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State police asking for tips in connection with Bland County homicide

57-year-old Bruce Ritchie found dead on Saturday

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BLAND COUNTY, Va. – State police continue to investigate after a man was found dead on Saturday in Bland County.

The body of 57-year-old Bruce Ritchie, of Pennsylvania, was found in a ditch along Wilderness Road, according to Virginia State Police. Authorities were notified just before 12:30 p.m.

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Ritchie had been stabbed outside his vehicle, according to state police. They said they found a knife at the scene.

Authorities also found Ritchie’s white 2019 Nissan Sentra near his body in a pull-off area on the right shoulder of Wilderness Road, about 100 yards from the exit for I-77, according to state police.

Wilderness Road is Route 606 and is Exit 62 off I-77 in the South Gap community of Bland County.

State police said they determined that Ritchie was headed north on I-77 when he apparently pulled off the exit and parked his vehicle.

Virginia State Police is asking for tips and is particularly interested in hearing from anyone who recalls seeing a white Nissan Sentra or other vehicles at the pull-off on Wilderness Road Friday evening (May 22) through noon Saturday (May 23).

Anyone with information is asked to call the Virginia State Police Wytheville Division at 276-228-3131 or send an email to questions@vsp.virginia.gov.


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