In the quiet community of Ridgeway, Virginia, the life of 39-year-old Rhonda Lesha Hairston was tragically cut short on Saturday, October 18, 2025. A Black female, Rhonda was known for her vibrant spirit and deep devotion to her two sons, Omartae Gravely and Xavien Hairston. A graduate of Magna Vista High School, she was remembered by family as a 'go-getter' who was studying to become a nurse, a woman on a mission to build a life for her boys, whom she loved fiercely. She was an active member of her community, singing in the choir at Antioch Christian Church and known for a warm personality that could light up any room.
The devastating discovery was made when deputies from the Henry County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to her home on Garrett Road for a welfare check. Upon arrival, they were met by one of her sons who indicated his mother was inside and needed help. Once inside the residence, deputies found Rhonda deceased in a bedroom. Investigators quickly determined that she had died from a gunshot wound and that her death was a homicide. The news sent a shockwave through the close-knit community, leaving friends and family to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a woman described as a beautiful person with a beautiful heart and soul.
In the days following the discovery, the investigation swiftly focused on a primary suspect: Rhonda's 40-year-old estranged husband, Joseph Chad Lockett. Authorities announced that they were searching for him and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous. The manhunt concluded on Monday, October 20, when law enforcement received information that Lockett was at a residence on Nibblett Drive in Martinsville. After a brief standoff, Lockett surrendered peacefully, exiting the home with his hands up.
Joseph Chad Lockett was arrested and faced a series of serious charges in connection with his estranged wife's death. The Henry County Sheriff's Office charged him with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a violent convicted felon. The investigation revealed that just a week before her murder, Rhonda had made the decision to leave her husband for good. The community, while mourning the profound loss of Rhonda Hairston, was left to confront the grim reality of domestic violence.
