NEWPORT NEWS, Va.— Court documents detail what police believe was a coordinated effort to lure, kidnap and kill 17-year-old Asia Cowell to stop her from testifying against her accused rapist.
According to police affidavits, on September 7, Cowell was dropped off at a Norfolk home where Devin Albritton lived with his wife, Crystal Albritton.
According to the written police statement, Crystal told police she paid Cowell to do her niece’s hair and said the teenager walked out of the couple's home around 2 p.m.
Police say Cowell was supposed to call her aunt to be picked up when she was finished, but she never made the call.
Instead, investigators paint a picture of a plot between the Albrittons, along with 18-year-old Dazha Feaster — who was 17 at the time of the crime — to get rid of Cowell so she couldn’t testify against Feaster’s brother, who she accused of rape.
Police say Devin and Feaster admitted to being involved in Cowell's murder and helped subdue the teen with Crystal after she was dropped off.
Police go on to say Crystal and Feaster drove Cowell at gunpoint across the water to Newport News and lead her into a wooded area.
Police believe Crystal shot and killed Cowell and say Devin admitted to disposing of the murder weapon and Cowell’s belongings.
Cowell was reported missing that same day. She wouldn’t be found until two weeks later when her body was discovered on September 22.
All three suspects face multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
