perhaps dunning's family is the most relieved because in 2003 her husband the sheriff of alexandria, jim dunning, was a suspect in the case. he died a few years ago under a cloud of suspicion. tonight nancy dunning's murder has finally been solved and jim dunning is vindicated with a conviction of charles severance. >> the reign of the assassin is over. at long last the defendant is held accountable and exposed for what he is a clever cowardly murderer. >>> commonwealth's attorney porter stood with the family members of all three victims. they spoke after the jerseys handed down guilty verdicts and three life sentences. >> now that the defendant is guilty, we can start to mourn. we all know the guilty verdict brings us a sense of relief and some justice for all families. however it will never compensate the loss or bring back our loved ones. >> i feel very good but not today. thank you. >> what do you feel good about? >> i feel good about our judicial system. >> reporter: the jury of eight men and four women found 55 year old charles severance guilty of all ten counts including the two more rece

she was supposed to be getting together with him and his dad, sheriff jim dunning. realized something was wrong, went back home and saw her shot to death inside the front door and played for the jury that day with chris dunning's 911 call, in which you hear him and his father who took the phone after him describing what they saw before him. their mother bleeding on the floor. it was absolutely a moment in the courtroom where, you know there were certainly tears in the eyes of many family members. even hugs within that courtroom. we expect to see that kind of emotion on display again today. >> julie carey on the phone with us. has covered certainly this trial throughout the time it's been going on and each of these murders over the last decade now that we've been dealing with in the city of alexandria. barbara, back to you. >> thanks, aaron. >>> david culver has been following this trial throughout. let's go to him now. he's just outside the courtroom. >> reporter: that's right. just stepped out of the courtroom as we are taking a 15-minute recess. the court is, becau

perhaps dunning's family is the most relieved because in 2003 her husband the sheriff of alexandria, jim dunninga suspect in the case.

she was a real estate agent married to then alexandria sheriff jim dunning. ron kirby wasilled more than ten years latr,ove 11, 2013. he ws the irector of the transportation branch of the counsel of government. music teacher ruthanne lodato was the third and final victim. murdered february 6, 014. alsho in their homes. jonath: st wi abc7 for live udates on the severance verdict. you can follow along online at wjla.com. we are expecting to hear from th prosecutor this afternoon, if he should step to the podium we will take yu the live for that. alison: all right. wel we re following breaking news right now. this is ut of montgomery village mayland. a lve pictur o the olic activity there. three detectives are investigating a dad body that is just about al we know do hve acrew on the way. wewill bring you more information as soon as we get it. but first, update on friday's w. one of the students injured in the incident has now been released from the hospital. six people were hurt in the flash fire. officials at the medstar hoital said today only one student rema

severance his defense attorney was allowed to tell the jurors that nancy dunning's husband, sheriff jim dunning had been considered a person of interest during the investigation and that some had considered him a suspect. alexandria's police chief hopes today's verdict puts that suspicion to rest once and for all. >> i hope and pray that his family will be able to do that for him. we can't go back. his own health issues, obviously he lost his life before we could get here. mr. dunning was a sheriff and he was a law enforcement officer, within our community, i would have liked to have seen to be exonerated in anyone's mind that he had anything to do with this homicide. we will never be able to do that for him, but hopefully we can do that for his surviving family. >> reporter: neighbors of all three victims feel safer now and are happy to have this chapter in alexandria's history closed. >> very scary. yeah, i'm glad they cut him and definitely feels better about where we live. >> i don't know what closure is. it's nice to know that somebody was found culpable and it's sad. it will never bring r

you heard the daughter of jim and nancy dunning talking about what it means for their family becausetheir father lived under a cloud of suspicion. coming up at 6:00, you'll hear from the chief of police from a law enforcement perspective about that very matter about how sheriff dunning died before he learned who killedis wife. in alexandria, mark segraves, news 4. ♪ >>> i'm adam tuss in the district where metro has just announced that its top pick to be the next general manager has withdrawn his name and will not be the general manager picked. of course, news 4's been telling you that neal cohen, an aerospace executive was the leading caidate to be the general manager of the transit agency, but talks about his contract and the negotiations have broken down over the past on of days and neal cohen will no longer be the general manager of metro as most people expected. sources say that he became unease we some of the criticism and the attention after news broke about his possible gm pick. we'll stay on topf the story for you and we'll have much more as it develops throughout the night.