On May 28, 2020, Linda Gail Cassell, a 64-year-old female, was found deceased in a home located at 221 Venna Avenue in Martinsville, Virginia. Her death was the result of a tragic event that also claimed the lives of 90-year-old Lois Irene Cassell and 57-year-old Larry John Cassell.
The authorities were first alerted to the situation when the Martinsville-Henry County 9-1-1 Center received a call for a well-being check at the residence at approximately 7:47 p.m.
Deputies from the Henry County Sheriff's Office responded to the address but were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home. At the request of family members, law enforcement entered the residence and discovered the bodies of the three individuals.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke, Virginia, later determined that all three individuals died from gunshot wounds. The deaths of Linda Gail Cassell and Lois Irene Cassell were officially ruled as homicides. The death of Larry John Cassell was ruled a suicide.
Investigators from the Henry County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the medical examiner's office, processed the scene. The evidence gathered during the initial stages of the investigation led authorities to believe the incident was a double murder-suicide. The investigation concluded that Larry John Cassell was responsible for the deaths of Linda and Lois before taking his own life. Authorities indicated that there were no signs of robbery or other external factors, and that potential stressors within the home may have contributed to the tragic events. The investigation is considered ongoing, and anyone with information has been asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff's Office or Crimestoppers.
