Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 4, 1995 TAG: 9504040092
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Short
A grand jury indicted Lawrence V. "Larry" Armijo on Monday, according to Franklin County Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood. Armijo's trial is set May 31.
On a Saturday afternoon in December, county deputies responding to a 911 call from Armijo came to a house on Virginia 736. They found the body of Harold Douglas Coon, 56, in the trunk of his car and his dog peering from the back seat.
Minutes later, Armijo - who had been staying at Coon's house for a short time - was arrested.
Sheriff W.Q. "Quint" Overton said Armijo calmly identified himself during the 911 call and said he had stabbed someone in self-defense.
At a preliminary hearing in February, a Franklin County deputy testified that Armijo said he struggled with Coon and stabbed him when Coon tried to make sexual advances.
An investigation revealed Coon was killed as many as nine hours before Armijo made the phone call. The body was moved from the house, where investigators found a lot of blood on a couch, to car after the slaying, Overton said. Investigators believe Coon's killer also put the dog in the car.
Coon was stabbed fatally in the neck and several times in other areas of his body, an autopsy determined. It also revealed signs of a struggle before the stabbing, according to Capt. Bill Overton of the sheriff's office.
Armijo's attorney, Wayne Inge, said his client will plead not guilty.
by CNB