Arrest Made in Homicide of Stafford Woman

The man wanted for questioning in connection with the death of a 59-year-old Stafford County woman on Sunday, Oct. 6, is in custody.

"At 7 a.m. on Oct. 8, the Stafford County Emergency Communications Center received a call from John Cornell informing them that he was located in a parking lot on Route 218/White Oak Road near the Stafford/King George line and he wanted to turn himself in," Bill Kennedy, Stafford County Sheriff's Office public information officer, said. 

"When deputies arrived on scene, Cornell was taken into custody without incident," he said.  "He was arrested standing next to Roberta Dews’ stolen Chevrolet van."

"Roberta Dewes was found deceased by a family member who had come by the house on Sunday to check on her welfare," Kennedy said.  That family member immediately called 911.

"As a result of the ongoing investigation John Douglas Cornell has been charged with the murder of Roberta Dews.  He is charged with one count of First Degree Murder.  He has already been charged with one count of Grand Larceny in the theft of Ms. Dews’ van.

Cornell is incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

"Due to the ongoing homicide investigation, no other information will be available," Kennedy said. 

For more information, read: Stafford Women's Death Considered a Homicide

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