In the late hours of a Friday night in Petersburg, Virginia, a grim discovery was made at the Loyalty Inn. Just before 11:30 p.m. on April 3, 2015, police were called to the motel where they found the bodies of 39-year-old William Thurston III and 35-year-old Kimberly Eledge. Both had been shot to death, their lives abruptly ended in a violent encounter.
The initial investigation quickly began to piece together the events that led to the double homicide.
The Petersburg Police moved swiftly, and within two days of the discovery, an arrest was made. On Sunday, April 5, 2015, 23-year-old Marcus Harmon was taken into custody. Investigators announced that Harmon and the victims were mutual acquaintances, though a specific motive for the shootings was not immediately released. The arrest brought a small measure of relief to a community shaken by the brutal killings, as the focus of the investigation shifted to the pending legal proceedings against the accused.
Marcus Harmon faced serious charges in connection with the deaths of William Thurston and Kimberly Eledge. He was charged with first-degree murder and several firearm violations, including possession of a gun as a convicted felon. William Thurston, known to friends and family as 'Billy,' was a resident of Chesterfield and worked as a grounds worker at Fort Lee. He left behind a loving family, including his then 11-year-old daughter, who were left to mourn his unexpected and tragic death.
