A judge granted more time Wednesday for a Nelson County man to retain an attorney to represent him on a murder charge in the stabbing death of a 73-year-old Afton woman.
Nelson County General District Court Judge Joseph M. Serkes continued an advisement hearing until June 3 for Austin Griffin, 20, of Afton. The hearing was necessary for the court to determine if Griffin had his own attorney or if the court must appoint one to represent him.
Griffin has been charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and larceny in the death of Opal Page and is being held without bond in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
An attorney’s firm contacted the Nelson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office about 1 p.m. Wednesday to tell officials that Griffin was in the process of retaining an attorney.
Griffin told Serkes on May 13 via video conferencing that his family had obtained an attorney for him.
Christopher Meeks, 19, of Shipman, was also charged with first-degree murder, burglary, grand larceny and petit larceny in Page’s death. Serkes appointed David Heilberg, a Charlottesville-based attorney, as Meeks’ counsel on May 13.
Meeks is scheduled to appear in court next on July 29 and is also being held at the Albemarle-Charlottes-ville Regional Jail without bond.
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks said the investigation into Page’s death is continuing.
Authorities found Page in her home in the 7200 block of Rockfish Valley Highway on May 6, after she was reported to have missed a lunch date.
A retired elementary school teacher’s aide who lived alone, Page was found in a pool of blood, and an autopsy showed she had been stabbed, authorities said.
Page’s vehicle was found the next day 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 was killed.
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.
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