Timeline of Alexandria Murders, Defendant Charles Severance

After Charles Severance was charged Monday in the murders of three high-profile Alexandrians, it appears there could be an end in sight for the fear, anguish and frustration the homicides have caused city residents and police the past 11 years.

Police said they began to link the three crimes after music teacher Ruthanne Lodato was killed Feb. 6 in the same manner as Nancy Dunning in 2003 and Ronald Kirby in 2013. After the Kirby and Lodato murders, residents lived in fear of opening their front doors; police asked citizens to be cautious.

Seven months later, on Monday, Alexandria police announced that Severance, a bearded eccentric with ties to Alexandria, was being charged in the murders. The announcement was met with some relief by the relatives of those who died.

“Our family is grateful to the police and investigators who continued to pursue our mother’s case over these nearly 11 years,” Liz Dunning, Nancy Dunning’s daughter, said in a statement to media.

“While nothing can bring her back, we’re hopeful that today’s indictment is the beginning of a process that will offer our family and the other affected families some small amount of closure.”

For Lodato’s family, “it’s another painful reminder of the loss of Ruthanne and they miss her every day in so many ways,” said John Kelly, a family spokesman, in a statement to media. “It’s also now a painful reminder for other families in our community, and I now the Lodatos’ thoughts and prayers go out to the Kirby and Dunning families.”

The following is a timeline of events leading up to Monday’s announcement:

1996: Severance runs for mayor, City of Alexandria (he lists his occupation as “expert witness, principal investigator, mentaldisorder.com), against Kerry Donley

1996: Severance runs for Congress; lists an address in Park Fairfax on Gunston Road as his home

1997: Severance spends 10 days in jail on misdemeanor gun charge, according to NBC report by Pete Williams

1999: Severance of Oakton, Va., registers Web site, mentaldisorder.com

2000: Severance runs for mayor, City of Alexandria

March 2000: Severance ordered not to have contact with his son

Dec. 5, 2003: Del Ray mother, wife, real estate agent Nancy Dunning killed in her home. She was the wife of Alexandria Sheriff Jim Dunning

2005: Severance arrested for indecent exposure and assault in Western Maryland; pleads guilty to felony gun possession charge in Rockingham County, Va.

Nov. 11, 2013: Ronald Kirby killed in his home on Elm Street in Alexandria. Kirby was transportation director for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

Feb. 6, 2014: Music teacher Ruthanne Lodato killed in her home on Ridge Road Drive in Alexandria; Lodato, 59, was a wife and mother who was also well-known in the community. A caretaker for Lodato’s mother at the home reportedly was an eyewitness.

Feb. 6, 2014: Alexandria Police hold news conference about Ridge Road shooting

Feb. 7. 2014: Mayor Euille and Police Chief hold news conference and release sketch of suspect; they attempted to reassure the community

Feb. 15, 2014: Funeral for Ruthanne Lodato is held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria

March 6, 2014: Alexandria Police release results of ballistic report, hold news conference

March 7, 2014: Alexandria Police leave a business card at Severance’s home in Ashburn, with his girlfriend

March 7, 2014: Severance shows up outside Russian Embassy asking for asylum

March 12, 2014: Severance checks into theKnights Inn in Wheeling, W. Va.

March 12, 2014: FBI searches Severance’s home in Ashburn for seven hours

March 13, 2014: FBI contacts Wheeling, W.Va. police, asking them to look for Severance

March 13, 2014: Severance arrested at Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, W. Va., on a Loudoun gun charge, saying he possessed firearm in Virginia on March 10; FBI agents take computer Severance had been using prior to his arrest; Wheeling, W.Va. newspaper reports Severance was not served with a warrant until later that evening

March 17, 2014: At hearing, Ohio County, W. Va. prosecutor calls Severance a “danger to the public.” Severance says he wants to fight extradition to Virginia

March 26, 2014: Severance is served with extradition warrant signed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe

March 28, 2014: Severance’s attorney says he is asking to delay his client’s extradition hearing to April 24

April 9, 2014: FBI confirms they are searching bodies of water near Severance’s Ashburn home and his parent’s home in Oakton for evidence

April 17, 2014: Severance’s girlfriend says she purchased guns, Washington Post reports

May 5, 2014: U.S. Marshals pick up Severance to transport him to Loudoun County

May 6, 2014: Severance arraigned on gun charge in Loudoun County

Sept. 8, 2014: Alexandria Police, Commonwealth’s Attorney, announce charges against Severance

Oct. 27, 2014: Severance to stand trial in Loudoun County on a gun charge

PHOTOS: Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby, Ruthanne Lodato