Heather Sue Matherly, a 30-year-old female, died unexpectedly at her residence in Danville, Virginia, on September 23, 2018. Born on May 18, 1988, in Danville, Heather worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Sovah Health - Danville and was a member of the Dan River Church. She was a mother to three children.
Initially reported as an unexpected death, further investigation by law enforcement revealed that Matherly's death was a homicide.
The medical examiner determined that she had died from a gunshot wound. This led to an investigation by the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office and the Danville Police Department. A few days after her body was discovered, on September 27, 2018, authorities arrested 43-year-old Jason Scott Rigney in connection with her death. Rigney was taken into custody at the Executive Inn Motel on West Main Street in Danville without incident.
Jason Scott Rigney was charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He was held in the Pittsylvania County Jail without bond. The case proceeded through the legal system, and during the trial, the prosecutor stated that Matherly 'was not just killed, she was tortured.' Ultimately, Jason Scott Rigney was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Heather Matherly. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, with an additional three years for the firearm charge.
