Mangekian arrested, charged with first degree murder

On April 23, 2021, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Cory Steven Mangekian was charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Sandra Lee Mangekian. He is currently being held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail.

Deputy Gerald Downey reported earlier this afternoon that a private citizen provided a tip that helped located Mangekian at the Food Lion on Tyler Avenue in Radford. Mangekian was located and taken into custody Friday at about 12:30 p.m. Cory Mangekian is the son of Sandra Lee Mangekian.

A special thanks to Radford City Police Department for their quick response when the suspect was located in their jurisdiction, the Virginia State Police Special Crimes Division, the United States Marshalls Service who verified that the stolen vehicle was in Georgia after the crime was committed, and to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division for the countless hours working on this case.

A special thanks goes to the citizens, both of Pulaski County and neighboring jurisdictions who contacted our office with information and ultimately located the suspect and stolen vehicle in Radford City after he returned to the area. The success of our agency is dependent on the relationship we have with our community, and today, that relationship speaks volumes as we work towards closure for a victim many of you never met. I want to thank each of you for your continued support for my office, but most importantly, for the support you show the men and women serving Pulaski County.

At this time, no further information concerning this incident will be released.

Sheriff Mike Worrell