Crime and Public Safety
Photo: RMPD
A Martinsville man is charged with the strangulation death last Friday of a Rocky Mount resident. Police say they were able to develop a suspect after finding the victim’s car at the suspect’s residence about 30 miles from the murder scene. 35-year-old Derry Finney faces a murder charge for the death of James Kirby — and he is charged with unauthorized use of Kirby’s vehicle.
NEWS RELEASE: ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – Rocky Mount Police Department investigators determined a weekend death to be a homicide and arrested a suspect late Thursday. The victim, James Edward Kirby, age 68, of Mamie Street, Rocky Mount, was discovered deceased at his residence just before 10 p.m. Friday, November 29. Kirby’s body was transported to the Western Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy, where the coroner’s examination determined strangulation as the cause of death.
“Our officers and investigators have worked with other agencies to collect evidence, analyze data and determine whether an arrest was warranted,” said Rocky Mount Police Chief K.E. Criner. “Careful analysis of the Medical Examiner’s preliminary findings corroborated with evidence, and after questioning of a person of interest, our investigators have placed charges and arrested a suspect.”
Officers at the scene Friday determined Kirby’s car to be missing. The car was traced to a Martinsville, Va., residence early Saturday, and an occupant of that residence was determined to be in possession of the vehicle. That occupant was questioned and released pending further investigation, but was arrested Thursday on a felony charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle. Further investigation led to placement of the murder charge.
Officers arrested Derry Dee Finney, age 35, of Ridge Road, Martinsville, and placed felony charges against him for murder and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Additional charges may be placed pending continued investigation. A photograph is attached.
Finney is being held without bond at the Western Virginia Regional Jail.
Criner thanked other jurisdictions and agencies providing assistance on the investigation, including the Martinsville Police Department, Western Virginia Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors is now hearing from members of the public at its afternoon meeting before it considers a “Second Amendment Sanctuary Resolution” as some other localities have enacted. The all-Republican Board of Supervisors heard from local Republican delegates Chris Head and Joe McNamara, who led off the public comments section by affirming their support for such a resolution. Acting County Attorney Peter Lubeck told the board it would be appropriate to pass a resolution confirming its commitment to the Constitutional right to bear arms:
The vast majority of citizens speaking voiced support for such a resolution, including Gary Flora:
Among those opposed to the resolution: Janet Scheid, a former Roanoke County employee and a current Vinton Town Council member:
Close to two dozen Virginia counties have passed similar resolutions in recent weeks. Roanoke City leaders say there will be no such action from City Council.
Photo: FCSO
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says murder suspect Michael Brown was hiding in the attic of his mother’s home when he was taken into custody on Monday of last week. Officials say new information led to a new search of the residence, and as officers prepared to enter the attic, Brown crawled out and was apprehended without incident. Officials say Brown never contacted law enforcement to turn himself in.
From the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: There have been numerous media inquiries about the apprehension of Michael Brown. For clarification the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will provide the following statement. On November 27, 2019, in the early morning hours, the investigation led law enforcement authorities including the U. S. Marshals, the Virginia State Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, back to the residence of Rodney Brown on Woodthrush Cir. in Franklin County. Officers were searching the residence for Michael Brown. As officers prepared to enter the attic space of the residence, Michael Brown crawled out of the attic and was apprehended by law enforcement without further incident. At no point did Michael Brown contact law enforcement and make arrangements to surrender or turn himself in.
Roanoke City Council got an earful from residents urging the city to adopt a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” resolution at its afternoon meeting – but after everyone spoke Mayor Sherman Lea Sr. said that’s not happening. A number of other localities in the region have considered or approved non-binding Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions – anticipating that the new Democrat-controlled General Assembly will address gun control measures next month. Lea says Roanoke City Council is advocating for “common sense” measures. Lea also noted language in the 2020 legislative agenda Council approved this morning.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Police in Virginia are warning people to watch their home deliveries or find other ways to receive packages in the mail.
The Daily Progress in Charlottesville reports that police expect thefts of mail packages from homes to increase with Black Friday and beyond.Albemarle police officer Joe George said such thefts are “problem everywhere,” including rural and more urban areas during the holiday season.
Research firm Edelman Intelligence estimates that 23 million Americans have had at least one holiday package stolen since 2014. Most were taken from porches while residents were at work.
People can avoid thefts by having packages delivered to their work. Amazon customers can have packages delivered to Amazon package hubs, which can include places like Whole Foods. Some people buy package lockers for their porches.
(from Virginia State Police) Virginia State Police Senior Trooper A.B. Absher is investigating a two vehicle crash which resulted in a fatality. The crash occurred Wednesday (Nov 27) at 3:14 p.m. on Route 619, three tenths of a mile west of Pedigo Road in Bedford County. A 2005 Nissan Altima was traveling east on Route 619, when the vehicle crossed over the center line and struck a 2001 Daewoo Leganza, which was traveling west on Route 619; head-on. The Nissan was driven by Kendra C. Shepherd, 19, of Hardy, Va. Ms. Shepherd was not wearing her seatbelt and was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she later died. The 2001 Daewoo was driven by Amoni M. Logan, 18, of Goodview, Va. Ms. Logan was wearing her seat belt and was transported to the hospital for injuries received in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
Jens Soering (AP photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — U.S. immigration officials have taken into custody a German diplomat’s son who was paroled after serving more than 30 years in prison for slaying his former girlfriend’s parents in Virginia. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement received Jens Soering from state custody Tuesday. ICE spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell declined to say when he might be sent back to Germany. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said previously that Soering as well as former girlfriend Elizabeth Haysom will be deported.
Haysom was serving a 90-year sentence after pleading guilty to being an accessory to murder. She’s originally from Canada.
Haysom and Soering were granted parole Monday. Soering was serving a life sentence.
Soering initially confessed to the 1985 killings but later recanted, saying he was covering for Haysom.
Photo: FCSO
Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton called it a group effort involving many law enforcement agencies – while announcing the arrest today of Michael Brown – wanted in the arrest of his mother’s boyfriend after he was shot and killed on November 9th. Brown was taken into custody this morning. Overton said the “intense manhunt” encompassed three states – he was also “thankful” no one was hurt during the search for Brown, an AWOL Marine who was spotted outside his grandmother’s house in the Grandin area about two weeks ago. That led to a 1-day system-wide school lock down as a safety precaution. Here is the full announcement:
(earlier today) The U.S. Marshal’s Office and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office both report murder suspect Michael Brown was taken into custody without incident today in Franklin County. Check back for updates.
From the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: On Nov. 27, Michael Alexander Brown was taken into custody in Franklin County, VA without incident. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals will hold a joint press conference at 11 a.m. today.
(From US Marshal’s Office) Press Conference relating to arrest of Michael Alexander Brown. from Acting U.S. Marshal Brad Sellers, Western District of Virginia and Franklin County – VA Sheriff Bill Overton will holds a press conference concerning the arrest of Michael Alexander Brown this morning at 11am at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Rocky Mount. More details later. (A sighting of Brown – an AWOL marine – in Roanoke several weeks ago after he allegedly killed his mother’s boyfriend led to a school lock down in Roanoke)
UPDATED NEWS RELEASE: As previously stated, the Vinton Police Department is conducting a death investigation at a private residence located in the 1000 Block of Hardy Road. We can report that no foul play is suspected related to this investigation.
Rep. Ben Cline
NEWS RELEASE: – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) released the following statement regarding the Virginia State Parole Board’s decision to parole Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom. These two individuals were convicted for their roles in the 1985 double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom in Bedford County.
“I am shocked and appalled by the Virginia State Parole Board’s decision to grant parole to Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom, who are imprisoned for their roles in the gruesome 1985 double murder of Derek and Nancy Haysom in Bedford County,” Cline said. “The impact of the Haysoms’ murder is still felt by the Bedford community today. This decision, based not on any remorse by the murderers for their crimes, but instead on some supposed cost-benefit to Virginia, is an insult to the families of the victims and to the principles of justice and the rule of law.”