Investigators Find Body of Missing Girl

Yesterday investigators in Louisa found the remains of who they believe to Shantay Latrice Wheeler. The 18-year-old went missing in April under rather surprising circumstances: her boyfriend dropped her off at the Fork Union Motor Lodge to meet her sister, and she walked to a nearby pharmacy. She never got there. The remains of the 8-month-pregnant Fluvanna girl were found in the woods near the intersection of 15 and 22 in Boswells Tavern. The Progress has the full story, though you can read a brief version on WINA’s site.

It WAS an Earthquake

It’s confirmed: Saturday’s 12:00pm big boom was, in fact, an earthquake. WINA reports that a Virginia Tech seismologist has deemed Saturday’s Big Boom to be an earthquake that measured 3.2 on the Richter scale, slightly larger than our 1998 quake, which measured 2.8. The epicenter was located in Albemarle County.

Bomber Gets Life Sentence

Coleman Johnson, recently convicted of the December 1997 murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend via pipe bomb, has been sentenced. Judge Moon gave him life in prison, as per the recommendation of jury. After Johnson’s murder of Tammy Lynn Baker and her unborn child, much of Louisa went on alert, unsure if more pipe bombs might explode in the area. WINA has the story.

Big Sound That Shook Everyone Up

munk writes: Whether an explosion, an earthquake or a sonic boom, something loud and jarring occurred at 12:00 or 12:01. It was felt on the Mall, on Millmont Street, at Albermarle Square, and out River Road. Once before, Charlottesville had an earthquake that news sources insisted was a sonic boom for days, but this seemed like neither. We’re trying hard to find the source; it was short, loud, and local.

Update: Sonic boom? Military jet? Earthquake? Underground explosion? We’ve heard a lot of theories and no answers.

Film Fest Schedule Out

The schedule for the 14th annual Virginia Film Festival is being distributed around town today, and the website should have it tomorrow. Ticket sales start Monday for the October 25th – 28th event. The theme this year is “Masquerades,” and thus features films like like Tootsie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Phantom of the Opera.

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