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Virginia detectives solve 1972 cold case murder of 12-year-old girl bludgeoned to death

By Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
By Crystal Bonvillian, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A Virginia man who died in 1997 has been named as the killer of a 12-year-old girl bludgeoned to death nearly five decades ago.

Karen Lee Spencer was last seen alive on Nov. 29, 1972, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

“Her body was discovered on Dec. 2 by a group of young boys in what was then known as Fifer’s Field, a wooded area located southeast of what is now the Huntington Metro Station, between Mount Eagle Park and North Kings Highway,” Fairfax County police officials said in a statement. “An autopsy showed Karen died from repeated blunt force trauma to the upper body.”

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1972 cold case solved Pictured are the clothes Karen Lee Spencer wore when she was last seen alive Nov. 29, 1972. Spencer, 12, of Alexandria, Va., was found bludgeoned to death in a field three days later. Fairfax County police officials said April 1, 2020, that detectives had determined she was likely killed by James “Jimmy” Edwards, who was 16 at the time. Edwards died in 1997. (Fairfax County Police Department)

Authorities said Fifer’s Field, along with the Fairhaven 7-Eleven near her home, were hangouts for Karen and other neighborhood children, including James “Jimmy” Edwards, a 16-year-old boy believed to be Karen’s boyfriend.

In the years following the slaying, Edwards was considered one of several people of interest in the case. Police officials said Edwards, who denied involvement in the murder, died Aug. 23, 1997.

“In the summer of 2018, two independent acquaintances of Jimmy revealed to detectives that in the early 90’s, Jimmy confided in them he killed a girl and buried her in a field when he was a teenager,” police officials said. “Over the next year and a half, detectives received additional tips that supported this information and other previous investigative findings that implicated Edwards.”

Authorities said other persons of interest were eliminated based on evidence in the case and in December 2019, the Fairfax County Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney determined prosecutors would have had enough evidence to support arresting and prosecuting Edwards.

“For nearly five decades, major crimes detectives remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice for 12-year-old Karen Lee Spencer and her family”, Major Ed O’Carroll, commander of the department’s Major Crimes Bureau, said in a statement. “I am proud of the work of Detective Flanagan and all detectives who contributed to the closure of this case.

“The fact that they never gave up combined with our community’s willingness to come forward with information were critical in solving this case.”

1972 cold case solved Karen Lee Spencer, top left, of Alexandria, Va., was found bludgeoned to death Dec. 2, 1972, in the field pictured at right. Fairfax County police officials said April 1, 2020, that detectives had determined she was likely killed by James “Jimmy” Edwards, bottom left, who was 16 at the time. Edwards died in 1997. (Fairfax County Police Department)

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