Man Charged in Chilhowie Home Invasion Death Now Faces Death Penalty

MARION, Va. – The man charged with murder in a home invasion near Chilhowie in December that left one man dead and three injured now faces the death penalty.
Jason Betts was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the charge has been upgraded to capital murder. The charges against Mithrella Curtis have also been upgraded to aiding and abetting capital murder.
The pair, arrested in Texas days after the Dec. 8 home invasion, appeared this afternoon in Smyth County General District Court. Betts waived preliminary hearing and the case will now go to a grand jury, which meets June 23. A preliminary hearing for Curtis was reset for June 17.
Betts also is charged with three counts of malicious wounding and breaking and entering. Curtis faces charges of aiding and abetting malicious wounding.
For the full story, read today’s Bristol Herald Courier.