Officers found Karen Matie Bell (age 38), on the floor bleeding from a chest wound. She was transported to Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center, where she died.
At 8:45 a.m., officers arrested an acquaintance, Sean Bryant Toulson (age 38) of Emporia, in a wooded area alongside Yarrell Street (two blocks away).
Toulson has been charged with Murder (felony).
Detectives are continuing their investigation of this case under the direction of Chief Bernard Richardson and Commonwealth's Attorney Patricia Watson.
Bell's murder was the first one in Emporia since 2008 when Pryiasa Brown was killed.
There is to be no profanity and there is to be no character assassination even if the person being written about is a suspect in a crime.
Comments that presume knowledge of a person’s home life, financial situation or other personal details will be not be posted as will comments which presume legal knowledge.
All comments must be on the topic of the story and offer the reader’s insight on a particular issue. rrspin.com will cease posting comments if the editor determines readers are infighting with one another and not staying on the topic of a story.
rrspin.com prefers readers use their real names because anonymous posters are accountable for their comments just as readers who post their names are.