From staff reports
A recently filed search warrant document reveals the items – including a handgun -- found inside the Wytheville motel room of an accused rape suspect who later hanged himself in jail.
Executed at the Motel Six on Lithia Road on Jan. 8, the warrant was obtained after police said 36-year-old Joseph Samuel Peak escaped house arrest and broke into the Sunny Road residence of his accuser.
In addition to seizing a .380-caliber pistol and ammunition, officers collected three cell phones, an unopened pack of cigarettes, a section of rope, a rifle cartridge, a condom, a ring, a pocketknife, an envelope with residue and a coat.
Police said Peak, who died on Jan. 12 after hanging himself on Jan. 10, fled to the motel after pointing a gun in a man’s face at Seneca Haley’s residence and sparking a manhunt that included a helicopter and tracking dog.
Peak was under house arrest awaiting trial on December 2011 rape, burglary and other charges related to Haley when police said he cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet, made it to her residence and broke into the house while armed with a gun.
Warned by Peak’s mother that Peak had left the Wytheville residence where he was staying, the ex-girlfriend had already fled before Peak arrived.
Haley, who court papers show worked at the Econo Lodge adjacent to Motel Six, was later charged with making obscene telephone calls to Peak’s mother after he died.
She’s supposed to stand trial on the misdemeanor offense on Feb. 23.
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