A Virginia woman discovered a phone belonging to her best friend’s alleged killer hidden beneath her porch five years after the brutal 2020 stabbing death, potentially uncovering critical evidence in the unsolved murder case.

Disturbing Discovery Under Home

The friend of Christina Cunningham Richmond, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend in 2020, found an old iPhone under her porch that she believes belonged to the suspected murderer. The discovery came two years after the device was apparently hidden there. A TikTok video posted by user sweetsophiaaaaa documenting the find has garnered nearly 8 million views and over 500,000 likes, reigniting public interest in the five-year-old case. The woman stated she suspected the phone’s owner after none of her neighbors claimed it.

According to the viral TikTok post, the phone belonged to the man accused of murdering Richmond, who lived as her neighbor. The device reportedly survived two years of rain and weather exposure under the porch before being discovered. The woman who found the phone claims Richmond used it to make a desperate 911 call, begging for her life during the fatal attack. The phone’s discovery raises questions about why critical evidence remained unrecovered for years and whether proper search procedures were followed during the initial investigation.

Questions About Investigation

The emergence of this potential evidence five years after the crime highlights concerns about the thoroughness of the original crime scene investigation. Law enforcement typically conducts extensive searches of areas surrounding violent crimes, including neighboring properties. The fact that a phone allegedly used by the victim to call 911 remained hidden under a nearby porch for years suggests possible gaps in evidence collection procedures. No information has been released about whether authorities have retrieved the device or what data it might contain that could strengthen the case against the suspected killer.

What This Means

The discovery underscores how citizen involvement and social media can bring renewed attention to cold cases and potentially unsolved crimes. While the viral video has generated millions of views and public interest, questions remain about the legal status of the case and whether the boyfriend was ever formally charged or prosecuted for Richmond’s death. The phone, if authenticated and properly preserved, could contain call records, location data, or other digital evidence relevant to establishing a timeline of events. Families of crime victims often struggle for years seeking justice when cases stall or evidence goes overlooked, making thorough initial investigations critical for successful prosecutions.