Crime & Safety
Sheriff's Office: Charges Against Jeffries Expected
Fauquier County Sheriff's Office expects "charges coming in the near future" related to double homicide.
Fauquier County authorities are continuing their investigation of a Fredericksburg man in connection with last month's double homicide in The Plains.
John Wesley Jeffries, 59, was arrested in Fredericksburg Feb. 27 on outstanding warrants from Spotsylvania County. At the time of his arrest he was being pursued as a person of interest in the murder of Nelson Slack, 80, and his wife Ethel Slack, 74, a few days earlier.
"Jeffries has not been charged in Fauquier County at this time," Lt. James Hartman, public information officer with the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office, told Patch on Thursday. "I would anticipate charges coming in the near future."
Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Officials said they are awaiting autopsy results.
Jeffries is being held without bond in the Rappahannock Regional Jail, charged with . The hearings on those charges are April 1 and 3.
Find out what's happening in Fredericksburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Free Lance-Star reported Jeffries knew the victims and that he told police the Slacks owed him money.
"When Jeffries was arrested, he had a Ford ignition key that matched the car stolen from the Slacks," the Free Lance-Star reported.
Fredericksburg police are also continuing their investigation of Jefferies in connection with a home invasion and assault Feb. 23 on Morningside Drive, Natatia Bledsoe, Fredericksburg Police Department spokesperson, said.
In addition we have identified and investigated the individuals on Lafayette Blvd. who had contact with Jeffries while he was a fugitive," Bledsoe said. "Jeffries fled from the apartment of one of these individuals on the day that he was taken into custody," she said. "Due to a number of circumstances, at this time we are not pursuing charges against these individuals."
Editor's Note: Where an arrest is mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
Related stories:
Jeffries Held on Outstanding Felony Arrest Warrants (Feb. 28, 2013)
John Wesley Jeffries Apprehended in Connection with Double Homicide (Feb. 27, 2013)
(Feb. 25, 2013)
Double Homicide Investigation: Police Searching for John Wesley Jeffries (Feb. 25, 2013)
Find Fredericksburg Patch via:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
