Four Suspects Charged with Murder in Virginia Teen’s Death

Four individuals implicated in the murder of a Virginia teenager now face second-degree murder charges after authorities identified a woman whose remains had been unidentified for over three months. Officials are linking both killings as premeditated actions.

Helen Marie Pullen Banks, 56, from Culpeper, was discovered on private land in Caroline County on March 27. Her identity was confirmed through detailed DNA analysis completed on July 7, according to the sheriff’s department.

This month, Rashad Antonio Mayfield, 21, Devontae Gregory Pettaway, 19, Jayden Lamont Phillips, 20, and Kennadi Jade Lambert, 18, were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and using a firearm in Banks’ killing.

All four were in custody without bail following charges related to the murder of 18-year-old Jayden Macomber.

Investigators suspected a connection between both murder cases early on. Macomber vanished on the very day Banks’ body was found. His vehicle was located the following day in Virginia Beach, aided by local police.

The processing of the vehicle yielded significant leads that assisted in discovering Macomber’s body, which was found in a pond near the Caroline County line on March 31.

During an April 2 search of a Henrico County home associated with Mayfield, items believed to belong to Macomber were recovered, further linking the cases.

Mayfield was apprehended during a traffic stop while investigators were at the residence. A handgun was seized, though it remains unclear if it is connected to the murders.

Pettaway, Phillips, and Lambert were arrested during coordinated operations at an apartment in Henrico, with help from the U.S. Marshals’ task force.

After the arrests, Sheriff Scott Moser called the investigation “complex” and commended law enforcement for their diligent pursuit of the suspects.

Ballistics testing, conducted with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, provided forensic connections between the two murders.

Authorities reported that both Banks and Macomber were acquainted with at least one of the suspects, but they found no evidence indicating a confrontation occurred. They described the acts as “premeditated and intentional.”

Investigators have yet to disclose a potential motive or clarify if Banks and Macomber knew each other well.

When Banks’ body was initially found, the property owner was understandably shaken and awaited the arrival of emergency services before approaching the scene. “This is a very disturbing incident,” noted Sheriff Moser at that time, highlighting the challenging nature of the situation faced by the responding officers.

The sheriff’s department believes those responsible took extreme measures to conceal Banks’ identity, labeling the case as one of the most troubling in their experience, although specifics about those actions have not been shared.

Ms. Banks was officially identified on July 7, and her family was informed later that evening.

“This case reflects our investigators’ relentless pursuit of the truth,” Moser stated upon making the identification public. He added that while no announcement could mitigate the family’s grief, he hoped the identification would bring them some comfort.

The investigation remains active, with involvement from the Caroline County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the ATF, but authorities indicate they are not seeking additional suspects.

Helen Marie Pullen Banks was born in Charlottesville and lived in Rixeyville. She is remembered fondly by her family, which includes five children, her mother, siblings, ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with memorial costs, emphasizing that she was much more than the circumstances surrounding her death.

Macomber’s family also shared their grief in a GoFundMe set up after his passing, describing the week-long search for him as a “nightmare.” They remembered him as someone who loved deeply and always expressed that love. “He had the biggest heart of anyone,” they wrote.

As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on these four suspects without indications of additional individuals involved.