Manassas Journal Messenger | Police reopen 21-year-old murder case
The Virginia State Police started a task force last spring to reopen the 21-year-old murder case of trooper Johnny Rush Bowman, who was killed inside his Manassas home.
The task force, which includes investigators from state police, Manassas City police and the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, are reviewing the evidence in the case and interviewing key suspects again in hopes of closing the only unsolved murder of a state trooper, said Capt. Gary Jenkins, department spokesman.
“We hope that new technology that was not available when the case started can help lead us to the killer,” Jenkins said.
Around 4:15 a.m. Aug. 19, 1984, Bowman was at his Bristoe Station home in Manassas when the doorbell rang. When he opened the door, a man pushed his way in and stabbed Bowman 45 times before running off.
Bowman, who had a wife and a 2-year-old daughter, died and the case remains unsolved. No charges have been brought against several suspects, including a former state trooper who was the primary suspect throughout the case.
Jenkins hopes that advances in police technology, such as DNA testing, can link one of several suspects in the case to the killer.
Along with advances in technology, Jenkins hopes that the task force will keep the case in the public eye.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (703) 323-4543. Anyone who calls can remain anonymous.
Staff writer David Stegon can be reached at (703) 878-8065.