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Hickman strangled to death, police say
The Huntington Police Department released new details Thursday, March 13, 2008, in the murder investigation of Marshall University Leah Hickman. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook, at left, and HPD Capt. Steve Hall told the media that strangulation was the cause of Hickman's death, and that her murder was not a random act. "We feel strongly that the person(s) responsible for this crime were familiar with Leah and the layout of the apartment building," Hall said.
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HUNTINGTON — Marshall University student Leah Hickman was strangled to death in December, likely by someone she knew and who knew the layout of her apartment, according to investigators who spoke at a press conference Thursday.
The cause of death for the 21-year-old Mason County native was the first new information released about the case in almost two months. Hickman apparently died Dec. 14 and her body was found a week later in a crawl space underneath her off-campus residence at 403 8th Ave.
Police also said they did not believe the killing was a random act, and Capt. Steve Hall said there is no evidence of sexual assault.
“We feel strongly that the person(s) responsible for this crime were familiar with Leah and the layout of the apartment building,” he said.
The state’s crime lab has finished scientific testing in the case, but investigators said more extensive testing will be necessary. Evidence now will be sent to Quantico, Va., and other FBI facilities in the region. Forensics analysts at the state level already conducted DNA, fingerprint and trace evidence tests.
The FBI will not be testing evidence already analyzed. Instead, FBI Resident Agent Joe Ciccarelli said his agency has resources not available at the state level. It will enable agents to perform a couple of different tests. Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook called it a “graduated, stair-stepping process.”
“It’s not that the Charleston lab didn’t do something right,” Holbrook said. “It’s just a more specific test.”
None of the officers would discuss motive, but Hall said ruling out sexual assault helped focus the investigation. He also would not quantify the number of possible suspects. Holbrook said the department has cast a wide net, and Hall said no one has been ruled out in the investigation.
Members of the Huntington Police Department and the FBI met with Hickman’s family Wednesday. It was the first time investigators informed the family as to her cause of death. Holbrook said that conversation prompted Thursday’s press conference.
“They are from a small community in Mason County. They deal with a lot of rumor and speculation. It’s been an awful grieving process for them,” he said. “Once you discuss information outside of the investigative circle, it tends to get out. So we felt like it was probably a good time, since we were telling them this information, to go ahead and share that with everybody else.”
Investigators have asked the family not to discuss the case publicly.
Thursday’s gathering was the first press conference concerning Hickman’s death since Christmas Eve. The lack of information and absence of an arrest caused some to begin losing hope that the case would be solved.
“It feels like they just gave up,” Doug Peters, a junior geology major from Hurricane, W.Va., said Wednesday.
Holbrook quickly dismissed any idea that his department has given up. He said several officers from multiple agencies are working on the case, which remains a top priority at his department. The chief said a lack of information should not indicate a lack of effort. He described the investigation as a “painstaking process” and one that does not leave a detective’s mind until the case is solved.
“That in itself is motivation on our end,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we can’t share information. If this was your family or your daughter, you would certainly, I hope, understand we do not want to share something that would hinder an investigation just simply to cave into somebody’s curiosity. I can’t stress enough. People have to understand that.”
Circumstances concerning Hickman’s case has caused the state to delay releasing public portions of her death certificate. Huntington police have not given the state authority to release the information, according to state spokesperson Marsha Dadisman.
Mood among students
Many students interviewed this week said they generally feel safe on the Huntington campus. They also feel safe off-campus, as long as they stay away from trouble spots and walk with others. But sorority member Lauren Snyder and others said no arrest means Hickman’s killer is still on the loose.
“By now something usually would have come about,” she said. “Whether it is somebody she knew or somebody she didn’t know, there is still somebody that has killed somebody in the public area.”
Bill Bissett, chief of staff at Marshall University, said the administration continues to receive updates from the police department. He said university officials stand by and support the detectives’ effort, along with decisions about when to release and when to withhold information.
“We remain hopeful that this person will be found,” he said. “We continue to remember Leah Hickman here on this campus.”
Bissett said many students and faculty remember Hickman by wearing blue wristbands. The university also has established a memorial scholarship for future journalism students in her honor. It was made possible through donations from Hickman’s former employer, The Dress Barn Inc., and donations from family and friends.
Holbrook made a point Thursday to say there is no connection between Hickman’s death and the university. He said Hickman simply was a student who died at her off-campus home on Christmas break.
Police are still holding some items close to the vest, including talk about any struggle between Hickman and her killer. Holbrook said they hold back information to determine credibility during the interview process.
Chris Swindell was one of Hickman’s journalism professors. He said he understands the need to keep some details quiet. He said guarding the integrity of the case always should be top priority.
Swindell also believes public perception needs to be managed as well. The former television news reporter said police should realize not releasing information will produce three results — the trigger of misinformation, then rampant speculation and finally some measure of concern that a case is not progressing.
Holbrook acknowledged widespread rumors in January. He urged patience and said the rumors wreaked havoc within the victim’s family.
Swindell said the general public does not want to jeopardize the case, but it does expect broad details about any high-profile investigation. Such information included the cause of death and regular updates even when nothing has changed.
There is currently no reward being offered in Hickman’s case. Holbrook said the idea has been discussed, and it is a strategy that could be used at a more appropriate time. Anyone with information should contact the department’s detective bureau at (304) 696-4420.
Hope for answers
Rachel Gergely is a Marshall sophomore and graduate of Cabell-Midland High School. She compared the Hickman case to a nearly three-year investigation into who killed four teenagers on prom night in May 2005. Gergely was friends with the youngest of those victims, Megan Poston.
No charges have been filed in connection with the quadruple homicide.
“It disturbs me,” she said Wednesday. “It would be nice to have some type of update on what is going on. Just to give us a sense that they are doing their job, rather than sitting around looking at case files.”
Greg Lake, 38, praised the department’s work and credits it with keeping many details quiet. He is confident the case will be solved, but he does not anticipate a quick arrest. He said police need time to manage many factors and many leads.
“It’s not cut and dry,” he said. “There is more to it than what they are letting out. I’m sure they don’t want to let out too much information because it may let the person who did it realize they are close to him.”
Holbrook said some cases are more difficult to solve than others. Since he became police chief in June 2007, the city has witnessed six homicides. Hickman’s death is the only unsolved case.
When Hickman was first reported missing in early December, 18-year-old freshman Anna McCallister of Putnam County quickly decorated her personal Web site with photos and messages about Leah.
McCallister said a few pictures of Hickman remain, but she admits she has moved on. She hears more about the case when she goes home.
“The fear is not there as much. It’s kind of like you don’t hear as much about 9/11 anymore. It’s just kind of died down,” she said.
