
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 10, 1990                   TAG: 9004100547
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Shenandoah bureau
DATELINE: COVINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

CAPITAL MURDER CHARGE RETURNED IN COVINGTON DEATH

A Covington grand jury Monday indicted Rocky Dale Rogers for capital murder in the January death of 74-year-old Dorothy Balsey.

The grand jury also issued rape, breaking and entering and robbery indictments against Rogers in connection with the incident at Balsey's home Jan. 9.

Balsey, a longtime resident of Prospect Street, was found beaten, stabbed and sexually abused in her home that evening. She died the next morning.

Rogers, 24, of Low Moor, was arrested days later in Pennsylvania and eventually charged with Balsey's murder.

General District Judge William Carson Sr. declined to drop the capital murder charge against Rogers at a preliminary hearing late last month, despite the claim of Rogers' attorneys that there is no proof linking Rogers directly to the killing.

Rogers has admitted to raping Balsey, according to police, but denies he killed her. Rogers also said two other people were present in Balsey's house at the time she was attacked.

by CNB