NPD: Spoke with Graves early on in case

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk police say they spoke to a murder suspect early on in the investigation into Phylicia Robinson's disappearance.

According to Chris Amos with the Norfolk Police Department, police interviewed Jamiel Graves, and other neighbors, during the initial investigation into Robinson's disappearance. Robinson was last seen Oct. 3 and lived next door to Graves.

"We spoke with folks, not just on that street, beyond that," Amos said.

Robinson's body was found inside a closet in Graves' apartment Tuesday and he was charged with her murder the next day. Neighbors say Graves' mother was cleaning the apartment and found the body.

Amos says at the time of the questioning, they had no reason to further question Graves. In fact, at that time, they had no reason to believe Robinson was even dead, Amos said.

"We did not find anything [meaning] she would be a murder victim," Amos said. "There were no red flags that said, 'Hey we need to get a cadaver dog over here.'"

Amos says a K-9 Unit was sent to Marlow Avenue Nov. 1, nearly a month after Robinson was last seen.

"One of the dogs actually led us up to a nearby dumpster," Amos said. "We were beginning the process of, 'What landfill picks this dumpster up?' that kind of thing... come to find out that dumpster was taken to an incinerator."

Police were at another dead end. Amos, however, says the department did all that they could at the time.

"It's easy looking back to say, 'Well, you could have... you should have...' the reality is, with the information we had, we did everything we could."

Police have not yet released when or how Robinson died. A vigil in her honor was held Thursday, Nov. 29.

Graves was also arrested earlier this week for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Virginia Beach.