THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701190125
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 28 lines
Police sent to check on an elderly man found him slain in his home Saturday, authorities said.
Police released few details about the crime. Spokeswoman Amber Whittaker said a motive for the killing hadn't been determined, but investigators were considering the possibility of robbery. She declined to say whether the small, one-story brick house in the 2400 block of Staunton Ave. showed signs of a break-in.
Whittaker identified the victim as 73-year-old Earnest Maddrey Jr. City records show Maddrey was retired and a longtime homeowner who lived alone.
Police were trying to find out Saturday when Maddrey was last seen alive. Whittaker said a friend or relative spoke with him Friday, but she didn't know whether there had been other contact with him after that.
Investigators found the man's body in the house's front room.
An old sedan was parked in the driveway, and many of the home's lights were on while homicide investigators searched inside and out for clues.
Whittaker said Maddrey apparently died of ``trauma to the upper body,'' but she declined to elaborate. She said the slaying was the city's first of the year.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call 488-7777.
KEYWORDS: MURDER