WASHINGTON — Authorities are once again asking for help to solve the murder of a young woman from decades ago. Alicia Showalter Reynolds disappeared in March 1996 and may have fallen victim to a Route 29 stalker.

“Yes, we are still hopeful,” said Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller. “Cold cases get solved all the time.”

Before Reynolds’ body was found, the 25-year-old last was seen with her white Mercury Tracer parked along Route 29 in Culpeper County.

Witnesses reported seeing a man with her who had a dark pickup, possibly a green Nissan.

The man was described as white, between 5-foot-10 inches and 6 feet tall, with light brown hair, of medium build and between 35 and 45 years old.

“You advance that to where we are today — this individual would be in his 60s to 70s,” Geller said.

Geller said other women drivers at the time reported a white man pulling them over or attempting to stop them in that same area along Route 29.

Maybe someone will remember something helpful, Geller said. “Thinking … you know, I’ve always thought this weird thing about that night — that incident,” she added.

Geller said someone might even know the killer and have developed a conscience, or now feels safe or in a better position to come forward with information.