Woman pleads guilty in stabbing death in Staunton

STAUNTON -- Her dark hair pulled back in a white scrunchie, tissues in her cuffed hands, Nettie Lee Salisbury pleaded guilty this week to killing her roommate with a single stab to the heart.

As at previous hearings, nearly a dozen supporters came to court for Salisbury, 44, who acknowledged them by smiling and winking before tears overcame her. Salisbury briefly could not stand but arose Tuesday to plead guilty to the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Kevin L. Bryant, 45.

Police responded to the home on Sept. 14, finding Bryant bleeding in the street. He was pronounced dead at Augusta Medical Center.

According to testimony from neighbors and juvenile relatives of Salisbury, the woman and Bryant argued about him taking off his shoes the night of the murder. Bryant did so, switching from black to white sneakers, before Salisbury followed him out of their home with a kitchen knife.

Witnesses saw Bryant fall to the ground and heard Salisbury talking to him: "Please, please, Kevin, come back to me," she was heard saying. "Don't do that to me."

Salisbury, who was intoxicated, attempted to resuscitate Bryant, said Staunton Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond Robertson.

Salisbury was initially charged with first-degree murder, but a number of issues led to the reduced charge and guilty plea, Robertson said. The victim's family was in support of the reduced charge.

Salisbury faces a maximum of 40 years in prison and awaits sentencing. She remains at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.