Two Charged in Dec. 27 Homicide in Sterling

Loudoun County investigators charged two people Tuesday in the Dec. 27 homicide of Jovaughn Johnson, according to Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.

Former Loudoun resident Ryan B. Williams, 32, and Linsey B. Hardwick, 23, of Leesburg, face first-degree murder charges and remain in custody at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. The two are being held on other charges as well: Williams for domestic assault-and-battery charges stemming from a July 2012 incident and two criminal capias, which are orders calling for an arrest; and Hardwick for possession of narcotics.

“Our detectives have done an outstanding job of pulling this case together and we look forward to working with our Commonwealth Attorney in the prosecution phase of this case,” Chapman said.

A resident initially called the LCSO dispatch line in December to request that deputies check on the welfare of someone in a vehicle near Great Trail Terrace and Trail Run Terrace in Sterling, where they found Johnson dead in a white Mercedes-Benz.

The State Medical Examiner ruled Johnson’s death a homicide, and the subsequent investigation led detectives on a hunt across Virginia and several surrounding states. Additional arrests are expected, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475. 

The previous information was supplied by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and, where charges were made, does not indicate a conviction. For questions about this article, email dusty@patch.com.