Commonwealth of Virginia
Office of the Attorney General
Jay Jones
Attorney General
202 North 9th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-2071
FAX 804-786-1991
Virginia Relay Service
800-828-1120
For media inquiries only, contact:
Rae Pickett
RPickett@oag.state.va.us
WHAT VIRGINIANS ARE SEEING: ATTORNEY GENERAL JAY JONES SHARES WEEKLY ROUNDUP OF ACTIONS TAKEN
OAG brings justice in 40-year-old cold case, fights federal overreach, and honors the anniversary of Brown v. Board decision
RICHMOND, Va. – Attorney General Jay Jones continued taking action to bring justice for crime victims, fight federal overreach, and honor the anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.
The Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Helps Bring Justice in 1986 Virginia Beach Cold Case
The Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which is led by the Office of the Attorney General in partnership with the Virginia State Police, was a vital force in the arrest of a suspect in a decades-old cold case. This breakthrough in the case is due to the collaboration and determination of state and local agencies.
Virginia Beach Police Department Makes Arrest in 40-Year-Old Cold Case
On May 18, 2026, officers arrested 66-year-old Charles Berry for the rape and murder of 22-year-old Roberta Walls on May 15, 1986. This landmark arrest is a coordinated effort of the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), the Virginia State Police, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth Attorney, and the Newington Police Department in Connecticut.
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The case gained momentum with the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) provided by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. Through persistent investigation and breakthroughs in forensic technology, detectives were able to link Berry’s DNA to evidence found at the crime scene.
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“The Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has helped bring closure to a decades-long investigation, proving to be a crucial tool in the fight for justice. I’m proud of the dedication and close collaboration between the Virginia State Police, Virginia Beach Police, and SAKI that brought this cold case to a just resolution,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “My office will continue to provide every resource available to law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth and work to support sexual assault victims, always.”
ABC News: Man arrested in young woman’s 1986 cold case rape, murder in Virginia Beach
Four decades after a young woman was raped and murdered, a man has been linked to the crime through DNA and is under arrest, according to Virginia Beach, Virginia, police.
"It's incredibly scary for the community to think that someone who would rape and brutally murder someone 40 years ago was out in society," Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said at a news conference on Wednesday.
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"This breakthrough stands as a powerful testament to the relentless persistence of our detectives, who refused to let Roberta be forgotten," the Virginia Beach Police Department said in a statement. "We hope this closure brings a measure of peace to the Walls family and sends a clear message: no matter how much time passes, we will never stop searching for the truth."
People: Suspect Arrested 40 Years After 22-Year-Old Woman Was Found Raped and Murdered Near Library Where She Worked
In 2017, detectives used DNA samples preserved from Walls' body and the area in which she was found to create an image of a person of interest, according to The Virginian-Pilot.
The analysis helped create a snapshot of what the suspect looked like more than 30 years after the incident and ruled out the case's "cast of characters," the outlet reported.
WTKR: Arrest made in Virginia Beach 1986 murder cold case
Persistent investigative work and advancement in technology were key to solving the case, Virginia Beach police said.
Police said that in 2001, investigators developed a male DNA profile from evidence collected in the case, but no matches were found at the time.
In 2023, the Virginia Beach Police Department received grant funding that allowed investigators to pursue forensic genealogy leads. Through that process, investigators identified 66-year-old Charles Berry as the suspect.
13NewsNow: 40 years after murder, Virginia Beach police announce arrest in cold case
The breakthrough came after investigators received funding through a 2023 Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, commonly known as SAKI, which allowed authorities to revisit evidence using modern genetic genealogy techniques.
Police said the renewed investigation led detectives to Berry, who was living in Connecticut. Investigators later obtained a DNA sample through a search warrant, which police said directly matched evidence collected in the case decades ago.
Wilkerson credited detectives from the original investigation for carefully preserving evidence long before today’s technology existed.
“The tenacity and due diligence of the detectives 40 years ago — not knowing what we could do today — they preserved all the evidence,” Wilkerson said. “They were meticulous in the recovery.”
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said the arrest highlights how evolving forensic technology can help solve long-standing cold cases and provide closure for victims’ families.
The Virginian-Pilot: Police arrest suspect in 1986 rape, homicide cold case in Virginia Beach
Charles Randall Berry, the 66-year-old suspect, was arrested Monday in Newington, Connecticut. Virginia Beach police said advancements in technology combined with investigative work helped detectives solve the case.
WAVY: VBPD: Arrest in 40-year-old cold case ‘incredibly significant’
Virginia Beach Police announced a significant breakthrough in a four-decade-old cold case, apprehending a suspect in connection with the 1986 killing of 22-year-old Roberta Walls.
As WAVY first reported on Tuesday, Charles Barry, 66, was arrested in Connecticut a few days ago, with modern forensic DNA technology playing a crucial role in solving the long-unresolved case.
FOX61: Connecticut man wanted for 1986 Virginia murder arrested by Newington police
Police also highlighted the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative provided by the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.
“The Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative has helped bring closure to a decades-long investigation, proving to be a crucial tool in the fight for justice. I’m proud of the dedication and close collaboration between the Virginia State Police, Virginia Beach Police, and SAKI that brought this cold case to a just resolution,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “My office will continue to provide every resource available to law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth and work to support sexual assault victims, always.”
NBC Connecticut: Newington man charged as fugitive in connection to 1986 homicide in Virginia Beach
According to police in Virginia Beach, Barry has been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the death of Roberta Walls.
A release from Virginia police explained that the arrest was the result of a coordinated effort among the Virginia Beach Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia, and the Newington Police Department.
Protecting the Health and Safety of Virginians
The Commonwealth joined a coalition of states opposing an Environmental Protection Agency proposal that would gut national emission standards for a substance that is proven to cause cancer. This proposal puts the health of Virginians and our air in harm’s way.
After search warrants in Bristol, Virginia recovered more than $1 million in cannabis in a raid, the Office of the Attorney General is reviewing for possible applicable civil enforcement actions.
Attorney General Jay Jones today joined a coalition of attorneys general opposing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to repeal national emission standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) used by commercial sterilization facilities. According to the EPA’s own assessment, EtO is a known human carcinogen and among the most toxic pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act.
“The Commonwealth takes pride in being home to a diverse landscape and Virginians are united in our urgency to protect our air, land, and sea. This proposal puts the health of the people and our air in harm’s way,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “Virginians will not turn a blind eye as the Trump administration continues to ignore science and endanger the health of our communities. We urge the Trump administration and the EPA to keep this critical standard in place.”
WRIC: Attorney General Jay Jones joins coalition to fight EPA’s repeal of ethylene oxide standards
Attorney General Jay Jones (D) has joined a coalition of state attorneys general in opposing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rollback on toxic pollution standards.
Jones’ office announced on Tuesday, May 19, that he joined a coalition of attorneys general opposing EPA’s proposal to repeal national emission standards for toxic ethylene oxide (EtO) pollution.
In the release, Jones’s office called EtO among the “most toxic pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act.”
Virginia State Police Facebook Post
Multiple search warrants executed this month by Virginia State Police (VSP) and the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force (HRRDTF) in the City of Bristol resulted in the recovery more than 300 pounds of marijuana with a street value of more than $1 million.
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The Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the investigation for any possible applicable civil enforcement actions.
WCYB: More than 300 pounds of marijuana worth $1M seized in Bristol, Virginia State Police says
More than 300 pounds of marijuana worth more than $1 million were seized this month in Bristol, according to the Virginia State Police.
Multiple search warrants were executed this month by VSP and the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force in at various areas across the city between May 1 and May 13.
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The Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the investigation for any possible applicable civil enforcement actions.
WJHL: Bristol, Va. police chief details what led to seizures at cannabis stores
According to Ashbrook, some of the products at the store were also illegally labeled.
“Some of the items we seized, specifically at Space Apes, that were labeled as SweeTARTS,” he said. “They had the appearance of Nerds or Nerds Ropes or something of that nature, and other things. If that was to be taken home, and a kid was to see that, they could just tear it open and start eating it, so that’s not something that’s legal.”
Ashbrook said criminal charges or indictments are pending, and the investigation is still ongoing. The Bristol, Virginia Police Department (BVPD) is working with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office in reference to civil fines and penalties, which Ashbrook said “could be very, very high.”
Fighting for Education Opportunities for Virginians
Virginia joined a coalition of states in filing a lawsuit against the Department of Education over a new rule that unlawfully limits access to federal student loans for students pursuing professional degree programs, including many healthcare and other critical workforce fields. The rule could harm states by reducing support for public institutions of higher education, creating barriers for students pursuing advanced training, and worsening workforce shortages in critical professions.
Attorney General Jay Jones today joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule that unlawfully limits access to federal student loans for students pursuing professional degree programs, including many healthcare and other critical workforce fields.
“Cutting off access to federal student loans cuts off access to career opportunities for Virginians. This unlawful rule will worsen the workforce crisis and further strain the healthcare field,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “The Trump administration is once again skirting the system of checks and balances, and my office is committed to standing up for student borrowers in the Commonwealth.”
WRIC: ‘Unlawful’ Jay Jones joins multistate lawsuit over Trump’s new student loan rule for professional degrees
Attorney General Jay Jones (D) called a new rule from President Donald Trump’s administration limiting access to student loans “unlawful,” as Virginia joined a multistate lawsuit against the Department of Education (DOE) challenging the policy.
On Wednesday, May 20, Jones’ office announced that the state joined dozens of other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the DOE over a new student loan rule, which narrows the federal definition of “professional degree,” per a release.
WSET and WJLA: Virginia AG sues Education Dept. over student loan caps; Feds say it prevents crazy debt
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones is suing the U.S. Department of Education over a new rule he claims unlawfully limits access to federal student loans for students pursuing certain professional degree programs.
Jones joined a coalition of dozens of other attorneys general in filing the lawsuit, including Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.
They argue the Department of Education narrowed the federal definition of a “professional degree” in a way that excludes certain degree programs and that it would significantly impact those in critical workforce fields such as healthcare.
Honoring the 72nd Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Decision
On Friday May 15, Attorney General Jay Jones hosted a program to commemorate the anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the landmark Supreme Court ruling that reshaped the course of American education by denying the premise that separate education for white and Black students was equal. Attorney General Jones welcomed guests from across the Commonwealth including community partners, elected officials, and staff.
“This history is personal to me. As a child, my father, Judge Jerrauld Jones, helped integrate Ingleside Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia. History arrived before he was old enough to fully understand its weight, and in the face of that responsibility he showed tremendous courage,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “The Commonwealth was central to this moment, as young Virginians put their education, safety, and lives on the line to push our nation closer towards the promise it was always meant to fulfill. Progress is possible when people have the courage to demand better from their institutions and from one another.”
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“We continue to see challenges around voting rights and access to basic human rights. These are not new debates. They are part of the same ongoing struggle over whether this nation will fully honor the humanity of all its people,” said Solicitor General Tillman Breckenridge. “Progress requires protection. Equal rights on paper mean nothing without equal access to justice, education, and political participation. The legacy of Brown reminds us that democracy requires vigilance, courage, and a willingness to keep pushing. We can’t just remember history, we must continue to define it.”
WTVR: Virginia attorney general honors 72nd anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education
Attorney General Jay Jones hosted the "From Legacy to Law" program Friday to commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, honoring one of the most important events in 20th century American history.
The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling reshaped the course of American education, finding that segregated schools violated the 14th Amendment and paving the way for integration.
"Today we honor the courage of those students and families and advocates who refused to accept that inequality was inevitable," Jones said. "Because of their courage, doors that have long been closed were finally opened for countless families across Virginia and across the United States of America."
While complete desegregation took years in the Commonwealth, it finally fully happened in Virginia schools in the early 1970s.
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Published on: May 22, 2026
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