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Murder suspect Joshua Federico captured ‘without incident,’ police say

Posted at 1:35 PM, Aug 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-26 21:06:52-04

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Joshua M. Federico, who  is accused of shooting his estranged wife and murdering her boyfriend, has been captured after a nearly three-hour manhunt in a Midlothian neighborhood Sunday afternoon.

Lt. Brad Connor with Chesterfield Police said just after 4 p.m. that Federico was "taken into custody without incident."

Additionally, officials said that no one was injured during the search.

Crime Insider sources told reporter Jon Burkett the suspect was captured near the Birkdale golf course. Police said he was found in an abandoned home in the 7900 block of Spring Run Road.

Police said earlier that Federico was spotted in the Deer Run neighborhood in Chesterfield County around 1:15 p.m. Sunday.

Officials released a photo of the armed suspect, who was last seen wearing dark pants and no shirt.

Police said the suspect walked into the Publix grocery store at the Harbour Pointe Shopping Center on Hull Street Road in Midlothian before he exited the store and was then seen walking across the street around 11:20 a.m.

That sighting promoted an active search for the suspect, who has been on the loose for two days, in the Deer Run neighborhood.

"In Deer Run neighborhood where fully armed police line the neighborhood and helicopter circles the sky, waiting to close in on Federico," reporter Shannon Lilly said.

Federico is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail.

If you have information that could help investigators, call Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251, Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or U.S. Marshals at 877-WANTED-2.

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U.S. Marshals announced a $5,000 reward for information about Federico late Saturday.

Police charged Federico with murder on Saturday after human remains believed to be those of 38-year-old Lawrence J. Howell, the boyfriend of his estranged wife, were discovered on a property adjacent to his home in the 12300 block of Black Road on Friday.

Federico is also wanted on charges of malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony following a shooting that left his wife injured around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

She was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said their investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Joshua Federico -- Wanted Billboard

Joshua Federico -- Wanted Billboard

Court documents: Suspect filed for divorce

Court records show Federico filed for divorce June 12, 2018, claiming his wife of six years committed adultery on several occasions. The couple was married on August 31, 2012.

In a cross-complaint she neither admitted nor denied the allegations but called for “strict proof" and moved out of their home in April 13, 2018.

“The plaintiff [Joshua Federico] has been guilty of extreme cruelty to the defendant, has caused her to have a car accident, has belittled her, has tried to ruin her financially, has stolen her money and her cell phone and wanted her to leave him,” court documents stated.

The victim’s attorney said she feared for her client’s safety and that her client was "extremely scared" of the suspect.

In fact, WTVR CBS 6 has learned the victim filed a protective order against Federico in April when she moved.

Additionally, friends said the victim’s house was broken into earlier this month and that her safe, computers and gun was stolen among other things.

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