In the late summer of 2013, the life of 53-year-old Douglas Allen Witt came to a tragic end on a road in Russell County, Virginia. On the morning of August 20th, a violent encounter unfolded between Witt and his estranged wife, Tamara Witt. Douglas, behind the wheel of his one-ton pickup truck, intentionally rammed the Ford Escape carrying Tamara and their teenage daughter.
The force of the impact pushed both vehicles over an embankment off Copper Creek Road near Castlewood.
Following the crash, the situation escalated. Douglas Allen Witt exited his truck and moved aggressively toward his wife and daughter. It was at this moment that Tamara Witt, reportedly in fear for her own life and the life of her child, discharged a firearm, fatally wounding her husband. An investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Russell County Sheriff's Office, the Virginia State Police, and the Commonwealth's Attorney's office.
After a three-week-long investigation into the events of that August morning, Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Patton announced his findings. The investigation concluded that Tamara Witt had acted in self-defense. Based on the evidence, which included the initial vehicle ramming and the subsequent aggressive approach by Douglas Allen Witt, it was determined that the homicide was justified. As a result, no criminal charges were filed against Tamara Witt in connection with the death of her estranged husband.
