Nelson County man charged with murder gets attorneys

A Nelson County man charged with first-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 73-year-old Afton woman last month now has attorneys, he told a judge today.

Austin Griffin, 20, of Afton, appeared before Nelson County General District Judge Joseph M. Serkes for a minutes-long advisement hearing via video conferencing.

Griffin told Serkes he had retained Charlottesville-based attorneys James M. Bowling IV, Francis Lawrence and Rhonda Quagliana. Quagliana appeared in court.

The case now can move forward to an arraignment, though no date has been set.

Griffin was also charged with burglary and grand larceny, both felonies, and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and is being held without bond in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

The advisement hearing had been continued from last month to give Griffin more time to hire an attorney.

Griffin was arrested along with Christopher Meeks, 19, of Shipman, on May 11 in connection with the death of Opal Page.

Meeks was also charged with first-degree murder, burglary, grand larceny and petit larceny. Two days after Meeks’ arrest, Serkes appointed Charlottesville-based David Heilberg to represent him.

Meeks is scheduled to appear next on July 29 and is also being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond.

Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks said the investigation Page’s death is continuing.

Authorities found Page May 6 in her ranch-style home in the 7200 block of Rockfish Valley Highway after she was reported to have missed a lunch date.

A retired elementary school teacher’s aide who lived alone in the modest home, Page was found in a pool of blood, and authorities said an autopsy showed she had been stabbed.

Page’s vehicle was found May 7 on B Street in Waynesboro.

Authorities then began a region-wide manhunt for suspects, asking for tips from anyone who may have seen two men around the area of Page’s home the day she died.

Meeks and Griffin were arrested May 11. The next day, Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks said investigators found a knife that they believe was used in the slaying and “other items of interest” near Fourth Street in Waynesboro, less than a mile from where Page’s car was found.