Anastasia Nicolazzi

Bad relationship could suggest that maybe Vicki had left on her own accord. But a bad relationship could also suggest a possible motive. And an obvious first suspect if Vicky had indeed fallen victim to foul play.

Bad relationship could suggest that maybe Vicki had left on her own accord. But a bad relationship could also suggest a possible motive. And an obvious first suspect if Vicky had indeed fallen victim to foul play.

But not only were there no signs of Vicky, there were also no indications that James was hiding something. Coworkers could vouch for his whereabouts the previous day, and his concern for his girlfriend seemed genuine.

But not only were there no signs of Vicky, there were also no indications that James was hiding something. Coworkers could vouch for his whereabouts the previous day, and his concern for his girlfriend seemed genuine.

Two days after Vicki was reported missing, her case would take a dramatic and tragic turn.

Two days after Vicki was reported missing, her case would take a dramatic and tragic turn.

The unidentified woman had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, and by her positioning and state of undress, it appeared that she had also likely been sexually assaulted.

The unidentified woman had suffered a single gunshot wound to the head, and by her positioning and state of undress, it appeared that she had also likely been sexually assaulted.

the woman in the woods was positively identified as Vicki Lynn Belk. Two weeks earlier, she'd been the maid of honor in her sister's wedding. Now the family would be gathering for her funeral.

the woman in the woods was positively identified as Vicki Lynn Belk. Two weeks earlier, she'd been the maid of honor in her sister's wedding. Now the family would be gathering for her funeral.

During the autopsy, examiners were able to recover the bullet that had killed her and confirmed that Vicky had been sexually assaulted. And while DNA testing was not possible, detectives knew that any biological evidence of either the sexual assault or the murder would be crucial down the road.

During the autopsy, examiners were able to recover the bullet that had killed her and confirmed that Vicky had been sexually assaulted. And while DNA testing was not possible, detectives knew that any biological evidence of either the sexual assault or the murder would be crucial down the road.

The same afternoon Vicki was located, her boyfriend's car was found abandoned in southeast D.C., not too far from where it had been parked in the RFK lot. The car was searched and fingerprinted, but it yielded no clues to who might be behind Vicki's brutal murder.

The same afternoon Vicki was located, her boyfriend's car was found abandoned in southeast D.C., not too far from where it had been parked in the RFK lot. The car was searched and fingerprinted, but it yielded no clues to who might be behind Vicki's brutal murder.

And so, you know, Scott, just talking about the timeframe, again, and the limitations of that era, we're in the 1970s, far from all the technological advancements we have today. It really came down to what, you know, we call that gumshoe police work. Canvases, having to use the...

And so, you know, Scott, just talking about the timeframe, again, and the limitations of that era, we're in the 1970s, far from all the technological advancements we have today. It really came down to what, you know, we call that gumshoe police work. Canvases, having to use the...

basic tools of investigation, fingerprints, things like that, which as you and I know, even though we have so many advancements today, most work and very often it still relies on that good old fashioned knocking on doors and talking to people.

basic tools of investigation, fingerprints, things like that, which as you and I know, even though we have so many advancements today, most work and very often it still relies on that good old fashioned knocking on doors and talking to people.

And so police had those conversations. And according to Vicky's friends and family, she was the last person to have any enemies or even associate with anyone that might want to do her harm. So investigators really did ultimately have very few leads.

And so police had those conversations. And according to Vicky's friends and family, she was the last person to have any enemies or even associate with anyone that might want to do her harm. So investigators really did ultimately have very few leads.