Carny accused of killings

Two missing women and a missing teenage girl were shot to death by a carnival worker who met them through the travelling show, authorities in Virginia say.

James Michael Wright, 23, is accused of killing the women in February and March near his home in a far western corner of rural Virginia.

"Basically, this individual killed three women within about an 18-day period," Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said at a news conference Monday.

Newman said the killings stopped shortly after Wright's truck was damaged in an accident. He said Wright could be classified as a serial killer.

Wright became acquainted with two of the victims through working as a subcontractor for the James H. Drew Carnival, the sheriff said. The 17-year-old was the daughter of one of Wright's co-workers.

Newman identified the victims as 25-year-old Athina Hopson of Johnson City, Tennessee; 22-year-old Elizabeth Marie Vanmeter of Carter County, Tennessee; and 17-year-old Joslyn M. Alsup of Cobb County, Georgia. All three had been reported missing in March.

"We have plans of contacting jurisdictions where that carnival very well may have been to see if they have missing persons," Newman said.

The carnival company released a statement late Tuesday afternoon saying it never employed Wright.

Instead, Wright worked "from time to time" with a travelling livestock show called "Pony Express," the statement said. The show involved horses and other animals and travelled to fairs, festivals and racetracks in the southeastern U.S.

The investigation into Wright began about two weeks ago, authorities said. Police in Johnson City, Tennessee, who were searching for Hopson, zeroed in on Wright because he was the last person seen with her.

A police interview with Wright led to a search of his truck. Hopson's cellphone was found inside, police said.

Wright eventually confessed to killing Hopson and the two other women, Vanmeter and Alsup, police said.

Two bodies were recovered near Wright's home, one from a shallow grave and another near some logs, police said. According to police, Wright has claimed the deaths were accidental.