Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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August 10, 2009

Buchanan sheriff waiting for ME, evidence report

By BILL ARCHER

GRUNDY, Va. — Buchanan County authorities were still waiting to get receive a report from the Virginia State Laboratory in Roanoke, Va., before pursuing additional charges related to a triple homicide near Hurley, Va., last week.

Frank C. Thomas Jr., 35, of Hurley, was arrested Friday morning on six felony counts including grand larceny of over $200, grand larceny, two robbery charges, car jacking and conspiracy to commit car jacking as well as two misdemeanor counts — simple assault and intentional damage.

At the time of his arrest, police identified Thomas as a “suspect,” in the murders of Roger Justice, 48, his wife, Janice Maybell Griffey Justice, 57, both of 1789 Knox Creek Rd., Hurley, and Timothy Dale Blankenship, 40, of 1982 Knox Creek Drive, Hurley. All three victims died of apparent gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

“The suspect remains in custody,” Sheriff Ray Foster said in a telephone interview on Monday. “We’re holding him on the felony charges. As soon as we get back all the evidence we gathered at the crime scenes, and as soon as we receive the medical examiner’s report, we may have something more to report.”

Foster said it is important to keep in mind that at this point in the investigation, Thomas has not been charged with the murders. “All he is right now is a suspect,” Foster said of Thomas.

Police found the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Justice on Thursday morning, Aug. 6, and found Blankenship’s body later that same evening. According to the press release Foster approved on Friday, Aug. 7, “all three homicides appear to be related.”

— Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

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