Do you know who killed 48 year old Sarah Libbey Greenhalgh in 2012? In the quiet, picturesque horse country of Upperville, Virginia, the morning of July 9, 2012, was shattered by the sight of black smoke billowing from a small cottage. Inside, firefighters discovered the body of 48-year-old Sarah Libbey Greenhalgh, a vivacious and dedicated reporter for The Winchester Star. It was a scene that would forever mar the tranquility of the community and leave a family searching for answers.
While it initially appeared she had perished in the blaze, a more sinister truth was soon revealed: Sarah had been shot to death before the fire was deliberately set.
Sarah, a woman known for her bold and outspoken nature, had made a cryptic post on her Facebook page just hours before her death. She wrote of sleeping with her windows open and expressed a desire to be left alone by 'batshit crazy boy.' This chilling message became a crucial clue for investigators from the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office as they delved into the life of the talented journalist and photographer. Their investigation soon led them to John Sheldon Kearns, an auto body worker and martial arts instructor who was identified as Sarah's boyfriend or ex-boyfriend.
Investigators learned that Sarah and Kearns had been seen arguing hours before her death. Neighbors at his Gainesville apartment complex reported hearing a heated exchange between the two on the evening of July 8, 2012. When questioned by police, Kearns had 'significant injuries' on his fists, which he attributed to martial arts training. He also suggested to investigators, before the cause of death was public knowledge, that Sarah might have taken her own life. Further suspicion arose when it was discovered that he had deleted emails exchanged with Sarah.
Despite being identified as a person of interest early on and later officially named a suspect in 2014, John Kearns has never been charged in connection with Sarah Greenhalgh's murder. A search of his vehicle reportedly yielded no evidence of arson or a violent struggle. The case, though never considered cold by investigators, has remained without an arrest for over a decade. The tragic and violent end to Sarah Greenhalgh's life continues to be an unsolved mystery, leaving her friends, family, and former colleagues still hoping for justice.
