Charles Severance (serial killer)
Charles Stanard Severance (born September 25, 1960) is a convicted American serial killer whose crimes took place in Alexandria, Virginia between 2003 and 2014. He was convicted by a Virginia court in 2016 of three shooting deaths and sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 48 years.[1] [2]
Charles Severance | |
|---|---|
| Born | Charles Stanard Severance September 25, 1960 |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | 2003–2014 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Virginia |
Date apprehended | March 13, 2014 |
He was tried for the killings of three individuals: Ruthanne Lodato in 2014, Ronald Kirby in 2013, and Nancy Dunning in 2003. The case received considerable attention in the city because Severance (as convicted) attacked in broad daylight by knocking on victim's doors and killing those who answered with a .22 caliber firearm, with investigators eventually finding writings from Severance titled "Knock. Talk. Enter. Kill. Exit. Murder."[3]
Severance was ultimately arrested on March 13, 2014 following the release of a police sketch taken after the shooting of Lodato.[4] Prosecutors alleged he did so out of hatred for elites in the generally wealthy city of Alexandria.[5]
References
- Zapotosky, Matt. "Public Safety Virginia serial killer Charles Severance sentenced to life in prison". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- https://www.northernvirginiamag.com/culture/culture-features/2020/04/22/recently-released-the-parable-of-the-knocker-sheds-new-light-on-charles-severance/
- Megan Cloherty & Amanda Lacone. "Prosecutors cite Severance's writings to connect 3 murders". WTOP.com. WTOP. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- Joe Kemp. "Serial killer? Alexandria cops link killing of Virginia music teacher to two other murders". NY Daily News. The Daily News. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- Zapotosky, Matt. "In case of alleged Alexandria serial killer, prosecutors must piece together a puzzle". The Washington Post. The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 August 2019.