William Morva

Not to be confused with Virginia Tech Shooting.
William Charles Morva mugshot

William Charles Morva (born February 9, 1982) is an American former fugitive who was convicted of the two 2006 shooting deaths of Sheriff's Deputy Cpl. Eric Sutphin and hospital security guard Derrick McFarland, in the town of Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, near the university campus of Virginia Tech, while escaping trial for attempted armed robbery. He was sentenced to death on May 23, 2008. Judge Ray Grubbs set the execution date for October 21, 2008, with an automatic appeal. On June 4, 2009, an appeal for William Morva was made to the Virginia Supreme Court. The capital murder conviction and death sentence were confirmed on September 18, 2009.

Background

William Morva lived in the Midlothian, Virginia area until his father, Charles Morva, retired and moved the family to Blacksburg. Charles worked as a substitute teacher at Blacksburg High School and barista at a local coffee shop until moving back to the Richmond area with his wife, Elizabeth. Charles Morva died in April 2004. Acquaintances say that they saw a decline in William Morva's behavior after the death of his father.[1][2] This decline could be attributed to schizotypal personality disorder; Morva was diagnosed with the disorder following his arrest.[3]

Police at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, responding to a report of William Charles Morva being seen in the area.

Morva had been a drifter without a permanent fixed address prior to his initial arrest in 2005. A self-professed survivalist, he was almost always without shoes, and spoke of spending nights in the woods around Blacksburg.[4]

Escape and capture

While in jail awaiting trial for attempted armed robbery, and facing a maximum 38 years sentence, Morva was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital on August 20, 2006 for a sprained ankle and wrist. After using a hospital bathroom, he assaulted and knocked deputy Russell Quesenberry[5] unconscious using a metal toilet-paper container. He seized the deputy's gun and shot Derrick McFarland, a hospital security guard who was running to the deputy's aid. McFarland died from his wounds.[6][7]

This initiated a manhunt for Morva, who on the morning of August 21, 2006 shot and killed a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy, Cpl. Eric Sutphin, on the Huckleberry Trail near the Virginia Tech Campus. Sutphin, born 1966, had been an officer for a total of 13 years and had survived a prior shooting in May 2003, which killed officer Scott Hylton, leading Sutphin to quit the police force; he returned, however, after just six months away despite making much more money as a modular home salesman. He was survived by his wife, Tamara, and his nine-year-old twin daughters.[8]

Police evacuated and searched Squires Student Center on the campus after someone fitting Morva's description was seen inside. However, this sighting turned out to be unfounded. Virginia Tech canceled classes and closed campus.[9] At 3:36 p.m. EDT August 21, 2006, Montgomery County police reported over the police scanner that Morva was captured and taken into custody. He was found hiding in a briar patch about 150 yards from where Sutphin was fatally shot.

Morva's brother, Michael Akos Morva, has been charged with conspiring to escape. The alleged conspiracy occurred in January 2006, when both brothers were in jail on charges related to attempted thefts. Michael denied any connection with Morva's August 2006 escape from police custody,[10][11][12] but was convicted August 3, 2010, of conspiracy and sentenced to three years in prison.[13]

On August 29, 2006, Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch announced that Morva would be charged with capital murder and use of a firearm in the shooting death of McFarland. A second capital murder charge would be sought in the shooting death of Sutphin, to be decided on at the grand jury meeting on October 10, 2006. Finch also stated that he would seek the death penalty for Morva.[10][14]

Morva’s defense attorney requested a change of the trial location for Morva’s original robbery charges. The cases include the failed armed robbery of the Blacksburg Deli Mart and attempted burglaries of Blacksburg’s Freedom First Credit Union, Food Time and Burger King. The trial was to be held at Montgomery County Circuit Court, but Morva’s attorneys argued it would be impossible to find an impartial jury in Montgomery County due to the publicity Morva received since his escape and the subsequent murders. Morva’s attorney is quoted as saying, “I don’t think there (have) been this many cases that have gotten nearly as much attention.”[15]

Morva's trial hearings began September 17, 2007, in Montgomery County for two counts of capital murder, and one count of attempting to commit murder with a firearm. On September 20, Judge Ray Grubbs ruled, following a jury selection process in which 45 prospective jurors were dismissed for cause, that the trial could not be held in Montgomery County.[16] On March 13, 2008 Morva was sentenced to death in an Abingdon, Virginia court.[17] He has made an appeal on June, 2009 to the Supreme Court of Virginia.[18] On September 18, 2009, the Supreme Court of Virginia affirmed Morva's convictions and death sentences in a 5-2 decision.[19] The Virginia Supreme Court rejected the defense's claim that he should have been allowed to present an expert's testimony on whether he would endanger guards or fellow inmates if the jury sentenced him to life in prison without parole.[20][21]

On July 24, he was called to appear in Christiansburg by videoconferencing, to testify for the defense in a trial for his brother, Michael Morva, who is charged with helping him escape from the Montgomery County Jail nearly three years before.[22] This trial was delayed, and William Morva is expected to testify in a later trial.[23]

In October 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Morva's appeal.[24]

On April 12, 2013, the Supreme Court of Virginia issued a published order dismissing Morva's habeas corpus petition challenging his capital murder convictions. The courts opinion was handed down April 18, 2013.[25]

On April 15, 2015, U.S. District Judge Michael Urbanski dismissed Morva’s federal appeal.[26]

On May 5, 2016, a federal appeals court rejected another appeal of Morva's.[27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bowman, Rex. "Fugitive sought in deaths caught", Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 22, 2006, retrieved August 24, 2006.
  2. ↑ Alvis-Banks, Donna. "Shooting suspect called 'wanderer'", The Roanoke Times, August 22, 2006, retrieved August 24, 2006.
  3. ↑ "Morva sentenced to death".
  4. ↑ Shear, Michael D. "Suspect Was Legend In Va. Tech Community", The Washington Post, August 23, 2006, retrieved August 23, 2006.
  5. ↑ The Roanoke Times: Breaking news: William Morva trial Archives
  6. ↑ "Details released on Morva's flight, more news on the aftermath of a deadly escape and manhunt", The Roanoke Times, August 22, 2006, retrieved August 22, 2006.
  7. ↑ Thornton, Tim. "'He was the heart of our family'", The Roanoke Times, August 23, 2006, retrieved August 23, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Va. had given slain deputy valor medal in 2003".
  9. ↑ Hincker, Larry. "Suspect in police custody; university to resume normal operations" Archived August 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine., Virginia Tech News, August 21, 2006, retrieved August 22, 2006.
  10. 1 2 Morrison, Shawna. "Death penalty will be sought for Morva, prosecutor says ", The Roanoke Times, August 30, 2006, retrieved August 30, 2006.
  11. ↑ "Back in custody: Officers found shooting suspect William Morva hiding underneath thick briars", Pajamas Media, August 22, 2006, URL Accessed: August 25, 2006
  12. ↑ Garrity, Mike. "Captured jail inmate indicted", URL Accessed: August 25, 2006
  13. ↑ Morrison, Shawna. "Morva trial turns ugly; brother is convicted", The Roanoke Times, August 4, 2010, retrieved January 1, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Morva will face new capital charge", Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 29, 2006, retrieved August 29, 2006.
  15. ↑ "Defense blames publicity in attempt to move Morva trial", The Collegiate Times, December 6th, 2006, retrieved December 15, 2006.
  16. ↑ "Morva trial moved out of Montgomery Co.". WDBJ. 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  17. ↑ Lindsey, Sue (2008-03-13). "Death Verdict for Escapee Who Killed 2". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  18. ↑ "Morva appeals death penalty to Virginia courts". Collegiate Times. 2009-06-10. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  19. ↑ http://www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opnscvwp/1090186.pdf
  20. ↑ "Va. court upholds death sentence for escapee". Richmond Times Dispatch. 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  21. ↑ "Va. high court upholds Morva death sentences". Roanoke Times. 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  22. ↑ "William Morva may testify at brother's trial". The Roanoke Times. 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  23. ↑ "Michael Morva trial delayed". WDBJ. 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-07-02.
  24. ↑ "Va. death sentence appeal denied". The Washington Post.
  25. ↑ Powell, Melissa (April 19, 2013). "High court upholds Morva's convictions". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  26. ↑ Sturgeon, Jeff (May 7, 2015). "Appeal rejected, convicted killer Morva prepares next appeal". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  27. ↑ "4th Circuit Rejects Virginia Death Row Inmate's Appeal". ABC News. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
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