Murder Case Against JCC Woman to Go Forward

By Sam Thrift Saturday, November 19, 2011

Williamsburg-James City General District Court Judge Colleen Killilea decided prosecutors provided enough evidence Friday to try 27-year-old Stephanie Bozarth of Judy Drive in James City County in the Aug. 26 death of Tabitha Russell.

Testimony from a James City County police investigator and a 12-year-old witness placed Bozarth in front of her home a day before Hurricane Irene blew through the Historic Triangle, arguing with the 27-year-old victim who lived across the street in the Windy Hill Trailer Park on Judy Drive.

The juvenile witness was playing XBox with Bozarth’s younger brother and another friend inside Bozarth’s home when the boys heard an argument outside. When the witness came outside, he saw Bozarth and Russell arguing. According to the witness, both women had men around them trying at some point to stop the confrontation.

After being pulled away from the argument by her husband William Bozarth, who was arrested and charged Sept. 2 with malicious wounding for fighting with another man before the murder, Stephanie Bozarth went inside her home. The witness said she came back 30 to 45 seconds later with a shiny metal object in her hand about. Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green suggested the object was the knife used to kill Russell.

“The two [women] began to argue, then they ran towards each other and started scrapping,” the juvenile testified Friday. The witness said he did not clearly see what happened next and could not make out what the two women were saying, but when he realized that Tabitha was hurt he ran away because he was scared.

Major Steve Rubino of the James City Police Department said in a press release the day after her death that Russell died from a stab wound to the throat and was pronounced dead at the scene. The day of Bozarth’s arrest, Rubino said the fight between the two women began over a dispute with Russell’s brother.

The investigator who testified said he found a flip knife on the suspect’s porch the night of the murder.

Stephanie Bozarth's next court date is set for Jan. 18, at which time she is expected to enter a plea to the charges. William Bozarth’s trial for the malicious wounding charge is Dec. 14 in the Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.