JAMES CITY COUNTY — The Dec. 14 death of a 79-year-old James City County resident in the 3800 block of Cromwell Lane has been ruled accidental.
According to the James City County Police Department, after a thorough review of extensive evidence, multiple interviews, and close collaboration with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk, the investigation concluded that no foul play was suspected.
On the morning of Dec. 14 at approximately 7:40 a.m., James City County Police and Fire personnel responded to a report of an unresponsive male, later identified as 79-year-old Cornelius “Neal” Clarke, in the front yard of a residence. Clarke was discovered with injuries to the head and James City County medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Clarke was the owner of the former Capriccio Ristorante in New Town.
The department’s Criminal Investigations Unit then assumed responsibility for the investigation, and the body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk, where an autopsy was conducted on Monday, Dec. 16 to determine the cause and manner of death.
