The small town of Gretna was jolted on the evening of Sunday, September 14, 2025, when deputies from the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Derby Road residence and found 64-year-old Cynthia Cindy Cline Rowland dead at the scene from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead there and her body was sent to the medical examiner’s office in Roanoke for autopsy.

Although the initial 911 call reported a self-inflicted gunshot, investigators shifted their focus after arriving and arrested Cynthia’s 66-year-old husband, Lonnie Rowland, who was taken into custody shortly after deputies arrived. Lonnie Rowland has been charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony; he was arraigned the following Monday and is being held without bond. No motive has been released.

Neighbors offered conflicting descriptions of the couple, with some calling them happy and others alleging Lonnie was dishonest and dangerous. If anyone knew Cynthia or has information about what happened on Derby Road that night, please share what you know with local investigators.