Carnival worker charged with three counts of murder

Officials from Carter County Sheriff’s Office met with Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office for a press conference to announce an arrest relating to a missing persons case in Carter County and Washington County, Va., which has officially led to three charges of capital murder.

Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said officials have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Virginia resident James Wright.

“Wright has been charged with three counts of capital murder,” Newman said.

Among the three counts of murder are 25-year-old Athina Hopson of Johnson City, 22-year-old Elizabeth Vanmeter of Elizabethton and 17-year-old Joslyn Alsup of Cobb County, Ga.

Newman said Wright allegedly murdered three women in an 18-day period. He said Wright became acquainted with the women through his employment with the James H. Drew Carnival, which frequently tours the Washington County, Va. area. For Alsup, Newman said the suspect knew her father, a co-worker at the carnival.

The partnership between Washington, Va. and Carter counties started when the Johnson City Police Department inquired about a missing person case for Hopson roughly two weeks ago, who was reported missing on March 8. They said Hopson was last seen with Wright.

“The suspect alleged all three killings were accidental,” Newman said. “We find this hard to believe.”

Currently, officials are performing autopsies to confirm the bodies of Vanmeter and Alsup, though officials have yet to locate Hopson. The identities of Vanmeter and Alsup, Newman said, are currently based on the suspect’s statements.

He said they found the two bodies near Wright’s residence.

“A search was conducted of the properties surrounding Wright’s residence,” Newman said. “One body was recovered in a shallow grave site, and the other near some logs.”

When asked if the frequency of the alleged murders constituted the suspect as a serial killer Newman said it was likely.

“As far as we know, he had no criminal record,” he said.

Currently, Wright is held without bond in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon, Va.

Newman said anyone with information relating to the suspect or the three victims should call the Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office at 276-676-6000.   

SportsPlus

Local news

City Council moves to accept applications for city judge

Local news

Elizabethton City Offices to close Feb. 17 for Presidents Day; Adjusted garbage collection schedule announced

Local news

City Mayor proclaims Feb. 15 as National School Resource Officer Day

Local news

Creating adaptive education solutions for kids in rural Tennessee

Local news

Harshbarger reintroduces ‘One Flag For All Act’

Local news

Flips can be a great investment, or a money pit

Local news

Proclamation Honors Alexander

Local news

Elizabethton Golf Course to reopen front nine effective Saturday

Local news

ETSU online MSN program ranked best in Tennessee

Local news

Smith named interim Carter County emergency management director

Local news

ECU’s Casual for a Cause program donates over $50K to local organizations

Local news

Gov. Lee signs historic Education Freedom Act into law

Local news

Carter County Sheriff’s Office mourns loss of SRO Salvatore Caccamo

Local news

Vanderbilt Transplant Center reaches new heights in 2024

Local news

Bill Hagerty announces candidacy for re-election to U.S. Senate

Local news

Unicoi County’s Ballad Health Hospital awarded $9.8 million to rebuild after Helene flooding

Local news

Master Storyteller Award and Performance scheduled March 5 at ETSU Martin Center

Local news

Ballad Health maintains ‘A’ credit ratings amid industry challenges

Community

Community Calendar

Community

Visit Roan Mountain

Local news

‘Sentimental Journey,’ ‘Razzmatazz’ are Valentine Specials at LampLight Theatre

Local news

Council to vote on declaring city judge seat vacant

Local news

Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter hosts special Valentine’s Day Adoption Event

Local news

Jacob Morley found guilty of murder