***Updated*** Wrote:
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> Ruthanne Lodato Homicide: Alexandria Police Chief,
> Mayor Attempt to Reassure Community
>
> Suspect is still at large; officials address idea
> of "serial killer" with three unsolved murders in
> Alexandria.
>
http://delray.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/l
> odato-homicide-alexandria-police-mayor-attempt-to-
> reassure-community-delray
>
> Alexandria Chief of Police Earl Cook and
> Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, in a news conference
> Friday, attempted to reassure the community that
> police are doing everything they can to solve
> Thursday's homicide and to protect the citizens of
> Alexandria.
>
> "Yesterday we were shocked by the tragic events
> unfolding on Ridge Road Drive," said Euille.
> "Today, we grieve and we extend our deepest
> sympathies to the family and friends to Ruthanne
> Lodato, a beloved music teacher who touched many
> lives in this city. Our thoughts are also with the
> other victim [a caretaker was shot and is in the
> hospital] of this senseless crime."
>
> "For me personally, I knew her family, her
> relatives, as a lifelong resident of this city,"
> the mayor said.
>
> Alexandria music teacher Ruthanne Lodato died at
> the hospital Thursday after she was shot at about
> 11:30 a.m. answering the door of her home on Ridge
> Road Drive in Alexandria; a caretaker was wounded
> and is in the hospital. A grandmother was
> reportedly also at the scene but was not hurt.
>
> The shooter is on the loose and police said there
> have been no sightings of the man. The chief
> described him as an older white male, balding with
> gray hair, a full beard and wearing a tan jacket.
> No age range was given. Police hope to soon have a
> sketch of the man in hopes someone might recognize
> him, the police chief said.
>
> Police are waiting for the other victim in the
> shooting, described as a caretaker, to become
> medically stable before interviewing her again.
> She was reportedly shot in the arm.
>
> Police are also waiting to interview family
> members who are grieving, to see if they might
> know of any possible reasons someone would target
> Lodato, the police chief said.
>
> Reporters at Friday's news conference addressed
> the possibility of there being a "serial killer"
> on the loose who is targeting people in their
> homes in the area, after the unsolved murders last
> year of Ron Kirby and in 2003, of Nancy Dunning.
> Both were, like Lodato, fairly high-profile
> citizens who were well-liked and well-known in the
> community. All were shot in their homes during the
> day.
>
> "I have a high level of confidence in our public
> safety folks to investigate and find the person
> who committed this act," the mayor said.
> "Residents have a right to be concerned but I
> don't want them thinking there is a serial killer
> on the loose."
>
> "We want folks to not be afraid to be out and
> about," he said, although he urged residents to be
> aware of their surroundings and take the usual
> precautions.
>
> The police chief said right now there is no
> evidence linking the murders but said police are
> open to looking at similarities in the cases.
>
> "We have received a large number of tips"
> regarding Thursday's shooting, the chief said, and
> encouraged anyone else who knows anything to call
> (703) 746-6864. Callers may remain anonymous.
>
> Alexandria Chief of Police Earl Cook and
> Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, in a news conference
> Friday, attempted to reassure the community that
> police are doing everything they can to solve
> Thursday's homicide.
No offense Mr. Mayor, but you say you have a "high level" of confidence that the police will find the person who committed this murder. As a citizen of Alexandria, I wish we could share your confidence. Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby, and now Ruthanne Lodato all killed in home invasions. All unsolved. Given the track record here, it seems that having a high level of confidence might be misplaced. I am sure you know something we all don't, and am hopeful an arrest is imminent.