A Norfolk man who admitted to brutally stabbing his father and grandmother in early 2024 has been found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state-run psychiatric facility.
On August 15, Norfolk Circuit Court Judge David W. Lannetti ordered 22-year-old Ronnie Nyamekye Campbell into inpatient psychiatric treatment after two separate court-appointed doctors agreed he was legally insane at the time of the killings.
The violence unfolded just before 5 p.m. on February 8, 2024, at the Dunkirk Avenue home Campbell shared with his grandmother, Arneta Marie Thagard, 64. When his 46-year-old father, Ronnie Credle Campbell, arrived outside, the younger Campbell reportedly went outside, saw him on the sidewalk, and launched a fatal attack.
His father, who used a wheelchair after losing a leg, couldn’t defend himself. After stabbing his father multiple times, Campbell then turned on his grandmother inside the house.
Both victims were taken to the hospital. Ms. Thagard was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. Mr. Campbell died eight hours later from his injuries.
“Full Confession, But Legally Insane”
Campbell was arrested at the scene and confessed to the killings. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of stabbing in the commission of murder.
During court proceedings, Campbell’s attorneys asked for a psychological evaluation to determine whether he was sane at the time of the killings. The first doctor concluded he was legally insane. A second evaluation, requested by prosecutors, came to the same conclusion.
In Virginia, someone is considered legally insane if — because of a “mental disease or defect” — they either can’t understand their actions, don’t know right from wrong, or can’t stop themselves from acting. This includes both psychotic disorders and intellectual disabilities.
Judge Lannetti accepted Campbell’s insanity plea on March 27, 2025, and placed him in the custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Over the last several months, doctors evaluated Campbell’s risk to himself and others and determined that he needs to be housed in a secure facility.
Next Review in 2026
Campbell is now committed to inpatient psychiatric care for the next year. The court will revisit his case on August 28, 2026, to assess whether he still poses a threat or requires continued hospitalization.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi emphasized the tragedy of the case — and the broader issues it reflects.
“It is tragic that Mr. Campbell’s father and grandmother are dead as a result of Mr. Campbell’s mental illness,” said Fatehi. “Had Mr. Campbell been sane, he would be in prison. Since he was legally insane, he is where he belongs: in a locked treatment facility… We need the federal government to increase, not decrease, its financial support for mental health, or else we will continue to see tragedies like these play out in our country.”
This case is a reminder of the complex intersection between mental illness and public safety — and the limited resources available for prevention and treatment.