Fauquier County investigators say there is new evidence in 1988 cold case

FAUQUIER COUNTY, Va. (FOX 5 DC) - Thirty-one years ago this week the body of Tammy Thorpe was found alongside a highway just outside of Warrenton, Virginia. She had been shot to death.

No charges have ever been filed in a case that has taken many twists and turns, but now investigators say they have new hope.

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"Right now, we are working with the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney and the Department of Forensic Science here in Virginia to examine new evidence that has been uncovered to compare it to evidence recovered from the crime scene 30 years ago," said Fauquier County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sergeant James Hartman.

Since at least 2004, detectives have had their eye on a person of interest who fled to Canada after the sheriff's office searched his Culpeper area home.

At the time, FOX 5 reported a court affidavit named Duane Mecham as a person of interest in the case and said two people had come forward to say Mecham had confessed to them during a stay in a Winchester hospital in the 1990s.

A court affidavit named Duane Mecham as a person of interest in the case and said two people had come forward to say Mecham had confessed to them during a stay in a Winchester hospital in the 1990s.

The affidavit said the confession was made to a couple of health professionals in 1992 but investigators had been unaware of the claim until 2004.

Investigators recently paid a visit to Mecham after they learned he was back in the U.S.

"I grew up in Fauquier County", said Interim Commonwealth's Attorney Scott Hook. "I remember when it happened and I remember all of the attempts to resolve it in the last 31 years. I think it is about time that we put it to rest and I think we have the capability and crew to do that"

Tammy Thorpe was last seen driving her car through a Warrenton car wash in the early morning hours of October 23, 1988. She had been to a dance in Marshall that night and her car, her prized possession, had been scratched by a deputy making an arrest.

She was told by the deputy to get the car cleaned and bring it by the station in the morning. 

Tammy Thorpe's car

It was found unlocked with Tammy's purse still inside in a parking lot not far from the car wash. Her body was discovered a little over a mile away.

That deputy is now the sheriff who was one of the last people to see Tammy alive.

"I did speak with Tammy that night," said Sheriff Bob Mosier. "I just explained to her to get the car washed and to bring it by the next day".

Thirty-one years later, it still bothers him.

"This is personal for me, Paul. I mean, this is something I was engaged in as a law enforcement officer that night," said Mosier.

Investigators would not describe the new evidence other than to say they expect the results back soon.