On March 29, 2017, the life of 56-year-old Patricia Joyce Fife came to a tragic end in Grundy, Virginia. A lifelong resident of Buchanan County, she was found deceased from a gunshot wound outside a residence on Deel Fork Road in the Harmon section of the county.
The investigation into her death, conducted by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police, revealed a grim sequence of events. Authorities determined that Patricia was the victim of a murder-suicide.
The perpetrator was identified as 65-year-old Bobby Harrison Deel, also from Grundy. Investigators concluded that Deel shot Patricia before taking his own life. It was discovered that the two had been in a relationship prior to the incident.
As the investigation progressed, evidence, including the firearm used in the shooting, was collected at the scene, and multiple witnesses were interviewed. The bodies were sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke for autopsies. The findings from the investigation led authorities to conclude that Bobby Harrison Deel acted alone. Consequently, no further suspects were sought, and no arrests were made in connection with Patricia's death.
