In real life, murders and other crimes are not unraveled within a 60-minute television show. This is no truer than in Alexandria where the unbelievable is still incomprehensible, astounding and unresolved.

Those involved with criminal investigations have difficult tasks; be assured there are no quitting times when shifts are completed.

Here are some important reminders:

• Ruthanne Lodato was killed just after opening a front door on Feb. 6, in Alexandria’s North Ridge section.

Thirteen days have passed with only a sketch of an alleged murderer distributed by police. No suspects are in custody. Lots of tips have reached the Wheeler Avenue police headquarters.

• Dr. Ronald Kirby of Elm Street, Rosemont section of Alexandria, was found murdered in his home on Nov. 12.

It’s been three months, seven days or a total of 99 days without an arrest in the Kirby case.

• One of the longest unsolved murders involves Nancy Dunning, wife of then Sheriff Jim Dunning, now deceased. She was killed in her home on Dec. 5, 2003 in Del Ray.

This case has baffled law enforcement of local, state and federal jurisdictions. It may be considered in the cold case file but its always in the hearts and minds of her friends after more than a decade.

For the record, the Dunning tragedy has gone unsolved for 10 years, 2 months, 14 days, for a total of 3,729 days.

These major crimes have caused enormous anxieties among the populace and flummoxed past and present police officials and detectives.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the city’s judiciary, city police to investigators from the State Police and FBI probers are at work.

Whoever the culprit, authorities are having sleepless nights as they attempt to calm the nerves of citizens while uniformed and plainclothes police are looking all over the city in every nook and cranny.

The Lodato-Kirby-Dunning tragedies are exactly that. None of these victims or their families should have been disrupted or destroyed.

Each of these unsolved travesties must be remembered. The daily count of the mysterious matters must be ongoing.

As of this edition of the Gazette-Packet, here’s a repeat and re-emphasis of the facts:

• Ruthanne Lodato, 13 days, fatally shot on Feb. 6;

• Ronald Kirby, 3 months, 7days or 99 days, fatally shot on Nov. 12;

• Nancy Dunning, 10 years, 2 months, 14 days, or 3,729 days, fatally shot on Dec. 5, 2003.

Investigators will say somebody knows the killer or killers. True. Some people probably have seen possible suspects walking up and down streets, even though many don’t want to think murderers take time to enjoy pleasures within the city limits.

For sure the cases will be solved. That’s the opinion of many expert homicide detectives, both retired and active. That day can’t be too soon, not only for the families involved but for the community at large.