Account
Feb 15, 2013
Jun 15, 2020
James
Britt
62
49
71 inches
180 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the spring of 2011, a 49-year-old man named James Kenneth Britt, also known as Jim or Jimmy, vanished from his home in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was a male with brown hair and green eyes, and his absence would unravel a grim story of violence and betrayal. The last time anyone saw him was on April 11, 2011. When family members were unable to reach him, they requested that police perform a welfare check at his residence on Moonlit Avenue four days later. What the officers discovered inside the home was a scene of brutality that immediately signaled the worst. Upon entering James Britt's house, investigators were met with a disturbing sight. A significant amount of blood was spattered across the walls, floors, and ceiling, so much so that it had soaked through the carpet to the padding below. It was evident that someone had tried to conceal the evidence by using bleach and painting over the stains. Adding to the gruesome discovery, five of Britt's teeth were found at the scene. The sheer volume of blood led investigators to the conclusion that a homicide had occurred, and in August 2011, James Britt was declared legally dead, though his body was nowhere to be found. The investigation soon focused on a man from Florida named Freddie Lee Hall Jr., with whom Britt had a business relationship. Britt was in the business of selling high-end used cars, and Hall performed work on them. In the weeks leading up to his disappearance, the two had argued on at least three occasions over money Hall allegedly owed Britt for work that was never completed. The evidence against Freddie Lee Hall Jr. began to mount. Investigators found his fingerprints in several areas of Britt's home, including the master bedroom. A 9mm cartridge case was discovered in the house, and a receipt for 9mm bullets purchased by Hall just five days before Britt was presumed to have been killed was found in Hall's car. Two of Britt's cars were located at the homes of two women Hall had been staying with, and he was in possession of the titles, claiming Britt was selling them to him. However, Britt's friends disputed this, saying he was fond of those particular cars and would not have sold them. In April 2012, Hall was charged with Britt's murder, and in January 2013, he was convicted of first-degree murder, with the jury recommending a sentence of life in prison without parole. It is believed that after the murder, Hall disposed of Britt's body, possibly by rolling it in a tan, Berber carpet, and then traveled to Palmetto, Florida, just four days after Britt was last seen. Despite the conviction, the case remains a source of pain for Britt's loved ones, as his body has never been recovered. The brother of the hardworking and intelligent man, who was unmarried and had no children, continues to hope for closure. The case of James Britt is a tragic story of a business relationship turned deadly, leaving a family forever searching for the remains of their loved one.
Apr 11, 2011
Portsmouth
Virginia
Portsmouth City
13091
Portsmouth Police Department
Portsmouth
Virginia
Portsmouth City
23704
711 Crawford St, Virginia
7573935300
Local
Law Enforcement
2011-004852
2011-04-15
Portsmouth Police Department
Brown
Green
Green
06/07/2026
