In 1973, the brutal murder of drama major Virginia Olson shocked Asheville, NC. Decades later, a cop and his professor brother delve into the notorious cold case, uncovering new truths about the crime, its victims, and suspects, including whispers of a cover-up by an influential family.
A MURDER ON CAMPUS: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case
Figure 1: Virginia Olson's Grave, New Prospect Church Cemetery, Decatur County, Tennessee
Figure 2: McLean High School Thespians, Spring 1971 (Virginia Olson pictured in the far right, wearing a white hat), Photo Courtesy of: Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Figure 3: Virginia Olson and Jeff Doyle, McLean High School, Spring 1971, Photo Courtesy of: Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Figure 4: Virginia Olson, circa 1971, McLean High School, Photo Courtesy of: Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Figure 5: Virginia Olson, 1970, Photo Courtesy of: Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Figure 6: Virginia Olson, 1971 "Informal McLean High School Yearbook Picture," Photo Courtesy of: Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
Figure 7: Aerial view of UNCA Campus circa 1973, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 8: Students Moving in, August 1972, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 9: Poet Nikki Giovanni Visits UNC Asheville during 1972-1973 year, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 10: UNC Asheville Students Attend Campus Assembly, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 11: Winter, 1972-1973, at UNC Asheville, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 12: Prof. Arnold Wengrow, who directed Virginia Olson in U.S.A during the Fall 1972 semester. This would be her final production, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 13: Playbill from U.S.A, October 1972. Virginia Olson played "Janey Williams," Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 14: Botanical Gardens Walking Trail, 1973, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 15: The last public image of Virginia Olson, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 16: The UNCA Drama Department performed Tartuffe the same month Virginia Olson was killed, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 17: Summer, 1973. Students departed campus with no resolution in the Olson case. Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 18: Student-led newspapers continued to provide updates on the Olson investigation well into the 1973-1974 academic year, Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 19: Terry Hyatt, one of North Carolina's most notorious serial killers, is currently on death row in Central Prison in Raleigh, NC, Photo Courtesy of NC Department of Corrections
Figure 20: Highland Hospital Postcard, mid-20th century. Highland Hospital’s marketing emphasized an atmosphere of ease and leisure. Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
Figure 21: Graduation Day, 1976. Olson would have graduated in this class. Photo Courtesy of: D.H. Ramsey Library Special Collections, UNC Asheville, 28804
