Evidence hearing continued to December in Hoyle murder case

David Glynn Hoyle, Jr. shortly after his arrival at RSW Jail following the March 27 shooting death of his stepfather Warren Howard Ramsey – Photos/RSW Jail

A hearing on motions to suppress additional evidence in the first-degree murder case of a 32-year-old Front Royal man accused of shooting his stepfather to death in the Grand Avenue family home on March 27 has been continued to December 20, at 1:30 p.m.

Defendant David Glynn Hoyle, Jr. was in court for the 9 a.m. docket of Warren County Circuit Court on Friday, October 20.  However, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anna Hammond informed Judge Ronald Napier that the prosecution and the Public Defenders Office defense team of Tim Coyne and Ryan Nuzzo had agreed to a delay to allow the court and attorneys time to review the evidence in question.  Hammond observed that she had just received copies of the evidence the previous day.

That evidence was described as transcripts of over three hours of video, including FRPD Investigator Landin Waller’s interview with the defendant in the aftermath of the shooting death of Warren Howard Ramsey.

Hoyle is accused of shooting his 58-year-old stepfather multiple times in the Grand Avenue home they shared with what police described as “other family members”.  Front Royal Police responded to a report of a shooting at 208 Grand Avenue at 10:49 p.m. Monday evening, March 27.  Hoyle was present when police arrived, and later confessed to the murder, according to the criminal complaint.  Ramsey was pronounced dead at the scene.  The Waller interview video likely contains the reported confession.

According to the criminal complaint, Hoyle walked into the living room where Ramsey was seated on the couch and began shooting without any words being exchanged between the two.  Much of the information in the criminal complaint was based on eyewitness observations by a family member who was not named in the report.  A revolver believed to be the murder weapon was recovered by police, though exactly where was not cited in the criminal complaint.

Looking east toward the 208 Grand Avenue site of fatal March 27 domestic shooting. Photo/Roger Bianchini

After passing an envelope to the court during the Friday hearing, Hammond described its contents as two CD’s, one containing Waller’s interview with Hoyle, the other assembled from four police responder body cameras at the scene and in the immediate aftermath of the murder.

Judge Napier observed that it would probably be best for him to review the video with the corresponding transcripts in hand in close proximity to the re-scheduled suppression hearing.  After the December date was set and with a two-month delay looming, Hoyle was called to testify that he was willing to waive his speedy trial rights.

“Yes, your honor,” the defendant replied to Napier’s question whether he had discussed the matter with his attorneys and felt the delay was in his best interest.

Mental state

During an April 4 hearing in Warren County General District Court, Hoyle attorney Tim Coyne requested a mental competency evaluation of his client.  At that time Coyne told Judge W. Dale Houff he was not sure his client could understand the court proceedings or could assist in preparing a defense.  Houff asked Coyne if he was going to file an insanity plea for his client.  Coyne replied that the defense would await the result of the state mental competency evaluation before making a decision in that regard.

No mention of the competency evaluation was made in court on October 20 and Coyne later declined comment on the status of the evaluation.

Hoyle missed his first two scheduled court appearances on March 28 and 29 and his RSW Jail mug shot shows him in a strap-on vest resembling a flak jacket.  When he appeared in court later on March 29 by remote video from the jail, he was still wearing the strap-on vest.  While HIPPA statutes now prevent comment on the medical status of inmates, such a protective vest and the two failures to transport could indicate Hoyle was initially on suicide watch at the jail.

Hoyle has been charged with First Degree Murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a murder attempt.  Conviction on the murder charge carries a 20 years to life in prison sentencing range; the firearms charge has a minimum-mandatory of three years in prison.  Hoyle remains incarcerated without bond at RSW Regional Jail.

Note the protective strap-on vest Hoyle sported for at least two days after being charged for the murder of his stepfather.