Late Thursday night in the quiet community of Haysi, Virginia, neighbors were shaken when authorities say a local man admitted to killing his own father with a hatchet.
Dickenson County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Presley Branch Road just before 10 p.m. Thursday after a 911 dispatcher got a chilling call. Sheriff Jeremy Fleming says the caller, later identified as 44‑year‑old James David Gilbert, told dispatchers he had just killed his father with a hatchet.
When deputies arrived at the house, they found 69‑year‑old Craig David Gilbert in the living room with severe head injuries. Despite efforts by first responders, Craig Gilbert was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators noticed the wounds matched what had been described in the emergency call.
James Gilbert, who authorities say made the call himself, was taken into custody without a struggle. He now faces a charge of first‑degree murder and is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Haysi.
Deputies are still piecing together exactly what led up to the deadly confrontation. At this point, investigators have not said whether anyone else was in the home or if there were prior signs of trouble between father and son. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with additional information to come forward.
Locals described the incident as shocking and heartbreaking for the small community where quiet nights are the norm. Friends and neighbors of the Gilbert family say they are struggling to understand how things reached such a tragic end.
Craig Gilbert’s life stretched over nearly seven decades — colleagues and relatives remember him for his warmth and presence in the community. His loss has left a deep mark among those who knew him.
As the investigation continues, court records will likely reveal more about what prosecutors plan to present. For now, James Gilbert remains in custody without bond, awaiting his next court appearance.
