The prosecutor said he doesnt know why Hoverter singled out Valerie for punishment. He said Hoverter locked the girl in the basement or the kitchen of the familys squalid northern Virginia house, sometimes chaining her to a door overnight. 231 E. Piccadilly St., Suite 310 ``He beat her, kicked her and rubbed her face in it, Ambrogi said. All rights reserved. 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. (The US average is 22.7) Winchester property crime is 47.9. WINCHESTER, Va. (AP) _ The emaciated 12-year-old was found dead along a cold and desolate highway in January. They said the children rarely left the house without either Hoverter or their mother, neither of whom worked. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Facebook; Twitter; Her body was sent back to Christiansburg and buried in the Sunset Cemetery. Property Burchart was off his medications at the time of the killings and claims to have murdered the women because they reminded him of his mother - and the men because they reminded him of himself. As a result, Jessie Nathaniel Simms, 32, of Winchester was charged with Second Degree Murder and transported to the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center where he was held without bond. Remaining cloudy. The girls mother, Wanda Smelser, also faces murder charges. As Riley approached Grimes' car, Grimes fired one shot from the driver's seat, killing Riley and then sped away. "Match Any Neighborhood" calculates the Match Level of one neighborhood to another using more than 200 characteristics of each neighborhood. Sign up today! Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Winchester, Virginia (VA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option. Crimes in Winchester City are split up into two most important categories, violent crime and property crime. And like every state, Virginia has its share of the good, badand serial. The prosecutor also said he didnt want Ms. Smelsers other children to have to testify at Hoverters trial. Chance of rain 90%.. Mostly cloudy skies. Like most serial killers, Spencer was clever and left little evidence or so he thought. ``It is inconceivable how anyone could do this to a child.. 7,043,501 and 7,680,859. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Login; Recent Crime in Winchester, VA Other: 08/13/2021: 123 SESAME ST: Other: 08/13/2021: 124 CONCH ST: Other: 08/13/2021: 42 WALLABY WAY: Other: 08/13/2021: 1 NORTH POLE: Other: 08/13/2021: 1313 WEBFOOT WALK: Other: 08/13/2021: 123 SESAME ST: Other: Mortimer, 45, who grew up in Avon, Conn., faces life in prison without parole. Grimes is suspected of shooting at Riley in 2015 as part of a long-running feud between the two. The WPD information is included in the City of Winchester's annual report. "What happened once Riley approached Grimes' vehicle was consistent with a heat-of-the-moment reaction and not consistent in any way with malice requisite for murder," Mann wrote. Caroline was convicted of murder and sentenced to 7 years in a state mental hospital where she later died. In 2016 there were 61 violent and 776 property crimes in Winchester City. 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. Non-Emergency: (540) 662-4131 The male, identified as Nathaniel Jones, 37, of Winchester was pronounced deceased at the scene. Winchester East Burnt Factory Opequon Frederick Heights / Shenandoah Hills Burning Knolls / Greenwood Heights Bartonsville Kernstown Winchester West Winchester, VA crime analytics Source & Methodology data description Winchester Crime Data Crime Index 22 (100 is safest) Safer than 22% of U.S. Cities Winchester Annual Crimes Violent Crime "These actions by the defendant were consistent with a malicious act and inconsistent with a person acting out of fear.". WINCHESTER, Va. (WHSV) A Winchester woman who was reported missing on July 22 has been found dead in Frederick County. High near 60F. 231 E. Piccadilly St., Suite 310 Prosecutors in 2018 said drugs were trafficked by associates connected to Mexico's Cartel. Mann argued that prejudiced jurors against his client and justifies a new trial. At approximately 1:32 a.m. Winchester Police Department (WPD) officers responded to the 1800 block of Henry Avenue for a fight. The chance that a person will become a victim of a violent crime in Winchester; such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder; is 1 in 356. The victims were found in their home lying in pools of blood with their throats slashed, officials said. He was sentenced to death and electrocuted in April of 1994. It you have information please contact the Frederick County Sheriff's Office at 540-662-6168. Thank you! The arrest log and call blotter are posted Monday through Friday with Monday's reports covering Saturday and Sunday. Even though Anna has lived other places, somehow Virginia is where she always seems to land. ``Mr. Hoverters contention would be that the prime mover, the aggressor in this case, was the mother, and that he was the bystander, said J. Michael Solak, Hoverters court-appointed lawyer. Timbrook Public Safety Center David Austin Rowe has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Dianna Lynne Swaner, according to a Monday news release from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. 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. Between 1986 and 1989, at least 8 people disappeared along the stretch of highway connecting Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown. "With todays guilty plea, the defendant admitted his complete culpability and responsibility for these brutal murders and will spend the rest of his natural life behind bars, District Attorney Gerry Leone said. Based on FBI crime data, Winchester is not one of the safest communities in America. It was higher than in 82.9% U.S. cities. There was an error processing your request. FOR EMERGENCIES: CALL 911 Singled out from among four siblings for abuse, she slept on a dirt floor soiled by feces. Thomas Mortimer's trial was expected to start next week, however, during a hearing in Middlesex Superior Court he changed his plea. Where is 2022 data? Occhuizzo also noted one of the prosecution's witnesses was an informant who shared a cell with Grimes. Crime Map for Winchester, VA. Crime Map. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. Theres really no way to say how or why a serial killer is created, but the destruction they leave behind is undeniable. On Tuesday, Norman Hoverter, her mothers boyfriend, pleaded guilty to murder and abduction. Other 02/14/2023 11:59 PM 1200 BLOCK OF BERRYVILLE AVE Other 02/14/2023 11:12 PM 2900 BLOCK OF SORRELL CT Other 02/14/2023 11:12 PM 200 BLOCK OF E PICCADILLY ST Other 02/14/2023 9:23 PM 2300 BLOCK OF VALLEY AVE Other 02/14/2023 8:51 PM 100 BLOCK . Low 33F. Relative to Virginia, Winchester has a crime rate that is higher than 93% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes. Dismissal of murder conviction sought. Officials arrested him after several eye witness accounts, interviews and evidence led to Mullenax. Crime risk indices are nationally comparable on a 1 100 scale, where 100 means safer than 100% of U.S. neighborhoods. "In this letter, to paraphrase some of his writings, he said, 'I did these horrible things. On Aug. 11, jurors recommended a 30-year sentence for Grimes, who shot an unarmed Kevin Michael Riley in a restaurant parking lot on Oct. 28 of last year. Love Virginia? Therefore, jurors already knew Grimes was in jail before they saw him led to a cell. Contact Evan Goodenow at egoodenow@winchesterstar.com. By EVAN GOODENOW The Winchester Star. Virginia police say the suspects were captured Friday after a . When the 2 were finally caught sleeping in a blue 1990 Chevrolet Caprice in Maryland, they had already killed 4 people in Virginia and wounded another. Mann said Grimes had a "limited misdemeanor record" with the crimes occurring when he was between 18 and 20. This equates to a rate of 3 per one thousand inhabitants. As officers were approaching the scene, 911 calls were received advising a male had been shot. A Winchester man was arrested following the investigation into a homicide that occurred on May 6, 2022. Letter to the editor: Stop development. Often people feel the information they have might be insignificant however no matter how small it could be the missing link needed to solve the case. Winchester, VA 22601, Winchester man arrested for Second Degree Murder following early morning shooting, Winchester man arrested second degree murder following early morning shooting. Hoverter, 50, could receive life in prison without parole when he is sentenced Aug. 31. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 42 chance of becoming a victim. A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. The 2019 Winchester crime rate fell by 25% compared to 2017. Slight chance of a rain shower. Located just south of the Appomattox River from Colonial Heights, Petersburg has a bigger problem with violent crime than its northern neighbor. Officials discovered Currans body at a homeless campsite behind 706 Baker Lane in Frederick County. WPD Criminal Investigations obtained a search warrant for the suspects residence in the 1800 block of Henry Avenue and seized a handgun. It said Rowe called 911 at 10:48 a.m. Saturday and reported his 63-year-old grandmother was laying on the floor of her home in the 1300 block of Quail Road and appeared to be dead. Ms. Smelser stayed a step ahead of the authorities by moving often. Winchester, VA (22601) Today. High 62F. 22.02% higher than the Virginia violent crime rate of 208.7 per 100,000 people. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The wave of murders, known as the Golden Years Killings, included more than a dozen elderly women in total, some of which remain unsolved cases. Riley, a 29-year-old city resident, was on his way to dinner at Okinawa when the car he was in parked near Grimes. DNA also exonerated David Vasquez, who had been convicted of the 1984 murder in Arlington, a crime later attributed to Spencer. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. In a response motion, Matthew Occhuizzo, assistant commonwealth attorney and the lead prosecutor on the case, said Madden should dismiss Mann's motion. The plea doesnt affect the length of his sentence. "We are devastated at the loss of another human being. Error! Letter to the editor: Stop development. What I have done is extremely selfish and cowardly. Don't become Leesburg. Thomas Mortimer's trial was. NeighborhoodScout's analysis also reveals that Winchester's rate for property crime is 24 per one thousand population. The violent crime rate in Winchester is 254.6 per 100,000 people. Under Virginia law, school officials are barred from checking on the educational progress of children who have a religious exemption, but they must pass standardized tests. Crime mapping allows users to type in a specific address of interest within the jurisdiction of the City of Winchester's Police Department (i.e. 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. The monument shown here, located in Wheaton, MD, honors the victims. Finalized stats according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report guides are compiled annual and provided with the City of Winchester's annual report. You have permission to edit this article. Froma Harrop: I was a teenage librarian. NeighborhoodScout provides exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy. EGoodenow. A 24-year-old Winchester man has been identified as the victim in a Sterling homicide investigation, Loudoun County authorities announced Thursday morning. "Whether or not Riley's actions justify the defendant's lethal force, there is no question that the confrontation happened with no notice and ended in a manner of seconds.". Our crime rates are . When Leslie Leon Burchart was arrested in 2000, he admitted to murdering at least 7 elderly women in 1996 during a killing spree that spanned 6 months. WINCHESTER An 18-year-old Frederick County man is accused of killing his grandmother. Methodology: school, home, office), choose crime types, set dates or a variety of all three, and click "Get Report" to see them plotted on the map. Her sisters, Caroline and Mary, were widows who helped the unmarried Virginia run the boarding school for girls. 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. Mary pleaded guilty but got off on a technicality and fled to Colorado. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. Winchester, VA (22601) Today. Remaining cloudy. - Read Tuesday's Winchester Star for the full story. Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. During their time there, a number of mysterious events occurred, including the disappearance of an illegitimate baby birthed by one of the students and the death of Marys son, John, found burned to death in his bed. From our analysis, we discovered that violent crime in Winchester occurs at a rate higher than in most communities of all population sizes in America. Predictive accuracy her mothers boyfriend, pleaded guilty to murder and abduction singled out Valerie for punishment trial expected. 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