Authorities said Thursday they charged one of three suspects in a Churchville man’s killing with first-degree murder.
Bedford County Sheriff’s Office investigators added the charge against Andrew Clay Ottinger, 22, of Waynesboro, two weeks after accusing him and two others of conspiracy to commit murder in the slaying of Sean Peter Placko, 42.
Authorities found Placko on March 6, floating in the James River in Bedford County, more than 80 miles from his home at 116 Dry Branch Road. Eleven days later, authorities charged Ottinger, along with a Waynesboro couple, Christopher Michael Dudley, 28, and his wife, Susan, 24.
Neither the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office nor county Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz returned phone calls Thursday.
“It’s pretty heavy, and it’s a lot to deal with,” Jeff F. Placko, 39, the victim’s brother, said. “And at this point I’m just kind of mentally pulling back.”
Jeff Placko said he did not know Ottinger.
The Dudleys and Ottinger lived with Sean Placko at the time of his killing, authorities said. Bank records found by Bedford County authorities in a search of Placko’s home showed that the trio accessed his account, according to court records.
“Video surveillance collected by investigators showed the occupants of the residence purchasing items that were recovered with the body in Bedford County,” a search warrant said.
Christopher Dudley and Ottinger are being held at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Bedford. Susan Dudley is free on a $15,000 bond.
Preliminary hearings for all three suspects are scheduled for May 3 in Bedford County General District Court.
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