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Tech Killer's Motive Elusive

April 12, 2008

By Rex Bowman

Days from the anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre, the Virginia State Police said yesterday that they are still at least several more months from completing their investigation.

Not only have investigators been unable to determine a motive for the April 16 shootings of 32 students and teachers by a mentally disturbed student, they haven't been able to find the wallet of Seung-Hui Cho, the gunman.

"We are still confident that Seung-Hui Cho acted alone in committing these crimes," Col. W. Steven Flaherty, superintendent of state police, said in a written statement. "His secretive nature and the fact that he confided in no one about his plans have made it extremely challenging for investigators to reconstruct the events of his life and activities leading up to and on April 16 as there is nobody out there to corroborate our findings and theories."

Spokeswoman Corinne Geller said the transcription of many of the 450 phone calls related to the incident, including 911 calls from students, just has been completed. Investigators are reviewing the calls.

Geller said there are other questions: What did Cho, a senior English major, do with his computer hard drive, cell phone and wallet? Investigators searched the drained Duck Pond on Tech's campus but found nothing.

The biggest unanswered question concerns Cho's motives. He sent a package of videotapes and written statements to NBC the day of his deadly attack, but the state task force that reviewed the massacre found it to be rambling and too incoherent to have much value.

Geller said investigators trying to solve the puzzle have compiled 30 volumes — each contained in a three-ring binder — of evidentiary and investigative reports. She said investigators also have received additional leads over the past year that are being followed up on.

Investigators also have the final analysis from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on more than 250 pieces of ballistic evidence, Geller said.

Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.