79-year-old Harold Tuel was killed Friday afternoon at his home in Leon, at Prince Michel Vineyards, where he was employed as the security chief. Madison County police suspect foul play, and have confirmed that there is a suspect in the case. No information is available about how he was killed, though more information on the case should be released this afternoon. Peter Savodnik has the story in today’s Progress. 04/09/02 Update: Police have charged Billy Dean Martin, 40, with capital murder and issued a warrant for his arrest. Keri Schwab has the story in today’s Progress.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
four six and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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By PETER SAVODNIK
Daily Progress staff writer
MADISON — Prince Michel Vineyards has confirmed that its security chief, Harold Tuel, was killed Friday afternoon in his home at the vineyard.
Madison County Sheriff Bob Russell said Saturday night that law-enforcement officials suspected foul play was involved but declined to comment on the details of the case.
On Sunday, Prince Michel spokesman Neil Williamson said there was at least one suspect wanted in the killing. Russell said Saturday that there were no suspects, but he could not be reached for comment Sunday.
Allison Fisher, a Madison Sheriff’s Office dispatcher, said Sunday that the Sheriff’s Office would release more information Monday afternoon about Tuel’s death.
Williamson added that the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office had lent Madison law-enforcement officials “imaging” equipment to help in its investigation.
Culpeper Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Graham confirmed that Culpeper was aiding Madison but declined to comment on specifics. Graham referred all questions to Lt. Bruce Cave, who is in charge of Culpeper’s investigations.
Cave could not be reached for comment Sunday.
The Madison Sheriff’s Office received a call at 4:45 p.m. Friday requesting that law-enforcement officials check Tuel’s house. Tuel, 79, was found dead in his Leon home sometime later.
The Sheriff’s Office has not said who made the call or who discovered the body. Williamson also declined to say who discovered the body, which has been sent to Northern Virginia for an autopsy.
Tuel, a former Culpeper Town Police dispatcher, worked for the vineyard and Omni Services, which used to own the vineyard, for at least eight years, Williamson said.
“He was the on-site security chief,” Williamson explained.
“He lived on the estate, on the vineyard, and he monitored all alarms. … He and I knew each other quite well. He was a very good man.”
Tuel’s first cousin Jimmy Tuel said Harold Tuel was a race-horse enthusiast whose family had been in the Culpeper area since at least the 1890s.
“Everybody knew him. He was kind of famous because he looked like that Kojak on TV,” Tuel said from his Culpeper home, referring to the New York City cop played by Telly Savalas in the 1970s show.
WINA is reporting that there’s been an arrest.