In the fall of 1979, a wave of terror gripped the city of Richmond, Virginia, as a string of violent crimes escalated, leaving residents in fear. Among the innocent lives tragically cut short during this period was that of Blanche Page, a 75-year-old woman who was brutally murdered in her own home. Her death was part of a horrific crime spree carried out by the notorious Briley brothers.
On October 5, 1979, the authorities were called to Blanche Page's residence, just two blocks from
where the Briley brothers lived. Inside, they discovered a gruesome scene. Blanche Page had been bludgeoned to death. Also found murdered was her 59-year-old boarder, Charles Garner. The brutality of the scene was shocking to investigators; the walls and even the ceiling of Page's room were covered in blood. While Page was beaten to death with a baseball bat, Garner had been attacked with a horrifying array of weapons, including a baseball bat, five knives, a fork, and a pair of scissors, the latter two of which were left embedded in his back.
The investigation into the murders of Blanche Page and Charles Garner soon connected their deaths to a series of other violent robberies and killings that had been plaguing the Richmond area. The perpetrators were identified as three brothers: Linwood, James, and Anthony Briley, who, along with an accomplice, were responsible for a reign of terror that included at least a dozen murders. The brothers' crime spree was marked by its randomness and extreme violence, with victims from various backgrounds.
Following an intensive investigation, the Briley brothers were apprehended. Warrants for their arrest were issued after they were linked to another horrific crime, the murder of a family of three. During their trials, the full extent of their violent rampage came to light. Linwood and James Briley were ultimately sentenced to death for their roles in the numerous murders, including that of Blanche Page. Anthony Briley, the youngest of the brothers, received a life sentence. Linwood Briley was executed in 1984, followed by his brother James in 1985, bringing a final, grim chapter to their deadly saga.
