Web Staff
Roanoke Fire/EMS Photo
A house on Rosalind Avenue, SW had a close brush with a car this morning, when a driver plowed through a fence, overturned and came to rest next to the residence. Traffic on Rosalind was blocked for a time. Roanoke Fire/EMS extracted the driver from the wreck and took him to the hospital with undetermined injuries.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
Roanoke Star Tank’s Tip-Off event focuses on business development. It’s open to the public and gives start-ups, investors and entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their pitch and receive feedback from business development experts. Today’s Tip-Off is inside the CoLab on Grandin Road from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Governor Terry McAuliffe will close the event with the ceremonially signing of crowdfunding legislation.
Hope Perdue
Franklin County authorities have now charged a Glade Hill woman with second-degree murder and felony child abuse and neglect in connection with the death of a child in her care. The Sheriff’s office identifies Hope McVey Perdue as the “custodial guardian” of the three year-old boy. Her husband called 911 early yesterday morning to report that the child was unconscious and appeared to have been severely beaten. Rescue crews were unable to revive the boy, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff’s office says Hope Perdue fled the home on Old Franklin Turnpike on foot. Deputies found and arrested her after a 12-hour manhunt.
Sen. Mark Warner
U.S. Senator Mark Warner says the attempt by ISIS to inspire lone-wolf terrorist attacks justifies a recent increase in security at military installations in Virginia and across the country. In a wide-ranging interview, Warner tells WFIR news that ISIS has been “extraordinary” in its use of social media in an attempt to recruit copycat terrorists who might attack U.S. targets. Sen. Warner serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Hear more from him on the ISIS threat:
This week Sen. Warner will be re-introducing the “BRIDGE Act.” It’s described as “a targeted, bipartisan effort to provide an additional tool for state and local governments to partner with the private sector to invest in infrastructure.” Sen. Warner talks about why the current state of roads, bridges and other infrastructure is “a huge problem”:
Sen. Warner says he believes the developing drone technology could be “as big as wireless communications.” He talks about the potential, and the need to balance commerce with security:
On Virginia’s role as a 2016 presidential battleground state, and his role in the coming campaign:
Hope Perdue
UPDATED 4:30 pm — Hope Perdue was found in the garage at a home now far from her own.
From the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: The office is currently investigating the suspicious death of a three year old that occurred in the 7000 block of Old Franklin Turnpike in the Glade Hill area of Franklin County. Investigators are currently on scene. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance in locating the foster mother, Hope Mcvey Perdue. Ms. Perdue is described as a white female, 5’ 6”, 130 lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes. Ms. Perdue was last seen wearing a dirty spaghetti strap top and grey pants when she left on foot at approximately 4:30 AM this morning.
From Roanoke Fire-EMS: On Monday, May 11, 2015, Roanoke Fire-EMS responded to a structure fire in the 1000 block of Rugby Blvd. The call was received in the E-911 Center at approximately 11:33pm and was under control at 12:30am. When crews arrived they found a fire in the bedroom area of the single story ranch house. No one was home when the fire started and no one was injured. The cause of the fire has been ruled as electrical. Damage estimates are approximately $40,000.
Daniel Ferguson
Stephanie Hudgins
From the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Office: On May 8, 2015 at approximately 3:35 p.m. a Botetourt County Deputy Sheriff stopped a vehicle for speeding on Roanoke Road near Fincastle. Upon checking the male driver’s ID and the female passenger’s ID it was found she was wanted in Salem, VA on a fail to appear charge. Once another officer arrived on the scene to assist in her arrest, a search of the vehicle for weapons revealed a pistol in the glove compartment of the vehicle and active methamphetamine lab. 24 year old Daniel Layton Ferguson of Blue Ridge, VA and 33 year old Stephanie Marie Hudgins of Salem, VA were both charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm while in possession of methamphetamine. Both are being held in the Botetourt/Craig Counties Regional Jail without bond.
Jeffery Thomas Caldwell
The Bedford County Sheriff’s office says deputies charged a man with second-degree murder after a shooting death Sunday afternoon in Blue Ridge. Officers responded to 961 Summit Ridge Drive, where they found the body of 45-year-old Gary Hamilton in the driveway of his home. Deputies arrested 52-year-old Jeffery Thomas Caldwell of 208 Summit Ridge Drive. He’s being held without bond at the Bedford County Adult Detention Center. Hamilton’s body was taken to the medical examiner in Roanoke. The sheriff’s office is still investigating the shooting.
Virginia State Police spokesperson Corrine Geller says 45-year-old Anthony Asbury, 28-year-old Shan Martens, and her 9-month-old daughter Bria Hensley died Sunday after a wreck on I-77 in Wythe County. Investigators have now determined that the car driven by Martens crossed the median and struck Asbury’s car. Another car unable to stop then struck those two vehicles, sparking a fire. The driver and passenger in the third vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries.
From Vinton Police: On May 7, 2015, Vinton Animal Control was contacted by the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection, regarding a stray dog that was at their facility. The dog had previously been micro chipped, and it was determined that it belonged to an individual who resides in Euharlee, GA. Individuals from the Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection, and the Vinton Police Dept. have been in contact with the owner, who will be traveling to Roanoke to be reunited with their dog. The police department is trying to determine how the dog made its way to Vinton from Georgia. The dog is a 9 month old Terrier named “Batman” and belongs to a man who reportedly lives in a homeless camp in the area of Euharlee, GA. Apparently other people in this Georgia community also help take care of the animal, transporting it for vet visits and helping financially with its care. Batman seems to be a community animal and a companion to this homeless gentleman.