wsls 10's colter anstaett was in the courtroom as christy beskin made her plea. "the victim's family has been waiting for nearly a year for the sense of closure that danville circuit court, as the suspect, christy beskin, pleaded guilty to two charges related to the incident." christy michelle beskin was scheduled to go to trial next week...accused of beating donna gail hiatt- lanier to death in march of last year inside lanier's home. but instead, she was in court today pleading guilty. she plead guilty to second degree murder and arson. debborah caldwell- bono/beskin's attorney - "well, you look at the evidence and then the client decides what the best course of action is based on what you have to deal with." in outlining the evidence the state would've used against beskin in trial, the prosecutor said beskin and lanier had been drinking and doing drugs for hours leading up to the incident. she said the drugs and alcohol led to an argument...and that led to beskin beating lanier with multiple objects, ultimately killing lanier and then setting lanier's home on

in court today, christy beskin pleaded guilty to killing donna hiatt- lanier and setting her house on fire. wdbj7's danielle staub was in court and got reaction from the victim's family. deborah caldwell-bono, beskin attorney "she didn't go there with the intention to kill donna, they were best friends. a long time. " a guilty plea in a danville murder case is what christy beskin's attorney is calling a proper resolution for both families. caldwell-bono "she's being held responsible for what she's resposible for. tragedy all the way around. you have two families that have lost what they should not have lost at this early stage." beskin faces 50 years in prison and one hundred thousand dollars in fines for killing donna hiatt-lanier and setting her house on fire wayne aaron, donna's counsin, "today was of course very emotional for the entire family." hiatt-lanier's family called the guilty plea a touch of closure as happened that fateful day. aaron "donna reached forward one more time and she hit her one more time. just little things like this, very devastating for the family to hear."

now that the christy beskin plead guilty in danville circuit court this morning to charges of second-degree murder and arson. prosecutors say ... she and her friend donna hiatt- lanier were drinking and doing drugs at donna's home at on march 15-th of last year when they got into an argument. beskin later admitted to beating lanier to death and then setting her house on fire. lanier's family members told us .. it was an emotional day in court. wayne aaron/victim's cousin: "just a touch of closure. i think today was very emotional for the entire family; just hearing little things that maybe we hadn't heard before." beskin is scheduled to be sentenced on march 9-th. she could face up to 50 years in prison. meanwhile .. roanoke county police are investigating a string of purse snatchings. officers say .. over the past two days -- there have been incidents at the goodwill on brambleton avenue .. the wal-mart on clearbrook village lane .. and the kroger on williamson road. police arrested "sandra coleman" investigators are still searching for another woman. police say the suspects are taking pur

today second-degree murder and arson in the death of 50-year-old diane hyatt lanier. 40-year-old christie beskin was supposed to go on trial last week but pled guilty today. she admitted to killing lanier and setting her house on fire after getting into a fight last month. lanier died from sharp injuries to her head. she admitted in court that the killing was not in self-defense. she will be sentenced in march. >>> security was extra tight at danville community college today after an armed robbery near campus. danville police are investigating the robbery on kemper road. they say someone robbed a dcc student around 12:35 this afternoon. he is described as a white male, lightly bearded wear blue jeans, a white hoodie, brown boots and loves. no one -- and gloves. no one was injured. >>> north carolina environmental regulators have slapped duke energy with a hefty fine for the the dan river. the department of environmental quality has ordered the company to pay a $6.6 million fine. duke energy pleaded guilty to federal pollution crimes nine months ago. in a statement, duke energy said it is reviewi

christy beskin plead guilty to charges of second-degree murder and arson today. prosecutors say she and her friend donna hiatt- lanier were drinking and doing drugs at donna's home on march 15-th of last year.. when they got into an argument. beskin later admitted to beating lanier to death and then setting her house on fire. lanier's family members say.. it was an emotional day in court. wayne aaron/victim's cousin: "just a touch of closure. i think today was very emotional for the entire family; just hearing little things that maybe we hadn't heard before." beskin is scheduled to be she could face up to 50 years in prison. a former p-g-a professional and his girlfriend are under investigation for allegedly embezzling money from the bedford country club. according to search warrants, michael thompson was responsible for managing day-to- day operations while michelle clark worked as a club attendant. the bedford country club is working with state police over the missing money. court documents show.. there were several inconsistencies -- like membership dues not a

county woman scheduled it go on trial for murder and arson changed her flee guilty. 40-year-old christie beskin was supposed to go to trial next week, but she convince and convict of second-degree murder and arson in the death of a woman. tola adamson was at court today report danner, the assistant details surrounding the event. triggered by drugs, alcohol and money. >> a touch of closure. very emotional for the entire family. >> reporter: almost a year after donna hyatt lanier's death, her family is still grieving after hearing the sordid details of how beskin set her house on firehow beskin set her house on fire. >> drugs in your system is the kind of stuff that you lead to. >> reporter: doing crack cocaine and drinking alcohol. beskin said lanier wanted money and she refused to give to her and she hit her with a wine bottle. beskin fought her back and ended up killing lanier. when they searched the house they found three broken wooden table legs and a sword all of them bloody. >> hearing little things that we haven't heard before. one part of it was that donna reached for it one more time an

how long christy beskin might have to spend in prison. a shortage of lethal injection leads to new death penalty laws in virginia. when the commonwealth's next execution is planned. good morning, it's just after 5 o'clock on wednesday, february 10. i'm kimberly mcbroom i'm garrett turner. and i'm leo hirsbrunner. a prolong period of very cold weather is moving into the region. highs won't get above freezing. white will continue tomorrow, but without a jury. yesterday the judge accepted a compromise from the commonwealth's attorney and white's lawyers to hold a bench trial instead of a jury trial. white is charged with child abuse and neglect. her son noah thomas was found dead in a septic tank near the family's pulaski county home. kelsey bulger, her attorney, said it was impossible to seat a jury in pulaski county because so many people know social media. jury trial. this comes after the court interviewed 66 potential jurors in two days and and filled about 60 percent of jurors were they said they had an opinion or had heard about the ca

christy beskin plead guilty to charges of second-degree murder and arson on tuesday. prosecutors say she and her were drinking and doing drugs at donna's home in march of last year when they got into an argument. beskin later admitted to beating lanier to death and then setting her house on fire. lanier's family said it was an emotional day for them as they learned some things in court. wayne aaron/victim's cousin: "just a touch of closure. i think today was very emotional for the entire family; just hearing little things that maybe we hadn't heard before." beskin is scheduled to be sentenced on march ninth. she could face up to 50 years in prison.### the american red cross is helping a bassett family... after their home was destroyed by a fire. it happened yesterday morning on trenthill drive. six people were inside at the time... but all got out safely. several cats and dogs were also inside... one dog died in the fire but the other pets are okay. the fire chief says flamable items too close to the wood stove in the home caught fire. phonerjunio r lynch/bassett fire

christy beskin pleaded guilty to second degree murder and arson in the death of donna hiatt-lanier. she admitted to killing lanier.. and then setting her house on fire after they got in a fight last march. an autopsy revealed lanier died from sharp injuries to her head. beskin admitted in court the killing was not in self- defense. she will be sentenced next month. 3 3 pattie tight all billy craft car dealerships will be closed saturday. through a spokesman.. the craft family tells us they will spend the day celebrating the life of carter craft - who died in a motorcycle accident this past weekend. craft's funeral -- at thomas road baptist church. a celebration of life will happen at billy craft chrysler this thursday. that will run from 6 to 9 p.m. and it's open to the public. 3 3 make sure everyone is temperatures are starting out in the lower 20s this morning. wednesday will be partly cloudy and dry for most with only mountain snow showers possible. it'll be cold as we'll only make it into the mid 30s this afternoon with gusty west winds. lows fall into the teens tonight with con

beskin plead guilty. he has reaction from both sides tonight. christy michelle beskin showed little emotion as she sat next to her attorney in court today, pleading guilty to charges of second degree murder and arson. the case was originally scheduled to go to trial next week. "well, you look at the evidence and then the client decides what's the best course with what you have to deal with. beskin's attorney says beskin is remorseful about what happened. deborah caldwell-bono, beskin's attorney "oh, absolutely. she basically ended up with one of her best friends dead as a result of what happened that night." a cousin of lanier's spoke on behalf of the family after court was adjourned. wayne aaron, victim's cousin "today was very emotional for the entire family. just hearing little things that maybe we prior to the plea, the prosecutor laid out the evidence that would've been used against beskin if the case had gone to trial. she said beskin and lanier were drinking alcohol and doing crack cocaine for nearly twelve hours before the two got into an argume

christy michelle beskin is charged in connection to a deadly house fire that happened last march which killed donna hiatt-lanier. according to search warrants, she hurt the victim and set her home on fire. the fire marshall says that a sword and baseball bat were found in the rubble and there was a strong smell of kerosene. search warrants also show beskin's d-n-a inside the home.### new this morning... a dog is alive and recovering... after being stabbed in danville. the danville area humane society is offering a reward up to one thousand dollars for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. police officers found the female pitbull on the street over the weekend... and took it to the vet. cruelty to animals is punishable by a fine... or up to a year in jail. no word on if the dog has an owner. she will be up for adoption friday. # the man wanted at the center of an amber alert over the weekend turns himself in to police. the fluvanna county sheriff's office says 25- year-old james moses took his three-year-old daughter haven moses from a caretakers home

christy michelle beskin pleaded guilty in danville circuit court to arson and murder of donna hiatt-lanier in march 20-15. beskin's attorney says the two were friends for a long time. she says beskin did not go to hiatt- lanier's house with intentions to kill. in court today, beskin admits her actions in the home were not self defense. attorney's continued to explain how beskin brought a juvenile with her to buy lighter fluid and burn down the home with hiatt-lanier's body inside. deborah caldwell-bono, beskin attorney "10, 12 hours of drinking and drugging and putting those things in your system when you don't even know what it is this is the kind of stuff it can lead to. so, many some people out there can take part and stop what they are doing now before they end up like hiatt-lanier's family tells wdbj7 they are happy this will not go to trial and that beskin admitted to what she did. beskin's attorney says she pleaded guilty because of the evidence against her. she faces 50 years in prison and a one hundred thousand dollar fine. sentencing is set for march. we're learning more about th

christy beskin pleaded guilty to second degree murder and arson in the death of donna hiatt-lanier. lanier.. and then setting her house on fire after they got in a fight last march. an autopsy revealed lanier died from sharp injuries to her head. beskin admitted in court the killing was not in self-defense. 3 3 pattie tight a heavily congested area in forest may be getting easier to navigate! bedford county wants to make improvements to route 8-11.. the major corridor connecting routes 221 and 460. the project manager says they're hoping to improve intersections, add turning lanes, and possibly even a roundabout or two to keep traffic moving. details will be unveiled at a public meeting february 25th at the forest recreation center. 3 you'll need the big coat and gloves for the rest of the week and weekend as we head into the coldest stretch so far this winter. make sure everyone is bundled up as temperatures are starting out in the lower 20s this morning. wednesday will be partly cloudy and dry for most with only mountain snow showers possible. it'll be cold as mid 30s this afterno

christy michelle beskin pleaded guilty yesterday in danville circuit court to arson and murder of donna hiatt-lanier in march 20-15. beskin's attorney says the two were friends for a long time. she says beskin did not go to hiatt- lanier's house with intentions to kill. in court yesterday, beskin admits her actions in the home were not self- defense. to explain how beskin brought a juvenile with her to buy lighter fluid and burn down the home with hiatt-lanier's body inside. deborah caldwell- bono/beskin's attorney: "10, 12 hours of drinking and drugging and putting those things in your system when you don't even know what it is this is the kind of stuff it can lead to. so, many some people out there can take part and stop what they are doing now before they end up like this." hiatt-lanier's family tells wdbj7 they are happy this will not go to trial and that beskin admitted to what she did. beskin's attorney says she pleaded guilty because of the evidence against her. she faces 50 years in prison and a one hundred thousand dollar fine. march. leaders in roanoke county discussed ways to

christy michelle beskin is charged in connection to a deadly house fire that happened last march which killed donna hiatt-lanier. according to search warrants, she on fire. the fire marshall says that a sword rubble and there was a strong smell of kerosene. search warrants also show home.### let's check in with storm team montuori. >>> this morning on "today's take," zoolander 2, the biggest name in fashion is back and we've got one of the stars. >>> nightmare at sea. cruise passengers speaking out after sailing into a storm. >>> and treats for the sweet. delicious desserts for valentine's day. all that and more coming up right now. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today's take," with al roker, natalie morales, willie geist and tamron hall, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> welcome to "today" on a tuesday morning. >> the fact is, they should have never done it. the forecast -- >> look at the flying furniture. the damage you see on board. and we have some passengers describing how it all went down. >> i'm sure there's going to be some sort of investigation. >> 30 foot w