Richmond, VA -- July 17, 1998 -- Richmond investigators are now closing the book on a 14-year-old homicide case in the city.
The 1985 disappearance and murder of Tammy Agee made headlines, and had investigators all around the region combing for clues.
From his prison cell, 33-year-old Jamie Donaldson pleaded guilty to raping, tying up the 14-year-old girl, and ultimately killing Tammy.
Authorities said he confessed to the crime, rather than face a capital murder charge.
Jamie Donaldson was the main suspect in the murder of Tammy back in 1985.
"You know that he did it, but you don't have enough evidence to prove it," said Det. Ray Williams of the Richmond Police.
Williams was on this case from the beginning, and says the break in the case came during a jailhouse confession last year.
"He describes pulling the tree, how he ties her, what he uses to tie her with, everything in great detail.
So we knew we had the right guy," he said.
According to the confession, Donaldson killed Tammy in the woods off Dock Street.
A hunter who was out for a walk found her remains months later.
Investigators still have all the evidence and say it is a case that affected all of them.
Williams said the case troubled him from day one.
"Here's this girl that was passed from foster home to foster home her entire life, and she was like an old shoe, and it didn't seem like someone cared for Tammy," he said.
When Tammy was 3, authorities took her from her mother because of neglect.
For many, the confession in this case brings closure years after the teen's brutal murder.
"We just got the impression that it had bothered him so long that he wanted to tell someone," said Lloyd Redford of the Richmond Police.
Commonwealth's Attorney Claire Caldwell says she was happy with Donaldson's plea, since this was an older case, finding witnesses may have been difficult.
In addition, there was some question as to the Donaldson's mental stability, so they felt a guaranteed plea was much safer than dealing with any possible delays of a trail.
The 1985 disappearance and murder of Tammy Agee made headlines, and had investigators all around the region combing for clues.
From his prison cell, 33-year-old Jamie Donaldson pleaded guilty to raping, tying up the 14-year-old girl, and ultimately killing Tammy.
Authorities said he confessed to the crime, rather than face a capital murder charge.
Jamie Donaldson was the main suspect in the murder of Tammy back in 1985.
"You know that he did it, but you don't have enough evidence to prove it," said Det. Ray Williams of the Richmond Police.
Williams was on this case from the beginning, and says the break in the case came during a jailhouse confession last year.
"He describes pulling the tree, how he ties her, what he uses to tie her with, everything in great detail.
So we knew we had the right guy," he said.
According to the confession, Donaldson killed Tammy in the woods off Dock Street.
A hunter who was out for a walk found her remains months later.
Investigators still have all the evidence and say it is a case that affected all of them.
Williams said the case troubled him from day one.
"Here's this girl that was passed from foster home to foster home her entire life, and she was like an old shoe, and it didn't seem like someone cared for Tammy," he said.
When Tammy was 3, authorities took her from her mother because of neglect.
For many, the confession in this case brings closure years after the teen's brutal murder.
"We just got the impression that it had bothered him so long that he wanted to tell someone," said Lloyd Redford of the Richmond Police.
Commonwealth's Attorney Claire Caldwell says she was happy with Donaldson's plea, since this was an older case, finding witnesses may have been difficult.
In addition, there was some question as to the Donaldson's mental stability, so they felt a guaranteed plea was much safer than dealing with any possible delays of a trail.
Richmond, VA -- July 17, 1998 -- Richmond investigators are now closing the book on a 14-year-old homicide case in the city.
The 1985 disappearance and murder of Tammy Agee made headlines, and had investigators all around the region combing for clues.
From his prison cell, 33-year-old Jamie Donaldson pleaded guilty to raping, tying up the 14-year-old girl, and ultimately killing Tammy.
Authorities said he confessed to the crime, rather than face a capital murder charge.
Jamie Donaldson was the main suspect in the murder of Tammy back in 1985.
"You know that he did it, but you don't have enough evidence to prove it," said Det. Ray Williams of the Richmond Police.
Williams was on this case from the beginning, and says the break in the case came during a jailhouse confession last year.
"He describes pulling the tree, how he ties her, what he uses to tie her with, everything in great detail.
So we knew we had the right guy," he said.
According to the confession, Donaldson killed Tammy in the woods off Dock Street.
A hunter who was out for a walk found her remains months later.
Investigators still have all the evidence and say it is a case that affected all of them.
Williams said the case troubled him from day one.
"Here's this girl that was passed from foster home to foster home her entire life, and she was like an old shoe, and it didn't seem like someone cared for Tammy," he said.
When Tammy was 3, authorities took her from her mother because of neglect.
For many, the confession in this case brings closure years after the teen's brutal murder.
"We just got the impression that it had bothered him so long that he wanted to tell someone," said Lloyd Redford of the Richmond Police.
Commonwealth's Attorney Claire Caldwell says she was happy with Donaldson's plea, since this was an older case, finding witnesses may have been difficult.
In addition, there was some question as to the Donaldson's mental stability, so they felt a guaranteed plea was much safer than dealing with any possible delays of a trail.
The 1985 disappearance and murder of Tammy Agee made headlines, and had investigators all around the region combing for clues.
From his prison cell, 33-year-old Jamie Donaldson pleaded guilty to raping, tying up the 14-year-old girl, and ultimately killing Tammy.
Authorities said he confessed to the crime, rather than face a capital murder charge.
Jamie Donaldson was the main suspect in the murder of Tammy back in 1985.
"You know that he did it, but you don't have enough evidence to prove it," said Det. Ray Williams of the Richmond Police.
Williams was on this case from the beginning, and says the break in the case came during a jailhouse confession last year.
"He describes pulling the tree, how he ties her, what he uses to tie her with, everything in great detail.
So we knew we had the right guy," he said.
According to the confession, Donaldson killed Tammy in the woods off Dock Street.
A hunter who was out for a walk found her remains months later.
Investigators still have all the evidence and say it is a case that affected all of them.
Williams said the case troubled him from day one.
"Here's this girl that was passed from foster home to foster home her entire life, and she was like an old shoe, and it didn't seem like someone cared for Tammy," he said.
When Tammy was 3, authorities took her from her mother because of neglect.
For many, the confession in this case brings closure years after the teen's brutal murder.
"We just got the impression that it had bothered him so long that he wanted to tell someone," said Lloyd Redford of the Richmond Police.
Commonwealth's Attorney Claire Caldwell says she was happy with Donaldson's plea, since this was an older case, finding witnesses may have been difficult.
In addition, there was some question as to the Donaldson's mental stability, so they felt a guaranteed plea was much safer than dealing with any possible delays of a trail.
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