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NEWS
Police hold to theory in Hickman's death
HUNTINGTON -- Detectives continue to investigate a long-held theory about who may have killed Leah Hickman, but many of the answers lay at a DNA testing facility in Arizona.
Hickman, a 21-year-old student at Marshall University, was strangled Dec. 14. Police found her body about a week later. It was hidden in a crawl space underneath her apartment building at 403 8th Ave.
Detectives said in March they believe the killer was an acquaintance with knowledge as to the layout of her apartment.
Capt. Steve Hall said in June that detectives have a working theory, but lack evidence to file criminal charges. On Thursday, he told The Herald-Dispatch nothing has changed. They wait and hope DNA testing will provide a positive match.
"Fairly early in the investigation a suspect or suspects came to the front, and there's nothing that's changed our mind," he said.
DNA tests were expedited in West Virginia and proved nothing. That's when investigators sought assistance from the FBI in March. Their agents had access to resources not available in the Mountain State.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook said those tests are being completed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The tests are expensive, very detailed and can take months to complete. He said it is "ludicrous for anyone to think anybody is dragging their feet."
Police say Hickman's killer left behind little DNA or trace evidence. The amount actually surprised Holbrook. He said that causes the forensic analysts to be more cautious.
"We're being very guarded and careful in how we are handling that to ensure we have the specimens available for the most precise tests we can possibly do," he said.
Police did not receive many tips from the public, but Sgt. John Williams has said that fits with the theory that an acquaintance was involved.
Hickman's death was one of 17 reported in Cabell County since October 2007, 11 of which occurred in Huntington.
Only two of those 17 cases remain unsolved, and Huntington police have a "prime suspect" in one -- the May 2008 shooting death of Timothy Taylor.
No suspects have been named in Hickman's death.
