May 13, 2005
Press Release

Indictment Of Nicholas Todd Russell

Bedford, VA – On May 11, 2005, a Bedford County Special Grand Jury returned three (3) indictments charging Nicholas Todd Russell of Goodview, VA with: a) Second Degree Murder, b) Distribution of Cocaine and c) Distribution of Methadone. Each of these charges carries sentences of 5 to 40 years.

The charge of second degree arises out of the 10/03/03 death of 19 year old Tyler Jay Hawley from a drug overdose of methadone.

Bedford County Commonwealth Attorney, Randy Krantz, requested that Bedford Circuit Judge, James W. Updike, impanel a special grand jury after in-depth investigations of the circumstance surrounding the death of Hawley was completed by the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office.

This case was perfected by Sgt. Gary Babb of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, headed by Babb.

The Cold Case Unit was established by Sheriff Mike Brown last year to reopen several unsolved homicide cases in Bedford County. Investigation into those cases as well as, further investigation into other persons who may have had involvement in the death of Tyler Hawley is continuing. Additional witnesses may be called to testify before the the Special Grand Jury.

Russell has been arrested and has been served with the indictments. He is currently being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail.

Contact: Sgt. Babb – Cold Case Unit (540) 586-7628