In the spring of 1970, a rivalry between two Northern Virginia motorcycle clubs culminated in the brutal murder of 19-year-old Richard Newland. A male resident of Alexandria, Newland was a member of a biker gang known as the Saints. The Saints had formed in Alexandria and were considered rivals by the more established Pagans Motorcycle Club, who viewed the new group as an unwelcome presence in their territory.
The conflict escalated on March 26, 1970, following a dispute that resulted in
a member of the Pagans being wounded by a gunshot fired by another Saints member, Lewis T. Hartless. In a swift and violent act of retaliation, members of the Pagans abducted Richard Newland at gunpoint from downtown Alexandria. They then proceeded to a motel on Route 1 where they broke into Hartless's room, taking him as well.
Newland and Hartless, who was 21 years old, were taken to a house in the Pimmit Hills neighborhood near Tysons Corner, which served as a headquarters for the Pagans. Inside the house, both men were subjected to hours of torture. Following the assault, they were driven to the intersection of Route 7 and Lewinsville Road. There, they were stabbed and shot, their bodies left to be discovered.
An investigation into the double homicide led to a break in the case when a member of the Pagans cooperated with police. This led to the arrests of ten members of the motorcycle club. Ultimately, two of the suspects, Alexander 'Head' Akers and Bradley 'Lucifer' Hinckley, were tried and convicted for the murders of Richard Newland and Lewis T. Hartless. They were subsequently sentenced to prison for their roles in the crime.
