Suspicious Waynesboro death to turn into murder investigation?

The Waynesboro Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation in the suspicious death of a Waynesboro man that occurred earlier in the summer.

On July 28 at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 1200 block of Wine Avenue for a report of a physical assault.  When they arrived they found the resident of the house, Joseph Clark Bickers, 52 years old, the victim of the assault.  Officers were able to speak briefly with Bickers before he was transported to Augusta Health Emergency Department by ambulance.  He gave them a short account of what had happened and a description and nickname of the man who assaulted him.

The suspect was not present at the time.  While the officers were still investigating the assault, they received communication from Augusta Health that Bickers had suffered a severe head injury and had to be airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center.

Bickers died at UVA on August 1, 2014 at 12:25 p.m.  An autopsy was performed.  Through the course of the investigation, the police department has identified the suspect in the case as a 52 year old Staunton man.  Detectives have spoken with him about the assault. The suspect and Bickers were acquaintances.

The Waynesboro Police Department is awaiting a report from the Office of the Medical Examiner.  The investigation is still open.