For Immediate Release

Martinsville, VA - On Tuesday, November 15, 2011, U.S. Marshals from Roanoke, assisted by units of the Henry Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia State Police Tactical Team executed a search warrant at a mobile home in rural Henry Co. attempting to locate fugitive Steven Ray Bishop, age 40, of Bassett, Virginia. Bishop was wanted by the Virginia State Police for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and by the Patrick Co. Sheriff’s Office for Failure to Appear on Drug Distribution Charges. Bishop has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple sex offense convictions of taking indecent liberties with children in 1991 and 1992.

Fugitive Bishop was not located at the residence, but an active meth lab was located within the mobile home. After further investigation, it was determined that Bishop might be staying at an associate’s residence in Martinsville, VA.

Investigators responded to 1104 Drewry Road in Martinsville to look for Bishop. Upon receiving permission to search the residence, officers heard a single gunshot from inside a bedroom and retreated a safe distance to await the arrival of the Tactical team. The Virginia State Police Tactical Team made entry to the residence and discovered fugitive Steven Ray Bishop deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Hazmat teams are in the process of cleaning up the meth lab and the suicide investigation of fugitive Bishop is being conducted by the Martinsville Police Department. No law enforcement officers were injured during this joint law enforcement operation.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

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