The best news source and report in the Alexandria murder cases apparently come from West Virginia.

Investigators locally may have hit a stone wall, again, in the Ruthanne Lodato murder. They've been stymied for some time now in the November shooting death of Ronald Kirby and the Dec. 5 2003 killing of Nancy Dunning.

No facts seem to be forthcoming.

Each of these are the highest of the highest profile cases in the city which occurred in the Del Ray section. Obviously prosecutors can't and won't comment on the probe. Police officials repeat the words "nothing has changed on our end."

Last week, the media was all agog on a "person of interest" nabbed sitting in a public library in Wheeling, W.Va., not on a warrant issued by Alexandria's magistrate's office. The breaking story came from a national correspondent.

The man of interest is Charles R. Severance, 53, once a candidate for mayor of Alexandria. His current address is listed in Loudoun County and that's where an arrest warrant was issued on a fugitive weapons charge by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Then the story broke. Inquiries found Severance had visited the Russian embassy in Washington and denied asylum.

A sketch of the suspect in the Lodato case has been distributed far and wide. A mugshot of Severance in Wheeling has been compared. Several local officials publicly admitted to noticing a similarity in the images; one said he remembered his political campaigning. They apparently didn't seem to recognize him in the police "sketch." Police didn't report any recognition to the press.

Some in the media and officials question whether there is a city news blackout on the facts of all three cases. With appreciation to West Virginia police and court officials, the public knows now that Severance is wanted by Virginia.

The Wheeling prosecutor told the judge Virginia authorities want Severance "in connection with three murders and they believe he is a danger to the public." Alexandria police have not commented on this.

Severance told the court he doesn't want to be extradited to Virginia. The judge ordered him held without bond. He will come back when a Governor's Bond is served in Wheeling. But, his first stop will be in Loudoun County. No word has been released that police will obtain warrants to hold him for Alexandria.

City police have made attempts to calm residents. Open doors carefully and know visitors or delivery persons, they say.

There is no question that many citizens are now armed to the teeth. Many privately admit holding an armed pistol when answering doorbells. Who can blame them?

Just when Severance returns to Virginia is a good question but it probably will be soon. Just when he comes to the William G. Truesdale Detention Center on Mill Road is another good query.

Will he still be a person of interest when extradition is completed? The public won't have any idea unless and until prosecutors and detectives are able to release more definitive details.

The question still remains, who is the serial killer?

Are officials any closer to solving the three murders?