BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WXFR) — Virginia State Police say a second arrest has been made in the burned-out vehicle investigation following the incident that occurred on Sandy Level Road on April 18th.
In the ongoing investigation, with the Bedford County Fire Marshal, it was determined that 20-year-old Ethan Ryan Bert, of York Pennsylvania, died under violent circumstances before his remains were discovered in a burned vehicle.
Special Agents with the Virginia State Police were able to identify suspects located in the City of Roanoke. On Tuesday the 18th, an arrest warrant for Second Degree Murder was obtained for 29-year-old, Joseph Richard Walker of Roanoke.
Walker was located and taken into custody in Brevard County, Florida by the United States Marshal Service and local law enforcement later that same day and is expected to be extradited back to Bedford County by mid-next week, according to Bedford County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance.
During the investigation, 34-year-old Jonathan Dewayne Bell of Goodview was also identified as a suspect, and on April 25th, he was arrested and charged with Accessory after the Fact-Homicide.
There is very little else that I can add at this time as Mr. Walker is presumed to be innocent
Said Nance.
Anyone with information is asked to email questions@vsp.virginia.gov or contact the Bureau of Investigations of the Virginia State Police in Salem.
