RIP Roy Alonzo Fuller (1946-2014)

1946, October 22nd

Roy was born in West Virginia, on October 22, 1946. My Grandpa was a West Virginia coal miner, born in 1918, my Granny was born in 1926.

Left to right, the photo is my Uncle Roger shielding his eyes, Sandra Lou aka "Sandy" between the boys in Granny's right arm, my Granny Alice Marie, and Roy on the far right in Granny's left arm.

1964, May

I am guessing the buying of the house was the occasion for the photo of the house?

1966, October 1st - Marriage to Shirley Sydney Hamill

They ran off to get married in North Carolina because my mom was only seventeen!

1968, February 27th - U.S. Merchant Mariner

1971, October

My parents were already not getting along by the time my sister was born in October 1971, I'm not sure how long thereafter they separated, I do not have any memories of living w/Roy. On 11/01/1974 we moved in w/my step-father, Jim, then in 76/77 my sister and I spent a year w/our maternal Aunt Thelma in Roanoke while mom and Jim made their way to Maine, we joined them there in July 1977.

1982, Summer

My sister and I spent a month in Virginia vising both sides of the family.

1985?

I don't remember when he visited us in Maine, but I think he did.

1988, June

Roy couldn't come to my high school graduation because he was serving time for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

1989, June

Thankfully he did come to my sister's graduation the following year, but I was already enlisted in the Army and stationed in Germany, I didn't see him then.

2000

More friend than father.

2007

The best grandpa!

2014, March 23rd

My Last Txt w/Roy

Me: I’m in Richmond would love to come see you. Are you home and up for company?
Roy: Kn6cool
Me: “Kn6cool”? Is that a yes?
Roy: Yeys

2014, April 4th - RIP Roy Alonzo Fuller (1946-2014)

Roy is Gone.
My sister and I lost our father tonight, he was only 67 (but w/heart health problems). Our cousin found him. The circumstances (medical? accident?) are still unclear. We are hurting. Please send your thoughts or prayers or however you send your peaceful, comforting, healing, 'be strong' vibes. :'(

2014, April 4th, Later

I must have spoken with Roger, though I don’t remember doing so. I do remember speaking with Jason, and being profoundly concerned about his well-being, he was already somewhat of a lost soul, imho, I knew having found his closest uncle deceased was going to be traumatic.

I would later learn that Jason had been very active at the scene after finding Roy and before calling 911.

2014, April 5th

I needed to go to Richmond in the morning, I didn’t know exactly why, I didn’t even know the circumstances yet, I didn’t know what needed to be done, I didn’t even know exactly where to go, but I was ready to leave, when Detective Holsinger called.

He confirmed it was homicide, but would not reveal the specific cause of death. My sister and I were asked to go separately to the police station, she met with Detective Seay, I met with Detective Holsinger.

 

2014, April 8th

Homicide Investigation by Henrico County Police on Facebook

Found Dead in Lakeside Home by Relatives, Police Rule Death a Homicide by Scott Wise, WTVR News

Henrico Man's Death Ruled Homicide by Brandon Shulleeta, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2014, April 14th - Roy's Memorial Service & Obituary

Roy Alonzo Fuller, 67, of Richmond, Virginia, was born October 22nd 1946, and was found deceased in his Lakeside home on Friday April 4th 2014. His parents, Luther and Alice Fuller, and sister Sue, preceded him in death. Roy is survived by his big brother Roger, and leaves behind beloved daughters, Stephanie and Dianne, favorite nephews Jason, Tony, J.R., and Tom, niece Linda, and the littlest loves of his life, grandchildren Phoebe, A.J., and Christopher, plus a whole host of grandnieces, grandnephews, and in-laws.

Roy graduated Hermitage High in 1966, served as a Merchant Marine in Vietnam in the late 60s, studied HVAC systems in the early 70s, then settled down into a mostly quiet life of advocacy and devotion to his favorite cause, listening to great music, and entertaining his companions and guests with stories of intrigue, conspiracy, and social revolution. Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding his death, there is some comfort in knowing that Roy died doing exactly what he most loved. A memorial service was held at Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee Davis Rd in Mechanicsville, VA, at 11am Monday April 14th 2014. A graveside service followed at Northern Neck Memorial Gardens, 268 Northumberland Hwy in Callao, VA, at 4pm so that Roy could be laid to eternal rest at 4:20pm. Friends were encouraged to don their favorite tie-dye or rock or reggae band t-shirts in Roy’s honor.

Funeral Playlist

• The Wall – Pink Floyd
• I Will Take You Home – The Grateful Dead
• Ripple – The Grateful Dead
• Knocking on Heavens Door – Bob Dylan
• Forever Young – Bob Dylan
• Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
• Dream On – Aerosmith
• Rastaman Chant – Bob Marley
• Redemption Song – Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

2014, April 20th - Two Homicides

After my cousin Jessie was murdered in 1984, I really had considered it, and expected we were unlikely to experience another homicide in our family, surely there’s a one homicide per family limit, right? Apparently not, yet somehow I still think surely there’s a two homicides per family limit, right?!

The coroner held Roy's body for so long, partly because it was a homicide investigation, and mostly because there was so much forensic work required. I had gotten to thinking they might have him long enough for me to bury him on 4/20, but alas he was released on the 11th and obviously I wasn't just going to put him on ice until the 20th.

2014, May 7th - Executors of Estate + an Arrest

You would not believe what happened when my sister and I went down to close Roy's personal bank account and open the estate account! I swear they wouldn't have cracked the case if it weren't for us, I was LIVID. He was arrested for credit card fraud and attempted credit card fraud. I'll finish this story later, for sure. 

2014, June 12th - Arrested for Homicide

On Verge of Bond, Man Arrested in Connection with Lakeside Murder by Bill McKelway, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2014, December - Commonwealth of Virginia v. Bruce Duane Walton

Circuit Court, Henrico County, Virginia: Defendant was Found Guilty with a Recommendation that he be Sentenced to 125 Years in Prison by MoreLaw's Verdict

Jury Wants Life for Killer of Lakeside Man by Bill McKelway, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2015, March 5th

Henrico Man to Spend Rest of Life Behind Bars by Todd Densmore, WRIC News

2015, March 6th

Henrico Man Sentenced to Life Claims Innocence in Case with No DNA Evidence by Melissa Hipolet, WTVR News

Judge Sentences Henrico Killer to Life Plus 28 Years by Bill McKelway, Richmond Times-Dispatch

2021, July 27th - Reasonable Doubt

The case was circumstantial, but solid. The perpetrator's family desperately wants to believe him incapable, but they participated in the cover-up, lied under oath, and continue to fight the conviction. It's sad, actually. I came to know his family's story, it's awful, they are a house full of very badly broken/damaged souls.

The show did determine, for true crime fans everywhere, there was no reasonable doubt in the conviction of my father's murderer.