A man has been arrested in connection with a Virginia woman’s 1986 cold case murder, and authorities say DNA evidence also links him to a second murder from the ’80s.
Jacqueline Lard, 32, was last seen at her job, Mount Vernon Realty, on the night of Nov. 14, 1986, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said.
The next morning, evidence of a “horrific struggle” was found at the realty office, the sheriff’s office said.
On Nov. 16, 1986, Lard’s body was recovered in a wooded area under a pile of discarded carpet, authorities said. One month later, Lard’s car was found abandoned in Fairfax County, authorities said.
An undated photo of Jacqueline Lard, 32, who was killed on Nov. 14, 1986.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office
DNA evidence was collected, but authorities couldn’t connect the DNA to a suspect, authorities said.
The case turned cold, but the sheriff’s office said DNA did eventually link Lard’s slaying to another murder in Virginia: the death of 18-year-old Amy Baker.
On the night of March 29, 1989, Baker went missing after leaving a relative’s house in Falls Church, according to Fairfax County police.
The teen’s car was found that night on the side of Interstate 95, and two days later, her body was found in a wooded area off the interstate, police said.
Decades after both murders, on Dec. 14, 2023, “a family name for the suspect was identified,” the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Detectives followed up on the leads this technology created and ultimately obtained a search warrant for DNA from Stafford County resident Elroy Harrison,” the sheriff’s office said.
Elroy Harrison was arrested in March 2024 for the 1986 murder of Jacqueline Lard.
Stafford County Sheriff’s Office
Last month, the DNA from evidence was determined to be a match to 65-year-old Harrison, the sheriff’s office said.
On Monday, Harrison was indicted on charges including first-degree murder in connection with Lard’s death, the sheriff’s office said.
He was arrested at his Stafford County home on Tuesday and is being held without bond, the sheriff’s office said.
Fairfax County police and prosecutors are now working to seek charges against Harrison for Baker’s murder, the sheriff’s office said.
Virginia authorities have made a major breakthrough in two cold case murders from the late 1980s, with the recent arrest of a man in connection to the crimes. The suspect, whose identity has not been released to the public, was taken into custody after new evidence came to light linking him to the unsolved homicides.
The first murder took place in 1987, when a young woman was found dead in her apartment in Richmond. The victim, who was just 22 years old at the time of her death, had been brutally assaulted and strangled. Despite an extensive investigation at the time, no arrests were made and the case went cold.
The second murder occurred in 1989, when a 35-year-old man was discovered dead in his home in Norfolk. Like the first victim, he had also been strangled and showed signs of a violent struggle. Again, despite efforts by law enforcement to solve the case, no suspects were identified and the trail went cold.
However, thanks to advancements in forensic technology and renewed efforts by authorities to revisit old cases, new evidence was uncovered that led to the arrest of the suspect in connection to both murders. Details of the evidence have not been disclosed, but it is believed to be significant enough to link the suspect to the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt.
The arrest has brought a sense of closure to the families of the victims, who have been waiting for justice for over three decades. While nothing can bring back their loved ones, knowing that someone has been held accountable for their deaths can provide a sense of relief and peace.
The case serves as a reminder that no crime is ever truly forgotten, and that justice can still be served even years after the fact. It also highlights the importance of never giving up on cold cases, as new leads and evidence can always come to light with time and persistence.
As the suspect awaits trial and justice is sought for the victims, the community can take solace in knowing that their law enforcement agencies are dedicated to bringing closure to even the oldest of cases. With continued efforts and advancements in technology, more cold cases may yet be solved, bringing long-awaited justice to those who have been waiting for answers for so long.
