VA VA - Sarah Greenhalgh, 48, Upperville, 9 July 2012

[OkieGranny]

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/suspect_named_in_2012_murder_of_sarah_greenhalgh543

The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office has named a suspect in the 2012 murder of Winchester Star reporter Sarah Greenhalgh. Fingerprints from John Sheldon Kearns – Greenhalgh's former boyfriend – were obtained on Dec. 8, according to an affidavit filed in the Circuit Court Dec. 11.

Kearns, 51, and Greenhalgh were “engaged in a heated argument” just hours before she was shot and her house subsequently set on fire, according to the sheriff's office. Greenhalgh died after being shot in the neck, according to the medical examiner.

Greenhalgh's last post on Facebook before her death, mentioned a "bats--- crazy boy" who would not leave her alone

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/ar..._for_sarah_greenhalghs_killer_two_years_later

Last year, Fauquier County Circuit Court unsealed portions of some search warrants connected to the investigation of Greenhalgh's death. They reveal where authorities looked - but not what they found. According to the documents, Kearns was the subject of at least two search warrants. They also searched the 2012 Jeep Wrangler of a woman named Joanne Ellen Petrizzo, as well as Greenhalgh's email and Facebook accounts.

 

[CastlesBurning]

A sleuth in life, an intrigue in death: Sarah Greenhalgh's murder goes unsolved after five years

 

[Missing Susan]

upperville is a tiny historic village. two murders unsolved about a mile from eachother. its right on the county line so two jurisdictions have both been stymied

2001 Murder mystery in Virginia: Beloved dog may have been the only witness | wusa9.com

 

[CastlesBurning]

Fauquier cold case: 9 years since Winchester Star reporter killed in Upperville home

Friday marked the nine-year anniversary of the murder of Winchester Star reporter Sarah Greenhalgh, a cold case of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information in the case leading to an arrest and conviction.

The 48-year-old newspaper reporter was fatally shot in her Upperville home on July 9, 2012. The cottage in northern Fauquier had been set on fire, according to The Winchester Star. Greenhalgh’s body was discovered when authorities responded to the blaze at her home that morning, the paper reported.

Anyone with information on this cold case is asked to contact the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office at 540/347-3300. A caller’s identity can remain anonymous.

In 2014, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office court documents named a man she dated as a suspect, but he has maintained his innocence, according to The Winchester Star.

In 2018, search warrant affidavit information concerning the case was unsealed in Fauquier County Circuit Court.

Details from the affidavit written by Capt. Michael Zeets included:

• Greenhalgh’s face and upper body were found covered, which Zeets said is typical when the killer is an acquaintance, friend, lover or relative and doesn’t want to see the victim’s face.
• At least 12 shell casings from a 9 mm semiautomatic were found in the cottage, including one underneath Greenhalgh’s body, The Winchester Star reported.

 

[Beccalicious]

Bumping

 

[Kip]

I just watched the ID Discovery People Magazine episode on this. How frustrating it must be for family, friends, and LE to know who did it and not be able to prove it. A couple of thoughts. Sarah's cell phone, computer, and some other items were found in the trunk of her car. LE theorized that the perp was planning on driving her car away and disposing of it, but that he ran out of time and left the car. The suspect is such a hothead that he may not have worn gloves. Those items have very likely been tested for DNA, but I don't recall them saying so. The suspect had cuts on his hands and arms. He said he got them teaching martial arts. Did LE ask his students if he had these cuts? Did Sarah have any DNA under her fingernails? Again, I presume they would have checked this, but don't recall it being mentioned. Lastly, a lot of cold cases on "Cold Justice" are solved when LE talks to family, lovers, friends of the perp in the intervening time. It's been almost 13 years since Sarah's murder. In that time, he may have bragged about getting away with murder to someone, or threatened a girlfriend with something like, "You better do as I say or the same thing will happen to you as happened to Sarah." As it stands, it seems like it's a pretty strong circumstantial case. Hopefully, LE can get the little bit more they need to proceed.

 

[Deleted member 293238]

Having just finished watching the People Magazine Investigates look at this case I have a few questions and wonder does anyone here know the answers?

1) Who owned the firearm used in the shooting? (Was it brought by the killer or used in self defense by sarah?)

2) Why did the killer put all Sarah's electronic items (laptop, Phone etc) into the trunk of her car if they were planning to burn the property down? What purpose did saving the items serve?

3) Was there any forensic evidence located that can be tied to a suspect in the future? DNA, GSR, Fingerprints, Hair and the like?

4) With the landlord and their mother living nearby, did no one report hearing 12 shots that night?