Comer indicted for three murders, arson, weapons charges

Grand jury indicts 17 individuals on 45 charges during June 5 session

~ PVN staff report

LURAY, June 5 — Last week, a Page County grand jury indicted Timothy Thomas Comer on a total of seven felony charges. Four of those charges were new, direct indictments that bypassed the general district court and connected Comer to the deaths of his grandmother and nephew, who he allegedly shot last summer before pouring gasoline on their bodies and burning them inside their home.

On May 13, following more than two-and-a-half hours of testimony and 13 witnesses presented by the prosecution in a preliminary hearing, general district court judge Kenneth Alger II determined that the prosecution had shown sufficient evidence to certify three felony charges against Comer to a circuit court grand jury. Those charges included a Class 2 felony for the first-degree murder of neighbor Greg Williams on June 29, 2023, an unclassified felony for the use of a firearm in the commission of felony, and a Class 6 felony for the nonviolent felony possession of a gun less than 10 years after being convicted of a nonviolent felony.

During last week’s grand jury session in circuit court, Comer was also indicted on two Class 1 felonies for the aggravated murder of multiple persons within a three-year period and and two unclassified felonies for the arson of a dwelling usually occupied and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. All four new, direct indictments showed an offense date of July 9, 2023 — the same date that two bodies were consumed in a fire at a home along Jollet Hollow Road.

Comer was the subject of a two-week manhunt last summer in the Jollet Hollow area of southern Page County. The first 11 days of the 15-day search for Comer following the shooting of Williams utilized resources from the sheriff’s office in Page, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties, as well as the Virginia State Police. The search was joined by U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives soon after a fatal fire on the same block of Jollett Road claimed two lives. Found the next day among the debris, the remains of two bodies were sent to the Chief Medical Examiner in Manassas. The two victims were believed to be an elderly woman and her grandson, who lived at the residence.

John McClure, a recently released inmate housed in the same jail as Comer, testified last month that over a two-week period of conversations in jail Comer talked about the details of all three murders. Although court-appointed public defender Peter McDermott tried to point to inconsistencies in McClure’s testimony and highlight his criminal record, the former inmate stated that Comer told him he killed his grandmother and nephew as revenge for them selling his property “out from under him” while he was previously incarcerated. Williams’ shooting was also over property disputes, according to McClure’s testimony.

Comer was indicted on all seven felony charges last week, including three related to murder, three weapons charges, and arson. He is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 to appoint new counsel.

Members of a grand jury in Page County Circuit Court issued a true bill on a total of 45 indictments handed down Wednesday, June 5 on charges placed among 17 individuals. Others indicted by the June 5 grand jury include:

• David Todd Mathews, of Luray, Va., received direct indictments on 15 Class 1 misdemeanors for violating health board regulations between July 1, 2023 and May 11, 2024. The arrest date listed for all 15 offenses is June 6, 2024, according to court records, but each charge shows a different offense date. Eight offenses occurred on the 11th of the month from October 2023 through May 2024. Mathews is scheduled to appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 to appoint counsel; and again at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 for a status hearing.

• Kelly Renee Turner, of Shenandoah, Va., was indicted on an unclassified felony for the embezzlement of more than $1,000, four Class 4 felonies for the forging of coins or bank notes, and a Class 5 felony for other forgery or uttering. The embezzlement charge shows an offense date and arrest on Jan. 12, 2024, according to court records, while the remaining five felony charges show various offense dates ranging from July 24, 2023 to Sept.20, 2023. Three of those charges occurred in July, according to court records, and two in September. Turner is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 for a hearing.

• Eric Daniel Baker, of Fredericksburg, Va., was indicted on a Class 6 felony for the assault and battery of a family member (third or subsequent offense). The offense and an arrest occurred on April 12, 2024, according to court records. On June 6, Baker entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to four years, with time served. The judge suspended three years, 10 months and 18 days of the four-year sentence. Upon his release, Baker will be subject to two years of supervised probation.

• Bruce Dolan Beahm, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on April 26, 2023, according to court records, with an arrest on March 18, 2024. Beahm is scheduled to appear in court again at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024 for a hearing.

• William Jesse Campbell, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on Feb. 6, 2024, according to court records. Campbell is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 for a hearing.

• Janine Rebecca Gray, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Feb. 15, 2024, according to court records, with an arrest on June 6, 2024. Gray is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 for a hearing.

• Lorene Jane Groves, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug and an unclassified misdemeanor for failure to appear in court. The drug offense occurred on March 10, 2024, according to court records, with an arrest on June 12, 2024. Gray is scheduled to appear in court again at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 for a trial.

• David Anthony Hilliards, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on Jan. 2, 2024, according to court records. Hilliards is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 for a jury trial.

• Waitus Lovey Huffman Jr., of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug and a Class 1 misdemeanor for fleeing from law enforcement. The drug offense occurred on Jan. 17, 2024, according to court records, with an arrest on March 1, 2024 — the same date as the fleeing charge. Huffman is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 for a hearing.

• Travis Jordan Matics, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Nov. 17, 2023, according to court records, with an arrest on Jan. 2, 2024. Matics is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024 for a hearing.

• Carrie Nicole McCoy, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on an unclassified felony for possession with the intent to manufacture a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on Feb. 16, 2024, according to court records. McCoy is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 for a hearing.

• Christopher Scott Miller, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Feb. 19, 2024, according to court records, with an arrest on Feb. 23, 2024. Miller is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024 for a hearing.

• Zoey Charliegh-Suzanna Myers, of Front Royal, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on June 2, 2023, according to court records, with an arrest on Dec. 18, 2023. Myers was scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024 to review the case.

• Antoine D. Robinson, of Temple Hills, Md., was indicted on a Class 6 felony for violent felon possession or transporting of a weapon. The offense occurred on Sept. 27, 2022, according to court records, with an arrest on Nov. 29, 2023. Robinson is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 for a status hearing.

• Timothy Mark Schmoyer, of Fredericksburg, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on Feb. 8, 2024, according to court records. Schmoyer is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 for a hearing.

• Cecil Robert Whitt Jr., of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for the possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Nov. 27, 2023, according to court records, with an arrest on Feb. 2, 2024. On June 12, Whitt entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary, with one year, 10 months and 12 days suspended. Upon his release, Whitt will be subject to two years of supervised probation.

Grand jury hearings are held the first Wednesday of each month in Page County Circuit Court.

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