10’s Most Wanted: Alex Valerio

By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: February 27, 2008

“On January 17, 2004 the body of a young man was found right here in this area,” said Captain Duvall Doss with the Amherst County Sheriff’s Department. 

And that man was 23-year old Phillip James.  Investigators believe he was shot by Alex Valerio—who is still on the run.

Amherst Co. Captain Duvall Doss points to place police found the body.

Doss is standing by a small creek that flows into the James River off River Road.  He points to a weedy area beside the bridge over the creek, where authorities found James’ body.

Sheriff’s investigators theorize that Valerio, James and at least one other man went to the area for some sort of a drug deal.  But they think when they got here that Valerio and the other man turned on James and shot him.

Doss with said it appears James tried to run toward the creek but made it only a couple of steps.

“He was shot multiple times with a large caliber semi automatic handgun,” said Doss. “There were people who called in gunshots late the night before and we did find casings near the body.”

Police say a group of 4 men left the America’s Best Value Inn about two miles away (In 2004 it was a Howard Johnson’s) the night of the shooting, but when they returned, there was one less.  James, the victim—was not among them.

Police have arrested two other men in the case, but the most wanted is Valerio.

“He goes by the nickname Chino, he’s from New York, during the period of time that the murder happened he was living in this area,” said Doss.

Police say Valerio is from New York City and may have returned there.  But they believe he still has contacts in the area, and urge anyone who may know of him to contact either the Amherst County Sheriff’s office at (434) 946-9300 or U.S. Marshals at (540) 857-2230.