When the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that William Jackson Kennedy, a 44-year-old with a rap sheet long enough to make most criminals blush, was hiding out at 1106 Jappa Road in Ridgeway, Virginia, they didn’t take any chances. On August 20, deputies arrived with a search warrant in hand, ready to bring the fugitive’s hide-and-seek game to an end.
The Details: Kennedy, wanted by multiple law enforcement agencies, had been elusive until now. But when deputies combed through the mobile home, they found him playing an elaborate game of hide-and-seek. Kennedy had rigged up a trap door that allowed him to slither beneath the mobile home— maybe hoping authorities would overlook this impromptu basement. No such luck.
Once they uncovered Kennedy’s less-than-genius hiding spot, deputies quickly took him into custody without incident. He’s now enjoying the accommodations at the Henry County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Center, where he’s being held without bond.
By The Numbers:
Kennedy faces a laundry list of charges from multiple jurisdictions:
- Henry County Sheriff’s Office: Probation violations ranging from grand larceny, with a few felonies sprinkled in for good measure.
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: Drug distribution and more probation violations.
- City of Martinsville Police Department: More probation violations.
- Virginia State Police: Felony hit and run, plus driving on a suspended license.
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Why It Matters: Kennedy’s arrest brings an end to what could be described as a rather creative but ultimately futile attempt to dodge the law. With charges that cover everything from shoplifting to drug distribution, it’s clear that Kennedy’s career in crime has been as varied as it’s been persistent.
