Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 10, 1992 TAG: 9203100356
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Sterling A. Johnson Sr., 46, faces capital murder and robbery charges in connection with the death of Garfield Otey, 79.
Otey's body was found near the curb of Raleigh Avenue in Vinton Saturday night, across the street from the house where he lived for more than 40 years.
Vinton Police Chief Rick Foutz said Otey had a fractured skull and cuts to his head, face, neck, arms and hands.
He died from a blow to the back of the head, said Dr. David Oxley, deputy chief medical examiner for Western Virginia.
Foutz said police found a kitchen knife believed to have been used in the attack. The fingerprint was found on the blade, he said.
Police still were searching for a blunt instrument that was used to hit Otey on the head.
Police said the killer robbed Otey of his wallet and its contents.
Foutz said Monday evening that Johnson would be taken to the Roanoke County Jail after he was questioned at the Vinton Police Department.
Johnson, of Brooklyn Drive Northwest, could face the death penalty if convicted.
Johnson, who was divorced from one of Otey's daughters, had previously done some painting in the house, Foutz said.
Otey, a widower, had eight children, 19 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
His body was discovered about 8:45 p.m. Saturday by Vinton Police Officer Crystal Burton, who was on routine patrol.
As she got out of her police car, Burton noticed blood around the body. When rescue workers arrived, Otey was dead, Foutz said.
Police sealed off the street to search for clues.
Evidence technicians from the Roanoke County Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Foutz said blood stains and overturned furniture were found in the kitchen of Otey's house.
Earlier Monday, residents of the quiet Gladetown neighborhood expressed disbelief about the killing.
"I want to know who could do such as cruel act as that," said Rudolph Otey, 64, a first cousin to Garfield Otey.
"Everybody liked him. He was a friendly fellow. He was a good neighbor. He made friends with everyone he met."
Others said the reality had not sunk in.
"I'm just a tough old bird," said Zeke Vineyard, 71, a neighbor. "It hasn't got to me yet. I just hope I have something in my house, when someone comes into my house like that."
Vineyard said that Johnson and Otey were together Saturday and had stopped at his front yard to chat.
Everett Scraggs, 59, said he remembered last week as he walked along Raleigh Avenue seeing Otey sitting near the street, as he had many times before.
Otey and Scraggs, who runs a transmission shop, laughed and talked for a while, as they compared tips on how to stay in good health.
Scraggs challenged Otey to join him for some exercise.
Otey, who was retired after working 37 years as a coal miner, simply chuckled.
"He was his same ol' self," Scraggs said. "We were always joking."
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