HENRY COUNTY, Va. – Thomas Christopher McDowell has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for the murder of a pregnant woman in Henry County. McDowell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two firearms-related charges in the February 2020 death of Krystal McReynolds of Bassett.

Warrants show that McReynolds identified McDowell as the shooter before she died. The 34-year-old was taken to Sovah Health in Martinsville and transferred to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she died the following day.

McReynolds was shot in the face with the bullet lodging in her neck. According to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, McReynolds was four to five months pregnant at the time of the Feb. 18, 2020 shooting.

McDowell, 37, of Fieldale was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and firearms counts. He is a convicted felon.

The house where McReynolds was shot had been the site of a previous homicide and neighbors say the home is known for drug activity.