Warren County, VA Area Cold Cases

cold-case-record__Ruffin Sr

Name

Rodney Ruffin Sr

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Agency

Richmond

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cold-case-record__Banwell

Name

Agnes Banwell

Age

81

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On july 2, 1994, agnes banwell was reported missing from her home in purcellville, va. The initial report was made to the purcellville police department. A massive land and air search was conducted with the assistance of the virginia state police. The search and the subsequent investigation failed to produce any trace of the victim.

Agency

Loudon County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Monroe

Name

Charles Monroe

Age

35

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On may 8, 2005, a fire was reported at a barn in the 20200 block of edgewood farm lane, purcellville, va. The victim lived in the barn on his family's property. A few hours before the fire, the victim was last seen sleeping in a chair inside the barn's living quarters. After the fire was extinguished, there was no trace of the victim. There have been no sightings of, nor contact with, the victim.

Agency

Loudon County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Newcomb

Name

John Newcomb

Age

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On february 28, 1962, john churchill newcomb and his housekeeper were attacked inside his farm house located in the 36800 block of present day paxson road, purcellville, va. John died from stab wounds suffered in the attack, but the housekeeper survived. Two subjects were later arrested based on the jailhouse confession of a suspect. However, neither subject was ever convicted.

Agency

Loudon County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Contreras

Name

Luis Contreras

Age

57

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On november 15, 1987, luis contreras, age 57, was observed walking from the migrant workers barracks located in the 35200-block of harry byrd highway, round hill, va. According to the reporting person, no one had seen the victim after 7:00 am on november 16, 1987. A check of his room showed all of his possessions intact.

Agency

Loudon County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Maistros

Name

Mitchell Maistros

Age

Cause of Death

Fire

Info

On january 13, 1995, a fire was reported at a residence located behind the sweet springs store near the west virginia state line on route 9 (34300 block of charles town pike, purcellville ,va). After the fire was extinguished, the victim was found deceased in the residence.

Agency

Loudon County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Breeden

Name

Brian Breeden

Age

44

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On june 17, 2005, brian was last seen paying a bill at the culpeper treasurer’s office. Brian was involved in a fraud investigation around the same time and has not been seen or heard from since. He had residences on picadilly cir. In culpeper, river rd. In occoquan, and jennings st. In woodbridge and had ties to the area.

Agency

Prince William County Sheriff

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cold-case-record__Gordan

Name

Anne Gordan

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

In the early morning of august 10, 1989, diane louise gordan was traveling with her son to charlottesville, virginia where he was scheduled to testify in court regarding a drug distribution investigation. While traveling through fauquier county, virginia on route 29 south, .6 miles south of route 687 at approximately 7:15am; occupants in another vehicle shot into the vehicle being driven by diane gordan, killing her and wounding her son.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Strother

Name

George Strother

Age

54

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

On the morning of september 2, 1972, the body of mr. Strother was found in a field in the northern area of frederick county, va off rt 731. It appears mr. Strother suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head area. It is believed there were two individuals responsible for beating mr. Strother. This case remains open.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Douglas

Name

Ruth Douglas

Age

70

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On 05/29/80, ruth douglas was found in her driveway located in shawneeland. Ms. Douglas had defense wounds on her hands, and had been stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen and chest area. A search of her home showed pry marks on the lock area of the north facing door. The phone receiver was laying on the floor, and the phone wires had been disconnected from the wall. This case remains open.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Stead

Name

Sheila Stead

Age

16

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

In march 1979, 16 year-old shelia stead was found dead along papermill road. She died as a result of asphyxiation. This case remains open.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Dudley

Name

William Dudley

Age

35

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Mr. Dudley was last seen alive on, or about, october 31, 1993 in the clearbrook area. There was an altercation between he and his girlfriend on that evening. He has not been seen since this date. This case remains open.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Eye

Name

Daniel Eye

Age

28

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Daniel jay eye, w/m, dob: 11/2/61 missing – suspected foul play on october 13, 1992, daniel eye was reported missing to the frederick county sheriff’s office. Eye was last seen at his home on paper mill road on october 10, 1992 at approximately 1800 hours by his neighbor. On october 14, 1992 front royal police found eye’s 1990 chevrolet pickup truck parked at the luray avenue boat landing in front royal. They advised the vehicle had been there several days and appeared abandoned. An extensive search of the area was conducted by officers and k-9’s yielding no results. The victim’s wallet and other personal items were found in the truck. Daniel eye has never been found. This case remains open.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Breeden

Name

Brian Breeden

Age

44

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On june 17, 2005, brian was last seen paying a bill at the culpeper treasure’s office. Brian was involved in a fraud investigation around the same time and has not been seen or heard from since. He had residences on picadilly cir. In culpeper, river rd. In occoquan, jennings st. In woodbridge and had ties to the area.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Smith

Name

Lorenzo Smith

Age

34

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Victim left middleburg training track with his employer en route to saratoga springs, new york. The victim experienced a medical emergency which required a visit to the local hospital. Afterward, the employer put the victim on a bus bound for washington, dc. The victim never arrived, and he has not been located since.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Maistros

Name

Mitchell Maistros

Age

37

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On 01/13/1995 a fire was reported at a residence located behind the sweet springs store near the west virginia state line on route 9 (34300-blok of charles town pike, purcellville ,va). After the fire was extinguished, the victim was found deceased in the residence.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Monroe

Name

Charles Monroe

Age

34

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On 05/08/2005 a fire was reported at a barn in the 20200-block of edgewood farm lane, purcellville, va. The victim lived in the barn on his family's property. A few hours before the fire, the victim was last seen sleeping in a chair inside the barn's living quarters. After the fire was extinguished, there was no trace of the victim. There have been no sightings of, nor contact with, the victim.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Newcomb

Name

John Newcomb

Age

62

Cause of Death

stabbing

Info

Victim and his housekeeper were attacked inside his farm house on 02/28/1962. The farmhouse is located in the 36800-block of present day paxson road, purcellville, va. The victim died from stab wounds suffered in the attack, but the housekeeper survived. Two subjects were later arrested based on the jailhouse confession of a suspect. However, neither subject was ever convicted.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Soto

Name

Jose Soto

Age

46

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Victim was found deceased in his living quarters at the middleburg training track (35300-block training center lane, middleburg, va). Investigation revealed a recent physical altercation between the victim and two other employees of the track, timoteo hernandez cruz and alberto garcia perez. The case was reopened in 2014 and malicious wounding warrants were ultimately sought for the suspects. The location of the suspects is not known as they may have fled to mexico.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Kagdis

Name

William Kagdis

Age

54

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On august 1, 1982, william kagdis was found dead in room #17 of the johnson motel located on james madison highway in fauquier county. The autopsy found that william had been beaten and stabbed to death. William was traveling from his home in baltimore, maryland to tennessee on business. William had checked into the motel the day before in the company of a young white male. William's vehicle, a white 1979 volkswagen rabbit, maryland registration ebx304, was taken and has never been recovered

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Thorpe

Name

Tammy Thorpe

Age

20

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On october 23, 1988, tammy thorpe was found dead off of a gravel lane, adjacent to route 17, approximately ¼ mile north of the warrenton town limits. The autopsy found that tammy had been shot to death. Tammy was last seen around 3:00am in warrenton, driving her 1986 gold pontiac grand am with virginia registration 86-tammy. Tammy's vehicle was found the same day parked in the warrenton plaza shopping center.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Smedley

Name

Dennis Smedley

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Dennis michael smedley was murdered on the street outside his residence around 6:30 am on september 20, 1983. He was preparing for his job as an officer with the town of front royal police department and standing outside his personal motor vehicle. Smedley was wearing his police officer's uniform when the assailant(s) shot him in the back. His assailant(s) then ran from the crime scene down 6th street from villa avenue and disappeared.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Dalton

Name

Sylena Dalton

Age

20

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Ms. Sylenna dalton was found stabbed to death in the afternoon of july 27, 1998 in her strasburg, virginia, residence. Her 10 week old infant daughter allyson was missing and has not been recovered. Both victims were last seen alive on the morning of july 27, 1998 by family members. Allyson’s father, daniel e. Pompell, told police he went to the apartment on the morning of the murder, knocked on the door, received no answer and left the area. Pompell continues to remain cooperative in the investigation.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Dalton

Name

Allyson Dalton

Age

10

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Ms. Sylenna dalton was found stabbed to death in the afternoon of july 27, 1998 in her strasburg, virginia, residence. Her 10 week old infant daughter allyson was missing and has not been recovered. Both victims were last seen alive on the morning of july 27, 1998 by family members. Allyson’s father, daniel e. Pompell, told police he went to the apartment on the morning of the murder, knocked on the door, received no answer and left the area. Pompell continues to remain cooperative in the investigation.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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cold-case-record__Kroll

Name

Steven Kroll

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On march 15, 1988, a vdot employee discovered a dismembered human body in two green trash bags and a cardboard box on us rt.211, 7 9/10 miles west of luray approximately 25' south of the roadway. The victim was later identified as steven j. Kroll. Kroll had been missing from his home in maryland since february 25, 1988.

Agency

Virginia State Police

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