Benefit ride reminds area of unsolved Metzler, Childs case

On Saturday, the families of David Metzler and Heidi Childs along with local officers wanted to make sure nobody would forget about the unsolved case.

They held a memory ride on Saturday to continue awareness for David and Heidi and to remind everyone that a killer is on the loose.

The ride raised money for a memorial fund, which benefits Operation Smile and Campus Crusade for Christ in the couple’s honor.
   
Starting at Heritage Baptist Church, riders lined up ready to go. The bikers rode from Lynchburg to Montgomery County to remember David Metzler and Heidi Childs.

Heidi’s father, Don Childs, led the pack and doesn’t want people to forget the unsolved case.

“Some posters will come and just keep public aware because quite frankly this person is still out there,” he said.

Stories in our area have gotten nationwide attention, from Morgan Harrington’s disappearance to the Fort Hood shooting suspect who once lived in Roanoke.

“Everybody’s been dealing with a lot of loss and tragedy, and it’s a shame, but what I’m hoping is now citizens will be more diligent now to help,” said Childs.

While the benefit ride hit the road, others like Tim Buzzelli with Mountain Frost Creamery also wanted to pitch in with the memorial fund. Both David and Heidi used to work at the ice cream shop.  They held a scoop-a-thon on Saturday afternoon.

The shop has also been selling bracelets with both Heidi’s and David’s names printed on the front. So far, they’ve raised about a thousand dollars just selling the bracelets which will go to the memorial fund.

After all the recent attention our area has gotten lately, Childs said, “All those things are really important but this is also important and we feel we just want to keep this out in the public.“

Once the riders made it to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, they took part in a silent auction which sold anything from paintings, to motorcycle helmets and restaurant gift cards.

It was money spent in David and Heidi’s honor more than two months after their deaths.

“For myself and my family, it was yesterday you know. The loss is still there, and we grieve,” Childs said.

Ride organizers say they hope to have their fundraising totals tallied at the beginning of the week between the silent auction, donations, and the fee paid to take part in the ride. There were about 80 bikes that took part in the ride, and it cost $20 per person.

In addition to the memorial fund, there’s also a reward in any information that could lead to an arrest. Heidi’s father tells us they’re still figuring out the most recent total but he believes it may have reached $70,000 .

If you would like to donate money to the memorial fund which helps Operation Smile and Campus Crusade for Christ, you can make checks payable to the following:

Lynchburg Police Helping Hands Foundation
Attention: Cindy Kozerow
805 Court Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504