In the quiet community of Bent Mountain, Virginia, the lives of three young people were tragically cut short in a shocking act of violence. Among them was 21-year-old Cole P. Kennedy, a male who, along with his friends, fell victim to a deadly shooting on June 12, 2018. The discovery unfolded after the father of 18-year-old Miranda Beth Trump grew concerned when he couldn't reach her. His search led him to her crashed vehicle on Honeysuckle Road, but Miranda was nowhere to be found.
This grim finding prompted a police investigation that led them to a home in the 9200 block of Bent Mountain Road.
Upon entering the residence to conduct a well-being check, officers made a horrific discovery. Inside, they found the bodies of Cole P. Kennedy, Miranda B. Trump, and 20-year-old Brandon D. Dekle. All three had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The news of the triple homicide sent ripples of shock and grief through the close-knit community. Kennedy and Dekle were described as best friends who had moved to the area from another state and worked together at the Bent Mountain Bistro.
The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of 18-year-old Trevor E. Charles of Roanoke. He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. It was later revealed that Charles was an acquaintance and coworker of the victims.
In September 2019, Trevor Charles pleaded guilty to the murders, a decision his attorney stated was to spare the victims' families the trauma of a trial. During his interrogation, Charles confessed to the killings, claiming that 'malicious voices' in his head had told him to do it, though he also referred to the victims as his friends. Charles was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison, plus an additional 13 years for the firearm charges, ensuring he would never be eligible for parole. The motive behind the devastating act was not definitively clarified in court, leaving the community to mourn the senseless loss of three promising young lives.
