Body of missing Virginia woman, Avriel Hooks, 20, found – as police make an arrest
The body of a missing Virginia woman has been found after she disappeared and her mother received a strange text that “didn’t look like her,” leading police to arrest her husband for murder.
Avriel Hooks, 20, was last seen at her home in Lynchburg around 8 p.m. on August 22, sparking a desperate search for her by multiple military forces. The deceased body of a child’s mother was found seven days later in a wooded area off a main road.
Michael L. Perry III, her 21-year-old husband, has now been arrested for second-degree murder and wrongful disposal of a corpse.
He is being held without bail at the Blue Ridge County Penitentiary.
Avriel’s mom Ashely Pittman previously told investigators she received a text from her around 6 a.m. after she was last seen — but Pittman didn’t think her daughter sent it.
Avriel Hooks, 20, was last seen at her home in Lynchburg around 8 p.m. on August 22, sparking a desperate search for her by multiple military forces. The deceased body of a child’s mother was found seven days later in a wooded area off a main road
Michael L. Perry III, the 21-year-old husband of Avriel Hooks, has now been arrested for second-degree murder and wrongful disposal of a corpse
The text said she wanted some “me time” and that she was at a friend’s house. It sounded alarm bells to the family, who said this was not Hooks’ way of writing or speaking.
Hooks also had a five-month-old son and, according to her parents, would never leave him alone.
Her mother went to her home on August 23 to check on her and found the door unlocked and the lights on. The 20-year-old was nowhere to be seen.
Avriel’s sister Lydia Page told WSET that the 20-year-old loved being a mother: “She would never lose sight of that baby.
“She held that baby, she held that baby all the time. He had the things he needed, that was all that mattered to her. She could care less about herself.’
The woman’s body was found Tuesday, a week after her disappearance, in a wooded area off US 60 Lexington Turnpike in Amherst, police said.
The Lynchburg Police Department, the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations worked together to find Hooks.
Police said in an update Tuesday night: “Your Lynchburg Police Department (LPD) has arrested Michael L. Perry III, 21, of Lynchburg, after he was apprehended earlier today in connection with the murder of Avriel Hooks.
The mother had a five-month-old son. Her body was found Tuesday
Hooks also had a five-month-old son and, according to her parents, would never leave him alone
An image handed out by police when the woman was reported missing
The Lynchburg Police Department, the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations worked together to find Hooks.
Search groups were set up to help find the mother of one child
“LPD detectives have worked tirelessly over the past week, using all available investigative resources and working with the van Hooks family, our community, local, state and federal partners in the hopes of safely locating Hooks.
“Following the extensive search earlier today in Amherst County in conjunction with the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), a body was found in a wooded area off US 60 (Lexington Turnpike), Amherst, VA.
Michael L. Perry III was transferred to the Blue Ridge Regional Penitentiary where he is being held without bail on the following charges:
“Second degree murder and wrongful disposal of a corpse.
Our thoughts are with Avriel Hooks’ family at this difficult time.
“Your Lynchburg Police Department would like to thank the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations for their assistance in this matter.”