Chinese-food delivery driver murdered

By TRACY BELL

Published: July 6, 2008

STAFFORD — A Chinese-food delivery driver missing since Thursday night following an apparent violent abduction in Fredericksburg, has been found murdered, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department.

Two abduction suspects, Jermaine Montgomery, 34, and his girlfriend Marcey White, 36, were arrested at a Wal-Mart in Franklin at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, according to police, who indicated that the investigation from there led to officers discovering the body of the delivery driver, Yong Hui Zhang, in nearby Sussex County.

Franklin is located about two hours south of Fredericksburg.

Police said Montgomery used Zhang’s credit card at the Four Mile Fork Shell station in Spotsylvania County at about 10:45 p.m. on Thursday night, after Zhang’s family reported him missing.

Montgomery and White have been charged with abduction, conspiracy to commit abduction, carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, credit card theft and conspiracy to commit credit card theft.

Police first expressed concern for White’s safety, before naming her as a suspect along with Montgomery. White does not have a listed, last-known address.

Fredericksburg Police Chief David Nye said the department is deeply saddened by “this tragic turn of events.”

“Our hearts go out to the Zhang family for their terrible loss,” he said.

Zhang, 24, left his parents’ China Express Restaurant at about 9:20 p.m. on Thursday night to make three deliveries. When Zhang had not returned to the restaurant, located at 1500 Jefferson Davis Hwy. in Fredericksburg, by closing time, his family called the police.

When officers went to 202 Charles St. — one of the delivery sites — they discovered evidence that indicated a crime was committed, including a large amount of blood. They also found a shoe believed to belong to Zhang.

According to the police, Zhang was presumed to be “gravely injured or incapacitated.”

Neither Zhang nor his vehicle, a bronze 2004 Nissan Sentra, was found at the site.

According to police department Public Information Officer Natatia Bledsoe, the Virginia State Police have assisted in the investigation, along with a police helicopter and police K-9s.

In the area of Bull Church Road in Caroline County on Thursday night and Friday, additional air and ground searches took place.

On Saturday night, police found Zhang’s body in a remote area of Sussex County and discovered his car nearby. Zhang had apparently been carjacked and abducted.

Montgomery and White were inside the Wal-Mart using Zhang’s credit card when they were arrested. Special agents with the Virginia State Police, an FBI agent and members of the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office took them into custody without incident.

Montgomery has family living in that area, according to police.

A third person was in the store with Montgomery and White during the arrest, although that person was not charged.

According to police, the cause of Zhang’s death has not yet been determined. The case is still under investigation.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident is asked to call the Fredericksburg Police Department at (540)373-3122.