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Original suspect not cleared by DNA evidence of another

A man once convicted of a 1975 slaying of an elderly Emporia woman has not yet been exonerated by DNA testing that implicates another man.

Virginia State Police said last week that a review of old DNA evidence led to the arrest of Thomas Pope Jr. of Emporia on charges of rape and first-degree murder.

Authorities say biological evidence collected during the investigation of the rape and murder of 88-year-old Eva King Jones matched DNA evidence taken from Pope after another conviction.

Another man, Curtis Jasper Moore of Emporia, was convicted for the crime. He appealed, and prosecutors dropped the charges. Moore died of natural causes about four years ago.

State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller says the DNA findings do not yet exonerate Moore. Geller says authorities are reviewing the investigation, evidence and witness statements.

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