Jury trial set in double murder

Published 3:39 pm Thursday, November 19, 2015

A four-day jury trial is set for 40-year-old Gregory Anthony Taylor, the suspect accused of killing two Dillwyn men in late November last year.

According to the Virginia Courts Case Information System and the Buckingham Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, a three-day jury trial is set for Feb. 16-19 in Buckingham Circuit Court.

According to felony arrest warrants, Taylor is charged in connection with the deaths of 65-year-old Radford Thomas Ranson and 51-year-old Kenneth Dean Beasley, both of Dillwyn.

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Taylor is charged with seven felonies, including two counts of murder in the first degree, use of a firearm in committing of a felony and capital murder of multiple persons. Taylor has been indicted on all charges.

Taylor has a motion hearing set for early December.

The Buckingham Sheriff’s Office calls the November incident a double homicide.

According to a press release dated Nov. 23, 2014, from Buckingham Sheriff William G. “Billy” Kidd Jr., “On Nov. 23…at around 4:38 a.m., the Buckingham County Emergency Communications Center received a call about a shooting that occurred at 78 Roachs Lane [in] Dillwyn … Deputies responded and discovered two deceased males. …”

The release states that a joint investigation between the sheriff’s office and the Virginia State Police led to Taylor’s arrest.

The suspect was apprehended at the scene by deputies, stated the release.