Woman wanted in triple murder arrested in upstate New York

Police began searching for Alyssa Jane Venable after the bodies of her roommates, all aged 60 or 70, were discovered Tuesday during a welfare check in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Police said she was wanted on three counts of second-degree murder and a firearms charge.

Venable was arrested Thursday evening by New York State Police troopers, more than 260 miles north of Fredericksburg. She was driving a sedan on Interstate 86 when officers tried to stop her, but she refused. The car crashed after running over a tire deflation device, according to state police.

Venable was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was being held Friday at the Steuben County Jail. Police said they would make extradition arrangements.

A telephone message was left Friday with the Steuben County Public Defender’s Office in New York.

It was not immediately clear why Venable was in New York. Police were trying to piece together a timeline of the past few days and seeking information from the public.

The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office in Virginia identified the victims as Robert John McGuire, 77; Gregory Scott Powell, 60 years old; and Carol Anne Reese, 65.