A 29-year-old Virginia man, David Wayne Stoneburner, is facing charges for the murder of his 44-year-old aunt, Saundra Lee Moore. Authorities in Virginia have issued a warrant for his arrest. In addition to the murder charge, Stoneburner is also accused of corpse abuse and first-degree arson in Kentucky.
Kentucky State Police reported that they responded to a call around 3 p.m. on a Sunday about a vehicle fully ablaze on State Road 160 in Lynch, a city approximately 160 miles southeast of Lexington. Upon arrival, troopers discovered a Toyota off the road and down a mountainside. Inside the vehicle, they found a deceased woman, later identified as Moore.
Further investigation led authorities to Moore’s home in Appalachia, Virginia, some 15 miles away from the scene of the car fire. The Wise County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to the residence and found evidence suggesting a violent incident had occurred, resulting in Moore’s death.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident as a homicide based on the evidence gathered during the investigation and a detailed interview with Stoneburner. Although Stoneburner provided a statement outlining the events, authorities have not disclosed its contents due to the ongoing investigation. The cause of Moore’s death and the motive for the killing have not been revealed. However, Kentucky State Police indicated that Moore was killed during a physical altercation with Stoneburner at her home earlier that Sunday.
Following the alleged murder, Stoneburner is accused of driving Moore’s body to Lynch Mountain in her car. According to the state police press release, Stoneburner placed Moore in the driver’s seat, intentionally set the vehicle on fire, and sent it over the embankment.
Stoneburner is currently being held at the Harlan County Detention Center. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation.