By Lauren King
The Virginian-Pilot
SUFFOLK, Va. — A 69-year-old woman who died after being shot inside her home has been identified as a retired Philadelphia police officer.
Virginia Mae Hill was found by Suffolk officers at her home in the 400 block of Collier Crescent on Saturday about 5:30 a.m. She was taken to Sentara Obici Hospital where she later died, according to a Suffolk police news release.
No other details about her death have been released. Officers are investigating her death as a homicide.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, text the information to “CRIMES” (274637) with the keyword “SPDVATIP” or visit www.tipsubmit.com.
According to police, they notified the Philadelphia Police Department of her death as a courtesy.
Hill was named the Officer of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in January 2002, according to a news release from the group. She was assigned to the Philadelphia Police Department’s Juvenile Aid Division at the time.
Her law enforcement career began in 1977 when she was a transit officer in the city. She transferred to the Juvenile Aid Division in 1981, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund news release. She spent most of her career working to find missing children and investigate crimes against children.
In 1984, she was designated the department’s lead investigator of cases involving children missing for more than 30 days, the news release said. One of her most challenging cases came in June 2000. Hill learned the body of an unidentified juvenile male was found in New Jersey. She reviewed New Jersey State Police reports and learned that the body was found on Oct. 16, 1975, but it was never identified.
Through photo comparisons and dental records, she was able to confirm that the body found was that of Martin Burkle who went missing on Oct. 13, 1975 at the age of 16.
Her work also earned her membership to the Vidocq Society, an organization which honors Eugene Francois Vidocq, an 18th century French police officer who founded the Surete by applying forensic skills and experience to “cold” cases. The organization evaluates and investigates unsolved crimes that are brought to them. They charge no fees, according to the news release.
Hill had four children and several grandchildren.
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