Man Erroneously Released From Loudoun Jail Arrested In Georgia: Police

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A man who was erroneously released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center last week was arrested in Georgia on Friday, police said.

Authorities released 24-year-old Stone Colburn on Thursday after prosecutors dropped a murder charge related to the July 2021 stabbing death of Natalie Crow in Round Hill. However, he still faced a charge for concealing a dead body.

Legal wrangling over whether he was competent to stand trial, and the dropping of charges while prosecutors sought a new evaluation and filed another criminal charge of concealing a body, led to Colburn's mistaken release.

A statement by Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj late Friday afternoon said the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office issued a press release "that mischaracterizes the release of Colburn and their lack of accountability. It attempts to mislead the public and unfairly shift the blame to our office.”

Colburn’s release was the result of an error by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and occurred despite her office filing the additional charge against Colburn Thursday night in Loudoun County Circuit Court, Biberaj said.

Read more: Prosecutor Blasts Loudoun Sheriff For Release Of Former Murder Suspect

Colburn had been at Central State Hospital in Petersburg for a mental competency evaluation and treatment to restore his mental health. A report filed with the General District Court said Colburn was incompetent to stand trial for Crow's death. The Commonwealth asked for a second evaluation, but the motion was denied.

The Circuit Court ordered Colburn be taken to the jail so he would answer to the new charge, which was an attempt to keep Colburn in custody and allow for a second competency evaluation in the higher court, the prosecutor said.

“Based on the severity of the crime and the concerns for the current and future safety of the community, we consulted with other mental health evaluators and concluded we needed a second evaluation," Biberaj said. “We could not in good conscience allow Colburn to avoid a trial.”

Read more: Suspect Identified, Charged In Round Hill Slaying: Police

If convicted of the new charge, Colburn could face up to five years in prison, based on Virginia's sentencing guidelines.