The person at the center of this case
Sherry Ann Culp and her baby daughter Kelsey Culp
Cold Case · Open
28 years waiting · since 1998
SHERRY ANN CULP
Justice for Sherry Ann Culp and her baby daughter Kelsey Culp — the trail went cold in 1998, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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suspect
Lead #1Who was the man in the dark hooded jumpsuit seen running from the scene? Why was he fleeing?
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vehicle
Lead #2What was the significance of the maroon pickup truck parked near the murder scene? Who owned it and why was it there?
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witness
Lead #3Several witnesses heard gunshots and saw the suspect—have all potential witnesses been fully interviewed and their accounts corroborated?
On January 16, 1998, Sherry Ann Culp, a 36-year-old mother of two who was 8½ months pregnant, was shot at point-blank range by an unknown assailant as she entered her car in Springfield, Virginia. Her unborn daughter, Kelsey, was delivered but died two days later, making this a double homicide. Witnesses saw a man in a dark hooded jumpsuit fleeing the scene and a suspicious maroon pickup truck nearby, but the killer remains unidentified after more than 25 years.
Case
#364
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Washington, D.C.), Fairfax County Police Department, and United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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evidence
Lead #4What caliber handgun was used? Has ballistic evidence been matched against any known weapons or suspects?
💡
clue
Lead #5Was this a random attack or targeted killing? What was Sherry's routine, and did she have any known conflicts or threats?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Murder Victim Springfield, Virginia January 16, 1998 The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the unknown individual(s) responsible for the brutal murders of Sherry Ann Culp and her baby daughter, Kelsey, in Springfield, Virginia. On January 16, 1998, at approximately 6 p.m., Sherry Ann Culp, a 36-year-old mother of two who was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time, was fatally shot at point-blank range with a handgun by an unknown assailant(s) shortly after entering her teal green Honda Civic at the end of her workday.
Sherry was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital where Kelsey was delivered, but only survived for two days. Several witnesses reported hearing gunshots and observing a man running on the sidewalk near the murder scene at Dynatech Court near Cameron Brown Court and Fullerton Road in Newington in Fairfax County.
The man wore a dark-colored hooded jumpsuit. Additionally, a suspicious maroon pickup truck was also seen parked in the vicinity where the victim was shot.
Timeline of Events
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1998-01-16
18:00Sherry Ann Culp Shot
At approximately 6 p.m., Sherry Ann Culp was fatally shot at point-blank range with a handgun as she entered her teal green Honda Civic at the end of her workday.
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1998-01-16
unknownKelsey Culp Delivered
Sherry was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital where her unborn daughter Kelsey was delivered via emergency procedure.
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1998-01-18
Kelsey Culp Dies
Baby Kelsey, born prematurely as a result of the shooting, died two days after birth.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 16, 1998 at 6:00 PM
Last Updated:June 7, 2026
Up to $10,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:January 16, 1998 at 6:00 PM
Last Updated:June 7, 2026
Up to $10,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case