Police
Dec. 7, 2018
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA – Following a months-long investigation, Chesterfield County police executed search warrants at four locations and arrested multiple suspects in relation to a murder-for-hire plot on Friday, Dec. 7.
This investigation, in which the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation and FBI assisted, is related to the homicide that occurred in the 13700 block of Second Branch Road on Aug. 24, 2018.
In that incident, police said, an adult female victim was shot multiple times and Lawrence J. Howell, 38, was killed. Joshua M. Federico, 44, was charged with murder, malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in relation to the incident, and he was arrested on Aug. 26, 2018, following an extensive search.
Joshua Federico is the female victim’s estranged husband. Howell, who lived at the residence in the 13700 block of Second Branch Road, was the boyfriend of the female victim.
On Friday, Dec. 7, police arrested the following suspects:
• Joseph A. Federico, 41, of the 12300 block of Black Road. He was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, solicitation to commit capital murder, attempted capital murder, and two counts of felony obstruction of justice.
• Wendy M. Federico, 63, of the 14100 block of Whirlaway Way. She was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder and two counts of felony obstruction of justice.
• Constantine G. Trikoulis, 31, of the 500 block of Brighton Drive. He was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, two counts of felony obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
• Laura C. Miller, 31, of the 500 block of Brighton Drive. She was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Detectives have obtained warrants for Joshua Federico for three counts of conspiracy to commit capital murder, solicitation to commit capital murder, attempted capital murder, and two counts of felony obstruction of justice. He is currently incarcerated at Riverside Regional Jail and detectives are in the process of serving the warrants.
The investigation indicates that Joshua Federico conspired with Joseph Federico, who is his brother, Wendy Federico, who is his mother, and Trikoulis, who is an acquaintance, to hire people to kill witnesses involved in the murder on Second Branch Road. Miller has been charged in relation to assisting the suspect Joshua Federico after the murder in August.
Police continue to investigate and urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or through the P3 app.