In the quiet community of Louisa, Virginia, the life of Sean Wayne Houchens, a 36-year-old man, was tragically cut short on September 1, 2017. What began as a domestic dispute involving another man's extramarital affair escalated into a fatal confrontation, leaving a family to mourn and a community in search of answers. The events of that day would unravel a story of jealousy, violence, and a desperate attempt to cover up a heinous crime.
The man responsible for Sean Houchens' death was
Clifford Wood. Agitated and sending intimidating text messages to his mistress about other men at her home, Wood, accompanied by his son Brandon Wood and his daughter's ex-boyfriend Justin Peters, drove to the residence. There, a confrontation ensued with Houchens. In a fit of rage, Clifford Wood drew a. 45-caliber Glock and shot Sean Houchens four times.
Immediately following the shooting, Clifford Wood, along with his son and Peters, fled the scene. In an effort to conceal his crime, Wood discarded his phone and the murder weapon in a Hanover County cornfield and abandoned his vehicle at a hotel in Doswell, Virginia. With the assistance of his wife, Wendy Wood, he managed to escape to Tennessee, evading law enforcement for ten days before being apprehended back in Virginia.
The subsequent investigation led to the arrest of not only Clifford Wood but also his accomplices. In January 2019, a jury found Clifford Wood guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting of Sean Houchens. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 18 years. His wife, Wendy Wood, was convicted in a Tennessee court as an accessory after the fact for her role in his escape. Clifford Wood's son, Brandon Wood, and his daughter's ex-boyfriend, Justin Peters, were also convicted in Louisa County Circuit Court as accessories after the fact to the murder for their involvement in the events following the shooting.
