James Bryant Hudson, 55, the prime suspect in a triple murder that rocked the Hyco community last Wednesday, is scheduled to be arraigned in General District Court today.
Hudson is currently being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax without bond, according to Sheriff D.J. Oakes.
"Hudson has been charged with one count of capital murder, two count of first degree murder, and three counts of using a firearm in the commission of a felony," Oakes said yesterday.
Hudson was captured in the North Fork Church Road area Thursday following an exhaustive 24-hour manhunt that included law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions.
Law enforcement officials worked throughout the night in an effort to capture Hudson.
Officers recovered a Browning automatic shotgun, several loose shells and a box of shells, along with a .38 cal. revolver, speed loader and box of ammunition for the handgun at the arrest scene.
Three members of the Cole family were killed by what law enforcement officials described as close-range shotgun blasts.
The victims of the shootings were husband and wife Thomas Wesley and Patsy Ayers Cole, and Wesley's brother Walter Stanley Cole.
Funerals for the Coles will be held today.
Stanley Cole, 56, was the father of four and owner of the South Boston Livestock Market.
Thomas Wesley Cole, 64, was a retired combing plant manager at Burlington.
Patsy Ayers Cole, 64, was a retired medical professional.
Oakes said law enforcement still suspects a long-standing dispute over property rights triggered the violence.
"It looks as if they met in the road," the sheriff said yesterday.
"My understanding is there was a verbal confrontation before the shots were fired," he added.
The sheriff said that officials had identified a witness who had heard the conversation, but hadn't had a chance to interview the witness.
The worker was a long-time employee of Stanley Cole, the sheriff said.
"There was a migrant worker at the scene during the confrontation, but we didn't have a translator present," he said.
Officials instead used a person "used to working with migrant workers," but were uncomfortable relying on that translation, the sheriff observed.
"We are waiting for an official translator to take his statement in front of an investigator," Oakes said.
The sheriff said Hudson had declined to comment on his whereabouts during the manhunt.
"We don't know where he went.
"He made a statement that he was never more than two miles from home," Oakes said.
Law enforcement suspects Hudson camped out in the woods near his home.
"He told (Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam) that he got water from the Hyco River to drink," the sheriff said.
Oakes suggested Hudson had a "distinct advantage" over law enforcement in that he had hunted in the area all his life.
"There are plenty of roads that go to the water's edge in the area," he said.
"We just didn't have the manpower or equipment to check all the roads."

Despite sweltering temperatures reaching into the upper 90s, Halifax County residents turned out in force to celebrate the Fourth of July during the annual Scottsburg celebration.
The annual event is a benefit for the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department.
But the heat did have an impact on lemonade sales, said organizer Johnny Francis.
"We had the same amount as we've had the other years, but we ran out by 1 p.m.," Francis commented.
Francis said that the event was a huge success, noting that many of the people left during the heat of the day, but returned for the evening's musical entertainment and fireworks display.
"We had people crowded in around the stage by dinner time, from the stage all the way to the firehouse," he said.
The event took in over $16,000, with the fire department hopefully clearing around $10,000 after expenses, according to Francis.
The parade was a crowd favorite, as thousands lined the street for the 10 a.m. event.
Fire departments from all over the area, as well as some from North Carolina, showd their support for the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department by entering vehicles in the parade.
The float sponsored by the Scottsburg Post Office took-first place honors, while Buck Wilmouth won a fiddle in one of the raffles.
Other raffle winners included Jonathan Fisher of Scottsburg ($200), Debbie Glover of Clover ($100), and Roy Wilmouth of Scottsburg ($50).
One Scottsburg resident didn't let the heat slow him down a bit.
Johnnie Hatcher, a long-time member of the Scottsburg Fire Department, spent the morning passing out treats to entrants in the parade, and the afternoon dancing to the live music from the stage.

J. Eric Roberts will officially join town council tonight during a 6:15 p.m. ceremony and reception at council chambers on Yancey Street prior to the regular meeting.
Also being sworn in will be returning council members Tom Raab and Ed Owens.
Following the ceremony, council will get down to business at its regular meeting beginning at 7 p.m.
The first order of business is expected to be the appointment of council members to the standing committees.
Council is also expected to announce appointments to the Industrial Development Authority, Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.
Following the appointments, council is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the town code concerning weeds and trash.
Council is also expected to review the 2020 Transportation Plan and the 2002-04 strategic goals developed at the June council retreat.
The council will also address the proposed rate increase for E-911 service. Service fees are expected to jump from $1.20 to $2.50 following approval of the proposed amendment.
Following the scheduled meeting, council will open the floor for public comment.

A 15-year-old Alton juvenile was struck by a vehicle following the Scottsburg parade Thursday morning.
Sgt. Jeffrey Lane of the Virginia State Police reported that the parade had ended and regular traffic released when the juvenile ventured into the roadway.
The juvenile was struck by a passenger vehicle operated by Ada Martin of South Boston.
The juvenile was transported from the scene to Halifax Regional Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured pelvis, shoulder injuries which required surgery and a concussion, according to a family member.
The juvenile was released from the hospital yesterday, according to the family member.
No charges have been filed in the incident, according to Lane.
The incident was investigated by Trooper S.M. Noblin.

Scottsburg has won its first two games and put itself in the driver's seat in the Dixie Youth Minor League Sub-District Baseball Tournament being played at the Day Complex in South Boston.
South Boston is also off to a good start, having won its Friday night opener and then sitting out Saturday night with a bye.
That created a matchup of the two undefeated teams in last night's opening game.
Meanwhile, in what is something of a surprise, Halifax County South and Halifax, the two teams that faced each other in last year's sub-district tournament title game were facing possible elimination last night.
They were set to face each other in yesterday's second game with the loser of the game being eliminated.
Chase City was eliminated in the double elimination tournament with a 16-7 loss Friday night at the hands of South Boston and a 6-4 loss to Halifax in what was the first elimination game of the tournament.
Scottsburg 5 Halifax 2
Scottsburg scored all five of its runs in the bottom of the first inning and staved off Halifax 5-2 in Friday's opening game.
Three of Scottsburg's six hits in the game came in the first inning which started with a double by Zack Clem.
Thomas Nichols reached base on an error to allow Clem to score. Luke Griles' double drove in another run and Davon Green added a hit in the big inning.
Three of Scottsburg's runs scored as a result of passed balls.
Halifax scored a run in the top of the fourth inning with a base hit by Markee Brooks. He scored when Brad Waltman reached base on an error.
A last-ditch effort by Halifax in the sixth inning netted a run. Eric Osborne walked and scored when C. Moseley singled and Scottsburg committed an error on the play.
South Boston 16 Chase City 7
Host South Boston opened its tournament action in a big way with a 16-7 win over Chase City.
South Boston had 13 hits in the game with Dale Trent and Zane Long leading the way with three hits each and Aaron Puryear and Antonio Walker chipping in two hits each.
Chase City had six hits with Josh Moore leading the way with two hits. Jennifer DeSantis, Tyler Jones, Sambo Woodson and Logan Lacks each had one hit.
Walker, the South Boston pitcher, fanned 15 batters but gave up 10 walks. South Boston committed two errors.
South Boston opened with two runs in the top of the first inning with three back-to-back hits that included a single from Long, a run-scoring triple by Walker and a run-scoring hit by Darrell Davis.
A five-run third inning put South Boston up 7-0 and a five-run fourth inning put the team up 12-0.
Chase City avoided defeat by a slaughter rule by coming up with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 12-6.
Woodson led off with a hit and stole second base while Walker walked four out of the next five batters to force in one run.
A two-RBI hit by Moore added two more runs and three runs scored on a hit by Jones and a South Boston error on the play.
Walker aided his own cause in the fifth inning with a two-RBI triple that led to a three-run South Boston rally that made the score 15-6.
South Boston plated another run in the sixth inning to make the score 16-6.
A run-scoring hit by DeSantis in the sixth inning made the final 16-7 score.
Scottsburg 5 HC South 2
Scottsburg picked up its second win of the tournament by topping Halifax County South 5-2 in Saturday's opening game.
Halifax County South had an opening-round bye.
Scottsburg had six hits in the game, three coming from Luke Griles. The winners got one hit each from Green, Cordero Brown and Shawn Conner.
Halifax County South had four hits with Justin Nelson getting two hits and Tyler Long and Dion Betts getting a hit each.
Scottsburg got the early lead when Nichols walked and scored on a hit from Griles.
Halifax County South deadlocked the game in the bottom half of the inning when Nelson singled and scored when Kelsey Campbell reached base on an error.
Scottsburg went on top to stay with two runs in the top of the third inning that made it a 3-1 game.
Nichols walked, scored on a hit by Griles and Green plated Griles with a triple.
A leadoff double by Nelson gave Halifax County South a run in the bottom of the third inning and made it a 3-2 score.
Scottsburg made the score 4-2 with a run in the top of the fourth inning that came when Conner doubled with one out, moved to third base on a passed ball and scored when Reid Roller grounded out for the second out of the inning.
A leadoff hit by Griles in the top of the fifth inning led to Scottsburg's final run and the final 5-2 count.
Halifax 6 Chase City 4
Despite getting only four hits, Halifax prevailed in what was the first elimination game of the double-elimination tournament.
The game was one decided by walks and errors as five Chase City errors and eight walks allowed by Chase City pitchers gave Halifax plenty of scoring opportunities.
By the same token, Halifax committed five defensive errors and allowed seven walks.
Halifax got two hits from Jacob Saunders and a hit each from Moseley and Brooks.
Chase City got a hit apiece from Moore, Jones and Timmy Spain.
Halifax scored a run in the top of the first inning when Moseley reached base on an error and scored on a hit by Brooks to go up 1-0.
It became a 2-0 score in the top of the fourth inning when Osborne walked and later scored when Dru Henderson reached base on an error.
Chase City picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning when DeSantis walked and scored on a hit by Jones to make the score 2-1.
A two-RBI hit by Moseley gave Halifax a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
But Chase City forced the game into extra innings by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to deadlock the contest at 4-4.
Moore and Spain had big hits for Chase City but it was three Halifax errors that gave Chase City the big lift as Moore, DeSantis and Spain crossed the plate in the inning.
Likewise, it was a pair of Chase City errors in the top of the seventh inning that gave the game away.
Cody Whitlow reached base on an error with one out and Saunders was struck by a pitch to put two runners on base.
Moseley reached base on an error that allowed Whitlow and Saunders to score and make the score 6-4.
Chase City saw only a minor spark in the bottom of the seventh inning, that coming when DeSantis reached base on an error with two out in the inning.
Jones went down on strikes to end the inning and strand DeSantis on the basepath.

Will Barksdale

Will Barksdale, 94, of Lennig Road, Nathalie, died July 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Barksdale was born in Halifax County on October 22, 1907, the son of Moses Barksdale and Carrie Love Barksdale and was married to Annie Mae Clark Barksdale.
Survivors include three sons, Wilson, Lynwood and Clarence Barksdale, all of Brooklyn, NY; one grandchild, Donald Barksdale; one sister, Mamie White of Nathalie; two daughters-in-law, Dolly Barksdale and Barbara Barksdale, both of Brooklyn; one sister-in-law, Bertha Rogers of Bronx, NY; and two devoted nieces, Gaynell Logan and Mable Calvin.
Funeral services for Mr. Barksdale were held July 6 at 1 p.m. at Dunn & Sons Funeral Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Lorenzo Rouff officiating. Burial was in Sunflower Baptist Church Cemetery.

Patsy Ayers Cole

A funeral service for Patsy Ayers Cole, 64, of Virgie Cole Road, is scheduled at 2 p.m. today at Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
Burial is at Halifax Memorial Gardens on Halifax Road.
Mrs. Cole died Wednesday at 4012 Virgie Cole Road.
She was a retired lab tech at Halifax Regional Hospital.
A Gastonia, North Carolina, native, Mrs. Cole was born October 12, 1937 a daughter of the late George Edward Ayers Sr. and Sue Wynne Ayers. She was married to T. Wesley Cole, deceased.
She is survived by one daughter, Denise Cole Takes, and her husband, Jim, of Mississauga, Ontario, and two sons, Thomas Wesley Cole Jr., and his wife, Hope, of Halifax, and Kevin Dean Cole, and his wife, Angela, of Troutville.
Other survivors include one brother, George E. Ayers Jr. of New Castle, one granddaughter and five grandsons. Two sisters, Jacqueline Pendarvis and Peggy Poston, are deceased.

T. Wesley Cole

A funeral service for T. Wesley Cole, 64, of Virgie Cole Road, is scheduled at 2 p.m. today at Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
Burial will be at Halifax Memorial Gardens off of Halifax Road.
The Rev. Don Davidson will officiate.
Mr. Cole died Wednesday.
He was a retired combing plant manager for Burlington Industries, a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church and president of Hyco Road Ruritan Club.
A Halifax County native, he was born May 6, 1938 a son of the late Thomas Cole and Frances Conner Cole. He was married to Patsy Ayers Cole, deceased.
Mr. Cole is survived by a daughter, Denise Cole Takes of Mississauga, Ontario,, two sons, Thomas Wesley Cole Jr. and his wife, Hope, of Halifax, and Kevin Dean Cole and his wife, Angela of Troutville.
Also surviving are one granddaughter and five grandsons.
Walter Stanley Cole, a brother, is deceased.

Walter Stanley Cole

A funeral service for Walter Stanley Cole, 56, is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, with burial at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The Rev. Don Davidson will officiate.
Mr. Cole, of Virgie Cole Road, died Wednesday at his home.
He was the owner/operator of the South Boston Livestock Market, a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church and president of Percheron Horse Association of Virginia.
A Halifax County native, Cole was born March 19, 1946, a son of the late Thomas Cole and Frances Conner Cole. He was married to Linda Newton Cole.
Mr. Cole is survived by his wife, Linda Newton Cole of the home, a daughter, Kimberly C. Talbott of Rougemont, N.C., and her husband, Kelly, and three sons, Walter Stanley "Wally" Cole Jr., and his wife, Cindy, of South Boston, Jason D. Cole of Newport News, and Christopher Layne Cole and his wife, Cindi, of South Boston.
Other survivors include two grandsons and one granddaughter.
One brother, T. Wesley Cole, is deceased.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider Shady Grove United Methodist Church at 4129 E. Hyco Road, South Boston, Va. 24592, The American Diabetes Association, 404 8th St. N.E. Suite C, Charlottesville, Va. 22902, or Percheron Horse Association of Virginia, c/o Susan Stimeling, HC 34, Box 252, New Castle, Va. 24127.

Odella Matthews Keaton

Odella Matthews Keaton, 87, of Virgilina, died July 4 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Keaton was born in Mecklenburg County the daughter of Tom and Julia Hite Matthews and was married to Thomas Nannie Keaton. She was a homemaker and charter member of Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle, Buffalo Junction.
Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Helen and Elmo Vaughan, Virginia Marie and Ronnie Overby, all of Halifax, Gloria Diane and Wayne Gravitt of Virgilina; three sons and daughters-in-law, Monroe and Nellie Keaton, Douglas and Cathy Keaton, all of South Boston and Eugene and Kathy Keaton of Virgilina; a brother, Lemuel Matthews of Buffalo Junction; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Hilda Keaton and a granddaughter, Tamara.
Funeral services for Mrs. Keaton were held July 6 at 2 p.m. at Buffalo Baptist Tabernacle with burial in the church cemetery.

Mary Jo Matze Lewis

A funeral service for Mary Jo Matze Lewis, 38, of Lewis Ferrell Road in Oak Level, is scheduled today at 11 a.m. at Catawba Baptist Church.
Burial will be in Catawba Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie.
The Rev. Russell Lee will officiate.
Mrs. Lewis died Friday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Lewis was a hostess at Golden Corral. She was a member of Catawba Baptist Church.
A Halifax County native, she was born February 21, 1964, a daughter of the late Mervin Linn Matze and Caroline Canada Matze.
She was married to Allen Lewis of South Boston.
Other survivors include three sisters, Vivian M. Kidder of Fayetteville, West Virginia, Amy M. Duncan of Orlando, Florida and Susan M. Cheever of South Boston, and one brother, Melvin Thomas Matze of South Boston.

Bruce Walker Murray

A graveside service was held Sunday for Bruce Walker Murray, 73, of Murray Road, South Boston, at Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery on East Hyco Road.
The Rev. Don Davidson officiated.
Mr. Murray died Friday at Duke University Medical Center.
A Halifax County native, he was born September 3, 1928, a son of Marie Whitt Murray of South Boston and the late John Robert Murray Sr. He was married to Bettye Layton B. Murray.
Survivors also include three daughters, Shawn Jones and Elizabeth Bruce Murray, both of South Boston, and Gaye M. Clifford of Farmville, and two sons, J. Slade Murray of South Boston and Bruce W. Murray Jr. of Powhatan, and five grandchildren. One brother, John Robert Murray Jr., predeceased Mr. Murray.