John Wayne Mackay (Photo courtesy Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)
A grand jury has handed down capital murder indictments for a trio of people accused of participating in a murder-for-hire scheme that investigators believe led to the death of a James City County woman in July.
Capital murder is the only state charge in Virginia that carries the death penalty. Should they be convicted, they will either be sentenced to death or to life in prison without parole.
Williamsburg-James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney Nate Green said the charges were handed down Wednesday for the “premeditated and deliberate killing” of 42-year-old Dana Patterson Mackay. She was found dead at her home in the Seasons Trace subdivision off Longhill Road on July 27.
Nicole Houchin (Photo courtesy James City County Police Department)
Two days later, police arrested Mackay’s husband, 42-year-old John Wayne Mackay, and his girlfriend, 35-year-old Nicole Michelle Houchin. In November, Nicole Houchin’s husband, Nace, was charged. All three were facing one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to face first-degree murder prior to the handing down of the capital murder indictments.
Investigators believe John Mackay and Nicole Houchin met while working at an AutoZone. John Mackay was stationed at Fort Eustis at the time. From there, it is believed the three conspired to murder Dana Mackay, with Nace Houchin allegedly agreeing to accept $20,000 for the killing. John Mackay maintains he was in New York at the time of the murder.
Nace Eugene Houchin Jr. (Courtesy Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail)
To build their case, investigators used thousands of electronic communications exchanged between John Mackay and Nicole Houchin.
“Will she be gone before I get back?” John Mackay is said to have written, also writing, “I’ll be forever in debt to you and will show you every day.”
“Trying to make it happen asap,” Nicole Houchin replied, according to a criminal complaint filed against her in Williamsburg-James City County District Court. According to investigators, Nicole Houchin told John Mackay on a July 27 call that “it’s done” and “there was a lot of screaming.”
The last capital murder case to go to trial in Williamsburg or James City County was that of Malcolm Green in 2003.
Related Coverage:
- Third Person in Seasons Trace Murder-For-Hire Scheme to Face Grand Jury
- Judge Certifies Charges Against Alleged Seasons Trace Killer to Circuit Court
- Criminal Complaint: Nace Houchin Confesses to Seasons Trace Homicide in Note
- Third Person Charged in Seasons Trace Homicide
- Police: Seasons Trace Murder Suspects May Have Had Help
- Court Documents: Online Chats Reveal Plot by Husband, His Girlfriend to Kill JCC Woman
- Duo Accused in Seasons Trace Killing Receive Court-Appointed Lawyers
- Police: Victim’s Husband, His Girlfriend Charged in Seasons Trace Homicide
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