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# Bill Martin’s death remains under investigation by Richmond Police
- URL: https://www.richmonder.org/bill-martins-death-remains-under-investigation-by-richmond-police/
- Published: 2026-04-14T23:18:48.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-14T23:18:48.000Z
- Description: "There are some things that we’ve requested regarding some subpoena data that we’re waiting on."
- Author: Sarah Vogelsong
- Tags: Local News

Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards said last week his department is still investigating the death of longtime Valentine museum director Bill Martin.

Martin was killed on Dec. 27, at age 71, after being struck while walking in a crosswalk just blocks from the Valentine, at 10th and Broad.

Police initially determined an adult male driver "made a left turn from North 10th Street onto the eastbound lanes of East Broad Street and struck Martin while he was in the crosswalk."

At the time of the accident, police said that the driver remained on the scene.

“There are some things that we’ve requested regarding some subpoena data that we’re waiting on, and then we’ll be able to provide the entire case to the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, who will ultimately make a decision on any potential charges,” Edwards said [at a crime briefing on April 9](https://www.richmonder.org/an-early-look-at-crime-in-2026-violent-crime-down-burglaries-of-shuttered-vape-shops-and-a-lot-of-traffic-tickets/).

Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin is the one who ultimately decides whether to pursue charges.

[Bill Martin was known as the Valentine’s leader. He was also a quiet champion for Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community.“Bill was doing this work before anybody else.”![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)The RichmonderIan Stewart![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/martin_valentine.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/bill-martin-was-known-as-the-valentines-leader-he-was-also-a-quiet-champion-for-richmonds-lgbtq-community/)

Arrests have been made in two other recent pedestrian deaths — those of [Kristen Tolbert](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/police-arrest-semmes-hit-and-run-feb-18-2026) and [Hope Cartwright.](https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/41-year-old-charged-after-woman-killed-in-hit-and-run-on-richmonds-east-cary-street/)

Martin spent 32 years at the Valentine. In a statement after his death, the museum said Martin dedicated his life "to telling Richmond’s stories with care, integrity and a deep love for this community."

*Contact Reporter Sarah Vogelsong at* [*svogelsong@richmonder.org*](mailto:svogelsong@richmonder.org)

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