News

Actions

Man accused of being Virginia serial killer charged with 3 killings

Posted at 1:04 PM, Sep 11, 2014
and last updated 2014-09-11 13:08:30-04

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A man believed to be a serial killer has been charged with the murders of three people in Alexandria.

Charles Severance, 53, was indicted Monday for the 2014 shooting death of Ruthanne Lodato, 59, the 2013 shooting death of Ronald Kirby, 69, and the 2003 shooting death of Nancy Dunning, 56.

All three victims were shot in their home, in the middle of the afternoon, according to a report in the Washington Post.

While police have not yet said what would link Severance to the victims and the victims to each other, the Post reported all three victims “prominent figures” in the Alexandria community.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook said. “I am confident that the suspect Charles Severance is the suspect that we have been looking for, which is now almost 11 years.”

Severance, who was arrested in Wheeling, West Virginia, was first considered a person of interest earlier this year when he was held in Loudoun County on a weapons violation charge, according to WUSA9.com.