A new piece of evidence could help solve a murder in Culpeper County.
Sheryl Warner, a mother of three, was found shot to death and hanging in the burning basement of her home along Route 29 seven years ago Tuesday. With this new piece of evidence, the sheriff says they can now identify or eliminate persons of interest in the case.
Sheriff Scott Jenkins had detectives put a fresh set of eyes on unsolved homicides this year. As a result, previously untested evidence was sent to the state crime lab. Her family is hopeful the results will identify her killers.
"The questions and wanting to know why, that really doesn't go away. It gets stronger," said Warner's sister, Ellen Lemmonds.
The sheriff won't say what the evidence is but NBC29 was told it is likely DNA or fingerprints. Ricky Gray was charged with Warner's murder in 2006, but the charge was dropped following evidence that indicated he could not have been at Warner's house that night.
"As a father it's terrible because you're not supposed to outlive your children," said Warner's father, John Embrey.
Warner had three young children at the time of her murder. Luckily they were not home when she was killed. The main message Tuesday is for anyone with information to come forward so they can make use of this new evidence.
