. But that projectile stayed with that evidence from that robbery case, and that evidence later got destroyed. So we did not have that projectile.

Our projectile that was recovered from Vicki Belk was later tested with another robbery case that occurred in the same area because that type of gun was found in the robbery and the shooting. But that projectile stayed with that evidence from that robbery case, and that evidence later got destroyed. So we did not have that projectile.

So our lab director, Noelle Gurman, learns about the MVAC instrument. And in reviewing our cold cases, she believed that Vicky's dress was a good piece of evidence which the MVAC could be used for. June of 2022, we outsourced it to another lab that had that instrument. They processed the dress for us, gave us the filters. The filters were later processed for DNA.

So our lab director, Noelle Gurman, learns about the MVAC instrument. And in reviewing our cold cases, she believed that Vicky's dress was a good piece of evidence which the MVAC could be used for. June of 2022, we outsourced it to another lab that had that instrument. They processed the dress for us, gave us the filters. The filters were later processed for DNA.

We obtained a full profile from those filters.

We obtained a full profile from those filters.

I'll never forget, I was on a search warrant in another county, and she called me, but I was in the middle of a search warrant. I couldn't answer the phone, so I texted her back right away, and I said, call you in a few. She texted, OMG, OMG, Belk, with exclamation points. I called her, and she's like, we got a name. And I remember it was yesterday.

I'll never forget, I was on a search warrant in another county, and she called me, but I was in the middle of a search warrant. I couldn't answer the phone, so I texted her back right away, and I said, call you in a few. She texted, OMG, OMG, Belk, with exclamation points. I called her, and she's like, we got a name. And I remember it was yesterday.

That was one of the unique calls you'll never forget.

That was one of the unique calls you'll never forget.

Well, the first thing I thought, she told me the name Andre Taylor, and I said, I know that name is not in the case file. And I had no idea who this guy was. Sometimes in these cold cases, it's not a surprise that whoever the perpetrator is, their name's in the case file. They get either interviewed or it's a family member or someone along those lines.

Well, the first thing I thought, she told me the name Andre Taylor, and I said, I know that name is not in the case file. And I had no idea who this guy was. Sometimes in these cold cases, it's not a surprise that whoever the perpetrator is, their name's in the case file. They get either interviewed or it's a family member or someone along those lines.

This guy was completely stranger to this case file. Never heard or seen his name anywhere.

This guy was completely stranger to this case file. Never heard or seen his name anywhere.

Since Vicky's murder, he had two other murder arrests, a lot of drug-related arrests, and just been in and out of the criminal justice system up until his 50s. But the initial information I was finding in my databases, we still didn't have a correlation to Charles County.

Since Vicky's murder, he had two other murder arrests, a lot of drug-related arrests, and just been in and out of the criminal justice system up until his 50s. But the initial information I was finding in my databases, we still didn't have a correlation to Charles County.

Everything was in Washington, D.C., and then when I got all his arrest reports, he had this stolen vehicle report from May of 1979. He gives his home address in Bryan's Road, which I later determined to be four miles away from where Vicky was found. So that was our connection.

Everything was in Washington, D.C., and then when I got all his arrest reports, he had this stolen vehicle report from May of 1979. He gives his home address in Bryan's Road, which I later determined to be four miles away from where Vicky was found. So that was our connection.

The ballistics examination back then by the experts indicated, and they gave the opinion that it was a .32 caliber revolver. However, no gun was found at the scene, nothing. We didn't know anything about that. The following March, Andreas Taylor is arrested with a .32 caliber revolver.

The ballistics examination back then by the experts indicated, and they gave the opinion that it was a .32 caliber revolver. However, no gun was found at the scene, nothing. We didn't know anything about that. The following March, Andreas Taylor is arrested with a .32 caliber revolver.

But Vicki was a college graduate. She worked as a program analyst at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., and she was a single mother. She split time between her family's house in Alexandria, and she had a boyfriend at the time, James Hill, who lived in Siouxland, Maryland, which is in Prince George's County.

But Vicki was a college graduate. She worked as a program analyst at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., and she was a single mother. She split time between her family's house in Alexandria, and she had a boyfriend at the time, James Hill, who lived in Siouxland, Maryland, which is in Prince George's County.

We were trying to figure out how to notify the family we got a name. And this was before I even found where Andrea Taylor was. And their initial plan was to tell them we made some developments, we got a name, and we're still doing work. We felt comfortable, at least at that point, telling them we made progress. Well, me and Noelle from the lab were talking about how we're going to do this.

We were trying to figure out how to notify the family we got a name. And this was before I even found where Andrea Taylor was. And their initial plan was to tell them we made some developments, we got a name, and we're still doing work. We felt comfortable, at least at that point, telling them we made progress. Well, me and Noelle from the lab were talking about how we're going to do this.

Kay out of the blue texts me or calls me. She says, oh, I'm in town from California. I was just wondering if you'd give me a call, if there's any updates. I tell Kay, I say, hey, why don't you just come to the station? I haven't seen you in a while, and I'll go over everything with you. And then we tell them everything that we've done.

Kay out of the blue texts me or calls me. She says, oh, I'm in town from California. I was just wondering if you'd give me a call, if there's any updates. I tell Kay, I say, hey, why don't you just come to the station? I haven't seen you in a while, and I'll go over everything with you. And then we tell them everything that we've done.

Noelle tells them that we've identified a name for the process.

Noelle tells them that we've identified a name for the process.

But we did tell them, though, it's very preliminary. We got a name, but we got to find a person.

But we did tell them, though, it's very preliminary. We got a name, but we got to find a person.

Just because we got the CODIS hit, our procedure is that we have to get a confirmatory DNA sample. So then I had to find Andre Taylor to get a known DNA standard from him to confirm and make the match between the evidence and Andre Taylor.

Just because we got the CODIS hit, our procedure is that we have to get a confirmatory DNA sample. So then I had to find Andre Taylor to get a known DNA standard from him to confirm and make the match between the evidence and Andre Taylor.

I used the help of Secret Service and their database, our analysts, to try and come up with where he lived. We had some idea in Washington, D.C., where he lived. And one of my partners and I, we spent a couple of days going through Washington, D.C., trying to find where Andre Taylor was.

I used the help of Secret Service and their database, our analysts, to try and come up with where he lived. We had some idea in Washington, D.C., where he lived. And one of my partners and I, we spent a couple of days going through Washington, D.C., trying to find where Andre Taylor was.

And we had no luck because everywhere we went, places either abandoned, one was a homeless shelter, or they had no idea what we were talking about. So we had no idea. I checked with the medical examiner's office in Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and there was no record of Andre Taylor being deceased.

And we had no luck because everywhere we went, places either abandoned, one was a homeless shelter, or they had no idea what we were talking about. So we had no idea. I checked with the medical examiner's office in Maryland, D.C., Virginia, and there was no record of Andre Taylor being deceased.

Our thought process is, well, he's receiving some type of money from Social Security. Maybe it's being reported for tax purposes. We're going to contact the IRS, their criminal investigators, and they're going to tell us a bank. that Social Security uses to make automatic deposits. They didn't provide us any type of private information or privileged information.

Our thought process is, well, he's receiving some type of money from Social Security. Maybe it's being reported for tax purposes. We're going to contact the IRS, their criminal investigators, and they're going to tell us a bank. that Social Security uses to make automatic deposits. They didn't provide us any type of private information or privileged information.

However, it gave us enough information to obtain a subpoena for a particular bank, and then that gave us an address in Washington, D.C.

However, it gave us enough information to obtain a subpoena for a particular bank, and then that gave us an address in Washington, D.C.

In that jurisdiction, we got a search warrant for his DNA. In March, we went to that nursing home, and we found him in room 219. It was March 14th. I remember I went and met with the D.C. detectives at their office. We drive there, and as soon as we walk into the front lobby, the detective I was working with said, hey, we're looking for Mr. Andre Taylor.

In that jurisdiction, we got a search warrant for his DNA. In March, we went to that nursing home, and we found him in room 219. It was March 14th. I remember I went and met with the D.C. detectives at their office. We drive there, and as soon as we walk into the front lobby, the detective I was working with said, hey, we're looking for Mr. Andre Taylor.

The person at the desk says, oh, yeah, he's in room 219. He's upstairs right now.

The person at the desk says, oh, yeah, he's in room 219. He's upstairs right now.

I go in. I introduce myself. I said, I'm here. I'm working on a cold case from Charles County. I spoke to him for about 20 minutes. I made some very non-confrontational questions. Asked him if he had anything to do with Charles County. He admitted living there. I showed him pictures of Vicky. I said, hey, does this woman look familiar to you?

I go in. I introduce myself. I said, I'm here. I'm working on a cold case from Charles County. I spoke to him for about 20 minutes. I made some very non-confrontational questions. Asked him if he had anything to do with Charles County. He admitted living there. I showed him pictures of Vicky. I said, hey, does this woman look familiar to you?

Could have been a girlfriend of yours, anything like that. And he said, nope, never seen her before. I have no idea who she is. I was very specific. I said, is there any reason why your DNA would be found on her, around her, near her? He said, no. I gave him every explanation he possibly could to see if maybe there is an explanation. You know, is this an ex-girlfriend of yours?

Could have been a girlfriend of yours, anything like that. And he said, nope, never seen her before. I have no idea who she is. I was very specific. I said, is there any reason why your DNA would be found on her, around her, near her? He said, no. I gave him every explanation he possibly could to see if maybe there is an explanation. You know, is this an ex-girlfriend of yours?

Girl you hooked up with? And he denied knowing her or having any contact with her.

Girl you hooked up with? And he denied knowing her or having any contact with her.

My whole goal with that initial confrontation and contact was to see, is he going to claim that he had any type of sexual contact with her that was consensual? Was Vicky an ex-girlfriend or a complete denial? And he made the complete denial. So he provided no information, said he didn't know her and never had sex with her.

My whole goal with that initial confrontation and contact was to see, is he going to claim that he had any type of sexual contact with her that was consensual? Was Vicky an ex-girlfriend or a complete denial? And he made the complete denial. So he provided no information, said he didn't know her and never had sex with her.

I collected a swab and then we had to send that to the lab to get the confirmation completed.

I collected a swab and then we had to send that to the lab to get the confirmation completed.

He was in a nursing home. Because of his health, he was missing one leg. At least in my research, it didn't appear to me that he had a lot of resources where he was going to be a flight risk.

He was in a nursing home. Because of his health, he was missing one leg. At least in my research, it didn't appear to me that he had a lot of resources where he was going to be a flight risk.

We briefed at the Chatham Center adjacent to the nursing home, go to the nursing home, and then we make the confrontation. He's in a wheelchair outside his room, and then we make the arrest.

We briefed at the Chatham Center adjacent to the nursing home, go to the nursing home, and then we make the confrontation. He's in a wheelchair outside his room, and then we make the arrest.

My initial concern was getting him into the interview room and getting past Miranda. He'd been arrested 20 or 30 times over his life, two prior murder arrests. And now I'm coming in to talk to him about another murder. And I wanted to get past Miranda. So I was trying to initially build a rapport with him, but he was just staring off into space a little bit.

My initial concern was getting him into the interview room and getting past Miranda. He'd been arrested 20 or 30 times over his life, two prior murder arrests. And now I'm coming in to talk to him about another murder. And I wanted to get past Miranda. So I was trying to initially build a rapport with him, but he was just staring off into space a little bit.

But I was able to create a little bit of conversation with him, read to Miranda, and we were able to get past that, and he agreed to speak to me.

But I was able to create a little bit of conversation with him, read to Miranda, and we were able to get past that, and he agreed to speak to me.

I wanted to just be extremely non-confrontational and start off with a polite conversation with him, explain to him I was there, and give him an explanation and explain what happened. It was his time to be able to provide a story. It was a normal conversation. We never yelled or screamed at each other. It was very cordial.

I wanted to just be extremely non-confrontational and start off with a polite conversation with him, explain to him I was there, and give him an explanation and explain what happened. It was his time to be able to provide a story. It was a normal conversation. We never yelled or screamed at each other. It was very cordial.

I said, look, she was murdered. Your DNA, I was very specific and direct. I wasn't trying to play tricks or anything. I said, look, there has to be some explanation. We didn't pick you out of the blue randomly or anything like that. Your DNA specifically was identified on her dress, and she was found in Charles County, Maryland, deceased, where you hadn't lived four miles away at the time.

I said, look, she was murdered. Your DNA, I was very specific and direct. I wasn't trying to play tricks or anything. I said, look, there has to be some explanation. We didn't pick you out of the blue randomly or anything like that. Your DNA specifically was identified on her dress, and she was found in Charles County, Maryland, deceased, where you hadn't lived four miles away at the time.

He started providing or what he believed to be reasons of why his DNA may have been there.

He started providing or what he believed to be reasons of why his DNA may have been there.

Her and James Hill drove James Hill's vehicle to a parking lot located in Washington, D.C., which was at RFK, which is still standing there. It's where the Redskins used to play. It was a commuter lot. They would park the car there and then they would get on a metro train, take that downtown to the Department of Agriculture where they would go to work.

Her and James Hill drove James Hill's vehicle to a parking lot located in Washington, D.C., which was at RFK, which is still standing there. It's where the Redskins used to play. It was a commuter lot. They would park the car there and then they would get on a metro train, take that downtown to the Department of Agriculture where they would go to work.

Went from a complete denial to one point in the interview, he says, well, if I had sex with her, I don't remember. That was a little bit of a turning point.

Went from a complete denial to one point in the interview, he says, well, if I had sex with her, I don't remember. That was a little bit of a turning point.

The social circles and lifestyle of Andre Taylor did not match up or would have even come close to Vicki. Andre Taylor was a career criminal, a lot of drug history, whereas Vicki Belk was college educated, established government worker with a good life.

The social circles and lifestyle of Andre Taylor did not match up or would have even come close to Vicki. Andre Taylor was a career criminal, a lot of drug history, whereas Vicki Belk was college educated, established government worker with a good life.

My partner and I continue to talk to him, ask him specifically, like, you can't get around it. Then he stops for a second, pauses and says, yeah, we had sex with that girl.

My partner and I continue to talk to him, ask him specifically, like, you can't get around it. Then he stops for a second, pauses and says, yeah, we had sex with that girl.

Yeah. Oh, sorry. But then he goes on to explain that one of his friends pulls up in a car. Vicky's inside the car. He gets in and his friend directs Vicky to have sex with him. And he says that he believes that she had sex with him out of fear that she knew he'd get hurt. And that's why she had sex with him.

Yeah. Oh, sorry. But then he goes on to explain that one of his friends pulls up in a car. Vicky's inside the car. He gets in and his friend directs Vicky to have sex with him. And he says that he believes that she had sex with him out of fear that she knew he'd get hurt. And that's why she had sex with him.

I think he even says, I didn't rape her, but technically by letter of law, yes, that's a rape. Out of fear, she complies and has sex unwillingly. But he says that occurred in Washington, D.C. He got out of the car and he doesn't know what happened to her afterwards.

I think he even says, I didn't rape her, but technically by letter of law, yes, that's a rape. Out of fear, she complies and has sex unwillingly. But he says that occurred in Washington, D.C. He got out of the car and he doesn't know what happened to her afterwards.

Vicki got the keys from James Hill to return to the car, and then the plan was for Vicki to get James Hill's car and then come pick him up later at work when he was done.

Vicki got the keys from James Hill to return to the car, and then the plan was for Vicki to get James Hill's car and then come pick him up later at work when he was done.

He got to the point where he says, I'm done, I'm not going to provide any more information. So we stopped talking at that point.

He got to the point where he says, I'm done, I'm not going to provide any more information. So we stopped talking at that point.

A lot of times, you know, in any case, especially a cold case, sometimes the arrests are easy. It's the trials where the hard work begins.

A lot of times, you know, in any case, especially a cold case, sometimes the arrests are easy. It's the trials where the hard work begins.

They were very confident in their passion for the case. There were a lot of legal challenges. The chain of custody evidence, the maintenance of it, who's put their hands on it, where has it been, how has it been stored? These witnesses that we can find, can we find the original investigators?

They were very confident in their passion for the case. There were a lot of legal challenges. The chain of custody evidence, the maintenance of it, who's put their hands on it, where has it been, how has it been stored? These witnesses that we can find, can we find the original investigators?

One of the many challenges I had was trying to find somebody that saw her that day that she was last known alive.

One of the many challenges I had was trying to find somebody that saw her that day that she was last known alive.

One of the last people that she was known to be alive with that day was one of her co-workers who she had lunch with. And I just had a first and last name, no date of birth, no address, nothing, just said, had lunch with the victim that day. That was it.

One of the last people that she was known to be alive with that day was one of her co-workers who she had lunch with. And I just had a first and last name, no date of birth, no address, nothing, just said, had lunch with the victim that day. That was it.

I was just trying to do open source searches for a Mary Hickson. I thought I found one, so I just made a letter to her saying, hey, did you work at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. in 1979? Please contact me.

I was just trying to do open source searches for a Mary Hickson. I thought I found one, so I just made a letter to her saying, hey, did you work at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. in 1979? Please contact me.

She never showed up to work to pick James Hill up. James Hill returned to the parking lot at RFK, didn't find his car, and couldn't find Vicki.

She never showed up to work to pick James Hill up. James Hill returned to the parking lot at RFK, didn't find his car, and couldn't find Vicki.

A week later, my phone rings, look down, and I see her call her ID, Mary Hickson. I answer the phone. She said, hi, this is Mary Hickson. I said, yes, ma'am, I talked to you last week. She's like, no, you talked to my sister-in-law. We have the same name. You talked to her last week. I worked with Vicki back in 1979. I remember having lunch with her that day.

A week later, my phone rings, look down, and I see her call her ID, Mary Hickson. I answer the phone. She said, hi, this is Mary Hickson. I said, yes, ma'am, I talked to you last week. She's like, no, you talked to my sister-in-law. We have the same name. You talked to her last week. I worked with Vicki back in 1979. I remember having lunch with her that day.

She had very good memories. She's like, I remember having lunch with Vicki that day. We always had lunch together every day. And Vicki was giving me a hard time because we had switched chairs. But it's the small details like that that reflects on people's memory. The small details.

She had very good memories. She's like, I remember having lunch with Vicki that day. We always had lunch together every day. And Vicki was giving me a hard time because we had switched chairs. But it's the small details like that that reflects on people's memory. The small details.

The jury came back with a verdict very quick because it's very unpredictable. They could take an hour. They could take five days. We just don't know. Late afternoon, all the family was still there. And then they read the verdict off and everybody was ecstatic.

The jury came back with a verdict very quick because it's very unpredictable. They could take an hour. They could take five days. We just don't know. Late afternoon, all the family was still there. And then they read the verdict off and everybody was ecstatic.

She was definitely at work, and we confirmed that she did leave work after getting James Hill's vehicle keys. We believe she got on the Metro, returned to the parking lot at RFK, and that's where Andre Taylor encountered her, an abductor, and then that's when he drove her to Charles County. And then he subsequently raped and shot her where she was found.

She was definitely at work, and we confirmed that she did leave work after getting James Hill's vehicle keys. We believe she got on the Metro, returned to the parking lot at RFK, and that's where Andre Taylor encountered her, an abductor, and then that's when he drove her to Charles County. And then he subsequently raped and shot her where she was found.

Any of these cold case detectives, we pick these cases up and we just don't forget about them. Especially when there's evidence there and we go through it and we keep on going back to our lab analysts, like, can you just test this? Can you just do this? It's just looking for that needle in the haystack. This is one of those cases where... It came through for us, especially 45 years later.

Any of these cold case detectives, we pick these cases up and we just don't forget about them. Especially when there's evidence there and we go through it and we keep on going back to our lab analysts, like, can you just test this? Can you just do this? It's just looking for that needle in the haystack. This is one of those cases where... It came through for us, especially 45 years later.

You know, the combination of the lab work, the lab personnel, the detectives, not just me, but, you know, people that assisted. And even going back to the original investigators, there's a lot of moving parts there. But to have it all come together with a successful prosecution with somebody that is still alive and then ultimately get them a life sentence in prison, we're beating the odds.

You know, the combination of the lab work, the lab personnel, the detectives, not just me, but, you know, people that assisted. And even going back to the original investigators, there's a lot of moving parts there. But to have it all come together with a successful prosecution with somebody that is still alive and then ultimately get them a life sentence in prison, we're beating the odds.

It was a very good result.

It was a very good result.

He looked throughout the night, checking with family in various places where she could be, but just wasn't able to locate her.

He looked throughout the night, checking with family in various places where she could be, but just wasn't able to locate her.

The indication is very unusual for her to be gone and no one know where she is. That was extremely unusual. She was very dependable, reliable, had a nice government job. No identifiers or indications of any type of high-risk lifestyle or questionable behavior. Nothing.

The indication is very unusual for her to be gone and no one know where she is. That was extremely unusual. She was very dependable, reliable, had a nice government job. No identifiers or indications of any type of high-risk lifestyle or questionable behavior. Nothing.

There was some mixed interviews from co-workers about James Hill. One co-worker said that she believed that Vicky was in an abusive relationship with James Hill because he was an alcoholic. That another person would say that their relationship was good. It was nothing clear and convincing in regards to coming to a solid opinion in regards to how James Hill was.

There was some mixed interviews from co-workers about James Hill. One co-worker said that she believed that Vicky was in an abusive relationship with James Hill because he was an alcoholic. That another person would say that their relationship was good. It was nothing clear and convincing in regards to coming to a solid opinion in regards to how James Hill was.

They questioned James Hill very detailed, very thoroughly. They searched his apartment that him and Vicky shared.

They questioned James Hill very detailed, very thoroughly. They searched his apartment that him and Vicky shared.

And then James Hill, anytime the investigators asked him to do something, he was overly cooperative and provided any assistance he could with attempting to locate Vicki.

And then James Hill, anytime the investigators asked him to do something, he was overly cooperative and provided any assistance he could with attempting to locate Vicki.

I think they did a good job. They later went and tried finding and subpoenaed bank records to see if there's any transactions with any of her money. They looked at missing persons cases or unidentified people in other jurisdictions. They called hospitals.

I think they did a good job. They later went and tried finding and subpoenaed bank records to see if there's any transactions with any of her money. They looked at missing persons cases or unidentified people in other jurisdictions. They called hospitals.

They did everything I think they could with what they knew at the time to be proven and effective investigative strategies, but it was very limited. Of course, not like what it is today.

They did everything I think they could with what they knew at the time to be proven and effective investigative strategies, but it was very limited. Of course, not like what it is today.

The evening of August 29th, a young man, 12 or 13 years old at the time, is riding his bicycle on Metropolitan Church Road. As he's riding his bicycle, he looks over into the wood line and he sees what he thinks to be a body. It's an adult female laying in the woods and then he runs to one of his family members' house that's nearby and the police are called.

The evening of August 29th, a young man, 12 or 13 years old at the time, is riding his bicycle on Metropolitan Church Road. As he's riding his bicycle, he looks over into the wood line and he sees what he thinks to be a body. It's an adult female laying in the woods and then he runs to one of his family members' house that's nearby and the police are called.

She was about 20 feet off the roadway, inside the wood line. If you looked at the scene photos, you might be able to see her laying on the ground. She wasn't concealed in a manner to try and completely hide the body, but she was concealed in a manner to where not easily seen.

She was about 20 feet off the roadway, inside the wood line. If you looked at the scene photos, you might be able to see her laying on the ground. She wasn't concealed in a manner to try and completely hide the body, but she was concealed in a manner to where not easily seen.

She was laying on her back. Her dress was up above her waist. She was naked from the waist down, and her arms were at her side, almost like in a boxer stance. And I think one of the original reports the detective wrote is as if thwarting off an attacker.

She was laying on her back. Her dress was up above her waist. She was naked from the waist down, and her arms were at her side, almost like in a boxer stance. And I think one of the original reports the detective wrote is as if thwarting off an attacker.

They were right on the border, and our investigators find out that Prince George's County has a missing person's case. They come together, exchange information, and they ask to meet with Vicki's parents at the sheriff's office. They show her pictures and identifications made that way.

They were right on the border, and our investigators find out that Prince George's County has a missing person's case. They come together, exchange information, and they ask to meet with Vicki's parents at the sheriff's office. They show her pictures and identifications made that way.

The entire crime scene, did a good job canvassing it. However, all the evidence and what our crime scene would be would be Vicky herself in her clothes.

The entire crime scene, did a good job canvassing it. However, all the evidence and what our crime scene would be would be Vicky herself in her clothes.

The clothes she was wearing at the time she was found were recovered and retained and preserved.

The clothes she was wearing at the time she was found were recovered and retained and preserved.

Vicki has no ties to Charles County at all. The original investigators were trying to figure out, okay, what's the tie here? And the original investigators figured that, unfortunately, I ain't using this term, she was abducted to Washington, D.C., and dumped in Maryland.

Vicki has no ties to Charles County at all. The original investigators were trying to figure out, okay, what's the tie here? And the original investigators figured that, unfortunately, I ain't using this term, she was abducted to Washington, D.C., and dumped in Maryland.

I talked to one of the original investigators. He said this is like one of those cases he never forgot. They looked at everything they possibly could and just they could not come up with any solid leads. There are several other cases in D.C. of similar patterns, but they can never tie it in or prove or establish that those cases were related to Vicky's murder.

I talked to one of the original investigators. He said this is like one of those cases he never forgot. They looked at everything they possibly could and just they could not come up with any solid leads. There are several other cases in D.C. of similar patterns, but they can never tie it in or prove or establish that those cases were related to Vicky's murder.

I don't know if they thought that back then, but they had enough conscience to believe and preserved every single piece of clothing that she had. Unfortunately, you see across the country that evidence just gets thrown out because they think it's old or cases are not solvable.

I don't know if they thought that back then, but they had enough conscience to believe and preserved every single piece of clothing that she had. Unfortunately, you see across the country that evidence just gets thrown out because they think it's old or cases are not solvable.

For about a year, I did burglary investigations, a little time in our special victims unit, and then I went to our major crimes homicide unit. And then... My sergeant came to me and said we had a grant to work on cold cases. I remember opening up this closet in the office that we worked at and all these binders were stacked all over the place. So I started going through them.

For about a year, I did burglary investigations, a little time in our special victims unit, and then I went to our major crimes homicide unit. And then... My sergeant came to me and said we had a grant to work on cold cases. I remember opening up this closet in the office that we worked at and all these binders were stacked all over the place. So I started going through them.

I would stay after work at night and researching these cases, reading about it. I remember finding this one and seeing the evidence that was there. We still had a dress and some other items. I started chipping away at it. So in 2007 is when I started working on it. Started making phone calls.

I would stay after work at night and researching these cases, reading about it. I remember finding this one and seeing the evidence that was there. We still had a dress and some other items. I started chipping away at it. So in 2007 is when I started working on it. Started making phone calls.

speaking with the analysts I knew at the DNA lab and with the state police, and they started working on little by little as well.

speaking with the analysts I knew at the DNA lab and with the state police, and they started working on little by little as well.

We told him that we didn't want to give up on the case, but you also don't want to give him any type of promises. The last thing you'll do is, especially a case this long, is make a promise to something you can't fulfill. These cases are very difficult, but the Belk family was overly appreciative of us, very supportive.

We told him that we didn't want to give up on the case, but you also don't want to give him any type of promises. The last thing you'll do is, especially a case this long, is make a promise to something you can't fulfill. These cases are very difficult, but the Belk family was overly appreciative of us, very supportive.

I thought as much items that we had and recovered and preserved, something should have been there that we could have made an identification or got a usable DNA profile of a suspect.

I thought as much items that we had and recovered and preserved, something should have been there that we could have made an identification or got a usable DNA profile of a suspect.

One of our evidence technicians packaged the evidence that we had retained and sent it to the lab and just requested everything be tested. I believe when it got to the lab, it just sat on the shelf up there because they're so backed up. They were struggling just to get DNA processed for cases that had court dates.

One of our evidence technicians packaged the evidence that we had retained and sent it to the lab and just requested everything be tested. I believe when it got to the lab, it just sat on the shelf up there because they're so backed up. They were struggling just to get DNA processed for cases that had court dates.

And these DNA analysts that are already overworked, if they had extra time, they would start working on these cold cases.

And these DNA analysts that are already overworked, if they had extra time, they would start working on these cold cases.