The wife of a Lynchburg man arrested for murder two weeks ago is now facing a murder charge herself.
Rachelle Andrea Scott-Hayward of Lynchburg was arrested just after noon on Tuesday and charged with accessory to first-degree murder in the July 29 stabbing death of Christopher Michael Flood, 35, of Lynchburg.
Her husband, William Andrew Hayward, 49, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder.
Flood died of a stab wound to the abdomen. Police said they interviewed nearly a dozen witnesses who were out that evening when Flood was stabbed in the grass in the 2900 Triangle Place, near Campbell Avenue. He was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital, where he died.
Lynchburg Police Lt. Jeff Bauserman would not comment Tuesday on what led investigators to charge Scott-Hayward. City Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Doucette also refused to comment.
Scott-Hayward, as an alleged accessory to murder, may be charged, prosecuted and punished as if she had stabbed Flood, according to section 18.2-18 of the Code of Virginia.
This is the second stabbing death in the city this year and the third murder. A Lynchburg man was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Super 8 motel on Candlers Mountain Road on April 20 and another city man was stabbed to death on Jan. 1 on Pierce Street after an argument at a New Year’s Eve party. Police have made arrests in both incidents.
Staff writer Dave Thompson contributed to this report.
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