Under the Trestle

1. The Mysterious Disappearance of Gina Hall

This was the last time Dlana would see her sister.

A vibrant young woman. Gina Renee Hall, an 18-year-old Radford University freshman, was known for her positive energy, love of dancing, and strong moral character despite overcoming severe childhood burns. She was popular, active in sports and church, and deeply connected to her family, particularly her sister Dlana and father John Hall. Her decision to go dancing alone at the Blacksburg Marriott lounge on June 28, 1980, was uncharacteristic.

Last known contact. Gina left the nightclub shortly after midnight with Stephen Epperly, a 28-year-old former Virginia Tech football player she had just met. Around 1:00 am, she made a nervous phone call to her sister Dlana from a lake house, stating she was with "Steve" and needed to come home. This was the last time anyone heard from her.

Immediate concern. Gina's failure to return home the next morning caused immediate alarm for Dlana and her friends, as it was completely out of character for the responsible young woman. The search began informally among friends and family, quickly escalating to involve law enforcement as the hours passed with no sign of Gina or her car.

2. A Violent Past Points to Stephen Epperly

Old high school teammates are quick to recall Epperly’s temper, using the expression, “He had a screw loose.”

Charming but volatile. Stephen Matteson Epperly presented a confident, clean-cut image, a former Virginia Tech football player from a respected local family. However, beneath the surface lay a history of aggression and violence, particularly towards women. Despite two previous rape charges, he had been acquitted both times, leaving him with no criminal convictions but a disturbing reputation among those who knew him well.

Escalating behavior. Acquaintances described Epperly as a "ticking time bomb" with a massive ego and a propensity for flying into rages over minor disagreements. His aggression extended to women, with accounts of him being sexually forceful and believing that women who left a bar with him were obligated to have sex. His temper was legendary, sometimes requiring multiple people to restrain him during fights.

Last person seen. Epperly was the last known person to be with Gina Hall, leaving the Blacksburg Marriott with her around 12:30 am. His connection to the missing student, coupled with his history of violence and sexual aggression, quickly made him the prime suspect in the investigation, despite his initial calm demeanor and denial of wrongdoing.

3. The Lake House Becomes a Crime Scene

police investigators had discovered blood splattered throughout four rooms of their home, even on Mr. Davis’ golf shoes and their refrigerator door.

A friend's borrowed key. Stephen Epperly borrowed the key to the luxurious Claytor Lake house from his friend Bill King, whose parents, the Davis', were on vacation. Epperly took Gina Hall to this secluded location after leaving the nightclub. Bill King and his companion Robyn Robinson arrived at the lake house later that night (around 3:45-4:00 am) and briefly interacted with Epperly, but neither saw nor heard Gina Hall.

Disturbing discoveries. When the Davis' returned from vacation and police searched the lake house, they found extensive evidence of a violent crime. Bloodstains were discovered in four rooms, including a large, partially cleaned stain on the den carpet. Other items with blood included:

• A golf shoe with blood caked in the spikes, containing pubic hair.
• A refrigerator door with blood smears and embedded hair/fibers.
• A chair leg, dustpan, water pitcher, and mattock (digging tool).

Missing items. The Davis' also noted several items missing from the house, including an ornamental quilt, a bath mat, a can of bathroom cleaner, a roll of paper towels, and two blue towels. These items would later become crucial pieces of evidence, suggesting attempts to clean up the scene and dispose of a body.

4. The Desperate Search for a Body Begins

Claytor Lake was the scene of one of the largest body searches in Virginia history.

Immediate mobilization. Upon discovering Gina's abandoned car with blood and hair in the trunk, law enforcement immediately launched a massive search operation. Recognizing the high probability of foul play, the focus quickly turned to finding Gina's body, particularly in and around Claytor Lake and the New River near where her car was found.

Extensive resources deployed. The search involved hundreds of personnel from multiple agencies and states, utilizing every available resource:

• Scuba divers conducting fingertip searches in the lake's murky depths.
• Boats dragging the lake and river bottom with grappling hooks.
• Cadaver-sniffing dogs trained to detect decomposing remains, searching both water and land.
• Amateur cavers exploring nearby caves.
• Helicopters scanning the river from above.
• Hundreds of civilian volunteers canvassing surrounding areas.

A race against time. Investigators understood the critical "First 48 Hours" rule, knowing that the chances of solving the case diminished significantly with each passing day. Despite the unprecedented scale of the search efforts, weeks passed with no sign of Gina Hall's remains, leaving her family and the community in agonizing uncertainty.

5. Unconventional Methods Aid the Investigation

No one realized it, but in six months, the German Shepherd and his handler residing in the camper would become star witnesses in a murder trial unlike any in Virginia history.

Psychic assistance. Desperate for leads, Gina's family and investigators turned to nationally known psychics. Jerry Stewart, a psychic from Iowa, provided descriptions of the killer and locations that impressed police with their uncanny accuracy, including details about the missing quilt and an area near where Gina's car was found. Dorothy Allison, another renowned police psychic, also offered insights, including a vision linking a Radford monument to Epperly's house and the car's location.

The "Superdog". A key turning point came with the arrival of John Preston and his German Shepherd, Harass II, a highly trained "man-tracking" dog. Preston conducted several demonstrations for investigators:

• Scenting on Epperly's underwear, the dog tracked a path from where Gina's car was found, over the trestle, and directly to Epperly's front door.
• The dog identified a blue towel found by the river from a lineup of identical towels after scenting Epperly's underwear.
• The dog tracked a scent from the blue towel to Epperly's car and then into the police station to where Epperly was being interviewed.

Compelling, but controversial. While the psychics provided intriguing, albeit unverified, information, the tracking dog's performance offered seemingly concrete evidence linking Epperly to key locations and items. This dog testimony, unprecedented in a Virginia murder trial, would become a central and highly debated element of the prosecution's case.

6. Circumstantial Evidence Mounts Against Epperly

"Steve, we know that you killed her."

Inconsistent statements. Stephen Epperly initially presented a calm, cooperative facade to investigators, providing an account of the night that included Gina leaving the lake house alive. However, his story contradicted Bill King and Robyn Robinson's statements, who testified they neither saw nor heard Gina at the lake house when they arrived. Epperly's request to King to "talk it down, not broadcast it" regarding his presence with Gina also raised suspicion.

Incriminating remarks. When confronted with mounting evidence and accused of the murder, Epperly's responses became increasingly telling. His statement to Trooper Austin Hall, "I'll think about it," when asked to reveal Gina's location, and his reaction to the tracking dog's performance ("That's a damn good dog," repeated three times) were interpreted as implied admissions of guilt. His question to Bill Cranwell about what could be done if the body wasn't found was particularly damning.

Physical evidence links. Forensic analysis, despite the limitations of 1980s technology, provided crucial links:

• Type 'O' human blood (Gina's type) found in her car trunk and splattered in the lake house.
• Head hairs similar to Gina's found in the trunk, on the refrigerator door, and on a blue towel.
• Pubic hair found on the bloody golf shoe spikes (not Epperly's).
• Carpet fibers from the lake house found on Gina's clothing and the blue towel.
• A head hair similar to Epperly's found on Gina's pants.

This body of circumstantial evidence, meticulously gathered over months, formed the core of the prosecution's case in the absence of a body or eyewitness.

7. The Unprecedented "No Body" Murder Trial

There was no precedent for a “No Body” murder conviction in Virginia legal history.

A prosecutor's dilemma. Commonwealth Attorney Everett Shockley faced an immense challenge: prosecuting a murder case without the victim's body, a confession, or an eyewitness to the crime. Legal precedent in Virginia required proof that a crime had occurred (corpus delicti), and historically, this had always involved presenting the victim's corpse. Peers advised Shockley against proceeding, fearing career suicide if he lost and the risk of double jeopardy if Epperly was acquitted and the body later found.

Building a circumstantial case. Shockley decided to move forward, relying entirely on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony to prove two things: first, that Gina Hall was dead, and second, that Stephen Epperly killed her. This required a meticulous presentation of every piece of evidence, no matter how small, to weave a compelling narrative for the jury.

Legal strategy. Shockley pursued a direct indictment from the grand jury, a strategy that limited the defense's pre-trial discovery. He also fought successfully against the defense's motion for a change of venue, ensuring the trial would be held in Pulaski County despite extensive local publicity. The trial itself became a landmark case, testing the boundaries of what constituted sufficient proof for a murder conviction in Virginia.

8. The Prosecution Builds a Powerful Case

"But that night, Steve Epperly was nothing but a ruthless killer!"

Proving death. The prosecution began by establishing that Gina Hall was, in fact, deceased. Character witnesses, including her sister, father, friends, and family physician, painted a picture of a stable, happy young woman with no reason to run away or harm herself. Testimony confirmed her bank account was untouched and her belongings left behind, leaving death as the only logical explanation for her prolonged disappearance.

Connecting Epperly to the crime. The Commonwealth systematically presented the circumstantial evidence:

• Bill King and Robyn Robinson's testimony placing Epperly at the lake house but not seeing Gina.
• Evidence of blood and cleanup attempts at the lake house.
• Forensic testimony on bloodstains, hair, and fibers linking Gina and Epperly to the lake house and Gina's car trunk.
• The discovery of Gina's ankle bracelet and bloodied clothing near the railroad trestle.
• The tracking dog testimony linking Epperly's scent to key locations and evidence items.
• Epperly's own incriminating statements and reactions when confronted.

Motive and opportunity. The prosecution argued that Epperly had the opportunity, being the last person seen with Gina at a secluded location. The motive, Shockley contended, was sexual rejection, leading to a violent outburst. The cleanup attempts and disposal of the body demonstrated consciousness of guilt and premeditation.

9. The Defense Faces Significant Challenges

"I believed that there was a very good possibility … I believed strongly that the Court would grant a motion to strike."

Limited discovery. Court-appointed attorneys Woody Lookabill and David Warburton faced an uphill battle from the start. Shockley's successful petition to the Virginia Supreme Court severely limited their ability to discover the full extent of the prosecution's evidence and witness statements before trial, forcing them to react as evidence was presented.

Attacking credibility and chain of custody. The defense strategy focused on creating reasonable doubt by challenging the reliability of the evidence and the credibility of witnesses. They questioned:

• Bill King's memory and motive for cooperating.
• Robyn Robinson's nervousness and ability to recall details.
• The chain of custody for several key evidence items, highlighting delays and potential contamination.
• The scientific validity and unprecedented nature of the tracking dog testimony, particularly after significant time and weather exposure.
• The reliability of the young witnesses who found Gina's clothing and the towel.

No defense witnesses. In a bold move, the defense chose not to call any witnesses, including Epperly himself. This decision aimed to reinforce their argument that the prosecution had failed to meet the burden of proof and that the evidence was insufficient for a conviction. However, it also meant the jury never heard Epperly's side of the story or saw him profess his innocence under oath.

10. A Landmark Conviction and Lengthy Appeals

"We, the jury, find the defendant, Stephen Matteson Epperly, guilty of first degree murder, as charged in the indictment, and fix his punishment at life imprisonment."

Guilty verdict. After only two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of first degree murder, sentencing Stephen Epperly to life imprisonment. This marked a historic moment as Virginia's first "no body" murder conviction without a confession or eyewitness. The verdict was met with relief by the Hall family and investigators, and shock by Epperly and his family.

Immediate appeal. Epperly immediately announced his intention to appeal, believing he could not be convicted without a body. His court-appointed attorneys, and later a new legal team including prominent attorneys and law professors, pursued multiple appeals over the next thirteen years, arguing various grounds including insufficient evidence, ineffective counsel, lack of change of venue, and the improper admission of tracking dog testimony (which faced increasing scrutiny nationally).

Conviction upheld. Despite the unique nature of the case and the persistent appeals, the conviction was upheld at every level, including twice by the Virginia Supreme Court and ultimately rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Stephen Epperly remains incarcerated, having never revealed the location of Gina Hall's body, leaving her family without the closure of a proper burial.

Last updated: May 16, 2025