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Nicole Lovell Case Update

2/3 UPDATE: The bail hearing for a Virginia Tech student charged as an accessory in the stabbing death of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell was canceled today.

Natalie Keepers’ attorney had requested the hearing after she was charged with accessory after the fact, and illegally disposing of Lovell’s body.

A charge of being an accessory BEFORE the fact has since been filed. Another Virginia Tech student, David Eisenhauer, is charged with kidnapping and murder.
 
Both he and Keepers are being held without bail-their next court appearance is set for March 28th.
 
2/2 UPDATE: Initial autopsy reports indicate 13-year-old Nicole Lovell of Blacksburg was stabbed to death on January 27th - the same day she went missing.

Also today, Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettit announced that 19-year-old Natalie Marie Keepers, a Virginia Tech student from Laurel Maryland, was charged with being an accessory to first degree murder before the fact.

“That charge carries a term up from 20 years to life in prison. In addition, she remains charged with concealing a dead body; a felony carrying a maximum term of 10 years, and with being an accessory after the fact; a misdemeanor that carries a maximum term of 12 months in jail.”

Keepers will have an arraignment hearing on Wednesday, February 3rd at 12:30 on the new charge.

Another Virginia Tech student, David Eisnehauer, 18, also of Maryland, is charged with the kidnapping and first-degree murder of Lovell.

Eisenhauer and Keepers remain held without bond.

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Two Virginia Tech students made their first appearance in court Monday, in connection with the death of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell of Blacksburg, whose body was found in Surry County, North Carolina this weekend.

18-year-old David Eisenhauer is charged with felony abduction, occurring on or around January 27, and first degree murder, which occurred on or around January 30th.

19-year-old Natalie Keepers faces a felony charge of improper disposal of a body, and a separate misdemeanor charge of accessory after the fact in commission of a felony.

Eisenhauer and Keepers are both from Maryland.  They have preliminary hearings scheduled for March 28 and remain in jail without bond.

Nicole Lovell

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The search continues for a missing Blacksburg Middle School student.  Her family members say she apparently ran away just after midnight Wednesday, January 27th.

13-year-old Nichole Lovell is without the prescription medication she requires each day for a previous liver transplant.

Blacksburg Police Department Lieutenant Mike Albert says investigators are treating it as a very serious.

He says, “We want the citizens of Blacksburg and the surrounding area to know that they will see an increase of heavy law enforcement presence in Blacksburg. We don’t want that to be a spark of concern but a spark of interest because we need their help.”

Investigators today continued working at an apartment complex off Fairfax Road in Blacksburg.

Tracks in the snow have been marked and a window on the first floor of an apartment is being tested for fingerprints.

Anyone with information about Lovell’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Blacksburg Police Department.