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Affidavit: Woman says husband shot victim, buried him in backyard of Surry Co. home

Posted at 5:50 PM, Jun 26, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-26 17:54:22-04

Surry County, Va. – New details have emerged about the case involving a body that was found in the back of a Surry County home.

For five years, court documents say that Jeffrey Stuart Sawyer molested a family member starting when she was 7 years old, ending with him in prison.

A search warrant affidavit shows that Sawyer’s wife, Jennifer Sawyer told police he shot and killed a man known as “David Tyrone,” then stuffed his body in a sleeping bag and buried him in the backyard of their home in 2006.

Police spent the weekend digging behind the home and discovered a body.

The arrest warrant states that between 2005 and 2010, Sawyer would touch himself inappropriately in front of a family member in Surry and in other locations, which is the reason why he is behind bars.

And it doesn’t end there. He would also show her pornography and have her take inappropriate photos of him with his cell phone, according to the documents.

The search warrants affidavit goes on to say Jennifer witnessed Jeffrey molest a relative.

He was charged with rape and sodomy involving a child back in 2005 and possession of a firearm by a felon in 2009.

But Surry County court records show that in a plea agreement, the rape and sodomy charges were reduced to indecent liberties with a child.

He is serving 8 years in Lawrenceville Correctional Facility.

Yesterday, neighbors told NewsChannel 3 that Jeffrey and Jennifer both lived in the home with six children, but say she and the kids are currently staying with relatives.

According to the affidavit, officers were originally tipped off to the home from a North Carolina man named Ted Amundsen, who called investigators and told them that he formed a relationship with Jennifer Sawyer.

It says she confessed to witnessing her husband murder Tyrone with a .22 caliber revolver then bury the body.

Related: 

Human remains found behind a Surry County home

Exclusive: Search warrant affidavit outlines how police found body buried behind Surry Co. home