Tests Continue in Hickman Murder Case

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Tests Continue in Hickman Murder Case

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Posted: 8:36 PM Jan 26, 2008
Last Updated: 8:36 PM Jan 26, 2008
Reporter: The Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

23 comments

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The director of the State Police Crime Lab says DNA tests are ongoing on evidence in the death of Marshall University journalism student Leah Hickman.

Soraya McLung says the lab has finished testing the first set of evidence sent by Huntington police investigators. But she says tests on a second set of evidence are not finished.

McLung and Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook declined to say what is being tested.

But Holbrook says detectives hope the tests lead them to a suspect.

Hickman was last seen alive Dec. 14. Her body was found in a basement crawl space in the Huntington apartment building where she lived Dec. 21.

While tests are continuing, Holbrook says detectives continue to question people and have eliminated some suspects.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Linda on Feb 27, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Why is nothing being said about the murder? The public needs to know that this is not forgotten by the authorities. Please give some information to the News and let everyone know this is still under investigation or what the findings are as to the cause of death.

Posted by: Donna on Feb 17, 2008 at 02:27 AM
I am a concerned citizen. I can not believe that nothing has been released about her death. The public has a right to be informed. Please people do not let this be pushed under the rug. She deserves to not be forgotten and the people deserve to know if there is a random killer on the lose or if this was familial or relational.

Posted by: LMB on Feb 2, 2008 at 04:08 PM
I also don't think she was killed in the laundry room or her apartment. The laundry room is too public and her apartment is not his territory and therefore unpredictable and unsafe (for him). I guess I haven't heard of what (if any) evidence was recovered from her apartment, but I am assuming not much.

Posted by: LMB on Feb 2, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Sometimes the way to catch the perp is to NOT say anything. He might go back to the scene, to her grave, or post something on one of these sites. My guess is he knew her, probably was obsessed with her, and she knew him too. He also obviously knew the building so either lived there at one time or worked there. She wouldn't have left her apt with her phone but not her keys...even just to go to the laundry room. I think she let the person in or he was already in her apt. I also don't think the person who did this killed her right away-maybe a few days later.

Posted by: dave on Jan 29, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Yes, JL, I have. I also have a degree in Criminal Justice from Marshall. Do you?

Posted by: Amber on Jan 29, 2008 at 08:30 AM
I did an internship at the crime lab my senior year at Marshall, and trust me, these things take time. We still have no idea what kinds of evidence were even submitted. Some things still have to be sent off to other agencies simply because WV does not have the capability to handle certain kinds of evidence. I have the greatest respect for everyone in that lab and trust that they are working around the clock to get results. However, other agencies may not have this case as their first priority because they are dealing with other cases around the country that are just as important.

Posted by: mike on Jan 29, 2008 at 07:55 AM
pople turn your tv on forensics real tv not csi it take time. but if hpd dont find the person or persons then i thank huntington needs new police that knows how to do ther job so much crime going on in huntington day in day out whats up with all this crime it dont add up. pray that they find the one or ones that did this to leah. and pray for her family

Posted by: MU Student on Jan 29, 2008 at 12:30 AM
This is it. This is the final test for the city of Huntington and HPD. If the police can't solve this crime, people will loose all faith in their city and Huntington will probably be doomed to the crime that has thrived in this city for so long. I am giving the police the benefit of the doubt, but too much crime and drug activity goes on in this city. And until all that is under control, I fear this city will never return to its former glory days. Keep the family in your prayers!!!

Posted by: John on Jan 28, 2008 at 10:44 PM
What test takes 30 days????

Posted by: JL on Jan 28, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Dave ever heard of Mitochondrial DNA?

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 28, 2008 at 05:17 PM
i don't work in the police or forensics fields, but i find it very disturbing that over a month later, there are STILL no answers. there's nothing i hate more than knowing that the person who committed this crime is still out there roaming free like nothing is wrong. for crying out loud, whoever you are, just be a man and turn yourself in, you cowardly little $%&@!!!!!!

Posted by: dave on Jan 28, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Calm down peeps.... It DOES take time for any sort of lab work. Police won't release information, because any little bit they release may be TOO much, and could damage the case. Of course everybody wants to put an end to this, so that poor girls family can have some sort of closure. But this is just a strange case, and is going to take time, probably a lot more time. Eventually, the truth will come out about what happened. Until then, everybody needs to chill out, and support her family. I don't like the HPD, but I know that they are and will continue to do the best they can, and get the person/people who did this. I'm just so impressed that the city of Huntington and the Marshall community seem to pull together any time a tragedy strikes and help and support one another. (remember Emmons) I'm also impressed with the Dress Barn. I've never been there, (I don't wear dresses!) but that place gets my respect for the support they've shown. I'm confident justice will prevail.

Posted by: Jeremy on Jan 28, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Another murder case sets in wait as the wonderful HPD has no leads and problably never will. Just about every murder that happens here (Huntington) goes unpunished. Soon people will come here to commit crimes because of our lack of a competent police force. Keep up the horrible job!

Posted by: amy on Jan 27, 2008 at 10:31 PM
how did she die?...why is there nothing being told here..surely it's known HOW she was killed...I think this is ridiculous that the public knows NOTHING!!!

Posted by: mu student on Jan 27, 2008 at 09:48 PM
stop the badmouthing people for making speculations. it is a comment, section, for comments. As long as the comments are harmful to the investigation or family, then who cares about the armchair detectives?!

Posted by: John on Jan 27, 2008 at 08:07 PM
We all realize that test results are not immediate. However, there is no excuse for it taking this long. What is it a unionshop at the lab and they can only perform so many test per day?

Posted by: anon on Jan 27, 2008 at 02:25 PM
For those wanting to go into forensics major at Mashall, and thinking it's like CSI, it's not. Many people major in forensics at Marshall thinking you get to work in the field but you don't. You only work in the lab. Working in the field is another job.

Posted by: ---- on Jan 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM
keywords... "eliminated some suspects"... so in other words they DO have suspects.

Posted by: LPN on Jan 27, 2008 at 10:02 AM
I am so relieved that they have made a statement! Even though it basically just told us what we already knew, that it takes time and they are still working on the case, it at least let the public know from them, and not just speculation.

Posted by: unknown on Jan 27, 2008 at 09:34 AM
i hope these tests will leas the hpd to who did this horrible crime... God bless leahs family...

Posted by: reader on Jan 27, 2008 at 05:49 AM
People who care were waiting for this update! My heart goes out to this family!

Posted by: anonymous on Jan 27, 2008 at 02:39 AM
To any complainers who believe it is taking too long, Before you complain, this is not CSI where you get immediate results. It takes time and you need to be patient. There was a story on TV last year or so and they were explaining that due to shows like CSI, where they get quick results, people have become less patient and want answers fast. However, in real life, it is not like CSI. Lab testing and investigation takes time.

Posted by: Karen on Jan 27, 2008 at 01:15 AM
I hope and Pray that these test will find the person who murdered this beautiful young lady!!!! God Bless Her & her family!

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