Prosecutors dropped a murder charge against a Prince William County, Virginia, mother after new evidence came to light just days before she was set to stand trial.
LaToya Crabbe, of Manassas, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of her estranged husband, Curtis, in 2024. She said it was self-defense after he threatened her with a knife.
A new, hours-long recording accessed by prosecutors led them to ask for the charge to be dropped during an emergency hearing Friday morning.
Crabbe long maintained she shot her husband in self-defense, saying he threatened her with a knife and sent texts threatening her family. Her case was set to go to trial next week.
In court, it was said that Crabbe made a recording on her work laptop to capture audio of the interaction with her husband before the shooting.
Prosecutors had said that they recovered the laptop but were having trouble accessing the recording, which was encrypted since it was a government-issued device. Crabbe worked for the U.S. Public Health Service at the time of her husband’s death.
But on Tuesday, they gained access to the recording.
Crabbe’s attorneys say that, during in the five-and-a-half-hour recording, “The clear, distinctive, chilling sound of the switchblade recovered at the scene … springing open” is audible, as well as threats Curtis Crabbe allegedly made before he was shot.
After reviewing that evidence, prosecutors filed a motion to drop the charge, which a judge granted.
The commonwealth’s attorney released a statement saying: “The recording introduces significant evidence that a reasonable jury could interpret as supporting a claim of lawful self-defense.”
Crabbe’s family left the Prince William County Courthouse smiling Friday, as her nearly two-year legal battle came to a close.
“We are happy that we don’t have to continue to endure this hanging over her head and going to trial next week,” Crabbe’s mother, Marilyn Martin, said.
Crabbe’s attorneys fought for the case to be dismissed with prejudice so that she would never be able to be charged in this matter ever again and so that the case would not be hanging over her head for the rest of her life. While that didn’t happen, prosecutors said in court they have no intention to bring back the charge.
“We’re happy it doesn’t ever sound like it’s coming back, but the chance that it could be brought back in the future is just, she shouldn’t have to live under that,” David Daugherty, Crabbe’s attorney, said.
Martin said she feels the same way but is just thankful this deeply painful chapter is over.
“She’s gotta try and get her life together,” Martin said. “She has not been able to heal.”
Getting emotional, Martin apologized, wiped away tears and composed her self before continuing.
“She has not been able to heal from the trauma from this event. So, hopefully she can get counseling to heal from it.”
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