COLONIAL BEACH, Va. (WTVR) - People living in Colonial Beach call it a peaceful riverfront community. Now the community must come to grips with an early morning murder.
Elizabeth Thompson, 46, was dragged from her room, beaten and stabbed to death, according to eyewitnesses who struggled to put the horror they saw into words.
“He said, ‘B----, i'm going to kill you,’" said a neighbor who didn’t want to say her name. “He started stabbing her and I started screaming."
Wednesday night police arrested an acquaintance of Thompson - who has since been charged with her murder.
Thompson’s son, Michael Clark, said suspect William Baker is a cousin on his father's side of the family. Family members said the suspect and victim had been in a relationship.
“He's nothing but a coward, a punk,” Clark said. “Just because my mom didn't want to be with you, you're going to take her life and take her from her loved ones."
Colonial Beach Police Chief Kenneth Blevins said Thompson was stabbed several times. He said they believe Baker stormed into Room 20 at the motel and dragged Thompson outside.
A neighbor said she held Thompson in her arms after the attack and watched her die.
“Like when you tenderize meat,” she said. “He was banging the knife into her hard. He was stabbing her like she was nothing."
But she was something to her friends and family who affectionately called her Neecy.
Baker is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail under no bond.
