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Serial killer charged with three murders after body found in Henry County


John Richardson


HENRY COUNTY, VA – A Greensboro, North Carolina serial killer has been charged with murdering three men in two months.


53-year-old John Richardson, of Byers Road, is facing three counts of first-degree murder for three separate homicides that occurred from February to March.


Here's a timeline of the events as reported by WGHP.


On January 25, police found 46-year-old Michael Antown Hemphill, in the 3200 block of Yanceyville Street in Greensboro, NC with a gunshot wound.


Hemphill died on February 1 at the hospital.


On March 10, police responded to the 600 block of West Terrell Street in Greensboro, NC for a disorder.


There, they found 40-year-old Mark Anthony Gilbert Jr. who had allegedly been beaten. Later that day, Gilbert Jr. died.


James Devon Goolsby was last seen in the 1000 block of Summit Avenue in Greensboro, NC on March 25 and was reported missing three days later.


Police said they started to suspect foul play in this investigation.


John Richardson was charged with the following on April 5:

  • Two counts of possessing a firearm by a felon

  • Misdemeanor conspiracy

  • Carrying a concealed weapon

  • Felony manufacturing or possessing weapon of mass destruction

  • Felony receiving stolen vehicles


That same day, he was taken into the Guilford County Jail and police searched his home after obtaining a warrant.


Authorities went back to search the home the next day and found two firearms, knives, ammunition and a hatchet, according to a search warrant.


38-year-old Jonathan Murphy, of Greensboro, NC, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon on April 8.



Jonathan Murphy


Text messages between Murphy and Richardson connected them to the homicide.


On April 13, Richardson was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Hemphill.


That same day, Greensboro, NC detectives were notfifed that Goolsby’s body was in Henry County. With help from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, investigators found the remains that had been dumped into the Mayo River from a bridge on George Taylor Road.


Richardson was charged on April 19 with first-degree murder and possessing a firearm by a felon in the death of Gilbert Jr.


On April 22, Richardson was charged with the following:

  • First-degree murder

  • Possessing a firearm by a felon

  • Felony robbery with a dangerous weapon

  • Two counts of felony concealment of death/tampering with a corpse


According to WGHP, warrants indicate that some of the charges stem from allegedly dismembering human remains.


The district attorney's office is looking into the possibility of Richardson being connected to additional homicides.


Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call the Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.




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