Federico murder case

In 2018, a Virginia man shot his wife, killed her boyfriend, attempted to kill her unborn child, and then, from prison, conspired with family and friends to hire someone to kill his wife's father and brother.[1][2] Five people have been implicated in these crimes.[3]

Federico Murder Case
MotiveDomestic homicides and killing of witnesses
Details
DateAugust - December 2018
Location(s)Chesterfield County, Virginia
Target(s)Estranged wife, wife's boyfriend, unborn child, brother, and father
KilledWife's boyfriend
InjuredWife (paralyzed)
WeaponsGun, fire, contract murder
Notes
Convicted Josh Federico, Joseph Federico, Constantine Trikoulis

Died in prison Wendy Federico

Pending sentencing Laura Miller, Hunter Federico

Multiple attempted murders

On August 24, 2018 at 3:30 AM Sarah Federico was shot multiple times, critically wounding her and her unborn child. The following day, the incinerated remains of her live-in boyfriend, Lawrence Howell, were found in a fire pit on the lot adjacent to the home of Joshua Federico, Sarah's estranged husband.[4][5][6] Sarah Federico identified Josh Federico as the trigger man.[1]

At trial, Sarah Federico testified that her husband, with whom she had been separated for several months, fatally shot Howell after he took their dogs outside early in the morning on Aug. 24. Frightened by the gunfire but still not clear as to what was happening, Sarah Federico said she saw Howell stumble inside the house and collapse behind the living room couch. “Larry was dead, I assumed,” she testified. At that point, she looked for her gun but it wasn’t in the drawer where she kept it.

With her husband now in the house, and dressed in black, she ran to a first-floor bathroom and tried escaping out of a window, but couldn’t get it open. Federico burst in and shot her in the arm and she collapsed on the floor. Sarah Federico testified that her husband then directed her into the hallway, saying “he was going to make it look like Larry and I were fighting.” Wounded, Sarah Federico went out on the front porch and Josh Federico followed. Scared about what might come next, Sarah Federico didn’t try to flee as Josh Federico began cleaning up the bloody scene with paper towels and bleach.

At one point, Josh Federico directed Sarah Federico to scratch her dead boyfriend’s face to make it appear they had been fighting, and then Josh Federico had her fire a gun with her left hand into some paper towels. She was right-handed and had been shot in the right arm.

Josh Federico then went upstairs for a time, he returned and calmly dragged Howell’s body out the garage door with a tarp and put him in her GMC Yukon. Sarah Federico was in the kitchen when Josh Federico returned, and he went into the living room, grabbed a pillow and used it to silence the sound of gunfire as he shot her again — in the abdomen. Sarah Federico collapsed on the floor and played dead, as Josh Federico put his hand over her mouth to see if she was still breathing.

After hearing him walk toward the garage, Sarah Federico said she got up and took off running through a patch of woods and briars to the home of her nearest neighbors, Richard and Patricia Brigman. Sarah Federico realized that Josh Federico was behind her as she fled, and as she climbed the steps to her neighbors’ second-floor deck, she was shot a third time — in the back. She was frantically banging on the back door when she was shot, and she fell over the threshold when the Brigmans, who were awakened by their barking dogs and the gunfire, opened the inner door. “She was covered in blood from head to toe,” Richard Brigman testified. As Sarah Federico moaned in pain on the floor, she told the Brigmans her husband had shot her and killed Howell. [2]

Howell’s remains were found days later in a burn pit on Federico’s farm where a prosecutor said he used tires to basically “cremate” the body.[7]

Manhunt

The United States Marshals Service joined forces with the local police in a three day search for Federico.[8] A fire department medic spotted the shirtless murder suspect walking near a church and this led to an [9] intense 3 hour, 30-man, ground search consisting of members of the Richmond Police Department SWAT team, the FBI, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshals Service’s regional fugitive task-force, and K9 search and rescue dogs.[10] Joshua Federico was found hiding in an abandoned home and arrested and charged with first-degree murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.[5] Federico's friend was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.[11][12] Federico's son, Hunter, was arrested after police found guns and illegal drugs in his home after a manhunt related search.[9]

Solicitation to murder of wife, father and brother

Chesterfield detectives obtained a wiretap for two phone numbers belonging to Joseph Federico (Josh's brother) after they uncovered evidence that Josh Federico, along with family and friends, was plotting a $100,000 murder-for-hire scheme to kill Sarah Federico, her unborn child, Edward Grove, Sr. (her father) and Edward Grove, Jr. (her brother).[13]

Phone conversations involving Joshua Federico, Joseph Federico, Wendy Federico, and a family acquaintance Constantine Trikoulis, were recorded in which they discussed how to hire someone to carry out the murders and how much it would cost.[1] Wendy Federico said the family should hire their own "resource" instead of working through Joshua's jail contacts, at one point saying, "If I have to do it, I will."[1] An undercover Virginia State Police agent met with Joseph Federico in late November who told the agent that his brother was set on wiping out his wife and her family members.[1] Law enforcement raided the home of Joshua Federico in December 2018 in connection to a murder-for-hire plot[6] and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that was either hidden or buried at the Federico's farm.[1]

Federico was then charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, solicitation to commit capital murder, attempted capital murder and two counts of felony obstruction of justice.[3][11][14] Joseph Federico (brother), and Wendy Federico (mother) were both charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder and two counts of felony obstruction of justice.[3][15] Constantine Trikoulis, an acquaintance of Federico, was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, two counts of felony obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.[15] Laura Miller, an acquaintance of Joshua Federico, is facing charges as an accessory after a homicide.[13]

Trial

A preliminary hearing in Chesterfield General District Court was held to decide whether or not the long list of charges against the Federicos and Trikoulis should be certified to the higher court. Judge Keith Hurly certified the three conspiracy charges all three defendants faced to Chesterfield Circuit court. Judge Hurly also certified a solicitation charge leveled against Joshua and Joseph Federico connected to the plot. The judge dismissed several other charges for all three defendants faced, including attempted capital murder and obstruction of justice. All three were held without bond while their case makes its way over to Chesterfield Circuit Court.[1]

Four members of the Federico family were indicted by a Chesterfield Grand Jury:

Joshua Federico
  • One count of solicitation to commit murder (felony)
  • One count of attempting to commit capital murder (felony)
  • Three counts of conspiring with another to commit a felony (felony)
  • Two counts of obstruction of justice (felony)
  • Two counts of attempted obstruction of justice (felony)[16]

In August 2019, Joshua Federico was convicted of murdering Howell, attempting to murder his estranged wife, malicious wounding, multiple weapons violations, and a burglary charge. The jury recommended two life sentences plus 43 years in prison.[17]

In July 2020, Joshua Federico, in a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit capital murder, solicitation to commit capital murder, attempted capital murder and obstruction of justice. In return, several accompanying charges were dropped. In accordance with the agreement Federico was sentenced to 110 years in prison with 100 years suspended. The 10-year active sentence will be tacked on to the two life terms plus 43 years he is serving.[18]

Joseph Federico
  • One count of solicitation to commit murder (felony)
  • One count of attempting to commit capital murder (felony)
  • Three counts of conspiring with another to commit a felony (felony)
  • Two counts of obstruction of justice (felony)
  • Two counts of attempted obstruction of justice (felony)[16]

Joseph Federico, 43, pleaded no contest to two counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, solicitation to commit capital murder and obstruction of justice. Several accompanying charges were dropped. In accordance with the plea agreement, Federico was sentenced to 70 years in prison with 55 suspended, giving him 15 to serve. He had no prior criminal record. [18]

Wendy Federico
  • Three counts of conspiring with another to commit a felony (felony)
  • Two counts of obstruction of justice (felony)
  • Two counts of attempted obstruction of justice (felony)[16]

The brothers’ mother, Wendy Federico, 64, also was charged in the plot, but she died of cancer April 16 while awaiting trial. She had been held in the medical tier of Riverside Regional Jail throughout her 16 months of incarceration, but was transferred April 15 to a Hopewell hospital, where she died, due to complications that arose from her regularly scheduled chemotherapy treatments.[18]

Constantine Trikoulis

The Commonwealth’s Attorney withdrew three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder for hire and one count of being an accessory after the fact to murder against Constantine “Dino” Trikoulis. Trikoulis, 32, pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice, and was given a 12-month suspended jail term. [19]

Hunter Federico
  • One count of possession of a schedule I/II controlled substance (felony)
  • One count of possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance (felony) [16]

Pending.

Background

Joshua Federico was a Regional Sales Manager at Commonwealth Home Care. Sarah Federico owned and operated Blackwater Horse Stables & Training, a small horse farm. The couple, who were married for six years,[20] separated four months prior to the shooting. The couple had a pre-nuptial agreement signed before their 2012 wedding listing Joshua's assets at nearly $2 million. Sarah's was just under $40,000.[7] Sarah Federico moved out of the family home and had a protective order issued against Joshua Federico for extreme cruelty including causing her to crash her car into a tree as the two fought for possession of her cell phone.[5] Joshua Federico filed for divorce June 12, 2018, claiming his wife of six years committed adultery on multiple occasions with three different men.[8] The home of Sarah Federico and Lawrence Howell was broken into earlier in the same month of the shooting and her safe, computers and gun were stolen.[20]

Lawrence Howell left his 3-year-old son and girlfriend in Florida and moved in with Sarah Federico, whom he met in April.[21] Howell had two other children from a previous marriage and was the father of the unborn child involved in the shooting.[20]

References
  1. Burns, Jake. "Wire taps, coded language, and $100k: Chesterfield prosecutors lay out alleged murder-for-hire plot". CBS. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. Bowes, Mark (29 July 2019). "Chesterfield woman paralyzed in shooting testifies estranged husband killed her boyfriend, shot her". Richmond Times Dispatch. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  3. Osborne, Mark. "Mother, brother of double murder suspect arrested for alleged plot to kill witnesses". ABC News. ABC News. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  4. Johnson, Taylor. "Police: Son of man charged for murder, malicious wounding arrested on drug, gun charges". 13wset.com. ABC. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  5. Bowes, Mark. "Chesterfield man charged with shooting wife and killing her boyfriend had accused her of infidelity; she accused him of 'extreme cruelty'". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  6. Staff Writer. "Murder suspect's son taken into custody during raid". CBS 6. CBS. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  7. Freeman, Vernon; Burns, Jake (1 August 2019). "Chesterfield man found guilty of shooting estranged wife, killing her boyfriend". CBS. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  8. Staff Writer. "US Marshals join hunt for man charged with murdering estranged wife's boyfriend". WTVR-TV. CBS. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  9. Lewis, Ashley; Covil, Wayne. "New details on Chesterfield dad charged with murder; son arrested after search". WTVR-TV. CBS. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  10. McConnell, Jiim. "On the lam: Manhunt rattles Deer Run". Chesterfield Observer. Chesterfield Observer. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  11. Griset, Rich. "Murder-for-hire plot leads to four arrests". Chesterfield Observer. Chesterfield Observer. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  12. Staff Writer. "Mother, brother of double murder suspect arrested for alleged plot to kill witnesses". ABC News. ABC. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  13. Simpson, Amy. "Suspects in Chesterfield conspired to hire three hits for murder". ABC. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  14. Staff Writer. "Multiple family members charged in Chesterfield murder-for-hire plot to kill witnesses in homicide case". NBC News. NBC. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  15. Burkett, Jon. "Mother, brother of Chesterfield murder suspect arrested in murder-for-hire plot". WTVR-TV. CBS. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  16. Bergazzi, Mike; Burns, Jake; Tabackman, Lia. "Four members of Federico family indicted on various charges following alleged murder-for-hire plot". CBS. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  17. Burns, Jake (1 August 2019). "Joshua Federico trial: 'Thank you Jesus,' victim's mother says after guilty verdict". CBS. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  18. Bowes, Mark. "Federico brothers convicted in brazen Chesterfield murder-for-hire plot to kill 3". Richmond Times Dispatch. Richmond Times Dispatch. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  19. Bowes, Mark. "Felony charges dropped against man who aided authorities after arrest in Federico murder-for-hire plot". The Richmomd Disptach. The Richmomd Disptach. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  20. French, Laura. "Divorce lawyer: Shooting victim was 'extremely scared' of estranged husband". WTVR-TV. CBS. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  21. Hipolit, Melissa. "Search continues for man accused of shooting estranged wife; boyfriend still missing". WTVR-TV. CBS. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
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