The Staunton Police Department announced Friday they have made an arrest in a 41-year-old double murder case.

Staunton Police Chief Jim Williams announced 61-year-old Sharron Diane Crawford Smith was arrested around 10:24 a.m. Friday and charged with two counts of first degree murder.

In April 1967, Connie Hevener and Carolyn Perry, two workers at High's Ice Cream Store in Staunton, were shot to death.

Smith, who is now named as a suspect, was 19 years old at the time of the murder. According to investigators, Smith worked at High's with Hevener and Perry.

"It brings closure to the case," says Staunton Commonwealth Attorney Ray Robertson. "We can't begin to know the relief that it brings the family. I can't imagine putting myself in their shoes, but it is closure for us too."

Smith is terminally ill, suffering from heart failure, kidney disease and is under 24-hour nurse care. Prosecutors have been told Smith may not live out the week. However, Robertson says as long as Smith is alive, he plans on taking this case to trial.

"All of this had to be acted upon quickly because she might not even make it through the weekend," says Robertson.

Robertson would not reveal what evidence they were able to obtain in this investigation, but he did say they do not have the murder weapon. He would also not discuss what allegedly led to the murders, but Robertson downplayed robbery as a motive.

He says, "We're not going to go into the facts of the case, but I think that when they come out they'll show that robbery was not the motive."

Smith was released on her own recognizance since she is unable to move from her critical care facility. Robertson says they allowed that because the jail system is not equipped to care for her.

Robertson and Williams say the suspect's name was on file for many years, but there was no hard evidence linking her to the murders.

Smith's first court appearance is scheduled for January 7.