VSP Pursuing Leads in Double Homicide

HALIFAX – The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office continues to follow up on various leads related to the ongoing double homicide investigation in Halifax County. Investigators are still encouraging the public to come forward with any information related to the victims and/or the circumstances surrounding their deaths alongside Route 58 in the Turbeville community early Saturday morning. 

At 2:51 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 8), Virginia State Police responded to Route 58 in Halifax County near Melon Road. A silver 2009 Nissan Maxima was located in the median with Ntombo Joel Bianda, 21, of Alexandria, Va., and Ayanna Munne Maertens Griffin, 19, of Germantown, Md., found lying in the grass nearby. This particular stretch of Route 58, also known as Philpott Road, is fairly isolated and not heavily traveled in the overnight hours.

The two victims were close acquaintances. The silver Nissan is registered to Bianda. Their remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner for examination and autopsy. At this stage of the investigation, state police is not releasing each victim’s cause of death. This particular stretch of Route 58, named Philpott Road, is fairly isolated and not heavily traveled in the overnight hours.

“Our special agents are diligently working to determine Mr. Bianda and Ms. Griffin’s exact destination Saturday morning and the circumstances surrounding their tragic deaths alongside Route 58 in Halifax County,” said Capt. David O. Cooper II, Commander of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Appomattox Field Office. “We are exploring multiple possibilities to include there being a second vehicle involved, which is why it is so important for anyone who may have seen or heard something suspicious early Saturday morning along Philpott Road to reach out to state police.”

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Virginia State Police at 434-352-7128 or #77 on a cell phone or to email questions@vsp.virginia.gov. State police are looking for anyone who may recall having seen the silver Nissan Maxima with Virginia license plates anywhere between South Boston, Va. and Danville, Va. between the hours of 11 p.m. Friday (Feb. 7) and 3 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 8). State police would also like to hear from anyone who may have passed through this stretch of Route 58/Philpott Road near Melon Road between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 8) and saw or heard anything suspicious. Anonymous calls are welcome.