By SHAWN STREET, shawn@virginiamediainc.com
A Honaker woman has been charged with first degree murder following the death of her husband in November 2025.
Russell County Sheriff Bill Watson said Amanda Christina Hawkins, 45, has also been charged with money laundering and two counts of distribution of a Schedule II drug.
The charges stem from an alleged poisoning that authorities said occurred on No-vember 12.
According to posts on Hawkins’s social media, her husband, 49-year-old James Hawkins, was hospitalized on November 12 for what family members called at the time “a diabetic coma.”
Hawkins allegedly set up a GoFundMe account shortly thereafter. On the fundrais-ing page she allegedly wrote, “My name is Amanda Hawkins my husband is in re-ally bad shape has brain damage and swelling on his brain any donations would be appneed money for gas and food and some medical bill.”
James Hawkins passed away on November 21 at Ballad Health Hospice House in Bristol, Tennessee.
An extensive investigation continues to be conducted by the Russell County Sher-iff’s Office with assistance from the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force.
“The Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Task Force did an excellent job investigating this case,” stated Russell County Commonwealth’s Attorney Zack Stoots.
Watson added, “Our office worked diligently to investigate and used every re-source to bring Ms. Hawkins to justice. The office is committed to working to keep our communities safe.”
Hawkins is currently held in the Abingdon Regional Jail without bond. She was arraigned in the Russell County General District Court on June 16, 2026
