Sheryl 'Sherri' Warner Virginia

[mysteriew]

Sheriff calls death suspicious

Foul play is suspected in the death of a 37-year-old woman whose body was found in her basement Sunday night, Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart said yesterday.

"We are looking at this as a homicide at this time," Hart said at a news conference.

Hart, who provided few details regarding the case, did say that his office "had some leads."
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12212005/154626

Death deemed a homicide

A suspicious house fire in Reva Sunday night has been classified a homicide by the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff H. Lee Hart confirmed Tuesday that investigators believe Sheryl Ann Warner, 37, was killed by foul play.

“It looks suspicious from pretty much the beginning,” said Hart, who would not give details on how Warner died. However, rescuers have reported that Warner was found in her basement at 8445 James Monroe Highway, hanged with an electrical cord.
“At this time,” Hart said, “everything leads toward it’s a homicide investigation.”
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768846313

Force remains tight-lipped in investigation

As its investigation into a bizarre homicide case continues, the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office remains tight-lipped while it gathers information.

Since Sunday's suspicious house fire in Reva, a 15-member joint task force of the Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police has met daily to discuss leads and share information. Sheriff H. Lee Hart said Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close is also included in the meetings.
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768869812

Information still scarce in investigation

Investigators released little information Thursday regarding the suspicious death of Sherri Warner, a 37-year-old mother of three found dead Sunday night in the basement of her Reva home.
"We are conducting interviews," said Culpeper County Sheriff H. Lee Hart, "and we have had a number of people calling in pertaining to this investigation. ? We are working through the holiday."
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768889698

[mysteriew]

The homicide case involving a 37-year-old Reva woman has taken another bizarre turn.

According to search warrants filed Thursday in Culpeper County Circuit Court, an autopsy report reveals Sherri Warner, who died Sunday night in a suspicious house fire, had “a small caliber bullet wound to the left side of the head.”

However, those documents do not list a gun among the 15 items seized from Warner’s home at 8445 James Monroe Highway.

When firefighters discovered Warner’s body sometime after 8 p.m. Sunday, she was hanging from an electrical cord in her basement. A large fire burning nearby was doused before it caused major damage to the body, and the modest two-story house remained intact.

According to the affidavits, “the scene originally indicated that Warner may have committed suicide, however, after a preliminary autopsy was completed, a single gunshot to the head was uncovered, indicating that Warner was potentially shot or shot herself prior to being hung and then burned.”

“The Medical Examiner,” the affidavit continued, “indicated no soot in the lungs, which supports this theorem.”

With that information in hand, investigators sought in the second affidavit permission to search Warner’s home and surrounding area for “any and all physical evidence which would substantiate or support the commission of a crime to include but not limited to: digital evidence, photographic evidence, personal and financial documents, physical evidence of a crime, any firearms and or any other evidence that would substantiate that a crime has occurred.”
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768908046

Culpeper victim was shot in head

Sheryl Ann Embrey Warner was shot in the head, hanged by the neck with an electrical cord and her body left to be consumed in a house fire, according to documents filed in court in Culpeper.

Search warrant documents filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court revealed that the 37-year-old mother of three had been shot.

Two bed comforters, a bed sheet, a mattress cover and two pillows were among items taken from Warner's James Monroe Highway (U.S. 29) home, according to the four search warrants issued on Dec. 19 and Dec. 22.

The exact cause of death, however, was not contained in the court documents and has not been released by the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office.

The fire was apparently started near the body, which, according to court documents, had burns on it.

Other items seized from the Warner home under the search warrants include four telephones, a towel and a Styrofoam cup.
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12282005/155994

Culpeper County reward is increased

Crime Solvers is beefing up its reward for information leading to an arrest in the slaying of a Culpeper County woman.

As Culpeper businesses take the lead in soliciting donations, the reward is up to $3,000. The amount likely will continue growing, said Nancy Garrett of Crime Solvers.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769057921&path=!news&s=1045855934842

Reward increased in homicide case

Crime Solvers is beefing up its reward for information leading to an arrest in the Sherri Warner homicide case.

As Culpeper businesses take the lead in soliciting donations, the reward has increased to $3,000. And that amount is expected to continue growing, said Crime Solvers’ Nancy Garrett.

The autopsy report shows Sherri Warner was probably dead before the fire was started, because she had no soot in her lungs. However, investigators are still awaiting toxicology reports that could shed more light into her condition at the time of her death.
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128768986926

[Shadow205]

I found something interesting at one of the links that you provided Mysteriew.Take a look at this.

On March 2, 1996, Alicia Showalter Reynolds' car was found alongside Route 29 in Culpeper County, Virginia. Alicia, a 25-year-old graduate student, was traveling from her home in Baltimore to Charlottesville, Virginia. Two months later, her skeletal remains were found 15 miles away from where her car was located in Lignum, Virginia. During the investigation, it was determined that numerous other women were "flagged down" by a white male driving a dark pickup truck while driving along Route 29. The man would attempt to get the women to pull over by indicating they were having car trouble.

and from the article about Warner, this was mentioned:http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12212005/154626

Sherrie Warner, a Culpeper native and a graduate of Culpeper County High School, had been employed as a secretary for more than two years at DeJarnette's Main Street law office. Her home is about 50 yards from where Alicia Showalter Reynolds' car was found abandoned in March 1996.

Reynolds' body was found in a wooded area near Lignum two months later. Her killer has never been found.

"I can't say there's any connection at this time," Hart said of the two cases.

[Vet4Bush]

Yeah, the Route 29 Stalker did his dirty deeds in that area.

http://www.freelancestar.com/News/FLS/2005/032005/03042005/1690132

[Shadow205]

Darrell Rice was the suspect but was never charged with the murder of Alicia Showalter Reynolds murder. He was charged/convicted of another abduction and received only a 10 year sentence. What is disturbing is I just checked the Virginai Dpet. of Correction and find NO record of him as an inmate? Has he already been released and if so, has he resumed?

**added**never mind, I found him in Federal prison.

[mamasouth]

Sherri was also a singer and member of a band, out of high school. That is how she met her husband, Lonnie, with whom she had 3 children and from whom she was later divorced.

[mssheila]

How close is this to Richmond? Hmmm...

[Shadow205]

86 miles

How close is this to Richmond? Hmmm...

[mysteriew]

One difference I noted in the comparison of this case with the Harvey case was that in Warner's muder, there wasn't any mention of it being a particularly bloody scene, or any mention of torture like they found with the Harvey's. The fact that the Harvey scene also included young children may have been responsible for part of the detective's reactions, but with the info coming out about the nonfatal wounds, there isn't anything like that mentioned in the Warner case. Even though it does appear she was shot and hung, then a fire started.

[mysteriew]

I found something interesting at one of the links that you provided Mysteriew.Take a look at this.

On March 2, 1996, Alicia Showalter Reynolds' car was found alongside Route 29 in Culpeper County, Virginia. Alicia, a 25-year-old graduate student, was traveling from her home in Baltimore to Charlottesville, Virginia. Two months later, her skeletal remains were found 15 miles away from where her car was located in Lignum, Virginia. During the investigation, it was determined that numerous other women were "flagged down" by a white male driving a dark pickup truck while driving along Route 29. The man would attempt to get the women to pull over by indicating they were having car trouble.

and from the article about Warner, this was mentioned:http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12212005/154626

Sherrie Warner, a Culpeper native and a graduate of Culpeper County High School, had been employed as a secretary for more than two years at DeJarnette's Main Street law office. Her home is about 50 yards from where Alicia Showalter Reynolds' car was found abandoned in March 1996.

Reynolds' body was found in a wooded area near Lignum two months later. Her killer has never been found.

"I can't say there's any connection at this time," Hart said of the two cases.
That would be a major change in MO though.
From attacking lone women in a vehicle, and dumping along the road to approaching and attacking them in a house. Wonder if they know COD for Showalter?

I keep puzzling about the fact that Warner was both shot and hung. Was it overkill, or was the hanging unsuccessful and so she was then shot?
Firesetting using is an indicator of trying to destroy evidence. That is often (but not always) an indicator that the person can be a known associate of the victim, but she didn't indicate to her dad that she knew the person. Someone who lived in the area, maybe? A clerk in a store she frequented or something similiar?

[mysteriew]

Is this the same Sheryl Warner?

Sheryl Warner and the
Southside Homewreckers
P.O. Box 404
Quinton, VA 23141
thehomewreckers@sherylwarner.com


http://www.sherylwarner.com/

Upcoming schedule:
http://www.sherylwarner.com/performsched.html

If it is, the page hasn't been updated with the info about Warner.

[mysteriew]

Just an hour's drive north of Kay Scarpetta's Richmond, the scene of the annihilation of the Harvey family, is the small community of Culpeper, Virginia. It was there that less than two weeks before the murder of the Harveys that another victim met a similar terrible death. While talking on the telephone to her father, Sheryl Ann Warner heard a knock on her door and told her dad that the person at the door had car problems and needed help. (This kind of a plea for help has been a common ruse for assailants to obtain entry into a home.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10723608/

The Culpeper county Sheriff's Office has classified the December 18 death of Reva resident Sheryl Ann Warner,37, as a homicide. Warner, who was initially thought to have died in a fire, was a law clerk in Culpeper County.

Warner worked in the Washington offices of attorney Doug Baumgartner from 1999 to 2001.
http://www.zwire.com/site/tab4.cfm?newsid=15810680&BRD=2553&PAG=461&dept_id=506086&rfi=6

[mysteriew]

What type of area did Sheryl live in?

Does anyone else think it is a bit odd, she was talking with her Dad on the phone and said someone was there who was having car trouble. He tells her to call him back when they leave. Ok, that seems pretty normal. But when she didn't call back, the family has the LE there within 40 min. to check on her.

There wasn't much worry and wonder time from the time the father hung up till they called LE. No assuming she had gotten busy or stepped outside. Father hangs up the phone, calls the sister, who tries to call her Sherri, and then calls LE.

All that I have seen about the phone call is that someone came to the door and was having car trouble and she had to go. Yet the family responed very quickly. Did the father hear something disturbing on the phone? Was Sherri having problems with someone? What made the family respond so quickly? They didn't drop everything and run to the house to check. They called 911 very quickly.

[mamasouth]

What type of area did Sheryl live in?

Does anyone else think it is a bit odd, she was talking with her Dad on the phone and said someone was there who was having car trouble. He tells her to call him back when they leave. Ok, that seems pretty normal. But when she didn't call back, the family has the LE there within 40 min. to check on her.

There wasn't much worry and wonder time from the time the father hung up till they called LE. No assuming she had gotten busy or stepped outside. Father hangs up the phone, calls the sister, who tries to call her Sherri, and then calls LE.

All that I have seen about the phone call is that someone came to the door and was having car trouble and she had to go. Yet the family responed very quickly. Did the father hear something disturbing on the phone? Was Sherri having problems with someone? What made the family respond so quickly? They didn't drop everything and run to the house to check. They called 911 very quickly.

There have been horrible murders in the Fredericksburg/Culpeper area over the past ten years. Two teenage girls were abducted and murdered from their home after school and then Alicia Showalter was abducted and murdered.

It is hard for me to imagine in this day and age, a woman letting a man she does not know into her house to use her phone. I so wish she had not! I think I am a Good Samaritan, but there is NO WAY I would let a strange man, no matter how normal (Ted Bundy) into my home to use the phone, even if I had a system where I would call my husband/sister/father whomever after he was through. No way.

But, that is what happened here.

When Sherri's father didn't hear right back from her, I am not surprised that he became concerned and when she did not pick up the phone, called her sister, who then called her ex, and after discussing it, then called the police. They probably did not want to appear paranoid and call 9-1-1, but after repeated attempts, quickly in succession, to contact her, did the right thing and called 9-1-1. They had lived through these other crimes, which is why it makes it that much more unbelievable that she let this guy into the house!!! I don't blame victims for the crimes their perps commit....but it was just an unfortunate, good hearted, but very risky decision. No less risky than picking up a hitchhiker in a desolate area.

In this age of cell phones and nuts on the streets, please....NO ONE LET A STRANGER INTO YOUR HOME! Listen through the door and make a call for the person or call 9-1-1 and let the authorities come and help the person. If they're innocent, they won't care.

In Summer 2004 a wonderful woman in New Jersey opened her door to a magazine salesman who wanted a drink of water....she was beaten to death within minutes.

I do not find Sherri's relatives' reactions strange based on the crimes that had surrounded them that received tons of press coverage nationally. Hope this helps.

[mamasouth]

To clarify:
The Fredericksburg murders were solved years after the girls' bodies were found. A normal looking, upstanding married guy (Pres of the homeowners' association) who lived not far from the girls moved to SC where he abducted a young girl in broad daylight. While she was tied in his apt, he fell asleep, she broke free and ran for her life. He woke up and fled, but the victim led the SC police to the apt where they found "souvenirs" from the F'burg girls that sealed the solution to that case. He committed suicide at a roadblock.
Just didn't want to imply that the F'burg murders and the Showalter murder were BOTH unsolved.

[mamasouth]

FINALLY

Richmond case draws attention from Culpeper



Liz Mitchell - Staff Writer
Culpeper Star Exponent
Saturday, January 7, 2006



Give your opinion on this story (http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769166852#rrForm)



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As investigators continue to search for leads in the Sherri Warner homicide investigation, an eerily similar case in Richmond has drawn attention.

Major Jim Branch of the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said investigators have been in contact with the Richmond Police Department, which is investigating the New Year’s Day murder of a family of four.

However, Culpeper officials are downplaying any link between Warner’s death and last week’s murder of Bryan and Kathryn Harvey and their two daughters, Stella, 9, and Ruby, 4.

The family was bound by tape and had their throats cut Jan. 1 at their home outside Richmond. As was the case in Warner’s death Dec. 18, the Richmond PD said a fire had been started to cover up evidence. And the Richmond family had been found in their basement, as had Warner, a 37-year-old divorced mother of three.

Branch was unsure if investigators have shared information in the two cases, but the Sheriff’s Office is checking if a connection could be possible.

“We are looking into that,” Sheriff H. Lee Hart said. “We have no confirmation if there is any similarities on that.”

No suspects have been identified in either case, but Branch is hopeful that the public can point investigators toward a suspect in Warner’s death.

“Something that in someone’s eyes may be trivial could be very important and could be something that solves the case,” he said. “We try not to put anything out of context. We try not to prioritize. Anything and everything as far as information is important. It may be that one piece of information that you need to tie things together.”

As the Warner investigation continues, the phone lines remain open and Crime Solvers’ Nancy Garrett is optimistic. Last week the reward money was increased to $3,000, and Garrett said the community is continuing to be supportive.

“The whole community is so distraught by this they are willing to put money up for reward,” she said. “It gives the sense that people really do care, really are concerned and really want to help.”

Norma Mayo and Maria Wince, of Signature Real Estate, donated $500 to the reward and challenge other area businesses to match their donation.

“Sherri was a business person in our community,” Mayo said. “We are all scared; we all want to know who did this. We all want to put Sherri to rest.”

“Crime is coming here more than we want to know,” she added. “When it gets this close to home, it is very frightening.”

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110

[mamasouth]

Sheriff defends homicide probe



Liz Mitchell - Staff Writer
Culpeper Star Exponent
Saturday, January 7, 2006



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It’s been nearly three weeks since Reva resident Sherri Warner was killed in her home.

Investigators have yet to identify a suspect, and little new information has publicly emerged in the case. However, Culpeper County Sheriff H. Lee Hart provided updates on the investigation Friday in response to an accusation by a former employee.

In a letter to the editor on today’s commentary page, former sheriff’s investigator Justin Brown asks why a lead arson investigator was pulled off the case.

“He hasn’t been pulled off the case,” Hart told the Star-Exponent regarding Steve St. Clair. “He is still on the case pertaining to the arson. He has been put in a supervised capacity in charge of the general investigations until the other supervisor comes back.

“I had to realign personnel,” Hart added, “so I could put four people on this thing full time. I have personnel in other areas to see that daily operations are covered.”

Major Jim Branch said the homicide investigation has put a strain on sheriff’s employees who have worked tirelessly since Warner’s body was found hanged by an electrical cord Dec. 18 in her basement.

Autopsy reports show the divorced mother of three also had a bullet wound to her head, but investigators did not find a gun at the scene.

“It has been two years since we had a crime like this,” Branch said, “so for our office and this community … we want to make sure that we give the attention that that case deserves.

“But the other side of the coin,” he continued, “is we still have the day-to-day operations. There were cases that were being worked on before this, cases coming in as this happened, and certainly as we speak now cases are coming in, so those cannot be ignored as well.”

Branch likens Brown’s letter to “kids kicking a tin can back and forth,” and Hart calls it a political attack.

Meanwhile, Hart said a 15-member state and county task force is looking into all leads, no matter how trivial or remote they may seem.

“Our office is working diligently,” Hart said. “We are giving it priority. This is a sensitivity issue to the family.
“I will not put a deadline on this case,” he added. “It will be done thoroughly.”

In an unrelated case, the Sheriff’s Office released no new information into an assault and robbery of three North Carolina construction workers Dec. 29 at Red Carpet Inn.

“I believe they are making progress on it,” Branch said. “The Warner case has occupied most of my personal time.”

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or

[mamasouth]

There have been horrible murders in the Fredericksburg/Culpeper area over the past ten years. Two teenage girls were abducted and murdered from their home after school and then Alicia Showalter was abducted and murdered.

It is hard for me to imagine in this day and age, a woman letting a man she does not know into her house to use her phone. I so wish she had not! I think I am a Good Samaritan, but there is NO WAY I would let a strange man, no matter how normal (Ted Bundy) into my home to use the phone, even if I had a system where I would call my husband/sister/father whomever after he was through. No way.

But, that is what happened here.

When Sherri's father didn't hear right back from her, I am not surprised that he became concerned and when she did not pick up the phone, called her sister, who then called her ex, and after discussing it, then called the police. They probably did not want to appear paranoid and call 9-1-1, but after repeated attempts, quickly in succession, to contact her, did the right thing and called 9-1-1. They had lived through these other crimes, which is why it makes it that much more unbelievable that she let this guy into the house!!! I don't blame victims for the crimes their perps commit....but it was just an unfortunate, good hearted, but very risky decision. No less risky than picking up a hitchhiker in a desolate area.

In this age of cell phones and nuts on the streets, please....NO ONE LET A STRANGER INTO YOUR HOME! Listen through the door and make a call for the person or call 9-1-1 and let the authorities come and help the person. If they're innocent, they won't care.

In Summer 2004 a wonderful woman in New Jersey opened her door to a magazine salesman who wanted a drink of water....she was beaten to death within minutes.

I do not find Sherri's relatives' reactions strange based on the crimes that had surrounded them that received tons of press coverage nationally. Hope this helps.


Total coincidence that the perp from the NJ case was sentenced yesterday, but here's the link:
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1136613285291050.xml&coll=1
Do not open doors to strangers!

[mysteriew]

To me, it just seems odd the short amount of time that elapsed from the time she hung up with the father, till the time that they called LE.

They didn't sit and worry, then think that maybe she was holding a flashlight for the guy while he made repairs. They didn't assume that they were waiting on a tow truck, and that she may have stepped outside. They didn't let any time go by, before they began to be concerned enough to worry.
To me that is an indication. The father heard something- either words or something in his dau. voice that caused him concern. Or maybe he heard some of the conversation in the background, while he was waiting for his dau. to come to the phone. Concerned enough that he called his other dau. and talked about it. Concerned enough that they tried to call her back. Concerned enough that they made the decision to call 911. But maybe not enough that he felt the need to immediately call 911.
I agree, that too many people are letting strangers into their home. But I don't think Sherri did. I think she just opened her door to a knock, and faced a gun. Maybe she said that she was on the phone, maybe they just saw the phone off the hook. But I think that the story of someone being broken down, was something she was told to say. Or a story she gave her father, because she was told to say nothing on the phone. But I think the gun was already presented.

[mamasouth]

To me, it just seems odd the short amount of time that elapsed from the time she hung up with the father, till the time that they called LE.

They didn't sit and worry, then think that maybe she was holding a flashlight for the guy while he made repairs. They didn't assume that they were waiting on a tow truck, and that she may have stepped outside. They didn't let any time go by, before they began to be concerned enough to worry.
To me that is an indication. The father heard something- either words or something in his dau. voice that caused him concern. Or maybe he heard some of the conversation in the background, while he was waiting for his dau. to come to the phone. Concerned enough that he called his other dau. and talked about it. Concerned enough that they tried to call her back. Concerned enough that they made the decision to call 911. But maybe not enough that he felt the need to immediately call 911.
I agree, that too many people are letting strangers into their home. But I don't think Sherri did. I think she just opened her door to a knock, and faced a gun. Maybe she said that she was on the phone, maybe they just saw the phone off the hook. But I think that the story of someone being broken down, was something she was told to say. Or a story she gave her father, because she was told to say nothing on the phone. But I think the gun was already presented.
I visualized and assumed all along that Sherri came to the door, bringing the portable phone with her, and told her Dad that there was a guy outside. He probably said, "OK, I'll hold on," and the Dad probably DID overhear a male voice indicating he had car trouble...and Sherri said, "Dad, I'll call you right back. This gentleman (and I use that term loosely) needs to use the phone." When she didn't, I just feel enough had gone on in that community with the still unsolved terror of Alicia Showalter's abduction (in daylight) and murder....and the suspicion is that someone feigned car trouble to complete that abduction) that he became frightened and set the wheels in motion.

I may be totally off, but I cannot imagine any woman in Culpeper going out to a car and holding a flashlight for a guy near Rt 29 after Alicia Showalter's abduction on that road...and subsequent murder. This was not a rural community unaccustomed to a murder....her murder was HUGE news in Va and is still unsolved.

Just my thoughts and the way I had invisioned it going down, but who knows. Too many unsolved crimes.

[mysteriew]

As investigators continue to search for leads in the Sherri Warner homicide investigation, an eerily similar case in Richmond has drawn attention.

Major Jim Branch of the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said investigators have been in contact with the Richmond Police Department, which is investigating the New Year’s Day murder of a family of four.

However, Culpeper officials are downplaying any link between Warner’s death and last week’s murder of Bryan and Kathryn Harvey and their two daughters, Stella, 9, and Ruby, 4.

Branch was unsure if investigators have shared information in the two cases, but the Sheriff’s Office is checking if a connection could be possible.

“We are looking into that,” Sheriff H. Lee Hart said. “We have no confirmation if there is any similarities on that.”

No suspects have been identified in either case, but Branch is hopeful that the public can point investigators toward a suspect in Warner’s death.
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769166852

[aussiegran]

I remember on a news article on the 2 that were captured for 7 murders that one of them lived at another town ,I wonder if this was near where he came from.:furious: Has anyone read where he came from.

[mamasouth]

I remember on a news article on the 2 that were captured for 7 murders that one of them lived at another town ,I wonder if this was near where he came from.:furious: Has anyone read where he came from.
One is from Arlington, VA, outside of Washington, DC

One appears to have lived in Philadelphia

[concernedperson]

It certainly sounds similar. Even if these crimes are not exacting there is enough to correlate. Remember how much BTK taught us in his ramblings?

[PrayersForMaura]

Is Culpeper case tied to killings?

Culpeper County sheriff's investigators are trying to determine whether there is a connection between the slayings of two Richmond families last week and the Dec. 18 death of Sheryl Ann Embrey Warner.


Sheriff's Maj. Jim Branch said yesterday that his office contacted Richmond police soon after Ray Joseph Dandridge and Ricky Gray were arrested in Philadelphia Saturday in connection with the brutal deaths of five adults and two children in the capital city.


"Right now it is too early to tell if there is a connection, but certainly it is being looked at," Branch said.


..."Right now we are looking at the possibility and probability of a connection [to Warner's death]," Branch said. "We will try to focus and narrow any connection and then check the finer details if the investigation leads us in that direction."



More: http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/012006/01102006/159066

[mamasouth]

I[QUOTE=PrayersForMaura]Is Culpeper case tied to killings?

Culpeper County sheriff's investigators are trying to determine whether there is a connection between the slayings of two Richmond families last week and the Dec. 18 death of Sheryl Ann Embrey Warner.


Sheriff's Maj. Jim Branch said yesterday that his office contacted Richmond police soon after Ray Joseph Dandridge and Ricky Gray were arrested in Philadelphia Saturday in connection with the brutal deaths of five adults and two children in the capital city.


"Right now it is too early to tell if there is a connection, but certainly it is being looked at," Branch said.


..."Right now we are looking at the possibility and probability of a connection [to Warner's death]," Branch said. "We will try to focus and narrow any connection and then check the finer details if the investigation leads us in that direction."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT IS ABOUT TIME. My aunt lives near Sherri Warner and since Christmas we have been trying to figure this one out. My sister and I have written to the reporter/editor there at the Star-Exponent, urging them since 1/2/06 to please look at these 2 crimes together....since there was never ANY write-up about Sherri Warner's murder in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Also wrote to Jim Nolan at the RTD. It is unreal if the Sheriff waited until their arrest to even contact Richmond. This is not Hooterville. These are two cities less than 90 minutes apart!

[mamasouth]

http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769245802

[Shadow205]

Not much being relaesed on this case to the media. IMO, there is a good possibilty that that Gray & Dandridge are involved in this one too. However, on the chance that they are not, we have another killer on the loose and that is something to worry about. At least if it is them we don't have to worry about them killing again.

[mamasouth]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12192005/1219culpeper

[mamasouth]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12212005/154626

[mamasouth]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2005/122005/12282005/155994

[Shadow205]

Mamasouth,

I have been looking for a local forum for the Culpepper area. So far I have not found one. If you come accross one, please post a link. I would like to see what people in that area are saying about the Warner case.

[mamasouth]

Mamasouth,

I have been looking for a local forum for the Culpepper area. So far I have not found one. If you come accross one, please post a link. I would like to see what people in that area are saying about the Warner case.
Hey Shadow
The local paper is the Star Exponent. If you do a search for Sheryl or Sherri Warner, a list of articles comes up. Some of them have places where people can post comments, but frankly, there is not much there.

[dragonfly]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/012006/01182006/161127

Sheriff: No link found in deaths

Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart said yesterday that it now appears unlikely the death of 37-year-old Sheryl Ann Embrey Warner is linked to seven recent homicides in the Richmond area.
"We're still talking with Richmond police, but we do not see a relationship at this time," Hart said.

Ricky Javon Gray and Ray Joseph Dandridge are charged with murder and conspiracy in the New Year's Day slayings of a couple and their two children and three killings in another home on Jan. 6, all of them in Richmond. Members of both families were bound and their throats cut.

After Gray and Dandridge were arrested, Culpeper investigators thought they saw subtle similarities between those crimes and Warner's Dec. 18 death.

Hart would not elaborate, but said his investigators are backing off that theory--at least for now.

"We're right back where we started from," the sheriff said, adding that the case continues to be his office's priority.

More at link....

[mamasouth]

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/012006/01182006/161127

Sheriff: No link found in deaths

Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart said yesterday that it now appears unlikely the death of 37-year-old Sheryl Ann Embrey Warner is linked to seven recent homicides in the Richmond area.
"We're still talking with Richmond police, but we do not see a relationship at this time," Hart said.

Ricky Javon Gray and Ray Joseph Dandridge are charged with murder and conspiracy in the New Year's Day slayings of a couple and their two children and three killings in another home on Jan. 6, all of them in Richmond. Members of both families were bound and their throats cut.

After Gray and Dandridge were arrested, Culpeper investigators thought they saw subtle similarities between those crimes and Warner's Dec. 18 death.

Hart would not elaborate, but said his investigators are backing off that theory--at least for now.

"We're right back where we started from," the sheriff said, adding that the case continues to be his office's priority.

More at link....
In over his head:
Hart would not comment on what direction the investigation is now taking, but said his department still has not received results from some forensics tests.

"The crime was committed just before the holidays when some of the labs were closed and we've had a difficult time getting everything back," he said.

So he concludes based on WHAT??????? that they are not related?

[mamasouth]

Mamasouth,

I have been looking for a local forum for the Culpepper area. So far I have not found one. If you come accross one, please post a link. I would like to see what people in that area are saying about the Warner case.
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/HTMLPage/CSE_HTMLPage&c=HTMLPage&cid=1128769246861

[mamasouth]

http://www.richmondtimesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769401514&path=%21news&s=1045855934842


What is MS-13?

[Shadow205]

MS-13 is a gang.

Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is the largest street gang in Northern Virginia, with an estimated 2,000 or more members in the region.

http://www.altereddimensions.net/crime/MS13Gang.htm

In northern Virginia and southern Maryland, around the Washington DC area, local authorities estimate MS-13 membership to be between 5,000 and 6,000 members - by far the largest gang in the area.<snip>

While most gangs offer simple initiation rights, such as being "jumped in", where you are beaten or punched for several minutes in order to prove your worth, for many MS-13 cells, initiations are a little more stringent. In these cells, in order to join MS-13 you must first commit a violent act against someone else - either a beating, a rape, or a murder.

more at the link

[mamasouth]

MS-13 is a gang.

Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, is the largest street gang in Northern Virginia, with an estimated 2,000 or more members in the region.

http://www.altereddimensions.net/crime/MS13Gang.htm

In northern Virginia and southern Maryland, around the Washington DC area, local authorities estimate MS-13 membership to be between 5,000 and 6,000 members - by far the largest gang in the area.<snip>

While most gangs offer simple initiation rights, such as being "jumped in", where you are beaten or punched for several minutes in order to prove your worth, for many MS-13 cells, initiations are a little more stringent. In these cells, in order to join MS-13 you must first commit a violent act against someone else - either a beating, a rape, or a murder.

more at the link


Thanks, I think. Yikes.

My thoughts on this: I think this could be related to the Dandridge/Gray resume' of savagery OR I think this is a brazen connection to Alicia Showalter's abduction and murder by a guy feigning car trouble about 50 yds from Sherry Warner's front door....

[Shadow205]

Liz Mitchell - Staff Writer
Culpeper Star Exponent
Friday, January 20, 2006

The Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office sees no connection between the MS-13 gang and Sherri Warner’s death.
In response to an article in Thursday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch, which mentioned the possibility, Sheriff H. Lee Hart said he did not understand where the gang connection came from.
“I don’t know about that,” he said. “It’s news to me.”
MS-13 is a gang that traces its roots to Central America and is said by police to have a growing presence in Culpeper
http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769433826

It is getting very frustrating waiting for some real information concerning Sherri. It seems every time that is a possible lead, the Sheriff is very quick to say that there is NO connection.

[mysteriew]

That is odd, esp as they deny having any suspects.

[Shadow205]

I was reading back over the articles about Sherri Warners murder and found some interesting comments posted on this article. http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1128769245802It looks like the people in Culpeper are becoming a little frustrated with the investigation and are questioning whether the Sheriff's Dept. needs to ask for assistance from the State Police.

[Shadow205]

Bumping this up for Sherri

[Shadow205]

http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlmainpicture&blobheader=image/jpeg&blobkey=id&blobtable=MGImage&blobwhere=1128769246782&ssbinary=true&cachecontrol=2%3A0%3A0%20%2A%2F%2A%2F%2A

Bumping this up for Sherri Warner. I have not been able to find any updates.

[Shadow205]

Man accused of murders in Richmond may be responsible for the death of a Culpeper woman.

Date published: 6/25/2006

report published yesterday said that a Pennsylvania man accused of multiple murders in the Richmond area also may be responsible for the slaying of Sheryl A. Warner of Culpeper.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Ricky Javon Gray, the man accused in the New Year's Day deaths of a Richmond family, is also believed responsible for the Dec. 18 slaying of the 37-year-old Culpeper woman.

The newspaper cited an unnamed source. Gray appeared Friday in Richmond Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing.
<snip>

Attorney Elliott DeJarnette, Warner's employer, said yesterday he knew nothing more about Gray's possible link to Warner's death, other than what he read in the newspaper.

Repeated attempts to contact Culpeper County Sheriff Lee Hart, Virginia State Police information officer Les Tyler and members of Warner's family were unsuccessful yesterday.

Gray, 28, is charged with capital murder in connection with the slayings of the Harvey family at their home in Richmond.

more at the link http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/062006/06252006/201809

[Shadow205]

Warner case still on radar



Liz Mitchell
Staff Writer
Thursday, June 29, 2006

At the Sheriff’s quarterly report Tuesday night, Sheriff H. Lee Hart revealed little information on the Sherri Warner investigation, but he continued to emphasize that it is a priority for his office.

“Right now we are working on a very serious homicide and I do feel confident we are making progress,” Hart said. “This is a priority in this office to solve this case and bring it some closure.”

Last week, prosecutors in Richmond spoke of a possible link between Ricky Javon Gray, a suspect facing eight murder charges, with the Warner case and said they learned of the possible connection from the Richmond Sheriff’s Office.

Even though the potential suspect was named in open court, Hart says he cannot elaborate “because of the integrity of the investigation.”

“I can’t tell you what part we are playing in all of this, if any at all,” Hart said. “We have made this thing our priority and we want to be cautious and thorough. I’ve continually said ‘at this time, at this time, at this time.’ Nothing is a definite, but I definitely feel we’re making good progress.”

While nearly 30 people attended the quarterly report held at the Jeffersonton Community Center, none probed Hart with questions pertaining to the case.

more at the link http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149188822654

[Shadow205]

Authorities aren't saying whether they believe Gray or Dandridge is a suspect

BY KIRAN KRISHNAMURTHY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Sep 21, 2006


FREDERICKSBURG -- Culpeper County authorities say they're close to an arrest in the December slaying of Sheryl Warner, whose bound body was found in her home that had been set ablaze.

But investigators will not say whether they believe either Ricky Javon Gray or Ray Joseph Dandridge, each now convicted of capital murders in Richmond, might be responsible for Warner's death. Warner, a 37-year-old mother of three, was killed two weeks before the Richmond slayings of the Harvey family and, five days later, the Tucker/Baskerville family.

Culpeper sheriff's Maj. Jim Branch also would not directly answer yesterday when asked if investigators believe whoever killed Warner is behind bars or still might be at large.

"I like that question," he said in a phone interview, adding he did not want to say anything that might hurt the investigation.

Asked when he expects an arrest in the case, Branch said, "I would say it would be in the near future."

Branch said he believes all evidence that Culpeper authorities sent off for forensic examination has since been returned to investigators

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190737619

[Shadow205]

Culpeper indicts Gray in slaying / Officials believe Dandridge, accomplice in Richmond killings, was not involved

Date:Dec 19, 2006

Culpeper Commonwealth's Attorney Gary L. Close said he is "fairly confident" that [Ray Joseph Dandridge] was not involved in Warner's death. But the prosecutor would not say whether [Ricky Javon Gray]'s girlfriend, Ashley Baskerville, accompanied Gray to Warner's home off U.S. 29 that night.

<snip>

Culpeper authorities began looking at Gray and Dandridge as possible suspects soon after the Richmond slayings. The Times- Dispatch reported in June that law-enforcement officials believed Gray was responsible for the death of Warner. At that time, Richmond prosecutors had sought permission during a pre-trial hearing in Gray's case to introduce evidence linking Gray to Warner's death. The judge ruled against prosecutors after defense attorneys argued they had not had enough time to investigate the alleged Culpeper link.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access/1184430391.html?dids=1184430391:1184430391&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+19%2C+2006&author=KIRAN+RISHNAMURTHY&pub=Richmond+Times+-+Dispatch&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Culpeper+indicts+Gray+in+slaying+%2F+Official s+believe+Dandridge%2C+accomplice+in+Richmond+kill ings%2C+was+not+involved

[Shadow205]

Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Gray, a 29-year-old Arlington resident, appeared in Culpeper for the first time since the murder of Reva resident Sherri Warner Dec. 18, 2005. Warner is one of nine people authorities believe Gray killed during a two-month spree that stretched from Pennsylvania to Richmond.

Judge John R. Cullen read Gray's indictment of first-degree murder - issued by a grand jury last month on the anniversary of Warner's death.

Gray stood quietly, listening to his charge. When Cullen asked questions related to Gray's income and ability to hire an attorney, Gray smirked and said, "Sir, I'm currently on death row."

Cullen appointed Culpeper attorney Kevin Smith to Gray's case. Both are scheduled to appear in court Monday at 10:30 a.m. to set a date for arraignment.

Gray awaits execution in Sussex County for murdering the Harvey family in Richmond on Jan. 1, 2006. Bryan Harvey, 49, his wife Kathryn, 39, and their two daughters, Stella, 9, and Ruby, 4, were bound and beaten with their throats cut in the basement of their burning home.

That crime was eerily similar to how Warner died.

Warner, 37, a legal secretary and single mother of three, was found shot and hanged by an electrical cord in her burning basement. Warner's house stood on U.S. 29 a few miles south of the town of Culpeper.

http://www.starexponent.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CSE/MGArticle/CSE_MGArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149192467857

[Shadow205]

Geez, I feel like I'm talking to myself in this thread. I hope that at least someone is following it besides me. :waitasec:

[cbcrime]

Thank you Shadow205 for posting these updates. I am so glad they finally brought charges. It is so mind boggling the carnage this man and his accomplishes have done to innocent people.

[nanandjim]

You can see by the number of "views" that others are following this case, too. Thanks, Shadow. ;)

[Shadow205]

You can see by the number of "views" that others are following this case, too. Thanks, Shadow. ;)
Thanks nanandjim, I was was feeling a little lonely in here:) and didn't think to look at the "views". Anyway, I am glad to see that he was charged in Sherri's murder.
MSNBC did a show last night called "Nightmare On 31st Street" that was about the Harvey muder's. It was pretty good.

[barb0301]

Geez, I feel like I'm talking to myself in this thread. I hope that at least someone is following it besides me. :waitasec:
Hi Shadow - great job in posting all the info and updates ! Thanks !

I'm so glad to see charges were finally brought ! Hopefully, justice for Sherri will finally be served.

[SewingDeb]

Shadow,

Thanks for the updates. It seemed that Sherri's murder had been forgotten with all the publicity on the Harvey family. I'm glad charges have finally been brought.

[Bobbisangel]

I didn't know that they had connected the two murders to the same guy. I'm glad that they caught Sheryl's killer. Makes a person wonder why the killer would feel the need to shoot her and then hang her. Guess he just felt like it or maybe he hung her and then shot her just to watch her terror. A totally evil person. It's to bad a person can't be killed more than one time when they commit crimes this horrible. I remember when the couple and their two little kids were killed and their house set on fire just like Sheryl's house. Horrible

[Marstan]

Did the two guys say why they killed the family? Sorry if it's been posted but I just read this thread - were they members of the MS-13 gang? Were the murders random? This is too sad

[SewingDeb]

I haven't heard of any gang affiliations. That doesn't mean there are none.

The two guys were apparently on a crime spree after getting out of prison and the motive was robbery. There was also a woman with them when they killed the Harvey family and they later killed her (and her parents?). It has been awhile now, but their crimes show them to be sadists and sociopaths, imo.