Police searching computers of south Roanoke woman found dead last week

Police are examining two computers owned by a woman who was found dead early last week in her south Roanoke home, according to a recent search warrant. Although the investigation remains underway, a police official said Thursday she did not believe there was cause for additional outlying concern.

"If the department thought there was a threat to public safety at this point, we would've warned the public," spokeswoman Aisha Johnson said.

In a news release last week, police announced they were called April 15 to the home in the 2600 block of Stanley Avenue by a family member who reported that a body had been found. A subsequent warrant said the 56-year-old woman's arms were tied behind her back and a bag had been placed over her head. Her legs were also bound, the warrant said.

Johnson said police are awaiting an autopsy report from the state medical examiner's office before determining whether a crime had occurred.

Citing the ongoing investigation, Johnson has declined to discuss additional circumstances of the case, including what type of bag was involved, whether the woman suffered injuries before her death, whether the home showed signs of forced entry and whether the relative who reported finding the body was in the house at the time of her death.

On Wednesday, a new warrant filed in Roanoke Circuit Court said investigators are analyzing two laptops they took from the woman's residence, seeking "electronic data showing internet history, image files, video files, contact lists, e-mail history or any other form of messaging."

In addition to the two computers, police took a phone, a shirt, rubber bands, a zip-tie, bags and household items.

While police have not identified the woman in the investigation, the address listed on the warrant matches the residence of Cary Mitchener, a 56-year-old registered nurse who died April 15 at her home, according to her obituary. A relative of Mitchener declined to comment on the matter earlier this week.

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