Charges advance in Stafford slaying

Murder charge sent to grand jury in Stafford

Date published: 9/12/2009

BY KEITH EPPS

On May 11, George Clayton Fry posted bond so his friend, James Dewey Monroe, could be released from jail.

Two days later, Monroe was back in the Rappahannock Regional Jail following an altercation with a construction crew in the Hartwood area where he lives.

Later May 13, according to testimony yesterday in Stafford General District Court, Fry's body was found in the camper trailer he lived in near Monroe's property on Eley Road.

Authorities claim that Monroe stabbed Fry to death on May 12, about 14 hours before he was locked up on unrelated charges involving the construction workers.

Judge Sarah Deneke yesterday sent first-degree murder and other charges against the 50-year-old Monroe to a Stafford grand jury.

During the lengthy preliminary hearing, prosecutors Caleb Frigerio and Jim Peterson presented considerable evidence linking Monroe to Fry's death.

Fry's blood was found on two knives Monroe had when he was arrested at the construction site.

The victim's blood was also found on Monroe's shirt and on a dog biscuit recovered from an area near Monroe's bed.

Monroe's DNA was found under Fry's fingernails, a forensic scientist testified.

Fry, 61, was discovered by two men who had come by to get him to fix a tiller for them.

After getting no response from knocking, the men went in and found Fry's body.

Detective Rich Leonard testified that Fry had suffered multiple stab wounds to his cheek, neck and under both eyes.

He also had cuts on his hands, indicating he was trying to defend himself. A .22-caliber cartridge had been shoved into his ear canal.

Detective John Hughes said that among the items found at the murder scene was a cell phone belonging to Monroe.

The phone was under Fry's body. Hughes said someone had called the phone multiple times around 10:45 p.m., apparently in an attempt to find it.

Detectives said that Monroe admitted being at Fry's home that night, but denied killing him.

On May 13, the day after police believe Fry was killed, workers for Virginia Construction were doing grading work in the area of Majestic Drive and Warrenton Road.

Henry Speck testified that he was operating a piece of heavy equipment when a shirtless Monroe walked up and told him he was fired.

Speck said Monroe, whom he did not know, was apparently irritated by the noise.

Speck said Monroe displayed two knives and threatened to cut his ear off and another worker's eye out.

"I didn't understand what was going on," Speck said. "He just kept firing everyone and saying, 'I'm the law.'"

The workers called police after Monroe began throwing rocks at them and pinned one of them against some equipment.

Deputy Heather Lane arrested Monroe and recovered the knives that turned out to have Fry's blood on them.

As is customary in preliminary hearings, defense attorney Terence Patton called no witnesses.

Patton did argue that there was insufficient evidence for first-degree murder, but Judge Deneke disagreed.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 9/12/2009