Homestead Resort murder ... have you seen this man?

Hackney Beacher Ferrell ... photo as seen on Virginia State Police website. Wanted for double homicide at the Homestead Resort on March 21, 2009, he has not been seen since. See entire story here.

Where is The Homestead murderer?

It has been almost two weeks since the tragic double murder at The Homestead Resort in western Virginia and, though a warrant was issued for the arrest of a resort employee, he is still on the loose.

No news is coming out of the small town of Hot Springs concerning the whereabouts of Beacher F. Hackney of Covington, a stewart in the main kitchen, who shot and killed two co-workers around 8 pm on Saturday, March 21. At the time it was thought a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol had been used. The kitchen has been described as a big open area where others very likely could have witnessed the shooting.

Hackney escaped on foot heading south on U.S. 220 which would have been in the direction of Covington, where he lived. His vehicle was left behind and was confiscated by police who initiated a search for the murderer with tracking dogs, helicopter, and road checkpoints set up on Rt. 220.

So the speculation now is about what happened to him. Did he have an accomplice waiting with a getaway vehicle? Did he escape into the rugged Alleghany Mountains of western Virginia ... which then begs the question of whether he was a survivalist or someone who was familiar with living in the woods. There have been some extremely cold temps at night since the murder occurred ... where would he get provisions ... did he have somewhere already stocked ... is he even still in the state?

I-64 is about 30 miles south of The Homestead. If he was able to hitchhike and grab a ride, he could be in any state in the country by now ... or even out of the country.

On the other hand, it was believed he still had the weapon with him. Could he be dead somewhere from a self-inflicted gunshot wound?

More lingering than anything else is the question why? What motive did he have to kill two fellow employees during the busy dinner hour while guests were dining nearby? He reportedly had worked at the resort for about six years. Were there problems with his work ethic? Had he argued with the others? He was 59 years old ... what was his past? He was described as a loner who did not associate with co-workers, and police suggested the murder may have been planned. The victims, Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, were described as friendly and outgoing so the question would arise as to why he would turn on them.

There are a hundred questions surrounding this case ... but the news outlets have gone silent as interest wanes. When I googled the murder, nothing new was found.

Where is Beacher F. Hackney, the alleged Homestead murderer?

Earlier post about the murder and photos of The Homestead from Christmas 2008.

Homestead killer still on loose

The tranquility of the mountains of western Virginia was broken Saturday night when a 59-year-old Homestead Resort employee allegedly shot and killed two supervisors in the resort's kitchen as guests dined nearby.

Four days later, Beacher Ferrel Hackney is still at large. Search dogs were called in even as schools reopened Tuesday ... but citizens were still on alert.

The Staunton News Leader reported:

Three days after the slayings, casual conversation in Hot Springs (pop. 490), inevitably turns to Hackney. Is he dead? Is he eluding authorities while hiding in the mountains? Has he fled the state?

Western Virginia is waiting to hear that this man is captured.

Murder at the Homestead in VA mountains ... employee shoots supervisors

Murder in the Alleghany Mountains of western Virginia....

[Update Monday, March 23, at 6:30 pm: Search for suspect continues as authorities pursue Beacher Ferrel Hackney, 59, in the mountains of Bath County and beyond. Public schools in Bath and Alleghany counties were closed as a precaution with a killer on the loose.]

See additional media links and photos of Homestead below.

The Homestead Resort was busy this past Saturday night ... the band played ... guests dined ... the kitchen staff was busy. Then shots rang out as a resort employee allegedly shot and killed two supervisors in the kitchen around 8 pm.

According to the Associated Press:

Suspect Beacher Ferrel Hackney fled the scene after the shootings, and authorities were using tracking dogs, a helicopter and road checkpoints in their hunt, the sheriff’s office said.

Hackney was supervised by victims Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, and all three worked in a department responsible for washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning the kitchen. Stinnett and Kerr were shot with a semiautomatic handgun, Norfleet said.

The suspect was described as a loner who had worked at the resort since 2003 but who did not associate with co-workers.

Even the Anchorage Daily News has picked up on the story, publishing a story and photo of Beacher Ferrel Hackney:

The 59-year-old Hackney is suspected of shooting Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, who worked with him washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning. The shooting happened in the resort's kitchen about 8 p.m. when guests were eating dinner.

Hackney has been charged with murder and an arrest warrant was issued, Armstrong said.

April 3, 2009: Where is The Homestead Murderer?

Photos of the Homestead:
- Nooks and crannies of the Homestead
- Backroads of the Homestead
- Afternoon tea
- Photos of Homestead on web
- Still snowing in Hot Springs
- Winter wonderland at the Homestead
- More Homestead Christmas photos
- It's Christmas at the Homestead

More media links:
- WHSV TV-3 (Harrisonburg)
- Charleston (WV) Gazette
- Fox Channel (D.C.)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch
- Roanoke Times
- Daily Press
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly

Murder at the Homestead in VA mountains ... employee shoots supervisors

Murder in the Alleghany Mountains of western Virginia....

[Update Monday, March 23, at 6:30 pm: Search for suspect continues as authorities pursue Beacher Ferrel Hackney, 59, in the mountains of Bath County and beyond. Public schools in Bath and Alleghany counties were closed as a precaution with a killer on the loose.]

The Homestead Resort was busy this past Saturday night ... the band played ... guests dined ... the kitchen staff was busy. Then shots rang out as a resort employee allegedly shot and killed two supervisors in the kitchen around 8 pm.

According to the Associated Press:

Suspect Beacher Ferrel Hackney fled the scene after the shootings, and authorities were using tracking dogs, a helicopter and road checkpoints in their hunt, the sheriff’s office said.

Hackney was supervised by victims Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, and all three worked in a department responsible for washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning the kitchen. Stinnett and Kerr were shot with a semiautomatic handgun, Norfleet said.

The suspect was described as a loner who had worked at the resort since 2003 but who did not associate with co-workers.

Even the Anchorage Daily News has picked up on the story, publishing a story and photo of Beacher Ferrel Hackney:

The 59-year-old Hackney is suspected of shooting Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, who worked with him washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning. The shooting happened in the resort's kitchen about 8 p.m. when guests were eating dinner.

Hackney has been charged with murder and an arrest warrant was issued, Armstrong said.

April 3, 2009: Where is The Homestead Murderer?

Photos of the Homestead:
- Nooks and crannies of the Homestead
- Backroads of the Homestead
- Afternoon tea- Photos of Homestead on web
- Still snowing in Hot Springs
- Winter wonderland at the Homestead
- More Homestead Christmas photos
- It's Christmas at the Homestead

More information:
- WHSV TV-3 (Harrisonburg)
- Charleston (WV) Gazette
- Fox Channel (D.C.)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch
- Roanoke Times
- Daily Press
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly