Angeline admits to murders By COBY LaRUE Staff INDEPENDENCE, Va. — Betty Jean Angeline pleaded guilty in Grayson County Circuit Court last Friday to four charges, including two counts of murder. Angeline was indicted on Aug. 23 for the crimes, which included the first degree murder of Linda Hines McKnight on Jan. 31, 2001 and the capital murder of Glenda S. Jenkins on March 23, 2001. Both women were killed in their homes in Grayson County. The other two charges were for using a firearm in the commission of a felony. As part of her plea agreement with Commonwealth Attorney J.D. Bolt's office, Angeline was sentenced to two life sentences without parole for the murder charges and eight years for the two firearms violations. The sentences will run consecutively.

McKnight, a former Sparta resident, was shot in her own home near Independence.

Her mother, Faye Hines of Sparta, said Linda grew up here and lived here — including graduating from Sparta High School — until she married Joe Paul McKnight of Independence. The couple had one daughter, Tammy. Hines said the murder and trial were difficult for the entire family.

"It's been hard on all of us," she said.

As for Angeline pleading guilty, Hines said, "We had no idea she was going to waive all of her rights. We went over there for court Friday and she just pleaded guilty."

Earlier, Angeline's defense team had filed motions to separate the two murder cases. Hines said she thought the court would hear those motions argued, not hear Angeline's guilty plea.

As for her satisfaction with the way the case went, Hines said she felt like the matter was ‘closed out.' She also noted that she did not want to say anything to hurt Angeline's family, saying that they couldn't help their mother's actions.

But no matter what actions had been taken in court, "It can never replace our loved one," Hines reflected. "Nothing can."

According to a press release from Bolt, Angeline, "by pleading guilty to these very serious offenses, has acknowledged that the evidence against her would sustain convictions in all four cases. By entering this plea, (Angeline) has waived or severely limited several of her constitutional rights, including her rights to appeal."

Angeline also recanted earlier statements she had made about having homosexual relationships with the two victims, noting that she made those statements to throw off investigators.

"The Commonwealth feels that both victims in these cases were of impeccable character and fine, upstanding citizens in the community," Bolt's press release said. "The Commonwealth knows that these two individuals will be sorely missed and sincerely hopes that this disposition today will provide some degree of closure for the families of each of the victims and the citizens of Grayson County."

According to the release, Bolt's office consulted with the victim's families prior to negotiating the plea agreement.

Bolt said through the release that he felt the death penalty was warranted; however, the surety of the life sentences attained in the plea agreement outweighs the uncertainties of a capital murder trial.

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