Orange County, VA: Orange treats deaths as murder and suicide

Orange authorities discovered two bodies Saturday after an apparent murder and suicide

BY ROBIN KNEPPER

Date published: 6/8/2010

The Orange County Sheriff's Office responded to a 7:30 a.m. call Saturday to find an apparent murder-suicide at 24307 Independence Road in Unionville.

Vickie Davenport, 44, was found by her teenage daughter face down in her yard, the victim of a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Mark Amos.

Deputies searching the property later found David Mesimer, 46, the victim of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. A .22-caliber rifle was beside his body.

"We're assuming it's the same weapon that killed Davenport," said Amos.

The time of death has not been determined and Davenport was last seen by her daughter about 1 a.m.

Mesimer was described as being Davenport's live-in boyfriend.

"We been out there several times on domestic calls," said Amos.

Davenport's body was found about 20 feet from her front porch, said Amos. Mesimer's body was found 60 to 70 yards away in the garden.

After finding Davenport's body, deputies searched the adjoining woodlands for a possible killer before finding Mesimer.

Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net