Mugshot James Michael Wright
James Michael Wright, a Virginia man, is accused of being a serial killer who murdered two Tennessee women and a teenage girl.
The teenage girl, Joslyn Alsup, 17, was from Georgia. The other victims are Athina Hopson, 25, and Elizabeth Vanmeter, 22. The victims were shot. James Michael Wright, 23, now faces three counts of capital murder. Wright is from Washington County, Virginia – specifically, he is from Mendota, Virginia.
Sheriff Fred Newman said his department is looking into Wright’s movements in other states. On Facebook, Wright’s bicep bore a tattoo of guns with the words “freedom isn’t free.” Friends referred to him as “tater.” Three years ago, he wrote on Facebook, “my mental age is like 6.”
James Michael Wright.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. The Three Victims Were Reported Missing & Wright’s Facebook Posts Show an Interest in Guns
Joslyn Alsup
In revealing the charges against James Wright, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in Virginia wrote that “our prayers go out to the victim’s families in this very tragic event.”
The capital murder charges came “in relation to the deaths of two missing Tennessee women and a missing 17-year-old female juvenile from Georgia,” the department wrote on its Facebook page.
Wright’s Facebook page shows an interest in guns. He also posted about enjoying hunting.
FacebookJames Michael Wright
According to Washington County Virginia Sheriff Fred Newman, about two weeks ago the Washington County Sheriff’s Office “was contacted by Law Enforcement personnel from the Johnson City Tennessee Police Department in regards to setting up an interview on a Washington County man in regards to a missing person case that they were investigating. Their information indicated that the missing person (a female by the name of Athina Hopson was last seen in the company of the suspect).”
An interview was conducted.
“Based on the interview, a search warrant was obtained for the suspects truck which had sustained major damage as the result of a motor vehicle crash with a Washington County school bus on Nordyke Road on March 19, 2019,” the department wrote.
He has no criminal history, according to WCBY-TV.
Wright’s Virginia High School principal told WJHL-TV that Wright spoke to counselors at the school but he didn’t get into major trouble in high school.
2. James Michael Wright Is Accused of Confessing to Murdering the Three Victims
After authorities began to unearth evidence from the suspect’s truck, he confessed to the murders, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
“A cell phone belonging to the missing Johnson City woman (Hopson) was located in the suspect’s truck. A subsequent search warrant for the suspects residence was obtained and executed on Thursday, May 9, 2019,” wrote the department.
FacebookJames Michael Wright
“Also, on that date the suspect came to the Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed by Tennessee Detectives familiar with the missing person cases. During the interview, the suspect, James Michael Wright, age 23, of 3473 Mendota Road, Mendota, Virginia, confessed to killing three women. Wright also provided information in regards to the murders.”
Authorities gave these details about each crime:
(1) On or about February 28, 2019, Wright allegedly shot and killed Elizabeth Marie Vanmeter, age 22, of Carter County, Tennessee, according to the suspect as the result of an argument. Vanmeter was reported missing to authorities on March 17, 2019.
(2) On or about March 9, 2019, Wright allegedly shot and killed Joslyn M. Alsup, Age 17, from Cobb County, Georgia. Alsup was reported missing on March 8, 2019 from Cobb County, Georgia.
(3) On or about March 17, 2019, Wright allegedly shot and killed Athina Hopson, age 25, of Johnson City, Tennessee, the suspect stated he shot Hopson and was transporting the victim in the back of his truck when her body fell out of the truck and rolled down an embankment near the bridge on Norkyke Road. He then placed her body in the river. Hopson was reported missing on March 21, 2019 by her mother.
According to authorities, on May 10, 2019, a search “was conducted of the properties surrounding Wrights residen(ce). The remains of two bodies believed to be Vanmeter and Alsup were recovered. One body was recovered from a shallow grave site, the other near some logs.”
Authorities continue to search for the Hopson, “who according to the suspect was thrown in the river. The suspect alleged all three shootings were accidental. As autopsy’s are currently being performed today, we are only tentively (sic) being able to identify Vanmeter and Alsup solely based on the suspects statements. Positive identification will be based on autopsy reports,” wrote the Sheriff’s Department.
3. The Sheriff’s Department Clarified Its Press Release on Where Wright Worked
Augusta-based amusement company James H. Drew Exposition has denied any involvement with an alleged Virginia serial killer Michael James Wright.
t.co/9x9tGNZKSf
The Sheriff’s Department clarified its earlier press release about where Wright worked.
In the latest information, released on May 16, 2019, the Washington County Sheriff’s Department wrote the following: “Information regarding James Michael Wright’s employment with James H. Drew Carnival. According to Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman, Wright’s recorded statement during his interview with detectives was he ‘worked as a sub-contractor for James H. Drew Carnival’. After speaking with the owner of ‘Pony Express’ Josh Ellis, out of Blountville, Tennessee. Mr. Ellis stated that Wright worked for him as an employee and on some occasions his business traveled with Drew Expositions.”
Drew Exposition wrote a lengthy Facebook post about the matter, explaining that Wright did not work for that company. In a statement to WJHL-TV, Drew Exposition wrote, “Mr. Wright was not and has never been an employee of James H. Drew Exposition, nor any associated companies.” The WJHL story states that Ellis “confirmed that Wright never worked for a company called Drew Exposition.”
According to WJHL, instead, Ellis “confirmed that James Wright was an employee” of his company, Pony Express in Blountville, in October and November 2018 “and was let go because it was the end of the season and they weren’t going to need him in the future.”
“Dear fair patrons, friends, and family,” wrote Drew Exposition.
“As some of you know there have been statements circulated in the media that we employed or sub contracted someone that is a suspect of crimes that have drawn national media attention. These statements are absolutely false. The suspect in question at some point worked for the owner of a farm that operates an equestrian attraction that travels to different events, including fairs, festivals, picnics, and racetracks then more recently the suspect worked for a building supply company in Bristol, Tennessee from January, 2019 until the time of arrest a few days ago. (According to his Facebook page). Also it has been reported that the crimes took place between Febuary and March, 2019. We have been the subject of a relentless media attack full of untruths, even after media was provided with statements of true and correct information. In this post we are going to provide a link to an article that tells the truth for the most part. This will be followed up by a copy of the suspect’s Facebook profile where he states his place of employment. We ask that you pray for the families affected by this and we also ask the media to do the right thing by retracting it’s false reporting and to report the truth.”
Wright’s Facebook page was updated in January 2019 to claim he was working as a bundler for a moulding company in Tennessee. His page also says he is a former crew member for fast-food restaurant chains. He also wrote that he once worked as a “horse worker” on a “farm.”
“My husband worked with Michael like 5 or so years ago at (the fast-food restaurant) and he was f*cked up then too,” a woman wrote on Facebook.
Under professional skills, the page lists “shooting.” The cover graphic reads, “I come. I f*ck sh*t up. I leave.” His Facebook check-ins include a county fair and ag fair. His likes on his page include Donald Trump, Trump’s daughter Ivanka, the actor Mark Harmon, Stone Cold Steve Austin, pages devoted to guns, and other pages.
In 2017, Wright wrote on his Facebook page, “Everyone has an angel. A guardian who watches over us, we can’t know what form they will take one day an old man the next a young girl. But don’t let appearances fool you they can be as fierce as any dragon. But yet there not here to fight our battles, but to whisper from our own hearts. To remind us that it is us at the core of it all is that make the choices and if you fail then good get back up and fail again cause each time you fail you learn to be better, faster, smarter, stronger.”
In July 2018, Wright shared a graphic on his Facebook page that read, “Gonna stab the next person that shares my sh*t.” In May 2018, he wrote, “Answer your damn phone or I’ll strangle u with ur own hair. Lol call me man.” A year ago, he posted a video showing carnival rides.
A woman wrote on Twitter, “He was my daughter’s best friend, they were like brother and sister. I’ve been having terrible anxiety attacks since I found out, just thinking of all those times she was with him alone and at his home, still scares me even though he’s locked up.”
The Sheriff’s Department alleged previously “The 17-year-old female was the daughter of one of Wrights (sic) coworkers.”
“A firearm has been recovered and is believed to have been used in all three homicides,” added the department.
“Agencies that participated in the investigation in the addition to the Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, which is the lead agency, include the FBI, United States Marshal Service, Virginia State Police, Carter County Tennessee Sheriff’s Department, and the Johnson City Tennessee Police Department. Agencies assisting in recovery efforts include, Virginia State Police Med-Flight, Black Diamond Search and Rescue, Washington County Life Saving Crew, Goodson Kinderhook, Green Springs Fire Department.”
Wright “is being held without bond in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon, Virginia,” wrote the Sheriff’s Department, which is asking anyone with information to call 276-676-6000.
4. Athina Hopson’s Mother Says She Was Cleaning James Wright’s House & Alsup’s Mom Says He Gave Her Daughter Free Horse Rides
Athina Hopson
Athina Hopson worked as a house cleaner. Unfortunately, she took a job that had her cleaning James Wright’s home, her mother told WJHL-TV.
“Why? What was going through this man’s head,” Bonnie Griffith said to the television station. “Why would he do this to these girls that are innocent and probably trusted him?”
Griffith told WJHL that her daughter “was desperate for money and in Mid-March Athina took a job cleaning the house James Wright lived in.”
Autumn Dewberry, a friend of Hopson’s, told WCBY-TV: “She was a really good person.. She helped my daughter getting her clothes and being there for her.”
Alsup’s mother said in an interview that she fought text messages between Wright and her daughter. “I will marry you,” she alleged one said, adding that her daughter met Wright when he offered her free horse rides at a fair. “I’m like, ‘that’s just creepy.’ I told her not to have anything to do with him anymore, and as far as I know, she didn’t.”
5. A Friend Called Wright a ‘Country Boy’
James Michael Wright
Four years ago, a friend wrote in the comment thread under the above picture of Wright on Facebook: “F*ck yea a country boy can survive get em u rebel sombitch XXD.”
Wright responded: “Damn right.” A drawing he shared on Facebook showed a car with a Confederate flag license plate.
Missing posters circulated on social media before Wright’s arrest.
“Carter County friends heads up… *MISSING PERSON* Elizabeth Marie Vanmeter PLEASE CONTACT ANYONE or if anyone knows her where abouts maybe she has messaged someone whoever or however please contact me or Carter County Sheriff’s Department….Thank You,” wrote one woman on Facebook, sharing photos of Vanmeter.
Alsup went missing in March 2019 from Marietta, Georgia, according to missing poster for her.
This story was updated with the Sheriff’s Department’s clarification on where Wright worked and Drew’s denial that Wright ever worked for that company.