Crime & Safety

Prosecutor: Man Wanted for Questioning in Alexandria Slayings 'a Danger;' 2 Guns Missing

Prosecutor says Charles Severance is "wanted in connection with three murders." Judge orders him held without bond; Virginia governor to swear out warrant for his arrest.

Mary Ann Barton, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

Two guns owned by a man wanted for questioning in three Alexandria slayings are missing, according to a prosecutor in West Virginia who called the man "a danger" and asked a judge to return him to the Commonwealth.

The prosecutor made his remarks in a hearing for Charles Severance, an Ashburn resident arrested Thursday in Wheeling, W. Va.

While being held on a Loudoun County warrant involving weapons charges, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille has called Severance a “person of interest” in the Alexandria slayings.

Ohio County prosecutor Scott Smith told the judge Virginia authorities want Severance "in connection with three murders and they believe he is a danger to the public," according to WTOV-9, a Wheeling TV station. 

The revelations were made Monday morning at an extradition hearing for Severance. 

The judge granted a request from the prosecutor, who asked that Severance be held without bond, according to WTOV. Severance is fighting extradition to Virginia.

The prosecutor said that Severance is a "flight risk" and showed a photo of Severance holding his passport outside the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. His court-appointed attorney told Severance not to answer any questions, WTOV reported.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to issue a warrant for Severance's arrest.

Another hearing is set for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

Severance, described as a “person of interest” in the slaying of Ruthanne Lodato 

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.

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

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

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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. 


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