In the quiet community of Rural Retreat, Virginia, the life of 19-year-old Matthew Blake King was tragically cut short on June 21, 2020. King was fatally shot at a local convenience store, a violent act that sent ripples of shock and grief through the town. The male victim's death prompted an immediate investigation by the Wythe County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect, a 17-year-old male named William Greg Akers III.
Despite his age, the gravity of the crime led to the decision that Akers would be tried as an adult. In the months that followed, the legal process unfolded, culminating in a two-day jury trial in May 2023.
The trial concluded with the jury finding William Greg Akers III guilty of first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of that murder. Following the conviction, the community awaited the final step in the legal proceedings. On March 7, 2024, Akers, then 20 years old, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Matthew King, with an additional three years for the firearm charge, bringing a measure of closure to a case that had deeply affected the Rural Retreat community.
