by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
LANCASTER—John Randolph “Rand” Hooper of Richmond will appear before Judge Charles Poston on January 29 for a preliminary hearing on multiple felonies, including murder.
A multi-jurisdictional grand jury issued three indictments December 2 against Hooper in relation to the August 2017 death of his friend, Graham McCormick of Atlanta. McCormick and others were visiting Hooper at his family’s home in Irvington when he drowned in Carter Creek as a result of trauma sustained during a boating accident. Initial charges of involuntary manslaughter and failure to render aid against Hooper were nolle prossed in October at the request of special prosecutor King William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Kite.
In dismissing those charges, Kite stated more investigation was needed and he later sought new indictments. In addition to felony homicide…
