For 40 years, a killer believed he had evaded justice, but his alleged dark past has finally caught up with him. Charles Randall Berry was arrested this week for the brutal stabbing and rape of Roberta Walls in the early hours of May 15, 1986, at a baseball field behind Old Donation Elementary School in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach Police reported that her body bore 'obvious signs of trauma due to a violent assault,' including multiple stab wounds. She was last seen alive the night before her death across the street at the Bayside Public Library, where she worked, as she was on her way to meet friends.
For decades, police worked relentlessly to track down the 22-year-old's killer, eventually transferring the investigation to the city's Cold Case Squad. In 2017, Virginia Beach Police used modern technology to develop an advanced sketch of a person of interest. This week, the sketch along with DNA testing finally led to Newington Police Department arresting Berry more than 400 miles away in Connecticut.
Berry was allegedly serving in the Navy at the time of Walls's death and had been stationed at a naval base near the crime scene. Using DNA preserved from the scene, a composite photo was created of the man at ages 25 and 55, to account for the fact that the suspect's age could not be identified. The high-tech image cost thousands of dollars to produce. Scientists used the sample to predict genetic traits such as eye color, hair color, skin color, face shape, and ancestry.
With a DNA profile created in 2001 and the 2017 sketch, the Virginia Police Department was able to follow forensic genealogy leads thanks to advancements in testing in 2023. The process allowed the detectives to rule out the 'cast of characters' being considered in the investigation, which consisted of at least 30 men. Police admitted that Berry had not previously been on their radar.
'Through persistent investigation and breakthroughs in forensic technology, detectives were able to link Berry’s DNA to evidence found at the crime scene,' police said in a statement announcing Berry's arrest. In a statement on social media, Virginia Police Department Detective Michele Wyatt said there was 'joy' in finally uncovering a suspect in Walls's death.
'The evidence had not been tested since 1986, and a direct DNA comparison ultimately identified Charles Berry as the source of the DNA profile generated in 2001,' she said. 'While it was an egregious event, there is joy in finally finding an answer.'
Police said they do not believe that Berry and Walls knew each other before her murder. 'Our suspect was unknown to Roberta, we believe, until the day of the murder,' Virginia Beach Police Department Deputy Chief Jeffrey Wilkerson said. 'He was not in her inner circle, and we believe they met the night of the crime. There’s been extensive work in the DNA field on our end with testing and in the science field to identify our suspect, and we are extremely confident we have the right person.'
According to a release from the Virginia District Attorney's Office, she had 'deep ties to the Virginia Beach community.' She was said to be a 'vibrant' woman known for her kindness and compassion. Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said this update provided closure for her loved ones.
Berry was arrested in Connecticut, where he is being held on a $10 million bond. Pending extradition, he will be relocated to the Virginia Beach City jail. He was charged with rape and capital murder during the commission of rape.
Neudigate acknowledged that it was 'incredibly scary' that Roberta's alleged killer had been on the loose for so many years. 'We wonder, is he involved in more crimes?' he said. 'That's what everyone here wants to know. Someone who brutally murders and rapes someone, how is that a one-time occurrence? But as of this time, we have no indication that he was involved in other crimes.'
