Virginia State Police pursuing leads in killing of Herminie man

Virginia State Police are pursuing multiple leads in the weekend stabbing death of a Westmoreland County man whose body was found in a rural ditch near an I-77 exit ramp, authorities said Thursday.

“We’ve received a number of telephone tips we’re still continuing to follow up on,” said First Sgt. Steve Hall of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

He declined further comment because of the ongoing investigation.

Bruce M. Ritchie, 57, of Herminie was found Saturday afternoon near his 2019 white Nissan Sentra in Bland County, just off the interstate exit, according to state police.

A knife was found near his body.

The medical examiner’s office in Roanoke, Va., ruled Ritchie’s death a homicide, determining he died from a single stab wound to his back.

Ritchie, the father of six and grandfather of four, worked for Westinghouse Electric Corp. and was on his way home from a business trip in Georgia, according to family friend Kelsey Lender.

“It’s just unbelievable how he died because he was the kind of guy who’d do anything for anyone,” Lender said.

Ritchie’s wife, Dawn, was in Virginia on Thursday collecting her husband’s belongings and trying to learn more about what happened.

“Everyone who knew Bruce is still stunned,” Lender said. “I can’t imagine what Dawn is going through.”

Ritchie was driving north on I-77 when he pulled off the exit and parked, police said.

Lender said Dawn Ritchie told her that Bruce had called around 10 p.m. Friday to tell her he was pulling over to take medication for a headache and rest.

“That was the last Dawn heard from him,” Lender said.

His body was discovered in a ditch about 100 yards from the highway, police said. The location was eight miles south of the West Virginia border.

Lender, also of Herminie, said she has known the Ritchies for nine years and used to babysit their children.

According to his obituary, Ritchie served 26 years in the Navy as an electronics technician, retiring as senior chief. He served during the Panama Invasion, Desert Storm, Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. He worked at Westinghouse as a nuclear training specialist.

In addition to his wife, he is survived his children, Amanda Golden, and her husband, Joe, and Brenn Ritchie, both of South Carolina; Damon, 13; Lucas, 12; Rylan, 11, and Jerrica, 7; all of Herminie; and four grandchildren.

Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison is in charge of arrangements.

A GoFundMe campaign to benefit the family had reached almost half of its $10,000 goal Thursday afternoon.

Anyone with information regarding Ritchie’s death is asked to contact Virginia State Police at 276-228-3131 or questions@vsp.virginia.gov.