Detectives hope details and “Unsolved Henrico” video will generate leads
Henrico County Police needs the public’s help to solve the 2018 death investigation of Starquay Spruill. HPD is releasing new information it hopes could spur leads to help detectives close the case.
Police worked with Henrico County Public Relations to produce a video that shares Spruill’s story. “Unsolved Henrico” features never released information.
Spruill, 24 and a mother of two, had been missing for nearly a month when her body was discovered on Sept. 3, 2018. Investigators say two men walking near the 4100 block of Benton Avenue spotted something unusual in a wooded area near the road. It was a large, spray painted wooden box. Spruill’s body was inside.
“It looked like a homemade coffin,” said Detective Chris Henry. “It was a plywood box big enough to put a body inside. It was chilling to see.”
Toxicology reports and a lack of trauma led the medical examiner to classify Spruill’s cause of death as undetermined.
Detectives suspect more than one person is responsible for what happened to the Henrico woman.
On Aug. 4, 2018 Spruill called police to report that someone had broken a window and vandalized her home at the Newbridge Village Apartments. On Aug. 5, 2018 officers on foot patrol noticed the door to Spruill’s apartment was open but she wasn’t inside. Family and friends reported her missing that night.
“It’s been two-and-a-half years and we have nothing,” said Geraldine Pitchford, Spruill’s aunt. “Her kids deserve to know what happened to her – why their mother is not here.”
Detectives want to know where Spruill was between the time she went missing and the time her body was discovered. They believe she may have been held against her will or staying with others.
“We need the help of people who either heard or saw things to confirm what we already know and to fill in the gaps of the things that we don’t know,” Henry added.
Individuals with information about this case can call Henry at (804) 501- 4829. Tips can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers (804) 780-1000.
