NextThreeDays: Event Display

Ron Peterson Jr. Author Talk and Q&A Session
Venue: Blacksburg Books, Blacksburg
Directions: Google Map Link
Organizations: Ron Peterson, Jr.
Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Event Types: Miscellaneous, Speaking Engagements
Cost: Free

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Description:
Blacksburg Books presents a Ron Peterson Jr. Author Talk and Q&A Session on Friday, February 13, 2026.

Virginia-based true crime author Ron Peterson Jr. will be in store to discuss his newest true crime book, "Runaway Groom", before turning the floor over to the audience for questions.

"Runaway Groom" covers the previously unsolved 1983 murder of good-hearted country boy Petie Miller, who disappeared two days before his wedding in Staunton, Virginia. Petie was suspected to have been murdered by his father-in-law to be, Charlie Almond, but with little evidence against Almond and no body discovered to prove the murder took place, he managed to escape charges.

For three decades, Petie's father gathered evidence against Almond, tirelessly working to move the case forward and bring justice for his son. In 2015, special prosecutor Phil Figura took over the case. Almond was charged with murder, and went on trial in the oldest "no body" murder trial in U.S. history, with 32 years having elapsed between the alleged murder and Almond's trial.

Ron Peterson Jr. is a Virginia-based author whose best-selling true crime books explore compelling mysteries and consistently receive five-star reviews.

Peterson’s first book, "Under the Trestle" was selected as one of the Top 100 true crime books of all time and is currently in development with Mactavish Pictures as a documentary film or series. "Under the Trestle" is based on the local case of Radford University student Gina Renee Hall who disappeared in 1980. Stephen Epperly was later arrested and sentenced for her murder, making it Virginia’s first ever "no-body" murder trial.

Peterson followed with "Chasing the Squirrel", the true story of notorious drug smuggler Wally Thrasher, also a case well known to the New River Valley. Thrasher and his wife Olga lived in the New River Valley while he flew out of Florida and became one of the most-wanted drug smugglers by the FBI. Thrasher supposedly died in a fiery plane crash an investigation proved that it had been staged. Peterson’s book has been optioned to Los-Angeles-based Urban Legends Film Company for development as a television series.

Author Ron Peterson, Jr. attended Radford University and was a communications major. He has been published in newspapers throughout the state and in internal publications for two Fortune 500 companies. His career includes work at the Virginian Pilot and Cox Media, where he earned the company's annual "Outstanding Performance" award. Peterson's background also includes managing corporate television advertising campaigns on CNN, Fox News and ESPN. He is currently a board member of the Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame.

Links:

• https://www.ronpetersonjr.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/RonPetersonJr
• https://www.twitter.com/Ron_Peterson

Blacksburg Books is located at 401 South Main Street, Suite 106 in Blacksburg, VA.

To view the event flyer, visit: https://i.postimg.cc/508tSP5k/image.png.

For more information, visit: https://www.blacksburgbooks.com/events/ron-peterson-jr-author-event-and-qa or https://www.facebook.com/Blacksburg.Books or https://www.facebook.com/events/916430621035742/ or https://www.instagram.com/blacksburg_books/ or call 540-315-9650.