A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. There was an error processing your request. Non-Emergency: (540) 662-4131 Best trending stories from the week, delivered Saturday morning. According to the news release, officials then arrested Larry Mullenax, 25, and charged him with second-degree murder in the death of Curran. These 5 stories of serial killers in Virginia are no exception. It you have information please contact the Frederick County Sheriff's Office at 540-662-6168. And because Riley was a convicted felon who'd threatened Grimes on Instagram, Mann said Grimes had a reasonable fear for his life when Riley approached Grimes' car in the Five Guys/Okinawa Restaurant parking lot on Adams Drive. ``This was the work of a mean, hateful person, Lawrence Ambrogi, the Frederick County commonwealths attorney, said after Hoverter was led from the courtroom in leg irons. Homicide victim identified as missing Winchester woman, Dog found dead under suspicious circumstances, SCSO says, ACSO looking for suspicious man in the Weyers Cave area, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Impacts the end of the COVID public health emergency will have, FDA advisers give green light for RSV vaccine approval; why this is important for older adults, Eastern Mennonite boys basketball defeats Walsingham 69-56, advances to VISAA DIII semifinals, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. What I have done is extremely selfish and cowardly. Former bluegrass mecca may be deemed blighted, McDonald seeks to move trial in Front Royal-Warren County EDA case, Winchester-Frederick Visitors Bureau bringing more tourists than ever to the area, Area briefs: Handley's Fusco named Region 4C Player of the Year, New terminal project takes off at airport, City Council gives go-ahead to ZeroPak affordable apartments, Ward Plaza sale delayed but expected to be finalized, First traffic signals could be coming to small town of Boyce, Open Forum: Reacting to Cline's town hall. On Tuesday, Norman Hoverter, her mothers boyfriend, pleaded guilty to murder and abduction. I ask you to please consider my words and show leniency.". Our nationally-comparable school ratings are covered under US Patent No. The search engine finds the neighborhoods that are the optimum fit to the set of criteria you choose. appear. ``Mr. Hoverters contention would be that the prime mover, the aggressor in this case, was the mother, and that he was the bystander, said J. Michael Solak, Hoverters court-appointed lawyer. They said the children rarely left the house without either Hoverter or their mother, neither of whom worked. Remaining cloudy. Grimes is scheduled to be sentenced in Winchester Circuit Court on Tuesday. Would you like to receive our Breaking News? Hear more about his research, conducted . Like most serial killers, Spencer was clever and left little evidence or so he thought. News headlines delivered every weekday morning. A passer-by found Valeries naked body curled in a fetal position and dumped by a rural roadside on Jan. 23. A Winchester man was arrested following the investigation into a homicide that occurred on May 6, 2022. Sign up today! Review preliminary monthly crime states with these WPD reports. The chance that a person will become a victim of a violent crime in Winchester; such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder; is 1 in 356. Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies municipal, county, transit, park, port, university, tribal and more, assigned to localities, then built into NeighborhoodScouts proprietary predictive models to provide a comprehensive crime risk profile for every neighborhood and address-vicinity in the U.S. More about NeighborhoodScouts crime data methodology, By sending this Report you agree to NeighborhoodScout's, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Don't become Leesburg. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimes Solvers at 540-665-TIPS. Success! Although he died in prison within a couple of years of his arrest, further investigations into 2 other murders occurring at the same time can be linked to Burchart based on testimonies he gave. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Ambrogi said he agreed to a plea bargain because prosecutors were unable to charge Hoverter with capital murder _ a killing committed in the commission of another felony _ and seek the death penalty. Hoverter, 50, could receive life in prison without parole when he is sentenced Aug. 31. "With todays guilty plea, the defendant admitted his complete culpability and responsibility for these brutal murders and will spend the rest of his natural life behind bars, District Attorney Gerry Leone said. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. . Relative to Virginia, Winchester has a crime rate that is higher than 93% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes. A 24-year-old Winchester man has been identified as the victim in a Sterling homicide investigation, Loudoun County authorities announced Thursday morning. Don't arrest me. Rain ending this morning. At approximately 1:32 a.m. Winchester Police Department (WPD) officers responded to the 1800 block of Henry Avenue for a fight. Just one week before, his mother and aunts had taken out a sizeable life insurance policy on him. Review these Police Department reports to learn about law enforcement statistics, calls for service, and crime in Winchester. The crime rate in Winchester is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 27 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. Winchester City Sheriff's Office Lenny Millholland, Sheriff 107 N. Kent St., Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: (540) 665-5600 Winchester City Criminal Records ``It is inconceivable how anyone could do this to a child.. Officials arrested him after several eye witness accounts, interviews and evidence led to Mullenax. Rain ending this morning. VA Counties Available: *ALL COUNTIES (11174) Amherst (226) Arlington (375) Augusta (120) Bedford (51) Bland (418) Buchanan (493) Campbell (9) Charles City (630) . You just never know. Read more about Scout's Crime Data. In the last 5 years Winchester has seen increasing violent crime and decline of property crime. Although he was not the triggerman, Malvo, who was only 17 at the time of the killing spree, remains in Wise County at the Red Onion State Prison where he is serving multiple life sentences as an accomplice to Muhammads sadistic killings. In 2016 there were 61 violent and 776 property crimes in Winchester City. Crime in Winchester, Virginia Crime is ranked on a scale of 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime) Winchester violent crime is 20.7. Winchester, VA (22601) Today. Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. He was also well known and liked in Winchester. Serial killers have long been the stuff of which legends were made Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy and the Mansons, just to name a few. Partly cloudy. The male, identified as Nathaniel Jones, 37, of Winchester was pronounced deceased at the scene. Based on FBI crime data, Winchester is not one of the safest communities in America. A Winchester man accused of killing his wife, two young children and mother-in-law two years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of first-degree murder. Winchester, VA 22601, https://stories.opengov.com/winchesterva/published/8h-8dawOa. In addition to second-degree murder, Smith, who was initially charged with . Non-Emergency: (540) 662-4131 This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Dianna Lynne Swaner. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 42 chance of becoming a victim. The Southside Strangler inspired several books, including "Stalking Justice: The Dramatic True Story of the Detective Who First Used DNA Testing to Catch a Serial Killer", by Paul Mones, Chapter 11 of John Douglas' 1996 memoir, "Journey into Darkness" and possibly Patricia Cornwell's bestselling novel "Postmortem", which showed considerable plot similarities to Spencers real-life crimes. This makes Winchester a place where there is an above average chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes. The WPD information is included in the City of Winchester's annual report. Mary pleaded guilty but got off on a technicality and fled to Colorado. Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary. The City of Winchester Police Department has partnered with CrimeReports.com to provide a free, easy-to-use online service for sharing crime data with the public. Therefore, jurors already knew Grimes was in jail before they saw him led to a cell. According to our research of Virginia and other state lists, there were 181 registered sex offenders living in Winchester, Virginia as of March 02, 2023. Four murder victims in Virginia were the random targets of a violent clique of the notorious MS-13 street gang, authorities said Tuesday. The cause of death has not yet been identified, but an autopsy has been issued. Use at your own risk. It was higher than in 82.9% U.S. cities. WPD Criminal Investigations obtained a search warrant for the suspects residence in the 1800 block of Henry Avenue and seized a handgun. The guidelines range from 13 years to 21 years and eight months. HARDY COUNTY, W. Va. (WHSV) - Moorefield Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide involving a mother and her two children. Neighbors said the house the family had lived in for about a year was filled with garbage and the yard was strewn with trash. Its hard to imagine what goes through the minds of people able to kill with such premeditation and it leaves the rest of us more than a little prone to looking over our shoulder. On the day she died, believed to be Jan. 22, Hoverter had ordered her to carry her urine can to the back yard and empty it, the prosecutor said. While no one has ever been convicted of the crimes, investigators continue to search for clues and answers. Mortimer, 45, who grew up in Avon, Conn., faces life in prison without parole. WINCHESTER In the legal equivalent of a Hail Mary pass in football, lawyers for convicted murderer Quadell Alik Grimes are asking that the jurys verdict be set aside. Don't become Leesburg. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. I murdered my family,'" Leone said.The victims were found in their home lying in pools of blood with their throats slashed, officials said.Mortimer, 45, who grew up in Avon, Conn., faces life in prison without parole. "This was a case where the defendant committed an extremely atrocious and cruel premeditated and deliberate attack on his family in their Winchester home. Trends Analytics. Slight chance of a rain shower. Login; Recent Crime in Winchester, VA Other: 08/13/2021: 123 SESAME ST: Other: 08/13/2021: 124 CONCH ST: Other: 08/13/2021: 42 WALLABY WAY: Other: 08/13/2021: 1 NORTH POLE: Other: 08/13/2021: 1313 WEBFOOT WALK: Other: 08/13/2021: 123 SESAME ST: Other: Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact Detective Bansal with the Criminal Investigations Division at 540-545-4704, or anonymously use the P3 tip app or by calling 540-665-TIPS. The 2019 Winchester crime rate fell by 5% compared to 2018. Hoverter blamed Valeries mother for most of the mistreatment. Low 36F. Thomas Mortimer admits killing family in Winchester home, Winchester man changes plea in deaths of children, wife, mother-in-law. Often people feel the information they have might be insignificant however no matter how small it could be the missing link needed to solve the case. Best trending stories from the week, delivered Saturday morning. Violent Some 300 people turned out at a candlelit memorial for him shortly after he was killed and several hundred attended a memorial kickball tournament for him in July. Contact Evan Goodenow at egoodenow@winchesterstar.com. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. Hoverter kicked Valerie down the basement stairs, slammed her head through the drywall near the basement door and put his own fist through the wall as well, he said. No calls are traced and no identification is required. In what looks to be undeniably the work of a serial killer, the Colonial Parkway Murders remain unsolved nearly 30 years later. Timothy Spencer, better remembered as the Southside Strangler, began his killing spree as early as 1984. Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather. Sarah Curran was reported missing and possibly in danger, according to a news release from the Frederick County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday. When Leslie Leon Burchart was arrested in 2000, he admitted to murdering at least 7 elderly women in 1996 during a killing spree that spanned 6 months. The victim and suspect were acquaintances and this was an isolated incident between those individuals. "These actions by the defendant were consistent with a malicious act and inconsistent with a person acting out of fear.". News headlines delivered every weekday morning. He said Hoverter locked the girl in the basement or the kitchen of the familys squalid northern Virginia house, sometimes chaining her to a door overnight. Crime, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a We appreciate your patience. After the suspicious drowning of Carolines daughter, Ocey, in a bathtub, police arrested the sisters. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. This legal milestone resulted in the state of Virginia opening the first DNA lab in the country. Low 36F. Mann argued that prejudiced jurors against his client and justifies a new trial. According to police, officers responded to a home along. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. "At the time of Mortimer's arrest, Leone detailed a gruesome crime scene and said Mortimer left a note on the kitchen table. Former bluegrass mecca may be deemed blighted, McDonald seeks to move trial in Front Royal-Warren County EDA case, Winchester-Frederick Visitors Bureau bringing more tourists than ever to the area, Area briefs: Handley's Fusco named Region 4C Player of the Year, New terminal project takes off at airport, City Council gives go-ahead to ZeroPak affordable apartments, Ward Plaza sale delayed but expected to be finalized, First traffic signals could be coming to small town of Boyce, Open Forum: Reacting to Cline's town hall. Despite maintaining his innocence until his death, Spencer was the first person ever convicted of a capital crime based on DNA evidence. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Discover your neighborhood's best match, anywhere. Click below for an overview of the accomplishments made and services provided over the previous years. High 62F. On Aug. 11, jurors recommended a 30-year sentence for Grimes, who shot an unarmed Kevin Michael Riley in a restaurant parking lot on Oct. 28 of last year. Error! There was a problem saving your notification. Winchester, VA Crime Report 658 Total Crimes 2,326.8 Total Crimes / 100k People -0.82% Below National Average Winchester Full Crime Report Winchester, VA Cost Of Living 101 Winchester's Overall Cost Of Living 1.0x Higher Than The National Average Winchester Full Cost Of Living Report Winchester, VA Photos Success! Delivered every morning. Crime risk data are updated annually. An investigation immediately originated by WPD Criminal Investigations Division, with the assistance of the Medical Examiners Office. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Winchester is 1 in 37. Virginia starved herself to death before the judge could make a ruling. It was later suspected that she had likely killed her husband and her young son, Hugh, who died after a fall down the stairs in 1888. The Afternoon Tea At This British-Themed Tearoom In Virginia Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Virginia Hotel For Decades, This Rustic Barn Restaurant In Virginia Serves Up Heaping Helpings Of Delicious Cooking, The Incredible Place In Virginia That Was Once Part Of The Underground Railroad, Shop Til You Drop At The Factory Antique Mall, One Of The Largest Flea Markets In Virginia, Open For An Entire Century, The Virginian Is Always A Timeless Dining Experience, This Covered Wagon Campground In Virginia Is A Wonderfully Unique Overnight Adventure, Thousands Of Singing Spring Peepers Are A Welcome Sound Of A New Season Here In Virginia, Shawnee News (Shawnee News of Shawnee, Oklahoma on May 16, 1910) [Public domain] / Wikimedia Commons. appear. WINCHESTER, Va. (AP) _ The emaciated 12-year-old was found dead along a cold and desolate highway in January. "I know with all my heart that my brother is not a monster," wrote Sarita Emmons. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are . FILE - Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries looks on, prior to attending a live TV show in Amsterdam . Chance of rain 90%.. Mostly cloudy skies. Muhammad was tried, convicted and sentenced to death at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. FOR EMERGENCIES: CALL 911 By EVAN GOODENOW The Winchester Star. Methodology: Ms. Smelser, 43, is in a state mental hospital, undergoing a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. ``In her desperation she stole food, and he punished her by locking her in the basement, sometimes for days at a time, he said. Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive. Overall, residents faced a 1 in 158 shot of being the victim of an attack over the year. The arrest log and call blotter are posted Monday through Friday with Monday's reports covering Saturday and Sunday. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. And like every state, Virginia has its share of the good, badand serial. He is charged with first-degree murder. Ocey, who was married to her first cousin (and Marys son), Fletcher Snead, also left a significant life insurance policy behind. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The victims included 3 couples, whose bodies were all found in the surrounding area, and another couple who still remains missing. During the hearing, Ambrogi told the court about the final weeks of Valeries life. 231 E. Piccadilly St., Suite 310 Locate a Polling Place and Find Elected Officials, Pay Real Estate and Personal Property Taxes, Register a New Business, Renew a Business License, Clarke-Frederick-Winchester Foster Families, Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, Do Business With Frederick County Government. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Winchester is 153 to 1. Ambrogi described the events leading up to Valeries fatal beating. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. High 62F. Remaining cloudy. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Error! During that time, he raped and murdered 4 women in the Richmond and Arlington areas. Crime risk indices are nationally comparable on a 1 100 scale, where 100 means safer than 100% of U.S. neighborhoods. But in a Thursday filing to Judge Brian M. Madden, defense attorney William "Ben" Mann IV wrote that since the meeting last year between Grimes and Riley was by chance, there was no premeditation by Grimes.