A Mercer County man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of a Bluefield woman. Prosecuting attorney Brian K. Cochran announced that 45-year-old Charles Lee Dawson of Stoney Ridge Road was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder.
Judge Mark Wills also ordered consecutive sentences of 30 years for kidnapping, 2–10 years for use of a firearm during a felony, 1–5 years for wanton endangerment, and 1–5 years each for two counts of gross child neglect.
Dawson was indicted in February 2024 and found guilty by a Mercer county jury on July 31, 2025. The following day, the jury recommended “no mercy,” meaning Dawson will never be eligible for parole. According to Cochran, Dawson shot and killed Keri Michelle Billings in his home on October 9, 2023, while her two young daughters were present.
The children, who recorded the incident and later testified in court, were praised for their bravery. Cochran thanked the jury for their verdict and law enforcement for their investigation, saying he agreed with the judge’s decision to impose the maximum penalties.