Murder in Roanoke; Son chases down suspect

By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: August 19, 2008

Updated Tuesday 11:00 a.m.

Roanoke Police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson tells 10 On Your Side 19-year-old Jesse James Corbin, Jr. was arrested. Police say he was the man driving the car. Corbin is charged with grand larceny.

No other arrests have been made in connection to this incident.

Anyone with information should call Crime Line at (540) 344-8500.

————————————————-
Original story posted Monday
Investigators wearing oxygen tanks were still collecting evidence, as family members of George Rogers watched from across the street. 

Among them, his son Darryl.  “He was almost 90 years old, and for him to go out like this, I don’t even want to think about it,” he said. 
 
According to police and witnesses, Rogers’ ex-wife found the body this morning, and called police because it was clearly a crime scene.  His car was also missing.

As police talked to family—a potential major break in the case.  Son Darryl described how he was talking to detectives, when a man drove by in his father’s car.  “I was parked on 12th street right there, and he pulled right beside me in my Dad’s car!  I was talking to the detective at the time, and I said, that’s my Dad’s car, so I took off after him!” 

The chase didn’t last very long.  After no more than half a mile, with Darryl in pursuit, and police behind him, the suspect crashed the car into a utility pole and took off running.

Police caught the driver a short time later.  He is being questioned. 

Meanwhile an entire community is grieving for Rogers, who was affectionately known as the bread man, because he gave food to the needy.  Neighbors and family both said he would often purchase bread, and pies, and distribute them to friends, family and others he felt needed help.  His son said he was also a mailman until he retired.
“A good person.  Lively Stayed involved with the community,”  Said his niece, Francene Johnson.  “(He) gave people food money, would do anything for you that he could.”

As of late Monday night police said no charges had been filed in the case.  They also indicated that the body – which may have been in the house close to a week, was so badly decomposed that they could not get a positive identification, without looking at dental records.