The man accused of stabbing a woman at a Christiansburg business earlier this year will face a jury trial beginning Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Cyron Stokes, 25, is accused of killing Amy Byrd Shrader, 58, at Anderson Audiology on Oak Tree Boulevard Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.
Police say Stokes entered the building and attacked the woman then fled the scene. He was arrested after a short pursuit on foot in the Cambria area of town. He was found hiding underneath a home and was taken without incident.
Schrader was pronounced dead at the scene, and police said Stokes had been a client of the business. A steak knife was found underneath Shrader’s body.
During a previous court appearance, Stokes said he was tired of America and wanted the death penalty. This week, his attorney and the Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney office both filed pre-trial motions to be considered before the trial starts.
A second employee at Anderson suffered minor injuries in the incident and was later released with non-life threatening injuries. When arrested, police discovered a small amount of blood on the suspect’s shoe and car’s door handle.
So far, the prosecution has not said if they will seek any sentence other than life in prison.
Stokes has said he would represent himself during the trial. Since then, the Montgomery County court has appointed him an attorney.
The defendant, who is deaf, was communicated during his past court hearings with the help for an interpreter.
