LYNCHBURG, Va. – 3.9.2026 Update:
The Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Lynchburg announced Monday that Leonard Blackwell was found guilty of the following felony offenses: second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, concealing evidence of a felony and concealing a dead body.
Recommended Videos
Blackwell is scheduled for sentencing on July 1 at 9 a.m.
UPDATE
A Lynchburg man has been charged with murder after a woman who was missing for two weeks was found dead, according to police.
Authorities said Clarissa Jones, 37, was found dead in the 200 block of Trents Ferry Road on Sunday. Jones was originally reported missing on Dec. 2 by her family, according to Lynchburg Police.
Leonard Blackwell, 41, of Lynchburg was arrested in connection with Jones’ death and was charged with the following:
- Murder
- Prohibition against concealment of dead bodies
- Concealing or compounding offenses
- Failure to register as a sex offender
In 2001, Leonard was convicted of committing lewd acts with a child in Florida, according to the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. In 2010, he was convicted in Pennsylvania, he was convicted of failing to comply with registration requirements in Pennsylvania. In 2019, he was convicted in Virginia of failing to register as a sex offender/providing false info.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Davis at 434-455-6166.
ORIGINAL STORY
Authorities are searching for a 37-year-old woman who was reported missing out of Lynchburg earlier this month.
Clarissa Jones was reported missing on Dec. 2 by her family, according to Lynchburg Police. Authorities described her as 5 feet 2 inches, around 225 pounds with multi-colored braided hair.
Police said Jones was last seen wearing a pullover hoodie, multi-colored pants and red sneakers.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen her to contact Det. Dubie at 434-455-6102.