Louisa man accused of killing cousin

Almost two weeks after a Louisa man died of injuries suffered in an apparent fight, detectives arrested the victim’s cousin and charged him with second-degree murder.

Jerome Mallory, of 47 Copperline Road in Bumpass, was arrested Friday and remains in the Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond, said Maj. Donald A. Lowe of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

“They were cousins, and they worked part-time jobs together,” the major said Wednesday of 41-year-old Mallory and Charles Eugene Houchens, 69. As far as he knows, the men had no past problems.

But sometime late Aug. 2 or early the next morning, there was a confrontation, according Lowe.

At about 1:30 a.m. Aug. 3, deputies responded to Mallory’s home for a reported assault. When they arrived, they found an unconscious Houchens on the ground next to his green Mercury, Lowe said. Houchens, of Montpelier, was flown by Pegasus to the University of Virginia Medical Center.

At the scene, Mallory told deputies that “during an argument, Houchens pulled a shotgun on him,” Lowe said.

Mallory said that he took the shotgun from Houchens and then “punched and kicked [him] about the head and face, claiming self-defense,” according to Lowe.

But “detectives were suspicious from the beginning, as statements provided to them did not match the crime scene,” Lowe said.

Detectives eventually learned that Mallory’s girlfriend, whom they declined to identify, was present during the altercation. They also think Mallory left out some details of the incident.

They believe that Mallory took the shotgun from Houchens and punched him in the head until he fell. Lowe said they think Mallory then “kicked Houchens in the head several times, removed an undisclosed amount of money from Houchens and then took the victim’s vehicle, leaving the victim lying on the ground, and drove his girlfriend to another location.”

Detectives also believe that Mallory returned to the scene and waited about four hours before calling the Sheriff’s Office.

Houchens died at UVa hospital Aug. 9.

Detectives haven’t determined the exact nature of the argument, Lowe said.

“It could be a couple of different things,” he said. “We’re still sifting through a lot and talking to people and waiting for forensics.”

Houchens’ car is being examined for evidence, Lowe said. He wouldn’t say whether detectives have recovered a shotgun.

Lowe said there could be more charges and arrests in the case.

Mallory has a criminal record, as did Houchens.

Mallory was convicted of breaking and entering and larceny in the 1990s, but his sentences were suspended, according to Louisa Circuit Court records. He eventually served time in prison for probation violations.

He also faced probation violation charges in June, court records show.

Houchens was convicted of possessing cocaine in 1994, according to Goochland Circuit Court records.

Mallory is scheduled to appear in Louisa General District Court on Nov. 25.

If convicted of second-degree murder, he would face up to 40 years in prison.