2015 – Page 2 – Bedford County Sheriffs Office in Virginia

Help Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Identify These Suspects.

September 11, 2015

PRESS RELEASE
September 11, 2015

At 1:06 a.m. this morning, Friday September 11, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call from Sheetz, 12259 East Lynchburg Salem Turnpike, reporting an armed robbery of the business. Caller advised that two male subjects had entered the store wearing masks and gloves displaying hand guns demanding money. After getting an undetermined amount of money the suspects left the store of foot. Bedford County deputies arrived on the scene two minutes later and were unable to locate the suspect either suspect. Suspect #1 was wearing a black hoodie, black gloves and black jeans. Suspect #2 was wearing a black hoodie, black gloves and blue jeans. No one was injured during the robbery.

Anyone with information on this crime should contact the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 586-7827, or use our online Submit A Tip form, or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900. Crime Stopper callers remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s).

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Vinton Man Charged With Abduction, Aggravated Malicious Wounding and Strangulation of Another Person

August 30, 2015

PRESS RELEASE
August 30, 2015

On Saturday August 29, 2015 at 1: 30 p.m., Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call to 1284 Breezy Hill Road, Vinton. The caller, who was calling from Botetourt County, advised that her daughter, Ashley Brogan, age 28, was at this residence and was possibly being assaulted by a Willard Hale. A Bedford County deputy responded to the address and spoke with Willard Hale’s father, who invited the deputy into the residence. He said the two were in another part of the house. After checking the residence the deputy could not locate either. The father then advised the deputy they must have went out the back door. The deputy started searching the woods behind the house. He later located the pair approximately a quarter mile into the woods. Brogan, had numerous stab wounds on her neck and torso. She was transported by ambulance to Carillion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Willard W. Hale, age 30, 1284 Breezy Hill Road, Vinton was taken into custody and transported to the Bedford Adult Detention Center and is being held without bond. He was charged with abduction, aggravated malicious wounding and strangulation of another person.

WILLARD W. HALE

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Two Arrests made Sunday Morning on Horseshoe Bend Road in Bedford County.

August 24, 2015

PRESS RELEASE
August 24, 2015

At 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call from Cindy Davis, 1386 Horseshoe Bend Road Moneta. She advised that she had been assaulted by a Charles Green. After arriving on the scene, deputies found Green outside the home. He advised them that Davis had shot at him while they both were inside the house. Davis told the deputies that Green had assaulted her. After finding evidence of both, deputies arrested Cindy Davis, age 58, for discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling. Charles Green, age 38, 1386 Horseshoe Bend Road, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery. Both parties had consumed alcohol and were transported to the Bedford Adult Detention Center.

CHARLES D. GREEN	CYNTHIA LEE DAVIS

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Sheriff’s Office Investigating Drowning at Smith Mountain Lake

July 30, 2015

Press Release
July 27, 2015

On July 26, 2015, at 22:22, deputies with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the community dock located off Lake Retreat Road in the Mariners Landing subdivision at Smith Mountain Lake in reference to a possible drowning incident. Upon arrival, the deputies were told that a 17-year-old male dove off a dock into the lake, but had not resurfaced. After a search of the area by emergency personnel, including Bedford County Fire & Rescue, Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, and the Sheriff’s Office, the victim was located deceased in the water nearby. Investigators and the Medical Examiner responded to the scene and are still in the process of investigating the incident. Due to the victim’s age and in consideration of family notifications, no further identifying information will be released at this time.

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Bedford County Woman Arrested for Abduction and Malicious Wounding after posting ad on CraigsList

July 30, 2015

Press Release
July 28, 2015

On July 22, 2015, deputies with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office responded to 5330 Old Country Road in Bedford in reference to an assault call. Upon arrival, deputies spoke to Matthew Caruso who was suffering from numerous cuts and lacerations. Caruso told the deputies that he had responded to a Craigslist.com ad offering sexual services by a subject identifying herself as “Trinity”, and he had arranged with her to meet at her residence at 5330 Old Country Road. Upon arrival, Caruso reports that “Trinity”, later identified as Jennifer Bandy-Mitchell, tied him up and assaulted him with a weapon. Caruso was able to escape the residence through a window and was able to contact the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies located Brandy-Mitchell at her residence and took her into custody without incident. She was transferred to the Blue Ridge Jail Authority, Bedford Adult Detention Facility where she was held without bond. Bandy-Mitchell was charged with Malicious Wounding, Abduction, and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. Caruso was treated for his injuries at the hospital and released.

Jennifer Bandy-Mitchell

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Bedford County Sheriff Has Safe Exchange Zone for Craigslist or Facebook Meetups

July 30, 2015

Bedford County, VA – If you are planning to meet up with a stranger to buy or sell something, there’s a safe place to do it in Bedford County.

This “Exchange Zone” was just set up in front of the Sheriff’s Office. The two parking spaces are video monitored 24-7. There is always someone inside the building watching and deputies can review the camera footage.

The Sheriff welcomes anyone to use the zone, even if you don’t live in Bedford County. He said the zone is in response to a community safety need.

“We have calls here about I’m getting ready to sell something, or buy something, through Craigslist, what should I do? What precautions should I take,” said Sheriff Mike Brown.

Bedford Domestic Violence Services and the Bedford County Department of Social Services is telling clients to use the zone when they need to meet someone to exchange property or for child visitation.

Bedford Begins Extradition Process for Suspect In Lyon Sisters Case

July 16, 2015

Sheila Lyon (left) and Katherine Lyon

The Delaware prisoner facing murder charges in connection with a mysterious 40-year-old cold case is expected to be brought to Bedford County for a trial in the next two months, authorities said at a press conference Thursday.

Lloyd Lee “Michael” Welch Jr., 58, was indicted Friday by a Bedford County grand jury on two counts of first degree felony murder stemming from the disappearance of two Maryland girls in 1975. The indictments were unsealed Wednesday.

Authorities wrote in recently unsealed search-warrant applications they believe Welch, who has family ties on Taylors Mountain in Bedford County, visited the area in March 1975 to dispose of the bodies of Sheila and Katherine Lyon.

The 12- and 10-year-old Lyon sisters went to a mall in Wheaton, Maryland, on March 25, 1975, and didn’t return home. Their bodies were never found.

Authorities from Montgomery County, Maryland, and Bedford County announced Welch’s indictment at a press conference in Wheaton Wednesday and gave a more detailed picture of the case Thursday.

Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz said that Thursday morning he started the process of extraditing Welch from Delaware, where he is serving a lengthy sentence for child-sex crimes.

“Because that Mr. Welch is an inmate of a Delaware state prison, we have to through the process of having him transported and turned over to Bedford County authorities. This morning, prior to coming here, I submitted the initial documents entering them into the system so that what we call ‘detainers’ may be filed against him in Delaware,” Krantz said.

He estimates it will take between 30 and 60 days for Welch to arrive in Bedford County, where he’ll face a trial. No trial date has been set.

Bedford County Sheriff Michael Brown said Welch’s indictment is a significant milestone for the case, which has gone decades without any substantial leads.

“They were killed in order for their captors to escape detection. The motive for the abduction of the Lyon sisters was to sexually exploit, abuse and defile them,” Brown said.

He and other authorities noted the investigation is ongoing, and warned against withholding information from officials.

“As we go forward in preparing for the trial of Lloyd Welch, the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office will also continue to focus its investigative efforts on identifying and bringing to justice those individuals that added or assisted in this horrible crime,” Brown said.

Montgomery County Police Capt. Darren Franke urged anyone with information about the girls to examine their conscience.

“Our message is very very simple, and it’s to the whole community: We will be relentless in finding the facts of this case. If you have information, if you’re a Welch, if you’re a citizen of Bedford County, if you’re a citizen of Montgomery County, we want to hear from you,” Franke said.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce at (434) 534-9521, or email the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at cybertip@ncmec.org.

Original Article: Lynchburg News & Advance

Notice from Sheriff Mike Brown – Significant Developments in Lyon Sisters Case

July 14, 2015

A Press Conference will be held at Mid-County Services Center, 2424 Reedie Dr., Wheaton, MD, at 12:00 Noon, this Wednesday, July 15, 2015, on major developments in the Lyon Sister’s Cold Case Investigation. Sheriff Mike Brown and Commonwealth Attorney Randy Krantz and members of the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office will be speaking on these latest developments in this investigation.

A Press Conference will be held at the Central Virginia Community College, Main Training Room, 1633 Venture Blvd., Bedford, VA, at 12:00 Noon, this Thursday, July 16, 2015, on additional developments in the Lyon Sister’s Cold Case Investigation. Sheriff Mike Brown and Commonwealth Attorney Randy Krantz and members of the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office will be speaking on other developments in this investigation.

No additional information will be available from this office or the officials in Maryland.

Release prepared by:

Sheriff Mike Brown

Two in Custody for Feb 2014 Robbery at the Sonic in Forest

June 24, 2015

PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2015

Weeks after the robbery of the Sonic in Forest in February 2014, Matthew Kukulski and Caitlin N. Williamson, boyfriend/girlfriend, became persons of interest in the robbery.

In August 2014, Bedford County Sheriff’s Investigator Steve Smith traveled to Florida where Kukulski was serving time in jail. While in Florida, Smith interviewed both Kuklski and Williamson.

In December 2014, a Bedford County Grand Jury returned indictments against both for two counts of armed robbery and two counts for use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

On February 12, 2015, Caitlin Williamson age 26 was transported back to Bedford County to stand trial on her charges. She is currently being held in the Lynchburg Adult Detention Center.

CAITLIN V. WILLIAMSON

On June 23, 2015 after completing serving his time in Florida, Matthew Kukulski, age 27, was transported back to Bedford County.

MATTHEW KUKULSKI

He is being held in the Bedford Adult Detention Center.

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Three Lynch Station Residents Charged with Felony Child Abuse and Neglect

June 24, 2015

PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2015

At 9:50 p.m. Monday evening June 22, 2015, Bedford County 911 dispatchers received a call reporting a possible child abuse on Mt. Airy Road, Lynch Station. Bedford County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to the location. After arriving on the scene and investigating the complaint Bedford County Social Services Child Protection investigators were contacted and made aware of the complaint.

On Tuesday evening June 23, 2015, Bedford County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Arsean Jermaine Hobbs, age 32, Yvette Nicole Hobbs, age 38 and Shirley Mae Venable, age 67. All three reside at 4093 Mount Airy Road, Lynch Station. They each were charged with felony child abuse and neglect of a child, which is a class 6 felony.