On this day, Sept. 7, in 1997, an heiress to a billionaire arms dealer shot and killed her Argentine polo-playing boyfriend during an argument at her estate in Fauquier County.
Susan Cummings grew up in up in Monaco and Switzerland before her father built the 350-acre Ashland Farms estate just outside Warrenton for Cummings and her twin sister. Cummings, 35, brought , Roberto Villegas to her 350-acre estate for her polo team and the two became lovers.
On a Sunday morning, Cummings shot Villegas four times in her kitchen. She claimed self-defense. Defense attorney’s brought witnesses who claimed the 38-year-old Villegas hit, punch and try to choke Cummings.
A Fauquier County jury convicted her of voluntary manslaughter, but she was sentenced to just two months in jail.
-Scott McCabe
