Friday, March 14, 2014

W.Va. authorities arrest ‘person of interest’ in D.C.-area murders

Federal agents are investigating whether a man in custody in West Virginia, Charles S. Severance, has a connection to a series of shocking high-profile murders in Virginia that some have suspected are the work of a serial killer.

Ohio County Police



Federal agents are investigating whether this man, Charles Severance, arrested Thursday in West Virginia, is connected to a series of shocking, high-profile murders in Virginia.




Virginia authorities said Friday they are investigating whether a man arrested in West Virginia is connected to a series of killings outside the nation’s capital that may be the work of a serial killer.


Charles Severance, 53, was arrested in Wheeling, W.Va., Thursday on a firearms charge and is considered a “person of interest” in three unsolved murders in Alexandria, Va., where Mayor William Euille said Friday that Alexandria police had not yet spoken to the man.


RELATED: SERIAL KILLER? ALEXANDRIA COPS LINK THREE UNSOLVED MURDERS


Wheeling City Police officials said the FBI had contacted them on Thursday, saying Severance was a felon and was wanted on a charge of possessing a firearm.


This composite image of a murder suspect was provided by police in Alexandria, Va. Popular music teacher Ruthanne Lodato was shot when she opened her front door. W.Va. police arrested a man who resembles the drawing.


AP


This composite image of a murder suspect was provided by police in Alexandria, Va. Popular music teacher Ruthanne Lodato was shot when she opened her front door. W.Va. police arrested a man who resembles the drawing.


The man has connections toAlexandria, but federal agents have not commented on them. He ran two longshot, unsuccessful campaigns for mayor.


Wheeling Police officers, using information from the FBI, arrested Severance later Thursday at a public library.


He is expected to appear at an extradition hearing on Monday.


Piano instructor Ruthanne Lodato, 59, was killed in February after she opened the door of her Alexandria, Va., home to a balding stranger who shot her, police said.



Piano instructor Ruthanne Lodato, 59, was killed in February after she opened the door of her Alexandria, Va., home to a balding stranger who shot her, police said.


RELATED: MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT IN FATAL SHOOTING OF BELOVED MUSIC TEACHER


Last week, police announced that the February killing of an Alexandria woman, who was shot when she opened her front door, appeared to be linked to two other unsolved killings in the city.


The news left residents fretful a serial killer may be hiding among them.


RELATED: COPS CLOSING IN ON SERIAL STRANGLER WHO RAPED, MURDERED 3 YOUNG WOMEN IN 80S AND 90S


Ron Kirby was killed last year in Alexandria, Va., in what may be the work of a serial killer who strikes when people answer their front doors.


Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments


Ron Kirby was killed last year in Alexandria, Va., in what may be the work of a serial killer who strikes when people answer their front doors.


Forensic examination of bullet fragments found similarities among the ballistics in last month’s shooting of music teacher Ruthanne Lodato, the Dec. 5, 2003, slaying of Nancy Dunning and the Nov. 11, 2013, killing of Ronald Kirby, Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook said at a press conference.


Cook said the ballistics testing found similarities, but he could not state conclusively that the same weapon was used in all three shootings.


RELATED: UNDERSTANDING THE MIND OF THE AURORA MASS KILLER


All three were killed at about the same time of day, and all died in their homes after opening the front door.





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