On an autumn day in Virginia, the body of 33-year-old Elizabeth Autumn Conner Hensley, a White female, was discovered, setting in motion a homicide investigation that would span multiple jurisdictions. On October 8, 2022, deputies from the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office responded to the Glen Wilton Park and Ride on Route 220, where they found Hensley deceased in the gravel lot from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
The grim discovery was only the beginning of a complex case, as investigators soon located Hensley's vehicle, which had been abandoned and intentionally set on fire in a secluded part of nearby Bath County. An autopsy later confirmed that Elizabeth Hensley's death was a homicide.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office, the Virginia State Police, and the High-Tech Crimes Division, began to piece together the events leading to Hensley's death. Though authorities assured the public that the act was not random, crucial details were initially withheld to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The trail of evidence eventually led detectives to a primary suspect: 47-year-old Matthew Griffin of Roanoke.
On October 24, 2022, law enforcement, including a Virginia State Police Tactical Team and U.S. Marshals, executed a search warrant at a residence in Clifton Forge associated with Griffin. Griffin was initially taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for a probation violation. The search of the home proved critical, as investigators recovered a firearm and ammunition that matched the type used in Hensley's murder. Following this discovery, on November 2, 2022, Matthew Griffin was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Elizabeth Hensley. He was served with the warrant at the Botetourt-Craig Regional Jail, where he continues to be held without bond. Authorities indicated that further charges were anticipated as the investigation continued.
