On a crisp New Year's Eve in 2014, the life of 63-year-old Charles Larry Gilliam of Claudville, Virginia, was brought to a sudden and violent end. While rabbit hunting with a group of individuals in the Patrick Springs area, Gilliam was shot in the back with a shotgun at close range. The initial event was reported as a hunting accident, a tragic turn to a day of sport and camaraderie. However, the subsequent investigation would reveal a much darker and more deliberate act.
Responding to a 911 call from the father of another hunter, deputies arrived at the scene near Boaz Pond Lane. There, they encountered 19-year-old Travis Dylan Hazelwood of Stuart, who had been part of the hunting party. During questioning, the narrative of an accident quickly unraveled. Hazelwood admitted to the authorities that he had intentionally shot Gilliam, stating that he had wanted to kill him for some time and had contemplated doing so when he saw him that morning. In his statements to law enforcement, Hazelwood made claims that Gilliam had placed a bomb in his grandfather's house, a threat he said was later removed. Following his confession, Hazelwood was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The legal proceedings that followed took a significant turn in March 2016. In Patrick County Circuit Court, Travis Dylan Hazelwood entered a plea of 'not guilty by reason of insanity.' This plea was not contested by the Patrick County Commonwealth's Attorney, who had commissioned an independent psychiatric evaluation of Hazelwood. The expert's opinion confirmed that Hazelwood met the legal criteria for insanity. With no expert testimony to refute this, the court accepted the plea. Consequently, Hazelwood was committed to a state mental health institution.
In the years following his commitment, Hazelwood's case has been subject to periodic reviews. He has sought conditional release on at least two occasions, in early 2021 and again in early 2023. Both requests have been denied by the court, with the Patrick County Commonwealth's Attorney's office opposing his release, citing concerns about the lack of specificity and structure in the proposed release plans and the ongoing need to ensure the safety of the community. The court has agreed, indicating that the plans presented were not sufficient to manage Hazelwood's life outside of a structured environment, thus keeping him under the care of the state mental health system.
