No Sign of Virginia Resort Shooting Suspect Despite Intense Manhunt

Published January 14, 2015

The search is continuing in western Virginia for a man suspected of fatally shooting two of his supervisors at a posh resort while guests dined nearby.

Bath County Sheriff Larry Norfleet said suspect Beacher Ferrel Hackney fled into a steep, wooded area across from the posh resort after the shooting Saturday night. A Virginia State Police helicopter scanned the area Monday but Norfleet said searchers didn't spot Hackney.

On Monday, searchers focused on a steep, wooded area across from The Homestead resort where Hackney fled after the shootings Saturday night, according to Bath County Sheriff's Capt. Richard Armstrong.

Ten schools in Bath County and adjacent Alleghany County that were closed Monday as a precaution were expected to reopen Tuesday.

The 59-year-old Hackney is suspected of shooting Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, who worked with him washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning. The shooting happened in the resort's kitchen about 8 p.m. when guests were eating dinner.

Hackney has been charged with murder and an arrest warrant was issued, Armstrong said.

Authorities said they don't have a motive for the slayings, but they described Hackney as a loner who didn't associate with his co-workers.

Armstrong said a search of Hackney's home in Covington yielded no clues in the investigation, and there was no indication he had been there since the shootings.

"It was very clean," he said.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/story/no-sign-of-virginia-resort-shooting-suspect-despite-intense-manhunt