Martinsville man charged with murder of woman found in woods

Police arrested Robert Wayne Reynolds on Saturday

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – A 52-year-old Martinsville man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of Katherine Likens on July 12.

Martinsville police said they arrested Robert Wayne Reynolds today at a hotel in Collinsville. Officers from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Joint Fugitive Task Force assisted.

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Likens’ body was found in the wooded area in between Ellsworth Street and Cleveland Avenue last week. She was first reported missing after noon on Thursday. The Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.

Investigators say Reynolds and Likens knew each other and had previously dated.

Martinsville Police Chief Eddie Cassady released the following statement regarding the arrest: “Although this investigation is ongoing, I want to thank the hard working officers of the Martinsville Police Department, Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force, the uptown business community, and our citizens for their assistance during this unfortunate incident. I also want to reassure our citizens that the uptown area is a safe place.”

Reynolds is being held in the Martinsville City Jail under no bond. 


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