Alfreda Lafond Leadbetter, known to some as "Freda," was remembered as a generous and genuine soul. At 47 years old, the Black woman was a mother, wife, and loyal friend, described by those who loved her as spontaneous, loving, spiritual, and caring. She had attended Robert E. Lee and Albert H. Hill schools in the Richmond, Virginia, area. Her life was a valued part of her community, filled with connections to family and friends who cherished her vibrant personality.
That life was cut short on the morning of Wednesday, July 12, 2017, in a motel room in Henrico County, just outside of Richmond. Around 11:35 a.m., police and fire crews were dispatched to the Super 8 motel in the 5100 block of Williamsburg Road for what was reported as a medical emergency. When first responders entered one of the rooms, they found Alfreda Leadbetter unresponsive. It was immediately clear she had suffered significant trauma.
Police on the scene discovered that Ms.
Leadbetter had sustained a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead right there in the motel room. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later confirmed that the gunshot wound was the cause of her death, and the Henrico Police Department officially classified the case as a homicide. The motel, located near the busy Richmond International Airport, became the center of an intensive investigation as detectives worked to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
Investigators from the Henrico Police Department began processing the scene for evidence and seeking information from the public. They urged anyone with knowledge about the incident to contact them or the local Crime Stoppers tip line. For months, the case progressed without public announcements regarding suspects or a motive, leaving friends, family, and the community waiting for answers.
Four months later, in November 2017, the investigation led to a significant development. A Henrico grand jury returned an indictment against 47-year-old Darrell Lamont Cuerton in connection with Alfreda Leadbetter's death. He was charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The indictment also included several drug charges: one count of distribution of a schedule I or II drug and two counts of possession of a schedule I or II drug.
The indictment marked a critical step forward in the case, formally accusing a suspect and moving the matter into the court system. As of the indictment in November 2017, the case against Darrell Cuerton was set to proceed through the Henrico County courts. The investigation by Henrico Police brought the case to the point of prosecution, offering the first measure of official resolution for the family and loved ones of Alfreda Leadbetter. Anyone with information was asked to call Henrico Police at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
