STAFFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
NEWS RELEASE

WANTED MAN TURNS HIMSELF IN

Stafford, Va. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the arrest of John Douglas Cornell who was being sought by the Sheriff’s Office for 1 Count of Grand Larceny and for questioning surrounding the circumstances of the murder of Roberta Dews.

This morning at 7:00 am the Stafford County Emergency Communications Center received a call from John Cornell informing them that he was located in a parking lot on Route 218/White Oak Road near the Stafford/King George line and he wanted to turn himself in. When deputies arrived on scene John Cornell was taken into custody without incident. He was arrested standing next to Roberta Dews’ stolen Chevrolet van.

As a result of the ongoing investigation John Douglas Cornell has been charged with the murder of Roberta Dews, age 59, of 21 Kellogg Mill Road. He is charged with 1 Count of First Degree Murder. He has already been charged with 1 Count of Grand Larceny in the theft of Ms. Dews’ van.

John Cornell is incarcerated at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Due to the ongoing homicide investigation no other information will be available.