05/28/2026
From the Office of the Louisa County Commonwealth Attorney
---Man Guilty in October Hit & Run Death---
- Defendant argued he didn't stop because he thought he hit a deer. –
Louisa – Today, Louisa Commonwealth’s Attorney Rusty McGuire announced the conviction of Donald Mark Chappell, 59, of Louisa. Following a jury trial, Chappell was found guilty of failing to stop at the scene of a crash that killed Lee Ann Lobereau, 67, on October 25, 2025.
According to the evidence presented by McGuire at trial, Lobereau left her home around 7:00 p.m. to walk to a nearby Dollar General for groceries. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station later showed her walking home around 8:00 p.m. carrying a flashlight. At approximately 9:02 p.m., cameras from a nearby church captured a pickup truck traveling in the area where Lobereau was later struck and killed. Her body was discovered on the side of the road with her groceries scattered across more than 35 feet of roadway. Approximately 15 minutes later, a passing family discovered the scene and called 911.
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office immediately began canvassing the area. Investigators obtained footage from church cameras that captured the suspect vehicle and also recovered red paint chips from the debris field. At approximately 12:40 a.m. on October 26, 2025, investigators went to Chappell’s residence, where they located his red pickup truck hidden behind the home. The truck’s hood had been removed and was found inside the residence, where deputies also detected a strong chemical odor consistent with efforts to clean the vehicle.
During trial, the Commonwealth argued that Chappell knew, or should have known, he had struck a person. Prosecutors pointed to evidence that Chappell turned his vehicle around and drove back through the debris field after the collision, as well as evidence showing his attempts to clean and conceal the truck during the hours before law enforcement located him. During closing argument, McGuire told the jury: “You would not treat a dog the way Ms. Lobereau was treated.”
Chappell testified in his own defense and claimed he believed he had struck a deer. The jury only deliberated for 10 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Following the conviction, McGuire stated: “Five years ago, someone might have gotten away with this. Today, Ring cameras, IP cameras, and other surveillance technology on nearly every block are helping law enforcement solve crimes and bring justice to victims and their families.”
Chappell faces up to five years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2026. McGuire also praised the investigation conducted by the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police, stating that: “justice in this case was made possible through the leadership, professionalism, and determination of the investigators and law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly to solve this crime.”
