It was a disturbing and troubling act of domestic violence. Date(s) & Update Frequency: Crime rate in Winchester, Virginia (VA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map + Leaflet | Tiles OpenMapTiles | Data OpenStreetMap contributors Crime rate in Winchester, VA Images: Winchester dad accused in family's slaying. In addition to murder, Kevin C. Hamill, 29, of Winchester, Va., was found guilty of burglary, conspiracy to commit robbery, grand larceny and person prohibited from possession of a firearm . The case left Virginias network of social agencies scrambling to explain how abuse that social workers had long suspected was not confirmed. He is charged with first-degree murder. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. Hear more about his research, conducted . The girls mother, Wanda Smelser, also faces murder charges. 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. ``He beat her, kicked her and rubbed her face in it, Ambrogi said. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Josiah Schiavone, a member of the Virginia State Police, drives through downtown Winchester, Virginia. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimes Solvers at 540-665-TIPS. Crime-Solvers: (540) 665-TIPS, STREET ADDRESS Despite maintaining his innocence until his death, Spencer was the first person ever convicted of a capital crime based on DNA evidence. 8,376,755. Thomas Mortimer admits killing family in Winchester home, Winchester man changes plea in deaths of children, wife, mother-in-law. Thank you! Roundup of local sports stories, 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. If Madden dismisses Mann's motion to set aside the verdict, Mann asked in a separate motion that he sentence Grimes within state sentencing guideline recommendations rather than giving him the 30 years the jury recommended. 0. On Thursday morning, they received a tip on where they could possibly find Curran. WINCHESTER, Va. (WHSV) A Winchester woman who was reported missing on July 22 has been found dead in Frederick County. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Rain ending this morning. Other US patent applications are currently pending. 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. Error! May 22, 2020. Cold cases listed are never forgotten by the sheriffs office. During the hearing, Ambrogi told the court about the final weeks of Valeries life. 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. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. High 62F. The prosecutor said he doesnt know why Hoverter singled out Valerie for punishment. Mann said Grimes had a "limited misdemeanor record" with the crimes occurring when he was between 18 and 20. Mary pleaded guilty but got off on a technicality and fled to Colorado. Contact Evan Goodenow at egoodenow@winchesterstar.com. What I have done is extremely selfish and cowardly. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Winchester, VA 22601 Phone: 540-667-3200 Email: citydesk@winchesterstar.com. Low 36F. WINCHESTER, Va. (WHSV) A Winchester woman who was reported missing on July 22 has been found dead in Frederick County. Violent "I know with all my heart that my brother is not a monster," wrote Sarita Emmons. High near 60F. Discuss Winchester, Virginia (VA) on our hugely popular Virginia forum. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. All rights reserved. Violent Crimes - Murder Rape Robbery Assault Comments are reviewed by moderators so they may not immediately Delivered every morning. Submit a Crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper right. 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. Low 33F. "We are devastated at the loss of another human being. Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary. Slight chance of a rain shower. Where is 2022 data? Mann also noted that shortly before closing arguments, a jury room door was accidentally left open and jurors saw deputies escorting Grimes back to his holding cell. There was an error processing your request. News headlines delivered every weekday morning. Ambrogi described the events leading up to Valeries fatal beating. Home / Select Cities / 2023 Comparing Winchester, VA vs. Kingsport, TN . - Read Tuesday's Winchester Star for the full story. Riley, known for his goofy sense of humor and generosity, was devoted to his family, according to relatives. On Tuesday, Norman Hoverter, her mothers boyfriend, pleaded guilty to murder and abduction. VA Counties Available: *ALL COUNTIES (11174) Amherst (226) Arlington (375) Augusta (120) Bedford (51) Bland (418) Buchanan (493) Campbell (9) Charles City (630) . Grimes, a 30-year-old Hagerstown, Maryland, resident who was visiting family in Stephens City, had stopped at Five Guys for a milkshake. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Our nationally-comparable school ratings are covered under US Patent No. Like most serial killers, Spencer was clever and left little evidence or so he thought. No calls are traced and no identification is required. Thomas Mortimer's trial was expected to start next week, however, during a hearing in Middlesex Superior Court he changed his plea. . Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. I admit, these stories freak me out, even though I did binge watch all 8 seasons of Dexter. 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. 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. Officials arrested him after several eye witness accounts, interviews and evidence led to Mullenax. 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. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. 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. Property Crime Rates In Winchester 586 Property Crimes 2,072.2 Property Crimes / 100k People 5.82% Above National Average Don't become Leesburg. No more murders have occurred matching the killers profile, but a case like this leaves you wondering if hes still out therewaiting. Occhuizzo also noted one of the prosecution's witnesses was an informant who shared a cell with Grimes. Therefore, jurors already knew Grimes was in jail before they saw him led to a cell. High 62F. While the Beltway Snipers, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, were finally convicted and sentenced in Virginia, their terror spread throughout the country. Froma Harrop: I was a teenage librarian. Finalized stats according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report guides are compiled annual and provided with the City of Winchester's annual report. The male, identified as Nathaniel Jones, 37, of Winchester was pronounced deceased at the scene. Sign up today! Visithttps://stories.opengov.com/winchesterva/published/8h-8dawOa for the current annual report. This legal milestone resulted in the state of Virginia opening the first DNA lab in the country. This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Winchester. 18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Now let us turn to take a look at how Winchester does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. You have permission to edit this article. "The defendant lowered his window and shot Riley though the heart without any provocation from Riley," Occhuizzo wrote. Valerie Smelser's body bore the scars of vicious beatings; she weighed just 51 pounds when she died. Thomas Mortimer's trial was. Overcast. It you have information please contact the Frederick County Sheriff's Office at 540-662-6168. The victims included 3 couples, whose bodies were all found in the surrounding area, and another couple who still remains missing. Hoverter entered an Alford plea, which means he acknowledged that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him but didnt admit to the details. Dismissal of murder conviction sought. As officers were approaching the scene, 911 calls were received advising a male had been shot. Sarah Curran was reported missing and possibly in danger, according to a news release from the Frederick County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday. HARDY COUNTY, W. Va. (WHSV) - Moorefield Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide involving a mother and her two children. NeighborhoodScout provides exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy. Sign up today! "These actions by the defendant were consistent with a malicious act and inconsistent with a person acting out of fear.". He said Grimes has expressed regret for killing Riley and said the father of four young children is active in their lives. Muhammad was tried, convicted and sentenced to death at the Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Virginia. Low 36F. But while, Dexter, Americas most beloved television psychopath, might createa more sympathetic view of serial killers, the fact remains, murders that occur repeatedly and with eerie patterns and similarities are absolutely terrifying. Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. 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.Thomas Mortimer's trial was expected to start next week, however, during a hearing in Middlesex Superior Court he changed his plea.The bodies of Laura Stone Mortimer, 41, Charlotte Mortimer, 2, Thomas Finn Mortimer V, 4, and Ragna Ellen Stone, 64, were found in June 2010 inside the Windsong Lane home after a concerned relative went to check on the family. News headlines delivered every weekday morning. 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