Update: Washington, D.C., man charged with murders in Harrisonburg case

Update: Wednesday, 3:47 p.m. The Harrisonburg Police Department has identified the two individuals found dead Tuesday night in the area of Linda Lane as Allene Elizabeth “Beth” Redmon, 54, of Harrisonburg and Tonita Lorice Smith, 39, of Charlottesville.

HPD has arrested Anthony Robinson, 35, of Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder in addition to two felony counts of concealing, transporting or altering a dead body.

Police are not currently seeking any additional suspects related to this incident.

HPD and the Charlottesville Police Department were conducting two separate missing persons investigations which resulted in narrowing the focus of their search for Redmon and Smith to an area near Linda Lane. The bodies of both women were discovered by detectives from Harrisonburg Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit in an undeveloped lot off Linda Lane within a short distance of each other, though their deaths took place at different times.

The Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office has taken over the forensic investigation and has yet to determine the exact time or cause of death for either victim.

If you have information that could assist this investigation, call Detective Wetherell at 540-432-7788 or email her at [email protected]. Anonymous tips related to this incident, or any crime can be sent to Crime Solvers at (540) 574-5050 or by texting “HPD” plus their tip to CRIMES (274637).

 

First report: Wednesday, 8:20 a.m. The Harrisonburg Police Department is currently conducting an investigation and a suspect is in custody related to the death of two individuals who were located in the area of Linda Lane and Country Club Road on Tuesday evening.

The victims, both adult females, were discovered in an undeveloped lot off of Linda Lane. More information regarding the individuals is being withheld at this time until notification of next of kin has taken place.

An individual is in custody related to the ongoing investigation. Charges are currently pending.

HPD will provide more information regarding this incident once the investigation allows. No other information is available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact HPD’s Major Crimes Unit by calling (540) 437- 2640.