The suspect in the slayings of four people at the home of a Longwood University professor was arrested today by Richmond International Airport police who found him sleeping in a baggage claim area.
Richard Samuel Alden McCroskey III, 20, was arrested about 11:25 a.m., by airport police who recognized him from a flyer, said Troy Bell, airport spokesman.
Bell said McCroskey had purchased a ticket to fly to California tomorrow and had tried to get it changed to today, but did not have enough money to cover the $150 change fee. He said it appeared that McCroskey was trying to stay at the airport until he could catch his flight.
McCroskey, who had been sleeping on a bench, offered no resistance and truthfully identified himself, Bell said. McCroskey was held handcuffed in the airport police office until he was picked up by a Farmville investigator about 2 p.m.
Bell said he was not aware of any weapon that was found with McCroskey, who is charged with murder, robbery and grand larceny.
Although authorities have not released the identification of the victims, a Longwood University spokesman said earlier today that the Farmville home at which the bodies were found is that of Debra S. Kelley, an associate professor of sociology and criminal justice studies.
Dennis Sercombe, a university vice president, said that two bodies were so badly decomposed they'll have to be identified by dental records. Neighbors said they had not seen any activity at the home for several days, Sercombe said.
Officials said McCroskey, who is from California, stole a car from the First Avenue home where the bodies were found but later wrecked and abandoned the vehicle.
McCroskey had last been seen about 7 a.m. Friday at a Sheetz on South Main Street in Farmville after he was dropped off there, authorities said. He told a clerk at Sheetz that he was waiting on a ride to the airport and he was seen both inside and outside the store, officials said. It was not immediately clear how long he was there or how he left, but he arrived at the airport by cab.
Officials declined to discuss how the victims died, but they described McCroskey as armed and dangerous.
The bodies were discovered when a Farmville police officer thought he smelled a decomposing body about 3:10 p.m. on Friday outside 505 First Ave. Police entered the home about 4 p.m. and found three bodies before obtaining a search warrant to re-enter and find the fourth body.
An official said police were alerted to the home when one of the victim's mothers called to say she was worried about her daughter. Police checked the home on Thursday, and a man who answered the door said the person had gone to the movies.
Police also said the mother spoke to a man by phone and was told the same thing.
When the mother was unable to get in touch with her child, she called police Friday and asked them to make a second check, and that's when the officer smelled decomposing bodies, the official said.
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