COURTLAND, Va. — Southampton County detectives arrested a man in connection with the murder of Cynthia Carver.
James Goodwyn Jr., 39, of Virginia Beach was arrested in the murder case of Carver and charged with first-degree murder.
Carver had contact with Goodwyn through Facebook Messenger, according to court documents.
She called him an hour before police believe the mom was taken from her home.
Carver went missing on Feb. 22 after dropping her children off at a babysitter's house.
She was a correctional officer. When she didn't report for work Friday morning, her mom went to check on her and found blood and a knife at her home.
Nearly a month later, Carver's body was found in Suffolk. Detectives determined she had been murdered.
Carver's children told deputies they overheard her refer to Goodwyn as "Little James," court documents said.
Police tracked down Goodwyn for an interview but he denied meeting Carver.
He later admitted to meeting her at her Southampton County home, documents said.
A search warrant stated that Goodwyn said he saw Carver for 10 minutes at her Southampton home, then drove back to Virginia Beach.
Deputies found "bloody drag marks" and a neighbor said he saw a car speed from the home "squealing tires.”
Documents said authorities found the car in Virginia Beach, which belonged to Goodwyn's girlfriend. Police took swabs and computer data back in early March.
Goodwyn is being held in Virginia Beach City Jail without bond.
The Southampton Sheriff's Office worked with the Norfolk FBI, the Virginia Beach Police Department and the Suffolk Police Department during the investigation.
An official from the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney's Office said Goodwyn has a preliminary hearing on July 26 for the following charges in Virginia Beach: Felony Hit and Run, DUI, Open Container While Driving and Following too Close.
He will not be brought over to Virginia Beach courts for arraignment. Southampton County will pick him up and arraign him in their jurisdiction, according to the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney's Office.