Trial starts in VB for man accused of killing 3 people in 2 cities

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – “Take me,” and “let the dog live” may have been the last words from 31-year-old Czavi’er Hill.

Hill was a minister, Norfolk State University graduate with two advanced degrees, business owner and homeowner. Hill owned her home on Baccalaureate Drive in Virginia Beach. Her life was cut short after an argument with her boyfriend of two years, Cola Beale IV. 

In a 2022 jail interview with 10 On Your Side, Beale admits to killing Hill before going on a crime spree. Beale also killed the man he called ‘pops’ Clifton Baxter, 73-year-old and his cousin Downing McLean.

Nearly two years after the deadly crime spree, Beale is on trial for two counts of aggravated murder, torturing an animal causing death, arson and gun charges. 

Virginia Beach Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kari Kolar and Virginia Beach Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Defricke shared parts of a nearly 2-hour interrogation interview. 

The medical experts, forensic analysts and first responders will testify on Tuesday.

Kolar explained that the crimes happened in four different locations. 

Timeline of crimes according to the Commonwealth:

• March 22, 2022 – bound, gagged and shot Hill
• March 24, 2022– shot Baxter
• March 25, 2022 – burned Hill’s home, car and dog
• March 25 to Mar. 30, 2022 – Beale hid from police, watched news coverage
• March 30, 2022 – Beale capture and confessed

Trevor Robinson, Beale’s defense attorney, is not disputing the deaths or events. Robinson added that, during the trial, the jury will learn more about the stress and anxiety Beale said he was experiencing. 

The first witness Monday was Virginia Beach Police lead Homicide Detective Chris Jachimiak, who interviewed Beale after he was arrested in Hampton by SWAT. 

In the nearly 1-hour-and-40-minute interview, Beale said he killed Hill because “her parents were trying to orchestrate our relationship.” 

Beale added that he was primarily upset about his probation from a previous robbery charge and a sex battery charge from when he was 11-years-old, later brought up when he was in his 20s. 

In the interrogation, Beale also admitted to killing Baxter then setting Hill’s house, car and dog on fire, followed by killing his cousin in Norfolk. Beale added that he killed Baxter for not giving him money, and then his cousin for laughing at the dead body of Hill.

Beale insisted he wasn’t being “heard,” adding “I felt dead inside. When you’re dead, you don’t care what dies.”

The jury viewed several Ring camera videos from Hill’s home, obtained during the VBPD investigation. In a March 22 video, the jury could hear an argument between Hill and Beale, then a loud boom. 

Jachimiak confirmed Hill’s voice was not heard anymore after that sound. Beale is seen leaving her house several times after the noise. Then, Beale invited two people to take items from her home. 

Another Ring video shows Hill’s mom stopping by her house but not coming inside. Two additional clips show Beale go inside of the house with a gas can, wearing a towel over his face and Hill’s car on fire.

Robinson questioned the lack of sound on the beginning of the police interview video during the reading of Beale’s Miranda rights. Jachimiak explained that someone must manually start the recording. Jachimiak said after realizing the audio was not recording, he confirmed with Beale he was read his Miranda rights.

The jury trial in Virginia Beach will pick up Tuesday morning. It is expected to last throughout the week.

Pre-trial in Norfolk for the death of his cousin is scheduled for May 17.