March 25, 2005
The man accused of killing his wife and then dumping her body in a Charlottesville hotel appeared in court for his preliminary hearing Friday, March 25.
Anthony Crawford heard testimony from responding officers, describing how they found the body of his wife, 33-year-old Sarah Louise Crawford at the Quality Inn off of Emmit Street November 22, 2004. They said they found her nude body under the covers inside the hotel room. Sarah's father Jon Powers also testified to disliking Crawford and the couple's marriage.
Startling testimony came from Charlottesville Sergeant Richard Hudson, who interviewed Crawford after he was found days later in Jacksonville, Florida.
Hudson told the judge that Crawford admitted to shooting Sarah accidentally. He claimed he was trying to shoot himself, but Sarah reached over and grabbed the gun which caused it to go off, hit her under the armpit and kill her. The pair were parked at a Charlottesville McDonald's at the time, Crawford also admitted to leaving her body at the hotel.
Crawford is charged with abduction, use of a firearm, and first-degree murder. A trial date will be set for Crawford on Monday, April 18.
