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Caldwell Fields Campground
Other than the fact that it runs through the Jefferson National Forest, there’s little to distinguish Craig Creek Road from a multitude of other rural roads in southwest Virginia.
But just nine miles from its intersection with U.S. 460 near Blacksburg, a few bouquets of flowers serve as evidence of another tragedy that shook the Virginia Tech community, as well as the Lynchburg area.
A sign designating the Caldwell Fields area welcomes passersby to a parking area overlooking Addison Field, where the bodies of David Metzler, 19, of Campbell County and Heidi Childs, 18, of Forest, were found dead, both with bullet wounds, according to authorities.
The lot overlooks a field of wildflowers with a view of the mountains that Montgomery County officials said serves as a popular scenic hangout for Tech students.
On campus Saturday afternoon, a wreath displayed on the Drillfield served as a visible reminder of the tragedy.
“It kind of brought back like the whole April 16, 2007, thing,” said Thomas Faller, a freshman, referring to Seung Hui Cho’s rampage in which he killed 32 students and himself.
“Even though I wasn’t here for that, it still brought it back. You could tell everybody was, like, feeling it again,” he said.
But life as usual had resumed for many students, who chose to enjoy the warm day with games of football and Frisbee.
Faller said it appeared campus life was back to the usual level of activity.
“It’s gone on the same as it has, like the whole entire time I’ve been here,” he said.
Faller said he didn’t know Childs or Metzler, but knew of them, through the university’s Young Life Christian outreach.
Freshman Alycia Shaffer also said she was active in the Young Life community, but didn’t know either of the victims.
“It’s sad,” she said, adding that she’s been praying for the victims’ families.
The families announced funerals would be held for both victims Monday afternoon, at Heritage Baptist Church.
Metzler’s service is scheduled for 1 p.m., with Childs’ service following at 3 p.m.
Interment will follow the second service, and both will be buried at Virginia Memorial Park.
By Saturday evening, officials had not named a suspect in the case, and said they were considering the deaths a “random act.”
Grant Brennen, another freshman, said though normal life was resuming, he still felt concern among the students.
“I think it’s more tense around here,” he said, adding he was well aware of the previous tragedies, which didn’t dissuade him from his choice to attend Tech.
“I felt pretty safe, because I have a bunch of family around here,” he said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call the office at (540) 382-2951.
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