Fairfax County detectives solve ’72 cold case murder of Karen Lee Spencer

The suspect, James "Jimmy" Edwards died in 1997. April 5, 2020 FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WDVM) — Police say they have solved the murder of a 12-year-old Virginia girl, who was last seen alive in 1972. The Cold Case Squad at the Fairfax County Police Department believes Karen Lee Spencer's alleged boyfriend at the time killed her in the Huntington area o...

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Records show sheriff’s office hasn’t turned in unclaimed money in past 5 years to state

No unclaimed money has ever been given to the State Literary Fund, at least in the past five years October 25, 2019 HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) - No unclaimed money has ever been given to the State Literary Fund, at least in the past five years, according to the Hanover County Sheriff's Office's own records. On Your Side Investigator, Diane Walker f...

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Petersburg police and four other city agencies ends without further charges

The missing money led Petersburg prosecutors to seek the dismissal of charges against at least three criminal defendants because monetary evidence in their cases inexplicably disappeared. October 11, 2019 A special prosecutor appointed three years ago to investigate more than $10,000 in missing cash from the Petersburg Bureau of Police's evidence r...

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Lost ring from killer's burn barrel scuttles sheriff's office accreditation

Smith said the costume jewelry — a ring found in a burn barrel during a homicide investigation in 2016 — was checked out by an investigator about three months after he took office that same year. The ring was never returned. October 9, 2019 VERONA - The Augusta County Sheriff's Office was recently denied accreditation after a piece of costume jewel...

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Do-it-yourself rape evidence kits halted after states send cease-and-desist letters

Now two companies are halting the sale of do-it-yourself evidence collection kits after being threatened with legal action. September 29, 2019 ARLINGTON, Va. (ABC7) — They boasted an "alternative solution" for sexual assault survivors. Now two companies are halting the sale of do-it-yourself evidence collection kits after being threatened with lega...

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Detective hospitalized after possible exposure to fentanyl

The detective was transported to an area hospital and is expected to recover. May 16, 2019 PETERSBURG, Va. -- A Petersburg detective has been hospitalized following a possible exposure to fentanyl during a narcotics arrest, While executing an arrest in the 700 block of Kirkham street, a Narcotics Detective collecting evidence was possibly exposed t...

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Queens man, 80, is arrested over cold-case killings of two 19-year-old women who were strangled and shot in Virginia Beach 44 years ago

A police source familiar with the investigation revealed to DailyMail.com that the case involved DNA evidence April 10, 2019 Police in New York City have arrested an 80-year-old man in connection with the brutal 1973 murders of two 19-year-old women in Virginia Beach. Ernest Broadnax, an ex-convict with a lengthy criminal record, was taken into cus...

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Trump administration awards 22 law enforcement agencies with new ballistic technology


Now, that could change with a new ballistics technology being awarded to 22 state and local enforcement agencies all over the nation on Thursday. October 12, 2018 Sometimes it can be hard for police to trace gun shell casings back to the scene of a crime and it could take months for ballistic results to be returned back to investigators without the...

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State forensic lab sees growing demand for drug testing, greater need for resources


The growing number, complexity and safety requirements of drug cases submitted for testing to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science is creating a backlog for the department September 1, 2018 The growing number, complexity and safety requirements of drug cases submitted for testing to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science is creating a b...

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Virginia State Police trooper faces false entry, destruction of public record charges


Admitted to inadvertently disposing of the items on Nov. 3, 2017, according to the complaint. July 19, 2018 MARION — The destruction of seized items in a Smyth County drug case resulted in two misdemeanor charges being filed against a Virginia State Police trooper, according to court records. State Police charged Trooper Lee Testerman, 40, of Chilh...

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Leesburg Police looks to go high-tech with evidence system

It's not just the storage that is the problem. Police staff are "burning" discs and making other copies that must be shared with prosecutors and defense attorneys and others June 9, 2018 LEESBURG — Sherlock Holmes would never think of leaving Baker Street without his deerstalker hat and a magnifying glass. If Leesburg police have their way Monday, ...

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Charges set aside in case of officer accused of stealing explicit video from phone

Enter Headline here May 31, 2018 COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA (WWBT) - The misdemeanor criminal charges against former Colonial Heights Police Officer Bryan Drake have been set aside. He was once accused of embezzlement and obstruction of the legal process. Police say the former officer admitted to downloading an inappropriate video from a suspect's cell p...

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Police destroy 100+ guns in Petersburg: ‘This may be a small step’


"When people start turning in firearms at the request of the police, they don't want them anymore or we're getting illegal firearms through tips, information being provided by the public," Miller said. April 6, 2018 PETERSBURG, Va. -- More than 100 guns that were taken off of the streets of Petersburg were destroyed by the order of the police chief...

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Hampton, Newport News invest in technology to help solve gun crimes

The agencies recently bought a high-tech camera system — at a joint cost of $210,762 — designed to match spent cartridge cases to guns that police have previously seized and to shell casings collected from prior shootings. March 19, 22018 Police in Hampton and Newport News are hoping that their recent purchase of a powerful new machine to photograp...

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Man pleads to 1984 rape cases after DNA match

The evidence from both cases matched a DNA profile for Slade that was in a state database. February 6, 2018 VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) -- A man has pleaded guilty to two rapes in Virginia that police say he committed in 1984. The Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday that 58-year-old Rubin Carroll Slade Jr. will face up to two life terms at his sentencing...

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DNA helps RPD make arrest in 30-year-old cold case murder

Richmond's deputy commonwealth's attorney says a Richmond detective ran Poortie's fingernail clippings that were collected after her murder for DNA. October 13,2017 RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond Police have arrested a man in connection with a murder that took place more than 30 years ago. The man was serving time in New Jersey for another crime w...

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The Benefit Of Bicycles

the department hopes to make the donation a recurring program in which bicycles collected as evidence get new life May 25, 2017 Rainy weather Wednesday didn't keep police away from the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center to donate refurbished, used bicycles to teenagers in need. The recipients are members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harr...

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General assembly 2017 Bill seeks $1.45 million for man wrongly imprisoned 33 years for 1982 rape and murder - DNA


Keith Allen Harward, 60, was exonerated by the Virginia Supreme Court in April after DNA testing not only excluded him of the savage beating death of a Newport News man and the rape of his wife in the couple's home, but also implicated the real killer. January 16, 2017 Bills pending in the General Assembly would award $1.45 million in compensation ...

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Ex-Sheriff Randy Fisher, son investigated


Fisher theorized the seized money, which was kept inside an evidence room safe in two separate packages, fell onto the floor and into a trash pile beneath the safe. October 25, 2016 STAUNTON - Former Augusta County Sheriff Randy Fisher and his son are under investigation by Virginia State Police and are suspected of illegally possess...

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DNA test solves 30-year-old cold case


Officials announced a 30-year-old cold case has been solved Wednesday when a DNA test identified human remains discovered by a fisherman decades ago. October 7, 2016 According to The Roanoke Times, authorities believe the boy drowned in May 1985 while fleeing a gas station in Covington that he or a friend may have firebombed. He was 17 years old at...

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Virginia Cop Charged with Embezzlement for Taking Rifle Bags from Evidence Room


According to wavy.com, a police source revealed that the 17-year veteran had been taking ammo, holsters, and magazines in the past, but court documents actually lists two black gun bags, one green gun bag and one air soft clip from the green bag in the report about his current arrest. September 10,2016 A Virginia cop who ma...

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Petersburg PD files $20K insurance claim after money 'stolen' from evidence room


Enter Headline here August 25th 2016 PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) - NBC12 is uncovering new details concerning the missing money in the Petersburg Police evidence room. Through an open records request, we've uncovered an insurance claim filed by the Petersburg Police Department for $20,000. It was filed with VACorp Risk Management several weeks after we s...

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Former Altavista police chief convicted on 15 felonies


He entered Alford pleas — maintaining his innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him — on 11 counts of forging public documents, one count of embezzlement and two counts of obtaining drugs by fraud. Enter Article DATE HERE A former Altavista police chief was convicted Wednesday of 15 felonies after a prosecuto...

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FBI, state police search Petersburg Police Headquarters amid misconduct allegations


The investigation involved allegations of officer misconduct, including an incident where it was believed $9,700 went missing from the police department's evidence room. That dollar amount then increased to about $13,000 July 28, 20`6 PETERSBURG, Va. -- Virginia State Police and the FBI conducted a search of Petersburg Police Headquarters. The week...

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Loudoun Deputy Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison


During a March 31 trial, Frank Michael Pearson, 45, of Winchester, was found guilty of stealing $229,381 from the county's asset forfeiture fund June 17, 2016 A former Loudoun County Sheriff's Office deputy was sentenced Friday to 36 months in prison for embezzling money from the agency. During a March 31 trial, Frank Michael Pearson, 45, of Winche...

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Drug charge dismissed against Petersburg man over missing $4,000 seized by police

Richmond Times-Dispatch, richmond.com BYLINE: MARK BOWES Richmond Times-Dispatch, Link to Article 2016-01-28_charge dismissed over missing 4000.00Drug charge dismissed against Petersburg man over miss...

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Missing money in Petersburg evidence room disrupts court case

WWBT, NBC12, 12 On Your Side, nbc12.comBYLINE: Rachel DePompaPetersburg, VAPetersburg Bureau of Police (Source: NBC12)(Source: NBC12)PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) - Fallout is beginning from a case involving missing money in the Pete...

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Evidence room investigation still ongoing

TimesDispatch.com, timesdispatch.comBYLINE: Mark Bowes | TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERHopewell, VAA Virginia State Police investigation into chronic problems within the Hopewell Bureau of Police's property and evidence room sti...

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8News Investigates: Do Police Agencies Comply With Drug Destruction Laws?

Young Broadcasting of Richmond, WorldNow and WRIC, ABC 8News, wric.comRichmond, VARichmond, VA—Virginia law requires illegal drugs and paraphernalia seized by law enforcement officials to be destroyed. But after several offic...

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Missing TV leads to charge for Portsmouth officer

The Virginian-Pilot, hamptonroads.comBYLINE: Patrick WilsonLink to ArticlePortsmouth, VAA grand jury indicted Officer Robert Anthony Murray on a charge of embezzlement. PORTSMOUTHMissing evidence from the Police Department ha...

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Chesapeake audit finds problems with police evidence

The Virginian-Pilot, hamptonroads.comBYLINE: Jeff Sheler, The Virginian-PilotChesapeake, VACHESAPEAKE - A city audit of the Chesapeake Police Department found deficiencies in how it stores evidence, drugs and weapons seized d...

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