The person at the center of this case
Sherry Ann Culp and her baby daughter Kelsey Culp
Cold Case · Open - Unsolved
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? Can he be identified through witness descriptions or surveillance?
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vehicle
Lead #2What is the significance of the maroon pickup truck parked near the murder scene? Can it be traced through registration records or witness identification?
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evidence
Lead #3What forensic evidence was recovered from the crime scene, the victim, or the vehicle that could identify the shooter?
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 in Springfield, Virginia. Her unborn daughter, Kelsey, was delivered at the hospital but survived only two days. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a dark hooded jumpsuit fleeing the scene and a suspicious maroon pickup truck nearby, but the shooter's identity remains unknown after nearly three decades.
Case
#364
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Washington D.C.), Fairfax County Police Department, and U.S. 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 #4Are there additional witnesses who may have seen the suspect or the maroon truck but have not yet come forward?
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clue
Lead #5Was this a random act of violence or targeted murder? What was Sherry's background and relationships that might suggest motive?
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.
🔍
1998-01-16
unknownKelsey 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
unknownKelsey Died
Kelsey Culp, delivered prematurely, survived only 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:October 23, 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:October 23, 2026
Up to $10,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case