Roanoke police look into bank records in investigation of death of woman found bound

Roanoke police are examining bank records as they continue their investigation into the death of a woman found in her south Roanoke home with her arms tied behind her back and a bag placed over her head.

Detectives sought the financial records of Cary Kendall Mitchener and her husband, James Mitchener, according to search warrants filed Aug. 2 in Roanoke Circuit Court.

Cary Mitchener was found dead in her home in the 2600 block of Stanley Avenue Southeast shortly after 6 p.m. on April 15, according to police and search warrants. Her arms were tied behind her back, her legs were bound and a bag had been placed over her head, previous warrants have said.

In search warrants filed on Aug. 2, Detective H.L. Willoughby wrote that the cause and manner of the 56-year-old registered nurse's death has still not been determined by the medical examiner. Police have not yet officially ruled the death a suicide or homicide. No one has been charged.

The warrants ordered the financial records from Mitchener's joint accounts with her husband at Wells Fargo and Bank of America from April 1 through April 30. Willoughby said the information was necessary to "establish location, activities and times of the individuals prior to police responding to the residence."

In a July 22 warrant, Willoughby sought Mitchener's medical records from LewisGale Hospital, including psychiatric and psychological records, hospitalization records and other clinical information.

Willoughby said in the July warrant and those from last week that police responded to the home for a reported suicide. Roanoke police Capt. Monti Lee declined to comment Monday on who phoned 911 that day, citing the ongoing investigation.

An April search warrant said police were let into the house by the homeowner. City real estate records list Mitchener and her husband, a Roanoke plastic surgeon, as the home's legal owners.

In April, investigators seized two computers from the residence. Police also took a phone, a shirt, rubber bands, a zip-tie, bags and household items.

Officials have declined to discuss additional circumstances of the case, including whether Mitchener suffered injuries before her death, whether the home showed signs of forced entry and whether James Mitchener or anyone else was in the residence before officers arrived.

James Mitchener could not be reached for comment Monday evening.