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| W. Va. authorities to weigh extradition of ‘person of interest’ in Alexandria killings | W. Va. authorities to weigh extradition of ‘person of interest’ in Alexandria killings |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| WHEELING, W.VA. — A prosecutor here on Monday said that Alexandria authorities are exploring whether Charles Severance — an eccentric former politico with a felony record and some history of mental illness — is responsible for three high-profile slayings in the city, and that once Severance learned of the investigation, he tried unsuccessfully to seek asylum at the Russian Embassy in D.C. | WHEELING, W.VA. — A prosecutor here on Monday said that Alexandria authorities are exploring whether Charles Severance — an eccentric former politico with a felony record and some history of mental illness — is responsible for three high-profile slayings in the city, and that once Severance learned of the investigation, he tried unsuccessfully to seek asylum at the Russian Embassy in D.C. |
| The comments by Ohio County prosecutor Scott Smith suggest that Severance, 53, is squarely on Alexandria police’s radar in connection with the killings, though he has not been charged with any of the slayings. Severance was appearing in court in West Virginia on a fugitive from justice warrant unrelated to the killings. | The comments by Ohio County prosecutor Scott Smith suggest that Severance, 53, is squarely on Alexandria police’s radar in connection with the killings, though he has not been charged with any of the slayings. Severance was appearing in court in West Virginia on a fugitive from justice warrant unrelated to the killings. |
| A judge ultimately ordered Severance held without bond until another hearing on March 19. Wearing a khaki jacket over an orange jail jumpsuit, Severance said nothing during the roughly 10-minute hearing. His defense attorney, Shayne Welling, said his client plans to fight extradition, and a judge set a hearing on that issue for March 31st. | A judge ultimately ordered Severance held without bond until another hearing on March 19. Wearing a khaki jacket over an orange jail jumpsuit, Severance said nothing during the roughly 10-minute hearing. His defense attorney, Shayne Welling, said his client plans to fight extradition, and a judge set a hearing on that issue for March 31st. |
| The 53-year-old’s extradition hearing was closely watched by reporters and others desperate for details of Severance’s connection — if there is any — to the February slaying of music teacher Ruthanne Lodato, the 2003 killing of real estate agent Nancy Dunning and the November slaying of regional transportation planner Ronald Kirby. | The 53-year-old’s extradition hearing was closely watched by reporters and others desperate for details of Severance’s connection — if there is any — to the February slaying of music teacher Ruthanne Lodato, the 2003 killing of real estate agent Nancy Dunning and the November slaying of regional transportation planner Ronald Kirby. |
| Police have not described Severance as a suspect in any of the cases and would not say whether they have any evidence that links him to the killings. They said they began investigating Severance when his name came to their attention during an analysis of crime tips, but would not say if Alexandria detectives have interviewed him. Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille (D) has called him a “person of interest” in the slayings. | |
| Severance spent the weekend in a West Virginia jail — held in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond — after his arrest Thursday at the Ohio County Public Library. Police in Wheeling, W. Va., said they took the bearded man into custody after FBI officials contacted them to see if they could serve a warrant in a gun case from Loudoun County. | Severance spent the weekend in a West Virginia jail — held in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond — after his arrest Thursday at the Ohio County Public Library. Police in Wheeling, W. Va., said they took the bearded man into custody after FBI officials contacted them to see if they could serve a warrant in a gun case from Loudoun County. |
| That charge — being a felon in possession of a firearm in Loudoun, and thus a fugitive from justice in West Virginia — is the only one that Severance faces. Because Severance’s attorney said he plans to fight extradition, Virginia must seek a governor’s warrant to have him sent back to Loudoun, a process that typically takes about 60 days, authorities have said. | That charge — being a felon in possession of a firearm in Loudoun, and thus a fugitive from justice in West Virginia — is the only one that Severance faces. Because Severance’s attorney said he plans to fight extradition, Virginia must seek a governor’s warrant to have him sent back to Loudoun, a process that typically takes about 60 days, authorities have said. |
| It remains unclear when Loudoun sought the warrant or what cause authorities there have to allege he was a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2005, Severance pleaded guilty to a felony gun-possession charge in Rockingham County, Va., and was placed on probation, court records show. But it is unclear how authorities came to believe he possessed a gun after that. | It remains unclear when Loudoun sought the warrant or what cause authorities there have to allege he was a felon in possession of a firearm. In 2005, Severance pleaded guilty to a felony gun-possession charge in Rockingham County, Va., and was placed on probation, court records show. But it is unclear how authorities came to believe he possessed a gun after that. |
| The incident at the Russian Embassay occurred on March 7. According to a police report, Severance was questioned by police and U.S. Secret Service officers after he showed up there and “indicated that he was attempting to enter the embassy because he wanted to request asylum.” A federal law enforcement official said Severance tried to scale the fence. | The incident at the Russian Embassay occurred on March 7. According to a police report, Severance was questioned by police and U.S. Secret Service officers after he showed up there and “indicated that he was attempting to enter the embassy because he wanted to request asylum.” A federal law enforcement official said Severance tried to scale the fence. |
| “The subject was sent on his way and all units cleared,” the police report said. A man who answered the phone at the Russian Embassy on Friday said only that the man had been wearing a large hat. | “The subject was sent on his way and all units cleared,” the police report said. A man who answered the phone at the Russian Embassy on Friday said only that the man had been wearing a large hat. |
| Severance has been living in Loudoun County, and a neighbor said he saw authorities at Severance’s home for nearly six hours Wednesday night. Efforts to reach Severance’s family members over the weekend were unsuccessful. | Severance has been living in Loudoun County, and a neighbor said he saw authorities at Severance’s home for nearly six hours Wednesday night. Efforts to reach Severance’s family members over the weekend were unsuccessful. |
| Those who knew or encountered Severance when he lived in Alexandria have described him as something of an odd man who campaigned for political office in 1996 and 2000 — listing his occupation in a voter guide as “Expert witness, principal investigator, mentaldisorder.com.” The Web site is a collection of bizarre ramblings on mental health and guns and talks of Severance’s mayoral campaign and bitter child custody dispute. | Those who knew or encountered Severance when he lived in Alexandria have described him as something of an odd man who campaigned for political office in 1996 and 2000 — listing his occupation in a voter guide as “Expert witness, principal investigator, mentaldisorder.com.” The Web site is a collection of bizarre ramblings on mental health and guns and talks of Severance’s mayoral campaign and bitter child custody dispute. |
| Severance was arrested several times in Western Maryland in the early 2000s on charges of assault and indecent exposure but was not prosecuted, according to court records. | Severance was arrested several times in Western Maryland in the early 2000s on charges of assault and indecent exposure but was not prosecuted, according to court records. |
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