VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – New information is opening up an unsolved murder case, according to law enforcement.
Michael Sutton is speaking only to NewsChannel 3, claiming he is not responsible for James Edmonds’ murder.
“When the fat lady sings, gonna be dead wrong,” said Sutton.
Hopewell Police say Sutton is a person of interest in a murder that happened on September 11, 2006.
“I didn’t do it. I don’t know who did it. I didn’t even know that he was stabbed,” said Sutton.
Sutton said he lived next door to Edmonds.
“Me and James were casual neighbors, casual acquaintances. We used to talk, he let me use his computer. That’s about it,” said Sutton.
Firefighters were called to the Cornez Manor Apartments in 2006 for a fire, according to the search warrant.
The search warrant states Edmonds’ body was found stabbed in the head and neck – and burned.
According to court records, Sutton was considered a suspect at time after a witness said she saw him leaving minutes before the building’s fire alarm get off with something in his arms.
The court records state Sutton admitted being the last person to have seen the victim alive.
Sutton told NewsChannel 3 he might have seen the victim that day, but left the apartment way before the crime happened.
Detectives collected evidence at the scene but police never collected DNA evidence from Sutton even though they noticed a fresh cut to his left hand.
Police said they could not comment on why no DNA evidence was collected but now they say they’ve received new information reopening the case.
Sutton said he was interviewed three times when the crime happened and about a week and a half ago detectives showed up to the jail and took his DNA.
