VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A man charged in connection with what was initially considered a suspicious death at a Virginia Beach apartment complex in May 2021 has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The verdict came down during a plea hearing in Virginia Beach Circuit Court on April 20, 2022.
According to the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers found a man dead in a home at the Belmont at Providence Apartments on May 20, 2021.
As information was being gathered about the suspicious death, officers identified a suspect in this case, who was also identified as being responsible for a hit-and-run crash and attempted malicious assault at 26th Street and Arctic Avenue.
Within four hours of the homicide investigation being opened, 22-year-old Ricardo Raul Perez was taken into custody on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront's boardwalk.
Perez was charged with murder, hit-and-run and attempted malicious assault.
A spokesperson for the city's Commonwealth's Attorney's office said the next step is review hearing on June 20, 2022, to determine which state facility Perez will be placed in.
Perez remains in custody at the Virginia Beach City Jail as he awaits the June review hearing.
