Crime & Safety

'Person of Interest' in Alexandria Slayings Will Fight Extradition to Virginia: Report

Extradition process could take 60 days.

Charles Severance, described as a “person of interest” in the slaying of Ruthanne Lodato and two other city residents, has said he will fight extradition from West Virginia to Virginia, according to news reports. 

Severance was arrested Thursday at the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, W. Va., on a warrant for a weapons offense in Loudoun County and is due in court Monday, March 17.

Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille has called him a “person of interest” in the slayings.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Severance, 53, an eccentric former Alexandria mayoral candidate, came to the attention of investigators through tips into the February slaying of Lodato, the 2003 killing of real estate agent Nancy Dunning and the November slaying of regional transportation planner Ronald Kirby.

Last week in Wheeling, Magistrate Joe Roxby set bond at $100,000 during a video arraignment.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I want a lawyer," Severance told Roxby, according to The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register. "I want to stay here. I want to fight extradition."

If Severance fights extradition, it could be 60 days before he is sent back to Virginia, Ohio County Prosecutor Scott Smith told The Washington Post.

Severance has been living in Loudoun County, and a neighbor told the Post he saw authorities at Severance’s home for nearly six hours Wednesday night. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.