The families of two 1993 murder victims received some closure
Wednesday with the arrests of two men on capital murder charges.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff's Office announced
the arrest of Verlie Marion Word, 30, of Chatham Road in Halifax.
Word was arrested around 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Hupps Mill
Plaza - just hours before a second defendant, Dexter Lamont Dixon,
30, of Bane Street in South Boston, was arrested according to
police.
Dixon was apprehended at approximately 5:15 p.m., Pulliam said.
Both men are charged with a 13-count indictment charging them
with the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Joseph Gerrard Gibbons
of Lynchburg and 20-year-old John Raleigh LaPrade of Rustburg.
The shooting occurred on December 21, 1993, according to Sheriff
D.J. Oakes.
Police became aware of the crime when a vehicle pulled onto the
lot of the Riverdale Amoco on Highway 58 west in Riverdale.
According to Pulliam, the driver, later identified as Gibbons,
got out of the vehicle, collapsed and died at the scene.
LaPrade, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was also pronounced
dead at the scene.
"The driver and passenger had both been shot in the back
of the head execution-style," Oakes said.
The ensuing investigation into the crime revealed that the vehicle
was a rental car.
"The case was investigated for many months after it happened,"
the sheriff said. "Thousands of hours were dedicated to investigating
the murders, but it remained an unsolved mystery for many years."
But in 2001, when members of the Halifax/South Boston Regional
Narcotic Enforcement Task force were conducting an investigation
into a drug operation, new and relevant information into the two
murders was uncovered.
Oakes said that members of the task force contacted the original
investigators in the case and began to follow up on the new developments.
"Through their diligence and by working together, they were
able to come up with several suspects," he said.
The sheriff said that hard work by Halifax County investigators
provided the information that cracked the case.
"The investigators that our agencies have routinely ask the
questions that help bring things like this to closure," Oakes
said. "They make a point of incorporating into their interviews
and investigations asking if they have any information about any
unsolved crimes."
Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said he would be seeking
the death penalty in the two murders.
"This is a capital case," he said. "I drew up the
indictments myself.
"The basis for the capital charges really derives from the
fact that this is the killing of two or more people in the same
criminal transaction and secondly the individual killings are
murder in the course of a robbery."
Greenbacker said he was at the 1993 crime scene.
"When these bodies were discovered there was also a large
amount of cocaine and cash money discovered," he said.
Pulliam said investigators discovered approximately one-half ounce
of crack cocaine and $3,000 cash in the vehicle.
Both Dixon and Word have been charged with the following:
· The capital murder of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· The capital murder of Gibbons during the commission
of a robbery or attempted robbery.
· The capital murder of LaPrade during the commission of
a robbery or attempted robbery.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of the
murders of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· Two counts of the use of a firearm during the commission
of capital murder.
· The murder of Gibbons.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of Gibbons'
murder.
· The murder of LaPrade.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of the LaPrade
murder.
· Conspiracy to commit two counts of robbery.
· The robbery of Gibbons and LaPrade.
· The use of a firearm during the commission of robbery.
"The principal bullet wound was almost directly in the back
of the head," Greenbacker said of LaPrade's wounds. "We
believe that the assailant was in the back seat and got out and
went around the side of the car in the front.
"The trigger man shot Gibbons in the side of the head behind
the ear and slightly above it," the commonwealth's attorney
said.
Investigators believe that Gibbons remained alive long enough
to put the vehicle in motion.
"It went down the hill and across Route 58 without stopping
and ended up in the Amoco lot near the front door," Greenbacker
said. "Gibbons got out of the car, tried to get to the front
door to get help and collapsed on the sidewalk."
Officials speculate that robbery was the motive for the crimes.
"There will be proof that the individuals who participated
in the robbery attempt had been advised beforehand that these
folks were in town peddling their wares and felt that this would
be an excellent opportunity for them," the prosecutor said.
According to Greenbacker, police believe the pair "repaired
to West Virginia shortly after the killings and stayed up there
for a while until things cooled off."
In the course of the recent investigation, investigators traveled
to West Virginia and Pennsylvania to interview witnesses.
Long-time animosity between the Halifax County Commonwealth's
Attorney's Office and the Clerk of Circuit Court boiled over yesterday,
with accusations of political intimidation and blackmail on the
part of the Clerk.
But Clerk of Court Bobby Conner dismissed the allegations as political
smoke and mirrors.
"(Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker) of all people
should not take action on hearsay," he said. "That isn't
something you can hold a press conference on. It wouldn't stand
up in court."
Greenbacker is accusing Conner of threatening his staff with their
jobs if they didn't support Republican challenger Kim White in
the June 10, primary.
"Within the last two months, the clerk of the court - Bobby
Conner - has engaged in activities which I believe are designed
to put psychological pressure on my staff and compel them to assist
the campaign of my opponent, Kim White," Greenbacker said.
"These tactics started out by introducing one of my assistants
to Ms. White as 'your new boss.'"
The commonwealth's attorney also says Conner is attempting to
use Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Petra Blanchard as an intermediary
to talk him out into quitting the race.
"Ordinarily these actions would be dismissed as inappropriate
or annoying," Greenbacker said.
But he said things got much worse Wednesday.
According to Greenbacker, Conner called Blanchard into his office
and told her that she "had better start talking to Kim White
or she wouldn't have a job when Kim won the primary election."
The commonwealth's attorney categorized Conner's actions as "intolerable."
"No elected official should use his office and his position
to engage in crude attempts to blackmail such people whose work
should remain free of political concerns," he said.
The prosecutor said that he has an "abiding policy never
to force my staff to become involved in my political campaigns."
"It appears to me to be a desperate politician making desperate
attempts to win an election," Conner retorted. "I've
been through three elections opposing Greenbacker and I have every
right to voice my opinion on behalf of the taxpayers of Halifax
County. It's my prerogative."
Conner admitted addressing the upcoming election with Blanchard,
but said he spoke to her out of concern for her welfare.
"It was done in a courteous manner," the Clerk of Court
said. "I spoke to Petra (Blanchard) and encouraged her not
to get involved."
He said he told her that "if she did, it would be difficult
for her to keep her job."
"I didn't want it to come to this, but the pain I could see
in the expressions of his employees yesterday was palpable,"
Conner said. "I wanted to offer them some semblance of hope."
Blanchard said that Conner's actions made her "extremely
uncomfortable," and that she didn't feel the political overtones
in courthouse square were appropriate or efficacious for the judicial
system.
"Our (the prosecution staff) purpose is to do our job,"
she said. "For me, it's uncomfortable to be put in this position."
The deputy prosecutor said that she had not been approached by
White in person, but several people had approached her over the
past few months.
"This is my second election with John Greenbacker, and he
has never asked me to campaign for him," she said.
Greenbacker said he felt bad that his staff has been put in such
an awkward position.
"I think it's sad that my staff has been pressured in this
way," he said. "It bothers me to no end. I feel somewhat
guilty that my decision to seek to continue in this position has
affected my staff in this way."
When asked if she felt her job was in jeopardy if White was elected,
Blanchard was unequivocal.
"I know it is," she said. "She (White) sent a letter
to every resident in Halifax County that states she intends to
hire new counsel."
But contacted yesterday, White said that was not the case.
"I haven't made any staffing decisions at this point,"
the candidate said. "So it would be inappropriate for anyone
to be concerned about their jobs at this time.
"My only response is that my goal is to ensure that the Commonwealth
Attorney's office is staffed with the most qualified, effective
and efficient people to serve the citizens of Halifax County,"
White added.
She also said that she was not responsible for any actions taken
by Conner.
"Conversations that I have had with Mr. Conner have involved
his concerns as a taxpayer of Halifax County," she said.
"We have not discussed any personnel issues."
Strike the $200,000 new office, add a new staff member, and
propose an operating budget of $552,957 to supervisors, Industrial
Development Authority Board members agreed Wednesday night.
Dr. Carlyle Ramsey called for removing new IDA offices from consideration,
calling the consideration "not justified."
"We need to look at land, facilities, our assets, if money
is in the county budget. That is more important," Ramsey
told fellow Board members.
The vote in support of Ramsey's motion was unanimous - with Board
members John Cannon and Herman Roller absent.
A new employee, which would bring the IDA staff to four, as well
as a 2 percent salary increase for staff were also approved by
the IDA Board.
Ramsey sought specific cost ranges for the new salary - $25,000
to $30,000 range - as well as projected duties, for a new employee.
Although IDA Executive Director Scott Morris said a final plan
was not in place, he said someone to fill a marketing and communications
was needed.
General duties of the new staffing layout included existing industry
and product development, office manager, executive director and
the marketing/communications slot.
"We could start getting out there more with four,"
Morris told his Board.
The approved budget will put the IDA operating budget on the
edge.
"This budget will dry up all reserves," Morris told
his Board.
The IDA contributed difference between income and operating/capital
expenses is $136,788.90 for the 2003-2004 operating budget.
During the lengthy IDA session, Board members reviewed area job
layoffs and plant closings as well as seeking new manufacturing
plants and businesses.
Morris reminded the Board that statistics show 65 percent of
new jobs are created by existing industry and said that he had
been meeting with area industry leaders.
Attracting additional divisions of companies and expanding existing
manufacturing are targets for the Halifax IDA.
Dr. Ramsey said the Board and Morris should focus on the "hard-core
issues."
Developing a database for existing business and industry was named
as one of those targets.
The IDA director was directed to focus on opportunities for job
growth by working with the area's high-risk companies when possible.
Reviewing the Board's economic development plan, Morris noted
that the IDA had worked with the county to implement several new
tax classes and was one of the first counties in the state to
do so.
Morris also compared the county's historical unemployment figures
which show the 2002 unemployment rate at 11.2 percent compared
to 9.3 percent in 2001. The lowest rate presented in the 10-year
period was 6.3 percent in 1999, with 1997 and 1996 at 11.7
and 11.2 percent respectively.
The IDA is currently in the process of amending the Enterprise
Zone to increase its size. Public hearings on the issue will be
announced soon, according to IDA staff.
The official has also worked with local tracks and the state
on creation of the Motorsports initiative.
South Boston Police are investigating what
they term a drive-by shooting Tuesday night, at the intersection
of College and Parker Streets.
Captain Jim Binner said that a man police identified as 25-year-old
Brent Crawley was shot once in the incident.
Binner said Crawley was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital,
then MCV Hospital following the shooting.
Witnesses tell police the shooting occurred about 11 p.m. Tuesday
evening, according to the captain.
According to information provided to police, a late-model, black
Japanese car with four individuals in it passed by Crawley and
another man, when shots were fired, one of them hitting Crawley.
Binner said the other man flagged down a passing car that took
both of them to the emergency room at Halifax Regional Hospital.
The emergency room notified police of the incident.
Binner is asking anyone with information on this shooting to call
Lieutenant John Barber or Investigator B.K Lovelace at the South
Boston Police Department.
In other police business, Steve Walter Walker, 38, of Halifax
was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol Tuesday
evening following an accident on Route 603 .2 miles west of Route
650.
Trooper P. W. Leath said that Walker veered his 1989 Dodge four
door to the right side of the road and struck a tree.
Fowler and his four passengers, Lewis Francis, Steve Walter Walker
Jr., Mary Hope Layne and Tiffany Michelle Walker were listed
as injured in the accident.
Leath estimated that the Dodge sustained $650 damage.
A 91-year-old South Boston man was charged with failure to yield
right-of-way following a two-vehicle accident on Route 659 three
miles west of Route 682 at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, according to Trooper
S.L. Noblin.
Noblin said Lorenzo O. Cardwell pulled his 1990 Chevrolet pickup
out of a privet drive, striking a 1984 Mercury driven by Dean
Ray Hite,62, of Danville.
Four people were listed as injured in the accident including Hite,
Barbara Teresa Simmons, Nannie Simmons and James Cardwell.
Noblin estimated that the Chevrolet sustained $800 damage and
the Mercury sustained $700 damage.
Calvin William Chambers, 52, of 7001 L.P.
Bailey Memorial Hwy., Halifax died May 31 in Halifax County.
Mr. Chambers was born in Halifax County on June 2, 1950, the son
of Sallie Ann Traynham Chambers and Willie Howard Chambers. He
was married to Barbara Moorman Chambers.
Survivors include three daughters, Sheila Chambers, Amy Chambers
and Cassandra Stovall, all of South Boston; one son, Calvin William
Chambers Jr. of South Boston; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild;
his mother of Halifax; eight sisters, Virginia Jones, Mary Johnson,
Josephine Williams, Catherine Davis and Jennette Chambers, all
of Halifax, Patricia Byrd of South Boston, Lucille Waller of Nathalie
and Margaret Tucker of Del.; three brothers, Willie Howard Chambers
and Gene Thomas Chambers, both of Halifax, and David Chambers
of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Chambers will be held tomorrow, June
7 at 1 p.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Vaughan
McCraw officiating.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
William 'Bill' Ijams Chenault, 58, of 111
Wren Street, South Boston, died June 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Chenault was born in Richmond on April 17, 1945, the son
of Luther Head Chenault and Norma Marie Ijams Chenault. He was
a retired salesman for Cole Gun Shop.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 7, at 11 a.m. at
Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ed Fulenwider officiating.
Burial will follow at Mt. Vernon UMC Cemetery in Caroline County.
Surviving Mr. Chenault are one son, Timmy Garman and his wife,
Lynn; one brother, John Luther Chenault; one sister, Martha Baines;
one grandchild; special family, Lucie Gravitt and the Cole Family.
Mildred 'Mickey' Perkins King, 72, of South
Boston, formerly of Dundas, died June 4.
She is survived by her husband, Roy W. King of South Boston; her
sons and their wives, Mike and Lisa Parsons of Green Bay and Randy
and Cathy Parsons of Christiansburg; four granddaughters; two
sisters, Anna P. Harris of Victoria and Agnes P. Almand of Midlothian.
Mrs. King was a member of Perseverance Christian Church in Dundas.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 7, at 11 a.m. at
Clarke Funeral Home in Kenbridge with burial to follow in Perseverance
Christian Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
Regional Hospice in South Boston.
Nannie Irene Murray, 85, of 1120 Whitt Loop
Road, Alton, died June 4 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Murray was born in Halifax County on October 6, 1917, the
daughter of the late Pallie Cole Murray and John Green Murray.
She was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church and was
a retired clerical worker at Collins & Aikman, Roxboro, NC.
She is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held June 5 at 3 p.m. at Shady Grove UMC
Cemetery with the Rev. Don Davidson officiating.
Anyone wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shady Grove
UMC Cemetery Fund.
Lucille Clay Pruitt, 63, of Chattanooga,
TN, formerly of South Boston, died June 3 at Grand Strand Regional
Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Mrs. Pruitt was born in Halifax County on April 1, 1940, the daughter
of Willie Thomas Clay and Beatrice Barksdale Clay. She was married
to the Rev. James Pruitt. She was a former member of Centerville
Baptist Church.
Services will be held today, June 6, at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral
Home with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow
in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Pruitt is survived by her husband of Chattanooga; four sons,
Michael Pruitt of Myrtle Beach, Dwayne, Christopher and John Pruitt,
all of Chattanooga; two daughters, Dawn P. Esquivel of Columbus,
MS, and Jennifer Pruitt of Chattanooga; two brothers, Marvin Clay
of South Boston and Glenn Clay of Daytona Beach, FL; eight sisters,
Verna Conner, Norma Kendrick and Elaine McGuire, all of Danville,
Christine Jones of Keysville, Prindle Dalton of Keeling, Ramona
Elliott of South Boston, Jean Bowyer of Charlotte Courthouse and
Ethel Moore of Altavista. Mrs. Pruitt was preceded in death by
her parents and one brother, Douglas Clay.
John Willie Ross, 59, of 1182 Todd's Trail,
Nathalie, died May 30 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Ross was born in Edgeville, S. C. on March 19, 1944, the son
of Rose Mae Hood-Ross, and was married to Floretta Wheeler Ross.
He was a member of Sunflower Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Bonita Farley of New
York, N.Y., Samantha Powell of Richmond, Sheanna Ross of Bronx,
N.Y., and Aisha Ross of Nathalie; one son, Jason Ross of Nathalie;
three grandchildren; six sisters; and four brothers.
Memorials services for Mr. Ross were held June 3, at 2 p.m. at
Sunflower Baptist Church with the Rev. Diane Carr officiating.