In a somber development that has gripped the Charlottesville community, the Albemarle County Police Department is currently investigating the deaths of Robert Gerald Shifflett, 51, and his wife Kristie Powell Shifflett, 50, in what is being considered a potential murder-suicide. The sequence of events began on Friday morning, March 22nd, when Robert Shifflett reported his wife Kristie missing, having last seen her the day before at their home.
The investigation took a significant turn on Saturday, March 23, after a local citizen discovered Kristie Shifflett’s vehicle abandoned in a secluded field in western Albemarle County. This discovery prompted detectives to shift their focus from a missing person case to a potential homicide investigation, especially after a second interview with Mr. Shifflett raised suspicions.
Captain Darrell Byers of the Albemarle County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division highlighted the change in the direction of the investigation, marking a pivotal moment when they began to suspect foul play. The following day, in a tragic twist, Robert Shifflett was found unresponsive at Rockgate Cemetery in Crozet, pronounced dead at the scene, adding a layer of complexity to the already mystifying case.
The investigation led detectives to a remote location off Yellow Mountain Road, where they discovered a body believed to be Mrs. Shifflett’s in a makeshift garden burial. This grim find was located near the couple’s residence, intensifying the mystery surrounding their deaths. The body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for further examination and identification, a process that is expected to take several days.
As the community reels from the shock of these events, the Albemarle County Police Department is treating the case as an isolated incident, yet the circumstances leading up to the couple’s deaths remain under intense scrutiny. Captain Byers emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, pointing out the importance of piecing together the events of the weekend to understand the tragedy fully.
The Albemarle County Police Department has appealed to the public for any information related to the case, urging anyone with insights to come forward. Detective Holmes has been assigned to the case, with the promise of confidentiality for those wishing to provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
This case has left the community in mourning, struggling to comprehend the sequence of events that led to such a tragic outcome for the Shifflett family. As investigations continue, the priority remains to offer closure to the family and understand the motives and circumstances that led to this devastating incident.
