Isle of Wight County, Va. - A disturbing discovery along a windy stretch of road in the county still has investigators puzzled.
"It's kind of a mystery for us," said Lt. Tommy Potter from the Isle of Wight Sheriff's Office. "What happened to Torrey?"
Torrey Anderson was shot and then set on fire. Investigators discovered his body early in the morning of February 12, 2013 along Nike Park Road.
Investigators believe Anderson was shot and then he and his car were set on fire separately. The Medical Examiner had to use dental records and fingerprints to identify Anderson. "We don't know if he was killed here in Isle of Wight County or if unfortunately he was killed somewhere else and his body was just dumped here," said Lt. Potter.
To begin the investigation, crews recovered the VIN number to the car. That led them to Torrey's mom Tamira. She owned the car and got a call later that morning. "It was actually Lt. Potter who told me the car was burned and there was a body beside," Tamira said. "That was the worst day of my life."
Because the car and body were burned, there isn't much physical evidence in the case. Investigators examined Torrey's finances and phone records. Eventually, they identified a person of interest in the case. "All I can tell you is in the weeks before Torrey's death he was seen with this person," said Lt. Potter. "He was with Torrey the Saturday night before Torrey was killed."
Anderson was seen at an apartment along 43rd Street and Roanoke Avenue in Newport News during that period. "We think it had to do with when he met those people in Newport News - whoever they are," said Lt. Potter. "[They] got him distracted or put him in a position that ultimately led to his death."
The person of interest is no longer speaking with law enforcement. "There are lot of people that have come forward and given very vague statements," said Lt. Potter. T
In the meantime, his family keeps a candle burning next to his picture at his grandmother's house. "We burn this candle for justice for Torrey," said Sylvia Anderson, a grandmother. That candle is now burning more than three years after Anderson's death.
"If you know you're just as guilty as the person who did it," said Tamira. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
