Man charged in Louisa killing

By Matt Rosenberg

Published: August 27, 2008

A Louisa County man has been arrested and charged in connection with the beating death of a 69-year-old man.

Jerome Mallory, 41, of 47 Copperline Road in Bumpass, was charged with second degree murder in the death of Charles Eugene Houchens of Montpelier.

Early in the morning of Aug. 3, Louisa County sheriff’s deputies and rescue workers were called to Mallory’s home for reports of an assault. When they arrived, they found Houchens unconscious and lying next to a car.

Houchens had severe wounds to his head and face. Mallory told police that Houchens threatened him with a shotgun. Mallory snatched away the shotgun punched and kicked Houchens in self-defense, he told investigators.

Houchens was flown by the Pegasus helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical Center, but died from his wounds on Aug. 9.

Sheriff’s detectives were suspicious about the incident, they said, because statements from Mallory did not appear to match the crime scene.

In the next few days, investigators learned that Mallory’s girlfriend had also been present at the time of the incident, authorities said.

Detectives said that after Mallory took away Houchens’ shotgun, Mallory punched Houchens in the face, knocking him to the ground. While on the ground, detectives said, Mallory kicked Houchens in the head repeatedly, took an undisclosed sum of money off Houchens and then drove off with his girlfriend in Houchens’ vehicle. Houchens, police said, was left unconscious on the ground.

Detectives said that Mallory returned to the crime scene and waited four hours before calling police.

Mallory was arrested on Aug. 22. He is being held without bond at the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange County. He will appear in court Nov. 25 at 11 a.m. in Louisa County General District Court.