Police: Man burned house, abducted wife

Authorities arrested a Greene County man this weekend on charges of burning down his house and abducting his wife.

Sam Junior Shifflett remains in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond. In Greene, he faces charges of arson, abduction, aggravated malicious wounding and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In Albemarle, where he was arrested, Shifflett faces charges of abduction and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Greene sheriff’s deputies initially responded to 989 Madison Road on Sunday for a reported structure fire, which turned out to be Shifflett’s home, said Maj. Randall Snead.

An investigation led them to believe that Shifflett set his house on fire. They also believe Shifflett beat his wife there and abducted her.

According to a search warrant filed in Albemarle Circuit Court, Shifflett’s wife told police that he had a gun and duct taped her hands. She also said that he “struck her in the head with a large flashlight.”

She suffered lacerations to her head, according to the search warrant.

Believing Shifflett was in the county, Albemarle police went to a home in northern Albemarle. He apparently had left, but returned and was arrested, according to the search warrant.