The man being investigated in connection with three homicides in Alexandria was indicted Monday on a separate weapons charge in Loudoun County.
Charles Severance, 53, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On Tuesday, a trial date was set for Oct. 27.
Last month, Alexandria Police confirmed for the first time they've narrowed the scope of their investigation of the three Alexandria murders to Severance.
"There are some things that are unique to Mr. Severance that we know now that we didn't know then," Police Chief Earl Cook said. "[S]o we decided to let our public know that we are focusing a little more on him at this stage of the investigation."
However, Cook stopped short of calling Severance a suspect in those cases.
At a hearing in June, Linda Robra, the Ashburn woman with whom Severance lived, testified that she doesn't think Severance has anything to do with the murders of Nancy Dunning, Ruthanne Lodato and Ron Kirby.
Severance moved into Linda Robra's townhome about three years ago after the couple started dating. Robra told prosecutors she owned two .38-caliber weapons at the time and purchased two .22s at Severance's urging.
Severance moved out March 10, shortly after he learned an Alexandria police detective wanted to talk to him, Robra said. When the house was searched two days later, the .22s were missing.
Defense lawyers have said the weapons charge is a sham to hold Severance while Alexandria police continue to investigate the unsolved shootings there. Alexandria police have tried to question Severance but have declined to identify him as a suspect.
