News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | September 18, 2026
Local News
Rescue crews recover body of 8-year old from Pamunkey River
The body of an eight-year old boy who fell off a pier near the Eltham Bridge into the Pamunkey River was recovered during the early morning hours on July 27. Joel Martinez Mercado was pronounced dead after a 12-hour search upon a report of his disappearance. New Kent Sheriff’s Office spearheaded a search on Sunday, July 26 after receiving a call around 5 p.m. that an adult and child fell into the river near Mill Creek in Eltham. Rescue crews from New Kent, West Point, James City County, and the United States Coast Guard arrived, pulling the adult from the…
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Rescue crews search for 8-year old boy who fell in York River
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is leading a search to find an 8-year old boy who fell from a bridge into the water near Mill Creek near Eltham. Around 5 p.m. Sunday afternoon (July 26), reports that two people fell into the York River were received by New Kent Sheriff’s Office. A search and rescue effort initiated shortly afterwards. An adult was rescued, but the search for the boy, identified as Joel Mercado, continued before the search was called off at 11:30. Divers, boaters, and helicopters searched for the boy until suspended due to safety concerns and conditions, according to Chief…
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Route 5 in Charles City to consist of delays for bridge inspection July 30-31
Motorists can expect delays on Route 5 (John Tyler Memorial Highway) at the border of Charles City and James City County on July 30-31 due to a bridge inspection. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be conducting an inspection of the bridge connecting the two counties from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on both days. There will be alternating lane closures from Chickahominy Bluff Road in Charles City to the border of James County line during that time.
Correction
In the July 23 article entitled “Chesterfield duo convicted for stealing firearms in New Kent,” Jordan Black was incorrectly identified as a co-defendant in the case. Also, the crime reported by Kenneth Dill was reported minutes after discovering of the missing items, not days.
New Kent meth lab bust defendants sentenced in federal court
Two suspects who were arrested in a May 2014 meth lab raid will each serve a minimum of three and a half years in a federal penitentiary. Whitney Renee Marciniak, 24, of the 200 block of N. Ivy Street, Highland Springs, and Jason Andrew Meade, 26, of the 6300 block of Hopewell Road, New Kent, were sentenced to lengthy terms of prison time following proceedings in federal court. In May 2014, New Kent SWAT team officers and agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) descended on a ramshackle trailer parked at a New Kent campground. Inside the trailer authorities found…
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Chesterfield duo convicted of daytime burglary in New Kent
Two Chesterfield residents who robbed a home in New Kent were each convicted on charges of breaking and entering and grand larceny during a July 20 contested trial in New Kent Circuit Court. Rachel Nicole Dillon, 18, and Bailey Scott Strickland, 20, both of the 1900 block of Chatsworth Avenue, received guilty verdicts for burglarizing the home of Kenneth Dill. Testimony revealed that on Jan. 8, Dill left his home for work. After returning home that day, he noticed a light was on and a storm door opened. Dill thought nothing of it until a few moments later when he…
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New Kent under early consideration to become home of medical center
With the Bottoms Bridge area of New Kent booming with new businesses including proposals for Advanced Auto Parts and Waffle House, the diversity of attractions has made it a place for patrons to partake in a variety of services. But now, there may be a service that could occupy the area that could be both beneficial and life-saving for citizens in New Kent, Charles City, and adjacent counties. County Administrator Rodney Hathaway confirmed the possibility of a medical facility in Quinton. And while those talks are in the very early stages of development, he indicated the exciting possibilities to improve…
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Lanexa man enters guilty pleas in federal court
A Lanexa man who was arrested after his home was raided by the Twin Rivers Narcotics Task Force, has entered guilty pleas in federal court. Danny Ray Norwood, 54, of the 1400 block of South Waterside Drive, entered guilty pleas last week during federal court proceedings in Richmond. According to New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Linwood Gregory and Detective J. Joseph McLaughlin III, Norwood pleaded guilty to one count each of manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana (more than five pounds) with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm while in possession of a marijuana. Last Dec. 15, Norwood’s home was…
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Wilco-Hess declines to go forward with travel plaza; Love’s submits plans to New Kent
A Wilco-Hess travel plaza originally designated to be the home for 120 parking spaces for trucks, an 8,000 square-foot convenience store, and a 3,400 square-foot fast food restaurant will not be coming anytime soon. Wilco-Hess has elected not to pursue the travel plaza that was to be located on Route 106 just south of Interstate 64, adjacent to the current Pilot truck stop. One of the reasons that the travel plaza may not have went forward is due to a change of ownership. Wilco-Hess was purchased by Marathon Oil in 2014. “Marathon Oil has indicated that they have no plans…
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Man soliciting sex with minor among six indicted in New Kent
A New Kent man who allegedly attempted to use electronic media to solicit an underage teen for sex was one of six people indicted by a grand jury during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. Thomas Moody Garner, 22, of the 8000 block of New Kent Highway, was indicted on one count each of use of electronic communications to propose sex to a minor, and attempting to have a minor expose themselves in a sexual manner. According to the indictment, on Nov. 1, 2014, Garner engaged with a 15-year old teen and attempted to have the teen expose…
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