UPDATE on March 20 at 3:20 p.m.
SURRY COUNTY, N.C. (WJHL) — Marion Police announced Saturday afternoon that the person of interest in Thursday’s homicide investigation is in custody.
Jason Emory Whittaker, 37, was taken into custody in Surry County, North Carolina on unrelated charges.
Police said both Marion and Smyth County Police continue working with the Surry County Sheriff’s Office.
VSP and U.S. Federal Marshals are also working the case.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
MARION, Va. (WJHL)- Officials in Marion, Virginia said they are searching for a person of interest wanted for questioning in an ongoing homicide investigation.
In an updated release Friday, Marion Police said they are searching for Jason Emory Whittaker, 37, for questioning after a body was discovered in a house fire early Thursday morning.
The release added, “Mr. Whittaker has an active felony warrant unrelated to this investigation, but is being sought for questioning regarding this incident.”
A reward of $2,500 is being offered for information “which leads DIRECTLY to his apprehension,” according to the release.
“Mr. Whittaker is a person of interest in the investigation,” Marion Police Chief John Clair said. “We have witness information from the scene that he may have been one of the last or the last person to see her alive.”
Authorities said Whittaker is considered to be armed and dangerous. Police believe he is still in the region.
“We’re asking for the community’s help to locate Mr. Whittaker and also any other information they may have about the incident,” Clair said.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at (276) 783-7204.
