BREAKING!! : URGENT!! : Two Arrested In Opal Page Murder Case – 5.11.09 6:28 PM EDT
© 2009 Nelson County life Magazine. Photo by Tommy Stafford. 20 year-old Austin Griffin is led to a bond hearing by Sheriff David Brooks.(right) Inv. Becky Adcock, Capt. Ron Roberson, and Inv. Paul McCormick accompany Griffin.
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
©2009 NCL Magazine
EXCLUSIVE
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks just confirmed to Nelson County Life Magazine that two males have been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of 73 year-old Opal Page last week here in Nelson County, Virginia. Just moments ago Sheriff Brooks told NCL that 18 year-old Christopher Meeks of Shipman and 20 year-old Austin Griffin of Crawford’s View have been charged with 1st Degree Murder of Mrs. Page.
© 2009 Nelson County Life. Austin Griffin (left, from previous arrest photo) and Christopher Meeks are charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Opal Page.
The sheriff had interviewed the two earlier and rumors swirled that they had been arrested. Late in the day Monday, Meeks was picked up on Misty Hollow Road in Amherst County; Griffin was picked up in the Paul’s Creek area near home in Nelson County.
©2009 NCL Magazine : Opal Page from a Rockfish River Elementary School yearbook picture.
A witness interviewed within a day or so of the murder reported seeing two suspicious males near the driveway of Mrs. Page’s home just north of Greenfield the day of the murder.
©2009 NCL Magazine : Opal Page's green '98 Malibu was found by Waynesboro Police late Thursday afternoon in their city.
It’s believed the pair stole Mrs. Page’s 1998 Chevy Malibu after the murder and then abandoned it in nearby Waynesboro, Virginia. Police recovered the car, seen above, the next day.
In addition to the 1st degree murder charge, Meeks and Griffin have been charged with petty larceny, grand larceny, and burglary.
More information will be forthcoming, and we’ll have it up as soon as it’s available.
Click here for previous coverage of the Page murder case.
Related posts:
- Nelson Sheriff Releases Possible Suspect Info In Opal Page Murder : 5.8.09 : 12:20 PM EDT
- Investigation Continues This Week Into Murder Of Afton’s Opal Page : 5.11.09 : Update 12 Noon EDT
- Opal Page remembered; Search for killer continues : BREAKING UPDATE! 5:20 PM EDT
- Lawmen Locate Opal Page’s Car In Waynesboro Late Thursday : 5.8.09
- Manhunt Underway For Opal Page’s Killer : 5.7.09 – Updated 10:30 AM EDT – Audio Added
Category: News
Thank God they cought those guys … Hopefully they will never see daylight again
Everyone I have talked with agreed that when found it would be someone from the county that knew Mrs. Page, and what’s even scarier is she probebly taught these boys in school and my stepson used to hang around with these 2 boys in high school….now that’s scary !
thank god that they got them. just thank god they knew what they were doing was wrong it is just so sad
SHOCKING !!!
I know these guys i went to school with them and I know that they have been in alot of trouble before, But i never would have thought that they would have went to the extreme like this, i was prayin when everyone was telling me, that it was them, that it WAS just a rumor!!!! VERY SCARY!!! both guys come from very nice familys … i just dont understand … I have to agree with Terri(above) i hope they NEVER see daylight again!!
Just give me 15 minutes in a room with these two low lifes. I have known these two for some time and they are worthless. They have both been in trouble numerous times. They have cost this county enough. Get them off this planet!!!!
Excuse my French, but there is a special place in hell for these two men & they deserve absolutely everything they are being charged with and more. Thank God they will never see society outside of bars again.
Thank God Virginia still has the death penalty for losers like these two.
Thank god these two were caught, it’s hard too tell what else they would have done. This is a peaceful community where everybody knows everybody, this was very shocking. My prayers go out to the family.
if these two boys came from nice families and they have been in trouble before, why haven’t these so called nice families gotten help for them!!! there are so many parents today who are so busy with other things that they forget to be parents or they don’t have rules for these kids. don’t tell me a good ass whipping isn’t called for once in a while! DR. SPOCK told us this would teach children to be violent and hurt their self esteen. BULL!!! JUST THE OPPOSITE!! DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE? DO YOU KNOW THEIR FRIENDS?
I think what happened is a tragic and terrible thing, but remember they are innocent until proven guilty and it is not our job to judge them. They are entitled to a fair trial in this country and there will be another judgement day as well.
Unfortunately this news will not bring Opal back. However, I hope H.T. and Glenn can find peace knowing their mothers murderers have been caught and everyone can sleep alittle better tonight knowing they were caught. Thank you Nelson Sheriff’s Office for doing a great job.
When I first heard that Austin was a suspect, I couldn’t believe it. This boy was my younger cousins close friend, and was at my home many times, as well as the homes of many of my family members. I knew he had been in trouble before, but never imagined he would ever do something so vicious! I just pray that God has mercy on their souls! But here on Earth, I pray that they receive the max.
I just knew that it was some disgusting out of town or out of our area low life that hurt an angel like Mrs. Page…it could never be a person that knew her because no one would ever hurt her. Imagine my surprise after reading that it was 2 local boys that she probably had in her class at one time or another. I can’t believe it! Well, they are both “adults” and I hope they receive the death penalty for what they did. I know it won’t bring her back but why should they live and see the sun shine when she can’t. Afton lost a wonderful angel that terrible day.
Nice families? Are we talking about the same people? Lot’s of drugs!!! Real nice people!!! Previous criminal records. Exactly what do you call nice?
FYI, the above comment made by Allen was not made by me. Since I’ve known both suspects for years also, I didn’t want to be confused with the above “Allen”.
From day 1 i had a feeling it was these two…not sure why but my intuition was telling me and i’ve told everyone i bet it was them. It’s scary to know how right i was. I know them both very well and one of them is my cousin and i’m ashamed. Had i known 100% that it really was them and not just intuition i would have tracked them down myself and left them bashed up and bloodied on the doorsteps of the courts. I hope they get what they deserve and more. Mrs. Page was one of the nicest people i’ve ever met. It’s alright…prisoners will have their new fish and it’ll be like running backwards through a cornfield for these two, if they’re not beaten to death.
HUG YOUR CHILDREN EVEN THE OLDER ONES. MAKE TIME TO REALLY LISTEN TO THEM. THEY HAVE WORRIES JUST LIKE MOM AND DAD. SET A GOOD EXAMPLE. PREPARE THEM TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT ISN’T ALWAYS PRETTY. BE A PARENT FIRST, A FRIEND SECOND. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TELL THEM “NO”. I am so angry that a good person is gone because two boys evidently have no conscience.
I DATED A MURDERER ((austin))! OMFG! I mean i knew he was a little crazy but damn, i didnt know hed go to such an extreme and chris, wow didnt expect that at all. I was just hanging out with these two like a couple weeks ago. WOW, you think you know people.
“Backwards through a cornfield”? The only thing worse than the fact that I’m reading these posts is the fact that someone is writing them.
Nelson County Life: Thank you for your concern for our county!! We appreciate your news reports of items that are important to our residents. Many of our community were concerned about this latest crime. We all need to be aware of the latest information that my affect our safety!!! You are a truly needed resource for our community. Keep up the good work!!!!
Dr. Patrick King
yeah…think about it for a while…you’ll get it.
I have to agree with what “Margie” has wrote above. I would also like to add that there are 3 grieving families in this unfortunate situation. The families of the two boys have to still live in this community and can’t be blamed for what these boys or should I say young men did. These two are “adults”…and while I understand they have been in trouble before, and who knows, maybe the family did get some help for them, but the actions they have taken as “adults” should NOT be a reflection on their families. Like I said, they still have to live in this community! No one enjoys feeling like an outcast…think about it. The same goes for the grieving family of Mrs. Page…we need to embrace them all. I am truely sorry for your loss…
Frknface, These two have been in trouble lot’s of times before. Austin has been convicted of stealing a car before. You act so surprised! Did you think it would be someone who has never been in trouble before? Or someone who didn’t use drugs? Maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee and pick better people to hang around with! This is no surprise to me!
Nobody is really seeing how screwed up kids can be… it’s really a shame that a community has to go through something like this in order to realize that teenager’s mentalities can be just as dangerous as an adult’s.
These two boys were my brothers and sisters and my best friends at one point in our lives. They DO come from nice families despite the drugs and what not. Their families are some of the nicest people I know, THEY were some of the nicest people I knew. Something went wrong that night but that doesn’t mean they were always like that, they were both under the influence, that wasnt them. You can judge all you want and it was a terrible, terrible thing to have happened but you will never know the Austin and Chris that I knew.
K You are obviously a complete idiot to think these two were so nice!!! Maybe you should go spend the night with them.
Both of these weak punks should be held completely and totally responsible for what they did. Not their families, friends or whoever else. I am 19 years old, I’m from Nelson County, and I’m sick and fucking tired of kids who can’t grow the hell up and mange their lives making a bad name for an entire age bracket. Hopefully someone in jail will give them both the beatdowns they deserve.
they are freaks. i hope they get the worse punnishment out there.
You’re and idiot for being so ignorant about the fact that despite what these two did they still have nice families and that at one point in their lives they were nice people. I’m not at all defending what they did, if I could I’d go beat both their asses but I think the ignorance about their families and thier previous years is wrong.
K You need to get better friends!!! Friends that dont do drugs, dont kill inocent ladies, and steal cars.
I do believe this comment section is for peolpe to voice their opinions. I don’t believe it’s for people to voice their opinion/concerns and then be SLAMMED for them…”Allen”, maybe you should think about being alittle more polite and further more realize that it’s not your job/place to ridicule others for how they feel. Afterall, you wouldn’t want someone to call you an IDIOT..
I also had a strange feeling about these 2 boys! Thank God they found them. The sheriff department worked hard and fast. I am reaaly proud of them! I also hope these 2 get the max and more. I dont want them in the county walking around again. This is just so unbelieveable they could hurt Mrs. Page. She was an ANGEL and everyone loved her. Heaven got another Angel and we lost a very special person. She will be missed so very much by alot of people. My prayers go out to the family, God bless you all.
My heart is breaking knowing that I actually know one of these boys. It also sickens me that people always want to make excuses for kids and it is always someone elses fault (like the parents). These boys are old enough to make their own way. F.Y.I –some pretty rotten kids have come from some pretty good parents. We can try our best but soemtimes the influences from piers and other things can over ride all of the morals we have instilled our children. Don’t point fingers and talk about families, you are only adding more hurt to everyone involved.
K . You and them should have been swallowed.
those kids were definitely people who had a future at one time. i know austin could have gotten a track scholarship. after they dropped out of school though they started on a downward spiral…. i dont think anyone saw this coming. they fucked it all up though and they certainly deserve the shit comin to them in jail
Man this is crazy. And i just saw austin the thursday after the murder and he didnt even show a sign. Im glad they got them both.
Allen your comments are disrespectful to everyone reading this message board, please try to be a civilized human being. thanks.
Parents can only do so much for their children. Chris and Austin were both adults, but obviously not mature. And yeah, the families may have been nice, but both thest guys were SUPER SKETCHY. I went to school with both of them. The most important thing is that prayers for all 3 families involved- for they’re all in need.
As a small community, this murder has stirred many emotions from people who know the boys/men and Mrs. Page. Let’s be tolerant of each others opinions while we vent.
Also, just remember that these two have been charged with 1st degree murder- not found guilty. After a trial with evidence, facts and important things like that- then we can worry about how they should be punished. And if they are found guilty- they deserve the toughest sentence possible.
Sorry everyone! I am just so disgusted by the whole thing! These two were not nice guys. They did not come from good back grounds. They were both previous criminals. They were both drug users. And now they are murderers. Certainly, two guys could have taken the car without killing this nice lady. These guys were no good. Anybody that thinks that these two were good guys, really needs to evaluate the meaning of good. My comments earlier were very rude and I do apologize. It just really makes me mad.
This is what I have to say about it. What they did were wrong. no doubt. if u really got to know both of them, they were nice boys & good to be around. But u cant say go 2 hell and what not. bc all sins are EQUAL. so before you go judging someone else. look at your sins too. just cuz u dont kill people doesnt mean your not a sinner. So think about that!
Thank you Allen, for your apology…we all understand your pain/anger.
OH My Gosh! I too knew Austin and had problems with him….won’t mention my name or job but had talked to someone about him and was just told he needed understanding and another chance…Do not understand that, he stayed in trouble and was VERY SNEAKY! Poor Opal had to suffer and lose her life over nothing….someone should have seen or done something with him he was headed down hill and a lot of people seen it according to everything I am reading!!! Mrs. Page was a wonderful Aide to my children and also a big asset to Rockfish…I just talked to her a few weeks before and she was telling me how she was enjoying her retirement but loved helping out at Rockfish when needed….What a shame , What a loss!
I think everybody needs to stop being such f****** douches! YES, austin and chris did make a huge huge mistake!! HUGE and yes i cant belive it at all, i mean i know austin had his problems but i never expected for this to happen! BUT all you people that f****** think you can judge either one of their familys or friends you are wrong!! I cant speak for chris’s family but i can speak for austins and his family is VERY nice and yes austin f***** up, hes made mistakes in the past, may have done drugs and got caught up in some bad stuff but he (in heart) wanted to be a really good person. he had ambitions and wanted to do better with his life and now because of this he will not be able to do it. you can sit there and call him or both of them heartless and yes what they did was pretty heartless but im sure the intent wasnt to go and actually kill and 73 or however old woman. Chris from the few times i met him he seemed like a nice guy too, and i know his girlfreind really well and i think that its just wrong for you guys to sit back and judge and say f*** their family and yadda yadda yada. the boys did wrong, that dosnt mean their whole family and freinds are f****** druggys and murderers.
THANKS & HAVE A NICE NIGHT.
Edited for F-bombs.
I grew up in ‘the’ county. I went thru the judgement and looks and everything else that comes with growing up in a small community and having the ‘family’ that so many of you have spoken of. I do not do drugs. I am closer to one of them than you will know. If the facts are as stated so far, they do deserve the punishments. It would be nice if for once, the ‘county’ wouldn’t judge but would actually be fair and compassionate. Every person makes their own choices and their parents are only responsible for so much. I wish everyone a deep breath and that this whole situation had not occured, but it has.
I went to school to school with both of these boys and i know that they were very close.Both of these boys have became familiar with nelson county police in the past years. They may have been drug users and commited other crimes but they did come from nice families..someof the niciest people you could meet.I never would have thought that they would do somethings like this.but, in the end i hope they both get what they deserve.Pray for all three families!
It really is terrible to hear that two of the people I went to highschool with & had fun personality’s whom you could have assumed to be halfway decent, considering they still even attended school could go so far as to take ones life. I wouldn’t fully say it was unexpected of these two, More or less Chris then Austin(who has been on a continuous downfall for years now). Despite there actions or there parents actions, they will not bring back mrs.page and nor did anyone have anything to do with this besides them being sick minded individuals who should rot in jail for the rest of there lives. Growing up & learning & living on your own involves deciding and doing for yourself. They obviously couldn’t have the morals or knowledge to think things through wisely and realize the conciquences of there actions. Glad to know Nelson County is a little safer. I’m just shocked upon the fast it was two of my fellow classmates & my cousin just so happened to date one of the jackasses.
Cheers to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, detectives, state police and whoever else was involved in the investigation for their hard work (assuming, of course, that they got the right folks). I’m sure the victim’s family, neighbors and the county at large are grateful for your effort. I know I am. May justice ensue.