Dandridge And Gray Murder Spree

The Times Dispatch has a multi-link, comprehensive report on the crime spree which cost several lives including the families of Bryan and Kathryn Harvey and Percyell and Mary Tucker.

This story is based on interviews with law-enforcement sources in two states, as well as relatives and friends of the victims and the suspects. Reporters also consulted police and court records in Richmond and Northern Virginia.

In addition to Jim Nolan and David Ress, more than 10 other Times-Dispatch staff writers have spent the past two weeks reporting on this story. Nolan covers law enforcement and crime in Richmond, and Ress is the City Hall reporter.

Many sources spoke only on the condition that they not be named. The information in this story attributed to anonymous sources has been verified by more than one source.

Comments

[abigail]

This is a good read. Heartbreaking, but really let's us come to know the victims in a way, especially Miss Stella and Miss Ruby. Just them enjoying the simple things in life that children find such a big deal. Holiday crafts and games...ahhh, the innocent faces of these girls. It just breaks my heart what must have happened in their last hours. WHY? I certainly don't know anyone with that capability or ever want to. Who "feeds" these people this garbage that this is okay? When did it start? Do parents really not care about their kids enough to let them get this screwed up? I guess it's true, but I'm naive and perhaps I've been fortunate enough to have parents who were strict and I grew up knowing how to treat people and to work for what I need and want if that is affordable. But still, you can be down and out but you don't have to brutally murder people. I don't know. I'm way beyond understanding this heinous, maybe because I'm so blessed with healthly minds surrounding me...

[abigail]

Weird, found Grays court thing but not Dandrige.
GC06000332-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000333-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000334-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000335-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000336-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BRERETON, W.
GC06000337-00 GRAY, RICKY JAVON 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
GRAND LARCENY Complainant:
BRERETON, W.

Will check Chesterfield since he was moved...

[abigail]

GC06000316-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY 02/02/06 08:30AM Pending

Charge:
ROBBERY Complainant:
BIERLEIN, J A
GC06000312-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY J 02/02/06 08:30AM Pending

Charge:
ROBBERY Complainant:
BIERLEIN, J A
GC06000313-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY J 02/02/06 08:30AM Pending

Charge:
CONSPIRE COMMIT LARC Complainant:
BIERLEIN, J A
GC06000314-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY J 02/02/06 08:30AM Pending

Charge:
ABDUCTION & KIDNAPPI Complainant:
BIERLEIN, J A
GC06000315-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY J 02/02/06 08:30AM Pending

Charge:
ABDUCTION & KIDNAPPI Complainant:
BIERLEIN, J A

Here we go, under Chesterfield...

[abigail]

Weird! So it looks like he (Dandridge) is just charged with robbery and abduction/kidnapping and not murder. Very interesting.

[abigail]

Here we go, okay both have murder charges, just had to search and spell the name correctly! :) Looks like the death penalty especially since they have a long criminal record, don't think the "I stopped taking my meds" thing will work. If it does I'm protesting myself!

GC06000319-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY JOSEPH 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000320-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY JOSEPH 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000321-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY JOSEPH 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000322-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY JOSEPH 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
MURDER -FIRST DEGREE Complainant:
BEADLES, L.
GC06000323-00 DANDRIDGE, RAY JOSEPH 02/15/06 10:00AM Pending

Charge:
GRAND LARCENY AUTO Complainant:
BRERETON, W.

[abigail]

Okay, I'm just blogging to myself so I guess I'll call it a night! :)

[jadensmokes]

Abi-Thanks for the info you gathered while I was fast asleep :-)

I hate that these two have committed these murders, but it looks to me like they will never see the light of day outside of the bars in jail.

I hope the trial and the ultimate sentence is carried out ASAP.

[p]

I'm still here, reading, almost every day. I am still disgusted by it all. I just don't know what to say. Except that Monday's article did clarify that Gray and Dandridge were in fact in the home when Stella was dropped off and that is why Kathryn appeared nervous.

[abigail]

I think about that too p...Why could she not mouth, "911", but would her friend have known what she was trying to say? She evidently did the finger around her temple, which to me means "crazy". I don't know, just wish the clock could be turned back.

[p]

I know...why, why, why? Was there something she could have done to let her friend help her? I'm sure she was scared. *I'm sure she did what she thought was best for her family.* Maybe those scumbags were leading her to believe that they would only rob her family and that everything would be okay if she kept quiet. I'm sure the friend feels terrible for not realizing something was really wrong. I feel really bad for the friend and everyone who knew the Harveys well, especially the children. This will be with them for the rest of their lives.

I was only acquainted with Kathryn and the kids, but they were sweet people. Kathryn had a glow to her. I, like many people, had just seen her in World of Mirth right before Christmas.

[abigail]

p--what else could it have been? She had to believe them in order to protect her kids and Bryan. Never trust a crackhead though. I'm still so haunted by this. Did not know them, only remember the dads and have been into the shop. I think it's those darn pictures of the kids and the ruby shoes at target and just the thought of what they all went through at the hands of f-ckups who wanted to play god. Geez, I wish I could stop thinking about them and wishing hindsight had a future in this family's case, but it does not. No probabtion or anything for Dandridge, 11 years and is let out and it's just "goodbye" have a nice life. It's ridiculous. Maybe there should be a "Harvey Law". You spend more than a year in prison then you have automatic probation when you are released. Before you are released you are to state where you will be and you have to stay there for a certain amount of time. Make them wear a damn ankle tracking thing. People will complain that it costs the taxpayers more for all that. Well, what is it costing us to try these guys for 7 murders (at least) plus who knows what else. Sometimes the system is a joke. JMO.

[p]

You know, maybe Kathryn doing the "crazy" signal around her temple was her attempt to let her friend know that there were crazy people in the basement. Maybe she WAS trying to communicate.

There's been another crime in PA in which a 23 year old woman was killed and the house was set on fire. Perhaps Gray and Dandridge have a whole circle of friends and they vowed to terrorize people in '06.

[abigail]

I read that her friend thought she just meant the upcoming party. Uhhgggg. I wish all the "what ifs" in the world could change what happened.

[katalin]

i still can't believe the poor woman didn't just bolt from the house screaming for help - what would those crazy bastards have done? start killing the ones they DID have in the basement? i doubt it....too bad, she was probably in such a state of shock she couldn't think of it! hindsight really is 20-20 - and awfully painful sometimes....

[kn]

Does anyone know whether there was/is a green carpet in that basement? My sister has had a recurring nightmare about the murder scene...