WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 | 1 Vol. 10, No. 37 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 Severance charged in three murders Prosecutors will not noting that investigators nev- seek death penalty er gave up on the decade-old Dunning investigation. BY ERICH WAGNER “It took constant hard work and dedication for us to stand Police Chief Earl Cook here before you today,” Cook believes his department has said. “These are very emotional finally solved a string of high crimes, very personal crimes. profile murders, one of which Alexandria, while it is not the dated back more than a decade. smallest city, its community Police announced Mon- acts like a small town, and our day that they secured murder detectives get very personally indictments against former involved in these cases.” fringe mayoral candidate Cook said he couldn’t dis- Charles Severance in connec- cuss how Severance chose his tion to the deaths of alleged victims. Nancy Dunning in “I don’t know if 2003, Ronald Kirby they were targeted or in 2013 and Ruth- not, because I can’t anne Lodato in Feb- personally get into ruary of this year. the mentality of Mr. A grand jury in- Severance,” Cook dicted Severance, said. “Most people currently in custody who live in this in Loudoun Coun- Charles Severance community for any to respect her family’s privacy. ty on an unrelated weapons length of time tend to know “While nothing can bring charge, with two counts of cap- each other in some fashion. I’ll her back, we’re hopeful that ital murder and one count of answer it that way.” these indictments are the be- first-degree murder along with Liz Dunning, Nancy Dun- ginning of a process that will a slew of related crimes. ning’s daughter, read a state- offer my family and the fami- Cook called the indict- ment to reporters following the lies of the other victims a small ments “extraordinary” at a press conference. She thanked degree of closure.” press conference Monday, detectives and asked for people Former City Councilor and longtime resident Lonnie Rich THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION said the indictments end any DECEMBER 5, NOVEMBER 11, FEBRUARY 6, FEBRUARY 7, aspersions cast toward Nancy 2003 Nancy 2013 Ronald 2014 Ruthanne 2014 Alexandria Dunning’s husband, then-Sher- Dunning is shot Kirby is murdered Lodato is police release a iff Jim Dunning, eyed by some to death in her in his home in murdered in her composite sketch Del Ray home Rosemont North Ridge home of the suspect residents as a prime suspect. “The spouse is always the MARCH 6, 2014 MARCH 14, 2014 SEPTEMBER 8, No. 1 suspect,” said Rich, PHOTOS/ERICH WAGNER Police release results Charles Severance is 2014 A grand jury who was a political ally of Jim Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook (top) announced Monday that a of ballistics tests, arrested in West Virginia indicts Severance in investigate possible on a gun charge; police connection with all Dunning. “[Particularly] in re- grand jury indicted Charles Severance with three counts of murder in link between the three confirm they would three murders the slayings of Nancy Dunning, Ronald Kirby and Ruthanne Lodato. killings investigate him Members of the victims’ families (bottom) were on hand for the an- SEE SEVERANCE | 10 nouncement. 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WWW.ALEXTIMES.COM SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 | 3 THE WEEKLY BRIEFING ACPS: Lights feasible at T.C. A Streetcar Named Desire 9/13 - 9/28 Lighting up T.C. Williams’ tween $684,000 and $774,000. constructed at stadium gates, This Pulitzer-Prize winning American masterpiece football field is doable, Alex- Officials said higher poles concession stands and the like. by Tennessee Williams will transport you to hot, andria City Public Schools of- actually cause less spillage “You’re going to need ac- steamy New Orleans, just after World War II. ficals announced last week. of light into the surrounding cessory lighting for conces- An electrifying battle of wills ignites between At a September 4 school neighborhood, because the sions, for ingress, for egress,” Southern belle and fading beauty Blanche DuBois board meeting, district direc- lights shine more directly onto said resident Bill Goff. “You’ll and her working class brother-in-law, Stanley tor of educational facilities the field and minimize reflec- have to make it light up like Kowalski.