ALLEGHANY, Va. (WFXR) — On March 20th, the Alleghany Sheriff’s Office reported the ongoing investigation of 56-year-old Alleghany man, Donald Wayne Kelley, is now an active homicide investigation.

In April 2022, Kelley was reported missing after several days without having any contact with family members. A well-being check was conducted by Alleghany Sheriff Deputies and Virginia State Police but were unable to locate him.

Authorities believe Kelley was last seen on March 31st or April 1st of 2022 after speaking with friends and family members. Records indicated that March of 2022 was the last documented cell phone usage on Kelley’s phone.

By April 16th, multiple search warrants were executed, and the nature of the investigation shifted from being solely a missing person case to the possibility of foul play being involved in Kelley’s disappearance.

In April 2022, the nature of the investigation shifted following the execution of multiple search warrants, indicating the possibility of foul play being involved in Kelley’s disappearance. By February 23rd, 2023, investigators executed 26 search warrants for vehicles, and cell phone records, and collected 49 items of evidence including firearms and DNA.

On March 8th, the case file was turned over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for review and is now an active homicide/missing person investigation. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Donald Wayne Kelley or the 2002 Red Kia Sportage he was reported to have been driving, please call 540-965-1770.

WFXR News will continue to update you with new information as it is released.