ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602270034
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
A Gretna man was charged Friday with killing a 36-year-old Chatham man whose body was found Thursday morning in woods near Virginia 608 in Bedford County.
Randall E. Faris, 38, was being held without bond in the Bedford County Jail on charges of murder and using a firearm to commit a felony, Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown said.
Faris did not confess to killing Bobby Anthony Eddie Carter, Brown said, but was charged because of physical evidence recovered by police. Brown would not elaborate.
Brown said police had no suspects in the death until Pittsylvania County sheriff's deputies received a tip Thursday.
Faris and Carter, both unemployed, knew each other, Brown said. A motive for the killing was unclear Friday.
Carter's body was found Thursday by Sgt. Steve Pike of the state Department and Game and Inland Fisheries about five miles from the Pittsylvania County line. The Pittsylvania Sheriff's Office received anonymous calls Wednesday night saying police would find Carter's body in the area.
It is not known if Carter was killed in Bedford County or somewhere else, or exactly when, Brown said. An autopsy will be performed today.
Carter's death has been recorded as the first homicide in Bedford County since Brown became sheriff Jan. 1.
Brown credited the quick arrest to the assistance of Pittsylvania County Sheriff Harold Plaster and the Regional Homicide Task Force, a coalition of investigators from Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania counties, as well as the cities of Bedford and Lynchburg.
"It basically looks like this has been solved in 24 hours," he said. "That's cooperation, coordination and teamwork for you. It gets things done."
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB