Northern and central Virginia local papers are reporting on a very bizarre case involving the disappearance and death of a Virginia reserve police officer, Captain Kevin Quick, who served in the Waynesboro, Va Police Dept.
Kevin Quick was en route to visit the mother of his 4 month old infant daughter in an apartment complex near Barracks Road in Charlottesville, Va when he disappeared. Police have been able to trace the movements of his vehicle, a silver Toyota 4Runner, in a bizarre pattern through central Virginia, up to Manassas in northern Virginia, and then back down again to Louisa County in central Virginia, where it was used as a getaway vehicle in a robbery attempt.
The case has already taken several strange twists and turns; with arrests being made but no one formally charged with Quick’s murder, according to this published report in the Northern VA Times:
The case got more complicated on Monday however, when White, Casterlow, Stokes and Uhuru/Wright all appeared in court in Goochland, where Quick’s body was found.
There, the commonwealth’s attorney opted not to prosecute any of them on the “principal in the second degree” charges, at least for now. They are all still being held for gang participation, a felony.
(State Police spokesperson) Geller confirmed on Monday evening that so far, no one is charged with the actual murder. Prosecutors still have the option of pursuing the “principal in the second degree” charges later.
“They’re kind of temporarily dismissed,” she said. “They could be brought back at a later time.”
https://wtvr.com/2014/02/07/more-arrests-in-kevin-quick-disappearance/
What is known is this:
Quick’s vehicle was traced travelling from Nelson County, where he lived, to Manassas, in the northern part of the state, about 90 miles away, and back down again to Louisa County in central Virginia where it was recovered. It was captured on several ATM security videos and used as a getaway vehicle in a failed robbery attempt.
Security camera video at an ATM machine in Manassas the night following Quick’s disappearance shows an individual in a hoodie covering most of his (or her) face at the machine, with Quick’s vehicle in the background.
Those who have been arrested so far are being held on felony counts of “gang participation” but police to make any further statements about what that means, or the relationships between those arrested so far. Police spokespersons have indicated that those currently in custody will most likely face “principal in the second degree” felony murder charges, meaning that they participated in the abduction and murder, but aren’t felt to be the actual killers.
At least two of the suspects have extensive criminal records.
22 year old “Halisi Uhuru” (born Gert Arthur Wright) began his criminal career at the tender age of 14 for robbery and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony (armed robbery), but successfully had those charges dismissed. He was later arrested at the age of 16 for robbery after pulling a pistol on a man using an ATM in Norfolk, VA, and was sentenced to 7 years. Recently released from prison a few months before Quick’s death, he had pleaded for early release since he had a “bright future” ahead of him:
Wright was sentenced to seven years in prison, but he wrote several letters asking the judge for a shorter sentence.
Wright wrote, “I am 16-years-old, and I know I can have a positive future.”
Relatives also wrote the judge on Wright’s behalf.
An aunt wrote, “We as a family strongly feel that Gert is destined for greatness.”
Wright was released in December of 2013, which is roughly two months before he would be arrested and charged with murder in connection with Kevin Quick’s death.
The other suspect with a felony criminal past and facing murder charges is Anthony Darnell Stokes, who was released from prison in October 2012 and was on probation and supervised parole in Manassas.
31-year-old Anthony Darnell Stokes spent 12 years, nearly half of his life in prison for crimes he committed when he was just 19. He was convicted on possession of a weapon, robbery, kidnapping and use of a firearm charges.
Arrested and being held in custody so far are: siblings Shantai Shelton, who was arrested on an outstanding warrant, Mersadies Shelton, age 20, and Daniel Mathis, age 18, who were found in possession of Quick’s stolen vehicle; Leslie Hope Casterlow, 49, as well as the aforementioned misunderstood Gert Arthur Wright, a/k/a Halisi Uhuru, 22 and Anthony Darnell Stokes, 31.
The investigation continues, as police state they believe more individuals were involved in the abduction and murder, while refusing to release any details about the cause of death.
We will keep you updated as this strange and disturbing case develops.