Coming up.

I do think that this case does have a possibility to set a precedent going forward on how cases that are similar to this should be handled.

For Vault Studios, I'm Will Johnson. You're listening to The Daily Crime.

Back in 2018, two men were arrested in connection with the 2004 double murder in Virginia Beach,

a woman and her seven-year-old son who'd been found dead 14 years earlier.

Detectives arrested 43-year-old Richard Stoner in Indiana on Saturday.

Then on Monday, detectives arrested 46-year-old Christopher Schmidt in Florida.

In June of 2004, 29-year-old Lois Schmidt and her son, Jonathan Vertano, were found shot

to death in their burning home on Newcomb Road.

Another man was also shot, but he survived.

Stoner and Schmidt are now waiting to be extradited back to Virginia.

That was the news three years ago, but there have been some major developments in this case,

the most significant having to do with the abolishment of the death penalty in Virginia last year,

and how it might impact testimony in the case.

I'm joined by Evan Watson, an investigative reporter at 13 News Now, WVEC.

Evan, thanks for being here with us.

Thanks so much for having me, Will.

So let's go back to 2004 when these really horrific murders took place.

Tell us about what happened back then.

Yes, it was in a Virginia Beach neighborhood here.

The case was a mother, Lois Schmidt, and her seven-year-old son, Jonathan Bertrano.

They were killed as well as Lois Schmidt's brother was injured. The family dog was killed. The house was set on fire.

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