Charles Stanard Severance

Charles Stanard Severance was born on September 25, 1960, in the United States. Prior to his conviction as a serial killer, Severance gained notoriety in Alexandria, Virginia, as a fringe political candidate. He ran for mayor in 1996 and 2000, and for Congress in 1996, though he never came close to winning. His political campaigns were marked by erratic behavior, including wearing a cloak and sunglasses, and frequently confronting other candidates and event organizers.

His platform was fixated on juvenile mental health and opposition to psychotropic drug prescriptions, which he described as a form of "child and adolescent psychiatry terrorism." Severance made statements accusing the psychiatric profession of exploiting children and adolescents for profit. During one event, he threatened Representative Jim Moran with a flagpole finial; during another, he physically assaulted a forum organizer. These incidents raised security concerns and led to undercover police monitoring his campaign appearances.

Despite repeated political defeats and visible instability, Severance remained active in public life until his eventual arrest in 2014 for a series of long-unsolved murders in Alexandria.

Between 2003 and 2014, Charles Severance committed a series of three murders in Alexandria, Virginia. Each killing followed a similar pattern: Severance approached the victim’s home in broad daylight, knocked on the door, and fatally shot the person who answered. All three victims were well-known community members, which contributed to heightened public concern.

The first victim was Nancy Dunning, murdered in 2003. A respected local realtor and the wife of the sheriff, Dunning was found shot inside her home after answering her front door. A decade passed without an arrest, but the case remained open.

In 2013, Severance struck again, killing Ronald Kirby, a regional transportation planner, in the same method. This second murder reignited fear in the community due to its resemblance to Dunning’s killing.

On February 6, 2014, Severance murdered 59-year-old Ruthanne Lodato, a music teacher and civic leader, at her home. A witness provided a description, and police released a composite sketch to the public. Severance was arrested on March 13, 2014, following a tip that matched him to the suspect sketch.

Investigators discovered writings authored by Severance under the title “Knock. Talk. Enter. Kill. Exit. Murder.” The documents outlined his methodology and demonstrated premeditation. Prosecutors argued that Severance was driven by resentment toward Alexandria’s affluent residents, targeting those he viewed as elites.

In 2015, Severance was convicted on multiple counts of murder, use of a firearm, and other related charges. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 48 years. His appeal was rejected in May 2017 by the Virginia Court of Appeals.