Chesterfield homicides rise sharply in 2025
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Chesterfield saw a big uptick in homicides last year, per a review of crime stats Chesterfield Police shared with Axios.
Why it matters: The region's most populous county is an outlier compared to Richmond and Henrico.
By the numbers: There were 20 homicides in Chesterfield in 2025, nearly double the 12 the county recorded in 2024 and way up from the seven it had in 2023.
- Henrico, meanwhile, reported just three homicides in 2025, the fewest for the county in 60 years, and a 13% decrease in overall crime year-over-year, per Henrico Citizen.
- And Richmond had 54 homicides last year, the same number the city reported in 2024, which was the lowest in recent years, The Richmonder reported. Plus, the city had a 13% drop in overall major crimes.
Yes, but: Chesterfield did see a drop in overall crime year-over-year and across nearly every category of offense, save homicides and arson, reflecting national trends.
- Plus, incidents of robbery, vandalism and theft were the lowest in five years.
What they're saying: "Four of our 20 homicides in 2025 were the result of neglect of vulnerable adults or children, and that is unusually high," Chesterfield Police spokesperson Liz Caroon said in a statement to Axios.
- She added: "Sixteen of the 20 cases have been cleared by arrest, and one was 'exceptionally cleared' by the death of the offender. Three remain pending."
- Among those was a homicide for which a Midlothian mother was charged with abuse and neglect in connection with the death of her 28-year-old son, who had autism, per WWBT.