Gloucester Sheriff’s Office investigators have arrested a man and have warrants on file for a woman charging each in connection with the 2002 shooting death of Lloyd Edward Busch. Busch was shot once in the head while working on a vehicle in the yard of his Gloucester Point home during the evening of Jan. 23, 2002. He died as a result of his injury about two months later at the age of 44.

GSO Major Darrell Warren said 47-year-old Ralph Edward Frost Jr. of Kitchener Drive in Gloucester was arrested Friday and charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, use of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felony, and receiving a stolen firearm. Frost was held without bail this week.

Warren said the GSO has warrants in hand for 46-year-old Anita Louise Howard charging her with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, use of a firearm in committing a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Warren said Howard’s last known address was in Portsmouth and that she is currently serving time in a West Virginia state prison on unrelated charges. He did not know when her extradition would be sought.

During a press conference Monday, Warren said the charges followed "seven years of frustration and hard work." He said a decision last summer made at the suggestion of chief investigator John Schick put the cold case exclusively in the hands of investigator Jamie Sharp who was not in investigations when the crime occurred. "We felt like there were a lot of questions left unanswered," Warren said, "like there were people who knew things and they weren’t talking."

Warren said giving the case to Sharp alone was key to breaking the case. "This put a fresh set of eyes on everything and he was able to develop fresh leads. Before, we would work a lead into the ground and have to start over again. By giving it to him exclusively, it was kept fresh in his mind," Warren said. He said other GSO investigators stepped up to help cover for Sharp while he pursued the unsolved murder. "It was a teamwork effort, and no one ever complained."

This past spring, Virginia State Police Special Agent Keenon Hook was asked to assist Sharp with the case. "When we saw Jamie was making some headway, we asked for Hood’s help," Warren said. Also assisting were GSO investigator Scott Little and Schick. Warren would not release any details or motive in the case, saying he did not want to jeopardize any aspect of its prosecution. He did say Busch and Frost were "acquaintances."

The press conference was attended by Busch’s wife, Deborah, his four adult children and his brother and sister. "For a long time we didn’t think anybody was doing anything," Deborah said Tuesday while recovering from the shock of the news in her family’s home off Cappahosic Road. "Each year that goes by you think it’s less and less of a chance somebody will be charged."

Deborah said her family was asked to come to the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, following Frost’s arrest, because there had been some developments. "I asked if it was good news and they said yes, but I never thought it would be that good," she said of being informed of the arrest. "It’s like you’re in shock, disbelief. Finally they had gotten this far. You feel like you’re dreaming."

Deborah said she knew Frost through other people, but not personally. About Howard, she said, "I’ve never heard of her, and her picture doesn’t look familiar. She’s definitely a stranger to us, but I don’t know if Ed knew her." Busch’s son, Ernie, who was 18 when his father was killed, noted that Frost’s arrest came on the date of his father’s birthday. "I don’t think the investigators knew that," his mother said of the coincidence.

"I’m just glad we can have a little peace, peace of mind," said Busch’s daughter Dolly. Her mother agreed, "It was a shock but we’re so glad Ed’s at rest now…finally."