Aimee Willard
Encyclopedia
Aimee Willard was a star lacrosse
player who was murdered on her way home from a night out with friends. Her car was left running and her body was found, but the killer was unknown. The unsolved crime was featured on Unsolved Mysteries
. With DNA
evidence, her killer was identified as ex-convict Arthur Bomar, who was charged with and convicted of her murder. Bomar was sentenced to death. Many theories and suspects were investigated, but all were cleared when Bomar's DNA matched DNA found during the investigation. It is theorized Bomar hit Willard's car on purpose to get her to pull over. The story of her murder and investigation was also featured on an episode of Forensic Files
as well as the film "The Dark Side of Parole."
Willard was a star lacrosse player at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, Pennsylvania
and later at George Mason University
. In 1996, Willard led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring with fifty goals and twenty-nine assists. She was named to the All-Conference Team in both soccer and lacrosse, and to the All-American team for the Southeast region in lacrosse that year http://www.palacrosse.com/newsitems.php?id=319. US Lacrosse
has created a national award in her honor.
A small roadside memorial
on the exit ramp from Interstate 476
to southbound U.S. Route 1
marks the site where Willard's car was found.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player who was murdered on her way home from a night out with friends. Her car was left running and her body was found, but the killer was unknown. The unsolved crime was featured on Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries
Unsolved Mysteries is an American television program, hosted by Robert Stack, from 1987 until 2002, and later by Dennis Farina, starting in 2008...
. With DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
evidence, her killer was identified as ex-convict Arthur Bomar, who was charged with and convicted of her murder. Bomar was sentenced to death. Many theories and suspects were investigated, but all were cleared when Bomar's DNA matched DNA found during the investigation. It is theorized Bomar hit Willard's car on purpose to get her to pull over. The story of her murder and investigation was also featured on an episode of Forensic Files
Forensic Files
Forensic Files is an American documentary-style series which reveals how forensic science is used to solve violent crimes, mysterious accidents, and even outbreaks of illness. The show is broadcast on truTV, narrated by Peter Thomas, and produced by Medstar Television, in association with truTV...
as well as the film "The Dark Side of Parole."
Willard was a star lacrosse player at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur in Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township of Montgomery County and Radnor Township of Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located...
and later at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. In 1996, Willard led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring with fifty goals and twenty-nine assists. She was named to the All-Conference Team in both soccer and lacrosse, and to the All-American team for the Southeast region in lacrosse that year http://www.palacrosse.com/newsitems.php?id=319. US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
has created a national award in her honor.
A small roadside memorial
Roadside memorial
A roadside memorial is a marker that usually commemorates a site where a person died suddenly and unexpectedly, away from home. Unlike a grave site headstone, which marks where a body is laid, the memorial marks the last place on earth where a person was alive - although in the past travelers were...
on the exit ramp from Interstate 476
Interstate 476
Interstate 476 is a auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania designated between Interstate 95 near Chester and Interstate 81 near Scranton, serving as the primary north–south Interstate corridor through eastern Pennsylvania....
to southbound U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
marks the site where Willard's car was found.