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Two charged in murders of Isle of Wight mother and son

Posted at 11:33 AM, Sep 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-28 11:35:28-04

ISLE OF WIGHT CO., Va. - Isle of Wight Sheriff Mark Marshall held a press conference today regarding the double homicide of two family members.

Kenneth and Nancy Starnes (Photo courtesy of Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office)

Deputies found 80-year-old Nancy Starnes and her 58-year-old son Kenneth shot dead inside their home Saturday morning.

The family lives in the Russmere section of the county.

Two men have been arrested in connection to this incident the Sheriff announced Thursday. Kareem Demar Mitchell, 29 and Richard Alexander Holmes, 19 are both charged with two counts first degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of use of firearm while committing murder, burglary of a dwelling in the nighttime with intent to commit murder and grand larceny.

Missing vehicles had been identified as a gray 2010 Ford F150 with Virginia license plates KFJ-6882 and a 2001 beige or gold Chrysler Van with Virginia license plates M4354 with handicap tags.

The missing truck was recovered in Hampton. On September 29, investigators found the minivan in Portsmouth in the area of Silver Maple Drive and Willow Bend Court.

Sheriff Marshall called the killings "gruesome" and "brutal".

Officials say both victims appeared to have died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at (757) 357-2151. If you have information and wish to remain anonymous you can call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Click here for our full coverage on the double homicide of Nancy and Kenneth Starnes.