When two remarkably similar Northern Virginia women are murdered just months apart in nearly identical crimes,

their neighbors fear that a serial offender is at large.

DNA evidence proves them right, and investigators strive to identify a serial killer who preys on the elderly in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Music in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Thanks for listening to Last Seen Alive. I'm your host Leah, crime analyst by day, and true crime storyteller by night.

And as always, I'm your co-host, Scott.

A quick heads up.

This episode contains discussion of sexual assault.

We won't go into any graphic detail, but still, please listen with care.

Marion Marshall was last seen alive on August 14, 2006. She was 72 years old and lived in Springfield,

Virginia. Springfield is a census-designated area in Fairfax County, just southwest of D.C.

The vibe is middle-class suburban,

the population is diverse, and the violent crime rate is significantly lower than the Virginia average. With its abundant parks, quality schools, and proximity to the capital, it's an especially

attractive area for families. Marion had lived in Northern Virginia for most of her

adult life. She was originally from Illinois, but for decades she'd worked as a librarian in D.C. in its

suburbs. By 2006, she had retired, but she hadn't slowed down. Instead, she'd become heavily

involved in local volunteerism.

In addition to other charitable pursuits, she generously donated time to teaching English as a second language.

And there was ample demand for this since Springfield has a sizable immigrant population.

According to 2006 census data, about a third of the area's households spoke a language other than English at home, and of those households, half had limited English proficiency. So, Marion's services

were very useful and much appreciated in her community. Unsurprisingly, considering her long

career as a librarian, Marion also loved to read and was an active member of

...