Son of Herbert Sheldon and Myrtle Irene [Housden] Alger; Husband of Reba Mae [Gray] Alger; Father of David Wayne, Lisa Renee and Herbert David Jr.
Familial Relation: 4th cousin 1xr
- Luana Dawn Alger, 4 Jan 2019
Herbert had been incarcerated, off and on, since Jun 1973. He again was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Jul 1977 for fires which burned three Page County barns and a cabin on 25 May 1975. At the time of the fires, he was on parole from another arson conviction. At the time of the Jul 1977 arson conviction, he was serving a two year sentence on a safe cracking conviction in Warren County, VA.
In Mar 1977 the first of at least five jailhouse snitches came forward with information on a 10 year old cold case, linking Herbert to boasting about crimes far more serious. As a result, Herbert was charged on 29 Jun 1977 for the abduction and murder of 9 year old Carolyn Jean Sunderland on 31 Oct 1967.
In the trials that followed testimony was heard against him that not only linked him to her kidnapping, but also quite convincingly implicated that Herbert had "accidentally" suffocated Carolyn to death with a pillow case used to silence her screams while he was in the course of sodomizing her. He then dumped her body near New Market, where she was found by a hunter in Smith Creek nearly 3 weeks after her disappearance.
It is important to note that Herbert did not act alone. It came out that Rex Corder was an accomplice, as it was Rex's car used to pick up Carolyn and he was presumed to be driving at the time. However, he was never charged with anything in relation to what had happened to Carolyn. Rex Corder, at least initially, testified "on behalf" of the defense. Perhaps he copped to a lesser plea in return for state's evidence against Herbert. It is difficult to tell how much culpability Rex had in the commission of this crime. At least two inmates testified that Herbert told them that Rex had participated in the kidnapping and sodomy of Carolyn, making him just as much of a deviant as Herbert was... providing this testimony was based on facts.
Herbert was found guilty of all charges against him. He received one life sentence on 26 Jan 1978 for "abduction with intent to defile" and a second life sentence on 4 Oct 1978 for second degree murder.
On 23 Jun 1980 Herbert was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate of the VA State Penn. The homemade knife (shank) was plunged into his chest, severing his aorta, and killing him almost instantly.
On 16 Oct 1980, 29 year old Walter Carl Spencer III was convicted and given a life sentence for Herbert's murder.
A second suspect in Herbert's murder, 32 year old Johnny Lynn Wright, had his charges withdrawn on 22 Dec 1980 by a prosecutor who said there was not enough evidence against him to go to trial.
Obituary...
ALGER, HERBERT DAVID age 36 yrs. of Stanley died 23 Jun 1980 in Richmond, Va. Born 25 Apr 1944 in Page Co. s/o Herbert S. & Myrtle Irene Housden Alger of Stanley.
Sons, David Wayne Alger of Luray & Herbert David Alger Jr. of Stanley. Daughter, Lisa Renee Alger of Stanley.
Brothers, Elwood & Richard Alger both of Stanley & Woodrow Alger of Mt. Crawford. Sisters, Dorothy Gray of Stanley, Rachael Louderback, Jane Nichols & Evelyn Harvey all of Luray & Marie Comer of Shenandoah.
Burial in the Alger Family cemetery near Stanley.
- Page News-Courier
Familial Relation: 4th cousin 1xr
- Luana Dawn Alger, 4 Jan 2019
Herbert had been incarcerated, off and on, since Jun 1973. He again was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Jul 1977 for fires which burned three Page County barns and a cabin on 25 May 1975. At the time of the fires, he was on parole from another arson conviction. At the time of the Jul 1977 arson conviction, he was serving a two year sentence on a safe cracking conviction in Warren County, VA.
In Mar 1977 the first of at least five jailhouse snitches came forward with information on a 10 year old cold case, linking Herbert to boasting about crimes far more serious. As a result, Herbert was charged on 29 Jun 1977 for the abduction and murder of 9 year old Carolyn Jean Sunderland on 31 Oct 1967.
In the trials that followed testimony was heard against him that not only linked him to her kidnapping, but also quite convincingly implicated that Herbert had "accidentally" suffocated Carolyn to death with a pillow case used to silence her screams while he was in the course of sodomizing her. He then dumped her body near New Market, where she was found by a hunter in Smith Creek nearly 3 weeks after her disappearance.
It is important to note that Herbert did not act alone. It came out that Rex Corder was an accomplice, as it was Rex's car used to pick up Carolyn and he was presumed to be driving at the time. However, he was never charged with anything in relation to what had happened to Carolyn. Rex Corder, at least initially, testified "on behalf" of the defense. Perhaps he copped to a lesser plea in return for state's evidence against Herbert. It is difficult to tell how much culpability Rex had in the commission of this crime. At least two inmates testified that Herbert told them that Rex had participated in the kidnapping and sodomy of Carolyn, making him just as much of a deviant as Herbert was... providing this testimony was based on facts.
Herbert was found guilty of all charges against him. He received one life sentence on 26 Jan 1978 for "abduction with intent to defile" and a second life sentence on 4 Oct 1978 for second degree murder.
On 23 Jun 1980 Herbert was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate of the VA State Penn. The homemade knife (shank) was plunged into his chest, severing his aorta, and killing him almost instantly.
On 16 Oct 1980, 29 year old Walter Carl Spencer III was convicted and given a life sentence for Herbert's murder.
A second suspect in Herbert's murder, 32 year old Johnny Lynn Wright, had his charges withdrawn on 22 Dec 1980 by a prosecutor who said there was not enough evidence against him to go to trial.
Obituary...
ALGER, HERBERT DAVID age 36 yrs. of Stanley died 23 Jun 1980 in Richmond, Va. Born 25 Apr 1944 in Page Co. s/o Herbert S. & Myrtle Irene Housden Alger of Stanley.
Sons, David Wayne Alger of Luray & Herbert David Alger Jr. of Stanley. Daughter, Lisa Renee Alger of Stanley.
Brothers, Elwood & Richard Alger both of Stanley & Woodrow Alger of Mt. Crawford. Sisters, Dorothy Gray of Stanley, Rachael Louderback, Jane Nichols & Evelyn Harvey all of Luray & Marie Comer of Shenandoah.
Burial in the Alger Family cemetery near Stanley.
- Page News-Courier
Son of Herbert Sheldon and Myrtle Irene [Housden] Alger; Husband of Reba Mae [Gray] Alger; Father of David Wayne, Lisa Renee and Herbert David Jr.
Familial Relation: 4th cousin 1xr
- Luana Dawn Alger, 4 Jan 2019
Herbert had been incarcerated, off and on, since Jun 1973. He again was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Jul 1977 for fires which burned three Page County barns and a cabin on 25 May 1975. At the time of the fires, he was on parole from another arson conviction. At the time of the Jul 1977 arson conviction, he was serving a two year sentence on a safe cracking conviction in Warren County, VA.
In Mar 1977 the first of at least five jailhouse snitches came forward with information on a 10 year old cold case, linking Herbert to boasting about crimes far more serious. As a result, Herbert was charged on 29 Jun 1977 for the abduction and murder of 9 year old Carolyn Jean Sunderland on 31 Oct 1967.
In the trials that followed testimony was heard against him that not only linked him to her kidnapping, but also quite convincingly implicated that Herbert had "accidentally" suffocated Carolyn to death with a pillow case used to silence her screams while he was in the course of sodomizing her. He then dumped her body near New Market, where she was found by a hunter in Smith Creek nearly 3 weeks after her disappearance.
It is important to note that Herbert did not act alone. It came out that Rex Corder was an accomplice, as it was Rex's car used to pick up Carolyn and he was presumed to be driving at the time. However, he was never charged with anything in relation to what had happened to Carolyn. Rex Corder, at least initially, testified "on behalf" of the defense. Perhaps he copped to a lesser plea in return for state's evidence against Herbert. It is difficult to tell how much culpability Rex had in the commission of this crime. At least two inmates testified that Herbert told them that Rex had participated in the kidnapping and sodomy of Carolyn, making him just as much of a deviant as Herbert was... providing this testimony was based on facts.
Herbert was found guilty of all charges against him. He received one life sentence on 26 Jan 1978 for "abduction with intent to defile" and a second life sentence on 4 Oct 1978 for second degree murder.
On 23 Jun 1980 Herbert was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate of the VA State Penn. The homemade knife (shank) was plunged into his chest, severing his aorta, and killing him almost instantly.
On 16 Oct 1980, 29 year old Walter Carl Spencer III was convicted and given a life sentence for Herbert's murder.
A second suspect in Herbert's murder, 32 year old Johnny Lynn Wright, had his charges withdrawn on 22 Dec 1980 by a prosecutor who said there was not enough evidence against him to go to trial.
Obituary...
ALGER, HERBERT DAVID age 36 yrs. of Stanley died 23 Jun 1980 in Richmond, Va. Born 25 Apr 1944 in Page Co. s/o Herbert S. & Myrtle Irene Housden Alger of Stanley.
Sons, David Wayne Alger of Luray & Herbert David Alger Jr. of Stanley. Daughter, Lisa Renee Alger of Stanley.
Brothers, Elwood & Richard Alger both of Stanley & Woodrow Alger of Mt. Crawford. Sisters, Dorothy Gray of Stanley, Rachael Louderback, Jane Nichols & Evelyn Harvey all of Luray & Marie Comer of Shenandoah.
Burial in the Alger Family cemetery near Stanley.
- Page News-Courier
Familial Relation: 4th cousin 1xr
- Luana Dawn Alger, 4 Jan 2019
Herbert had been incarcerated, off and on, since Jun 1973. He again was sentenced to 30 years in prison in Jul 1977 for fires which burned three Page County barns and a cabin on 25 May 1975. At the time of the fires, he was on parole from another arson conviction. At the time of the Jul 1977 arson conviction, he was serving a two year sentence on a safe cracking conviction in Warren County, VA.
In Mar 1977 the first of at least five jailhouse snitches came forward with information on a 10 year old cold case, linking Herbert to boasting about crimes far more serious. As a result, Herbert was charged on 29 Jun 1977 for the abduction and murder of 9 year old Carolyn Jean Sunderland on 31 Oct 1967.
In the trials that followed testimony was heard against him that not only linked him to her kidnapping, but also quite convincingly implicated that Herbert had "accidentally" suffocated Carolyn to death with a pillow case used to silence her screams while he was in the course of sodomizing her. He then dumped her body near New Market, where she was found by a hunter in Smith Creek nearly 3 weeks after her disappearance.
It is important to note that Herbert did not act alone. It came out that Rex Corder was an accomplice, as it was Rex's car used to pick up Carolyn and he was presumed to be driving at the time. However, he was never charged with anything in relation to what had happened to Carolyn. Rex Corder, at least initially, testified "on behalf" of the defense. Perhaps he copped to a lesser plea in return for state's evidence against Herbert. It is difficult to tell how much culpability Rex had in the commission of this crime. At least two inmates testified that Herbert told them that Rex had participated in the kidnapping and sodomy of Carolyn, making him just as much of a deviant as Herbert was... providing this testimony was based on facts.
Herbert was found guilty of all charges against him. He received one life sentence on 26 Jan 1978 for "abduction with intent to defile" and a second life sentence on 4 Oct 1978 for second degree murder.
On 23 Jun 1980 Herbert was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate of the VA State Penn. The homemade knife (shank) was plunged into his chest, severing his aorta, and killing him almost instantly.
On 16 Oct 1980, 29 year old Walter Carl Spencer III was convicted and given a life sentence for Herbert's murder.
A second suspect in Herbert's murder, 32 year old Johnny Lynn Wright, had his charges withdrawn on 22 Dec 1980 by a prosecutor who said there was not enough evidence against him to go to trial.
Obituary...
ALGER, HERBERT DAVID age 36 yrs. of Stanley died 23 Jun 1980 in Richmond, Va. Born 25 Apr 1944 in Page Co. s/o Herbert S. & Myrtle Irene Housden Alger of Stanley.
Sons, David Wayne Alger of Luray & Herbert David Alger Jr. of Stanley. Daughter, Lisa Renee Alger of Stanley.
Brothers, Elwood & Richard Alger both of Stanley & Woodrow Alger of Mt. Crawford. Sisters, Dorothy Gray of Stanley, Rachael Louderback, Jane Nichols & Evelyn Harvey all of Luray & Marie Comer of Shenandoah.
Burial in the Alger Family cemetery near Stanley.
- Page News-Courier
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