It started with a knock. Not a frantic one, but a calm, midday rapping on the front door of a nice house in a quiet neighborhood. In Alexandria, Virginia, that kind of thing usually means a neighbor is borrowing sugar or a delivery driver has a package. But between 2003 and 2014, it meant something else. It was the calling card of Charles Severance, a man who turned a personal grudge into a decade-long shadow over one of America’s most historic cities.
Honestly, if you look at the facts of the case, it feels like something out of a low-budget thriller. A bearded man in a poncho, a string of prominent victims, and a motive so petty it’s almost impossible to wrap your head around. But for the people living in the Del Ray and North Ridge areas back then, it wasn't a movie. It was a nightmare that lasted eleven years.
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The Three Families Torn Apart
The first victim was Nancy Dunning. She was the "Queen of Del Ray," a beloved real estate agent and the wife of the then-Sheriff, James Dunning. On December 5, 2003, she was found shot to death in her home. For a long time, the investigation went nowhere. People even whispered about the husband. You've heard that story before—the spouse is always the first suspect. It took a decade to clear his name, which is just tragic when you think about it.
Then, things went quiet. For ten years.
Fast forward to November 2013. Ronald Kirby, a high-profile transportation planner, was gunned down in his home. Then, just months later in February 2014, Ruthanne Lodato, a popular music teacher, was killed the same way. This time, there was a witness. A caregiver in the home was shot but survived. She described a man with a graying beard and a "shaggy" look.
The pattern was finally undeniable. A small-caliber weapon. Midday shootings. Front doors. The Charles Severance serial killer profile was starting to emerge, even if the police didn't have a name yet.
Why Did He Do It?
The "why" is where things get truly weird. Most serial killers have some complex psychological compulsion or a twisted sexual motive. Severance? He was just mad.
He had lost a child custody battle in Alexandria years earlier. In his mind, the city’s "elite"—the judges, the sheriffs, the people who kept the wheels of society turning—had "kidnapped" his son. He spent years stewing in that resentment. He didn't just want his son back; he wanted to punish the entire "enforcement class" of the city.
He wasn't some criminal mastermind. He was a guy with a grudge and a notebook.
The Evidence That Sealed It
When police finally caught up to him in West Virginia, they found his journals. These weren't just diaries; they were a "Manifesto of Hate." He wrote about the "Parable of the Knocker." Basically, it was a step-by-step guide to his crimes:
- Knock.
- Talk.
- Enter.
- Kill.
- Exit.
He literally wrote it down. It’s wild how often these guys think they’re being profound when they’re just being monsters. Prosecutors used these writings to bridge the gap because they didn't have DNA or the murder weapon. What they had was a mountain of "circumstantial" evidence that was so specific it couldn't be ignored.
The red Ford Escort. The red hat. The sightings in the neighborhood. It all pointed back to one man.
The Trial and the "Sadism" Outburst
During his sentencing in 2016, Severance didn't show remorse. He didn't even seem to care about the families in the room. He actually shouted "sadism" at the judge. He ranted about his right to carry weapons and quoted 16th-century religious texts.
He was sentenced to three consecutive life terms plus 48 years. No parole. He is currently serving that time in a Virginia prison, and honestly, the city of Alexandria breathes easier knowing that.
What We Can Learn From the Case
You’d think a serial killer operating for over a decade would be easier to catch, right? But the gaps between his crimes—that ten-year lull after Nancy Dunning’s murder—threw everyone off. It’s a reminder that violence doesn't always follow a predictable timeline.
Actionable Insights from the Severance Case:
- Trust the Witness: The survival of the caregiver in the Lodato shooting was the literal turning point. Without her description, the link to the previous murders might have taken years longer to solidify.
- Motive Matters, Even if it’s Weird: Investigators spent years looking for "traditional" motives. It wasn't until they looked at his history with the local court system that the pieces fit.
- The Danger of the "Loner" Narrative: Severance ran for mayor and Congress. He wasn't hiding in a basement; he was hiding in plain sight, using fringe politics to mask his growing instability.
The story of the Charles Severance serial killer isn't just a true crime curiosity. It’s a deep dive into how a single person’s unresolved anger can fracture a community. Today, the names of Nancy Dunning, Ron Kirby, and Ruthanne Lodato are remembered for their lives, not just the way they were taken. If you find yourself in Alexandria, you'll see the impact they had—and the resilience of a city that refused to let a "knocker" win.
Keep an eye on historical crime archives for updates on any potential future appeals, though the Virginia Court of Appeals has been pretty firm in upholding his convictions as of late. For those interested in the legal mechanics, Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter’s book, The Parable of the Knocker, provides the most detailed look at how they finally boxed him in.