News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | November 1, 2026
Local News
Charles City woman found dead inside vehicle
A missing Charles City woman has been found deceased inside of her vehicle. Lashanda Monic Jones, 26, was found Monday afternoon around 3 p.m. according to Captain Jayson Crawley of Charles City Sheriff’s Office. Her vehicle was located on a dirt road towards the southern part of Charles City, shortly after crossing the Benjamin Harrison Bridge from Prince George. EMTs arrived at the scene and administered first aid, but she was unresponsive and later died at the scene. Jones was last seen Easter Sunday morning between 10-11 a.m., traveling north on Route 106 from a Sunoco gas station in Prince…
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Sheriff’s Office seeking missing Charles City woman
Charles City County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help in finding a missing 26 year old from the county. LaShanda Monic Jones was last seen leaving Sunoco in Prince George County at the intersection of Rt. 10 and Rt. 106 between 9-10 a.m. on April 20. She was heading north of Rt. 106 towards Charles City County driving her blue 2000 Ford Mustang with tinted windows, bearing a Virginia license plate WZ-3989. Jones is 5’7”, 141 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes and last seen wearing black pants, white shirt, black sweater and black boots. At this point investigators…
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‘Live Smart’ event at NKHS to honor those who saved student’s life, educate students in ‘Hands-Only CPR’
New Kent Educational Foundation is teaming with New Kent Schools, New Kent Fire & Rescue, New Kent Sheriff’s Office and the Central Virginia CPR Council to create the “Live Smart” event this Thursday (April 24), 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at New Kent High School. The event follows two tragic incidents of students suffering cardiac arrest at the school during the current school year. The event will honor the responders and lifesaving bystanders involved in the second incident, in which the student, who has now returned to school, was saved because responders performed CPR. The event is the inaugural CPR training for…
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Quinton man arrested on alleged abduction charge
A Quinton man is now in custody after allegedly refusing to leave the residence of a female companion. Thomas Lee Taylor, 26, of the 7700 block of Airport Road, was arrested on Apr. 15 on one count of abduction. According to the police report, Taylor refused to exit the home of a female companion. When deputies arrived, the female walked out to speak with deputies, but Taylor refused to exit. A warrant was subsequently issued, and he was taken into custody by Deputy Brent Thomas. Taylor was being held without bond pending an April 22 general district court appearance. In…
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Accident, holiday traffic snarl I-64; VDOT set to pave part of I-64 east this week
A combination of a traffic accident and motorists headed home after the Easter holiday managed to snarl traffic last night (Sunday) in both directions on Interstate 64 through New Kent County. And this week, nighttime paving work on I-64 east is expected to cause more delays. A three-vehicle accident occurring last night around 8 p.m. near the 213-mile marker on eastbound I-64 resulted in a five-mile backup. Traffic was allowed to bypass the scene using the road’s right shoulder. By 9 p.m., all lanes had reopened but a residual three-mile backup remained. State police said there were no injuries as…
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New Kent Sheriff’s Office accepting unwanted/expired prescription drugs as part of national take-back initiative
New Kent Sheriff’s Office is once again participating in the National Take Back Initiative to dispose of county residents’ expired and unwanted prescription drugs. Sheriff’s personnel will be accepting expired/unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal on Saturday, April 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at two sites in the county– New Kent Sheriff’s Office and Quinton Volunteer Fire Department (Station 2).
Quinton woman arrested for alleged grand larceny
A Quinton woman was taken into custody after information concerning a theft was received during a sheriff’s investigation in New Kent. On Apr. 10, New Kent Deputy Gerry Simpson arrested Samantha N. Rigdon, 20, of the 9000 block of Shewbury Drive, Quinton, on one count each of grand larceny and intent to sell stolen property. Rigdon allegedly stole jewelry from an address on Old Church Road on March 15. She was being held without bond pending an April 15 court appearance. In an unrelated situation, a Charles City man is charged with driving after being declared a habitual offender and…
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King & Queen man killed in single vehicle crash on I-64 in New Kent
A King & Queen County man is dead after the pickup truck he was driving ran off the road on Interstate 64 in New Kent County and struck several trees early Wednesday morning. Michael J. Saunders, 45, of the 6000 block of Lewis B. Puller Memorial Hwy., Mattaponi, died at the scene, state police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar said. The single vehicle accident occurred around 1 a.m. on westbound I-64 near the 214-mile marker. Saunders’ 2008 Ford F-650 ran off the left side of the road before striking trees in the median strip. The victim was not wearing a seat…
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Colonial Downs breaks off negotiations, relationship with VHBPA; seeks to host thoroughbred racing with new horsemen’s group; VHBPA indicates willingness to oppose racetrack’s action
Colonial Downs is breaking off negotiations as well as its relationship with a Virginia horsemen’s group that has contracted with the New Kent County racetrack to conduct the annual thoroughbred racing meet at the facility. In a press release issued early Tuesday afternoon, Colonial Downs’ owner Jeffrey Jacobs and president Ian Stewart announced the move, which will more than likely cancel this summer’s thoroughbred racing season. For now, track officials say they plan to host a shortened thoroughbred meet in September, perhaps involving another horsemen’s group. Standardbred (harness) racing is not affected by the decision. Colonial Downs officials also took…
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Triple fatality wreck in New Kent spurs action by county’s Transportation Safety Commission
A day after Tuesday’s car/tractor-trailer collision on a New Kent highway claimed the lives of three men, the county’s Transportation Safety Commission convened for its regular quarterly meeting. Members had plenty to talk about. Topping the agenda — the intersection at Route 155 and Kentland Trail where the fatal accident occurred. And also high on the list — the intersection where routes 249, 33, and 30 converge a few miles west of Eltham. Of concern there is the fact that VDOT has removed or discontinued road safety features that had been built in over time. District 4 Board of Supervisors…
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