A vehicle sought by authorities in connection with a missing Ridgeway woman was located over a steep embankment in the 2900 block of Chestnut Knob Road, Ridgeway.
On November 8, 2020, at approximately 12:20 p.m., the Martinsville-Henry County Emergency 911 Center received a call about the vehicle.
Deputies responding found the silver 2002 Toyota Solara, with Virginia license plate number VC-3019. The vehicle was sought in connection with the missing person investigation of Jeneen Lavita Valentine, 58, of Chestnut Knob Road, Ridgeway.
Valentine was last seen in July, according to previous reports.
Human remains found inside the vehicle were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia for identification and an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
The vehicle appears to have been traveling North on Chestnut Knob Road when it exited the roadway and went over the embankment. It came to rest in an area of brush and heavy vegetation.
The Virginia State Police are investigating the crash.
Authorities also reported that a man wanted in connection with an alleged shooting incident is in custody.
Tylor Evan Wimbush turned himself in at the Henry County Magistrate’s Office on Nov. 7. He was charged with malicious wounding and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with a shooting that occurred on Nov. 6 at the Circle K Convenience Store, located at 1560 Virginia Ave., Collinsville. He is currently held in the Henry County Jail without bond.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
