The person at the center of this case
Sherry Ann Culp and her newborn daughter Kelsey Culp
Cold Case · Open
28 years waiting · since 1998
SHERRY ANN CULP
Justice for Sherry Ann Culp and her newborn 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-colored hooded jumpsuit seen running from the murder scene by multiple witnesses?
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vehicle
Lead #2What was the significance of the maroon pickup truck parked near the crime scene, and who owned or was driving it?
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evidence
Lead #3What handgun was used in the shooting, and can ballistics or forensic evidence connect it to a known suspect?
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 with a handgun as she entered her car after work in Springfield, Virginia. Her unborn daughter Kelsey was delivered at the hospital but survived only two days. Despite witness accounts of a man in a dark hooded jumpsuit fleeing the scene and a suspicious maroon pickup truck nearby, the identity of the killer or killers remains unknown nearly three decades later, and investigators continue seeking information that could lead to an arrest and conviction.
Case
#364
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Washington D.C.), Fairfax County Police Department, 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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witness
Lead #4Can any of the witnesses who heard gunshots or saw the fleeing suspect provide additional identifying details after 25+ years?
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
18:00Shooting of Sherry Ann Culp
Sherry Ann Culp, 36 years old and 8½ months pregnant, was fatally shot at point-blank range with a handgun as she entered her teal green Honda Civic at the end of her workday near Dynatech Court in Newington.
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1998-01-16
Birth and death of Kelsey Culp
Sherry was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital where her unborn daughter Kelsey was delivered, but the infant survived only two days.
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:January 16, 1998 at 6:00 PM
Last Updated:May 10, 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:May 10, 2026
Up to $10,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case