GAINESBORO, Va.-
Sheriff’s deputies Friday arrested the ex-boyfriend of a 19-year-old woman who was found shot to death along with her toddler son, father and a nephew in their rural Virginia home.
Jessi Ashton Jephson, 20, surrendered Friday, Frederick County Sheriff Robert Williamson said.
The dead were identified as Amanda Dawn Orndorff; her father, Samuel William Orndorff, 60; and her 2-year-old son and 17-year-old nephew. Authorities withheld the names of the younger victims until relatives were notified.
Investigators believe they were killed Thursday afternoon. Authorities were alerted that evening after a visitor to the Orndorff home spotted the little boy’s body, Williamson said.
The sheriff said that although investigators had not isolated a motive, Jephson and Amanda Orndorff had had a romantic relationship.
“We understand that there was a breakup,” he said.
Jephson was being held without bond on murder charges, said sheriff’s Capt. John Heflin. A prosecutor said a preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 12.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
