The gun "used and found" at the scene of a Forest woman's murder was registered to her estranged husband, according to a search warrant filed by the Bedford County Sheriff's Office.
The warrant, filed in Bedford County Circuit Court, sought permission to search the Smith Mountain Lake home of Wesley Earnest, who faces a first-degree murder charge in the December death of Jocelyn Earnest at her Forest home.
"The firearm used and found at the scene was registered to Wesley Earnest," the warrant said. "There is knowledge that there are items related to the weapon found at the death scene along with the motive for Jocelyn Earnest's death that are located at this residence."
Another search warrant, filed in Chesapeake Circuit Court last week, said Jocelyn Earnest was shot with a .357-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver. In that instance, investigators wanted to search a camping trailer where they said Earnest lived.
Both searches were conducted on Feb. 28.
The Bedford County search was conducted at 1357 Clearwater Drive, which was Wesley Brian Earnest's legal address. Investigators combed the house for biological evidence, photographs, firearms, ammunition, phones, computers, copiers, printers, papers and other correspondence, and clothing. They seized .38-caliber bullets and a manila folder with various papers, according to court documents.
The original two search warrants filed in the days after Jocelyn Earnest's death remain sealed. Those may be opened for public inspection this week.
The warrant filed in Chesapeake allowed investigators to search a camping trailer that police say Wesley Earnest rented at the Chesapeake Camp Ground.
Along with noting the type of gun investigators say was used to kill Jocelyn Earnest, the warrant said investigators found condoms and computer-generated paperwork in the Forest home that they determined did not belong to her.
The Chesapeake warrant also said Wesley Earnest admitted to owning a similar weapon, but told investigators that he sold it.
Friends found Jocelyn Earnest, 38, unresponsive in the front room of her Pine Bluff Drive home on Dec. 20, shot in the head. They were checking on her after she didn't show up at work or return calls.
Wesley Earnest is scheduled to appear in Bedford County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court on April 21. According to the court clerk's office, Earnest has hired Joseph Sanzone as his attorney.
Earnest is being held in the Bedford Adult Detention Center. A bond hearing has not been scheduled.
Earnest is a former assistant principal at Heritage High School and was suspended without pay from his assistant principal job at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake when he was arrested last week.
Video: Bedford Sheriff discusses murder investigation
Related stories:
Police searching Earnest's houses - Feb. 29, 2008
Man charged in murder had not been at job for a month - Feb. 29, 2008
Slain Forest woman's estranged husband charged with murder - Feb. 28, 2008
Jocelyn Branham Earnest remembered as 'like a fine wine' - Jan. 19, 2008
Forest woman's cause of death remains a mystery - Jan. 2, 2008
Forest woman was shot in the head - Dec. 27, 2007
Authorities identify woman found dead in home - Dec. 20, 2007
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement