Authorities in Montgomery County who are investigating the late August homicides of two Virginia Tech students called on hunters and hikers in the Craig Creek Road area to report suspicious items.

"If any item is found, please call 911 as soon as possible and do not touch the item, as there may be a need to process it as evidence," the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Friday afternoon.

The Virginia State Police, meanwhile, said a reward for information leading to a conviction rose to more than $50,000. Virginia Tech has offered $10,000, and friends and family of the victims have also donated money for a reward.

Heidi Childs, 18, of Forest and David Metzler, 19 of Lynchburg -- high school sweethearts -- were found shot on Aug. 27 at Caldwell Fields in the Jefferson National Forest, about 15 miles from the Tech campus.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 382-6900 or state police at (800) 542-5959.

-- Jorge Valencia