Skip to content
Unsolved homicide

Killing of Joseph Alex Ray

Year
1988
Where
Chesapeake, Virginia
Source
Virginia State Police
Evidence
1
What the record says

Prior to his body being found, Joseph Alex Ray was last seen on July 12, 1988. On July 19, 1988, the victim's decomposed body was found on the on-ramp to Interstate 64 from S. Military Highway in the City of Chesapeake. The cause of death could not be determined. ViCAP # 1990VA00014

From the Virginia State Police cold case database. Records change. The source is the authority.

Where to start

Got ten minutes? Do one of these.

What does the record establish, and what has never been explained?

  • Read the source and write down every date, place and name it gives.
  • Find the earliest news report you can and note what it says that later accounts dropped.
  • List what has never been explained. One line each.

New to this? Read the field guide. Five short lessons.

Coverage and records

What is out there.

Nobody has researched this case yet. Have the AI search the web for reporting, podcasts and videos about it.