Radford University coed Gina Hall was last seen June 28, 1980, after going out to dance at a Blacksburg nightclub.
Stephen Epperly would be convicted of her murder. Her body has never been found. Prosecutors successfully utilized circumstantial and forensic evidence to secure the conviction.
Her sister, Dlana Bodmer, has continued to search for anything of her sister. That has included “body remnants,” which she has sent to forensic labs to determine if they are Gina’s.
The trial set a historic milestone in the Commonwealth’s history, proving a person can be convicted without a body.
The case was detailed in a true-crime book by Ron Peterson, “Under the Trestle.” Bodmer has written an earlier book, which detailed her journey in dealing with the aftermath of her sister’s death.
Bodmer took an opportunity this week to release excerpts from her second book, “Web of Lies Unveiled: A Day Made in Hell.” The first one, “The Miraculous Journey—A Day Made in Heaven” has been published and released. Bodmer is still working on the second one.
In the unpublished book, she talks about conversations later in life with several of Epperly’s friends about that night in 1980.
One of those centered on court testimony, where Epperly’s friends walked outside of the Blacksburg Marriott so he could gain a key to the “lake house.” It was during some of those later conversations with Gina’s sister, they admitted a key was under a cinderblock sitting outside the lake house.
Bodmer has questioned which statement is the right one.
She says in the book, “a lying tongue is but for a moment. Truth endures forever.” Bodmer continued to receive reports in Gina’s case, and it was a phone conversation with Epperly’s friend, Skipper King which opened her eyes.
She says in the book during a phone conversation Skipper even questioned his own court testimony on giving Epperly a key in the parking lot versus one being under the cinderblock at the house.
In a social media post, Bodmer said:
“As many already know, I have spent a decade researching and writing down what I know to be The Truth about my sister’s murder. Those FACTS have been compiled. For five years, I have been editing and re-editing this very detailed manuscript—600,000 words, all in one place. Web of Lies Unveiled: A Day Made in Hell is a chronological factual case study. It will probably be at least three or four books when it is finished, and ready to publish. I do not know when that will be! Steps have been taken to assure the book(s) will be released no matter what life brings next.”
“I decided for this 46th anniversary of my sister’s murder, it might be an appropriate time to share the cinderblock story—a part of my book related to the Marriott, and the lies told.”
Gina’s family has pushed legislative changes called “Gina’s bill” that would prevent convicted murderers from being granted parole if they refuse to disclose the location of the victim’s remains. So far, it has not made it to the Virginia General Assembly floor.
Epperly has been denied parole five times.
