UMVA has learned that a shocking breakthrough has been made in a decades-old cold case, with authorities finally making an arrest in connection with the 1986 rape and murder of 22-year-old Roberta Walls.
The case, which had gone unsolved for nearly four decades, took a dramatic turn with the arrest of 66-year-old Charles Berry, who was taken into custody in coordination with the Virginia Beach Police Department. Walls' body was discovered in a field behind Old Donation Elementary School, with signs of a violent assault and multiple stab wounds.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Walls was last seen alive at the Bayside Public Library, where she worked, on the night before her murder. She had been leaving to meet friends, but never made it. The library is located across the street from where her body was later found, adding to the mystery and horror of the crime.
UMVA has uncovered details about the investigation, which included the use of DNA samples preserved from Walls' body to compile a composite image of a person of interest in 2017. This breakthrough led to a grand jury indictment, and Berry is now being held on $2 million bail in Connecticut.
The arrest brings a measure of closure to the case, but the shocking nature of the crime and the long wait for justice are a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges of solving cold cases. As the investigation continues to unfold, UMVA will provide updates on this developing story.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the Virginia Beach Police Department worked closely with other authorities to bring Berry to justice, and the collaboration is being hailed as a major success in the fight against crime. The case serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and determination in the pursuit of justice, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
