William Morva

William Charles Morva (born c. 1982) was a fugitive featured on America's Most Wanted who was responsible for the two shooting deaths of Sheriff's Deputy Cpl. Eric Sutphin and hospital security guard Derrick McFarland, in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia, United States, near the university campus of Virginia Tech. He was sentenced to death on May 23, 2008. Judge Ray Grubs set the execution date for October 21, 2008, but Morva will have an automatic appeal.

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.Bowman, Rex. [http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190108452&path=!news&s=1045855934842 "Fugitive sought in deaths caught"] , "Richmond Times-Dispatch", August 22, 2006, retrieved August 24, 2006.] Alvis-Banks, Donna. [http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/79207 "Shooting suspect called 'wanderer'"] , "The Roanoke Times", August 22, 2006, retrieved August 24, 2006.]

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.Shear, Michael D. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/22/AR2006082201118.html "Suspect Was Legend In Va. Tech Community"] , "The Washington Post", August 23, 2006, retrieved August 23, 2006.] [http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/21/virginia.escapee.ap/index.html "Manhunt nabs 'weird' escaped prisoner"] , "CNN.com", August 22, 2006, retrieved August 23, 2006.]

Escape and capture

While in jail awaiting trial for attempted armed robbery, 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 [http://blogs.roanoke.com/news/william_morva_trial The Roanoke Times: Breaking news: William Morva trial Archives] ] 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. [http://www.roanoke.com/wb/79269 "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.] Thornton, Tim. [http://www.roanoke.com/wb/79322 "'He was the heart of our family'"] , "The Roanoke Times", August 23, 2006, retrieved August 23, 2006.]

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 [http://www.huckleberrytrail.org/ 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 seven-year-old twin daughters.

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.Hincker, Larry. [http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/story.php?relyear=2006&itemno=434 "Suspect in police custody; university to resume normal operations"] , "Virginia Tech News", August 21, 2006, retrieved August 22, 2006.] 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.

Aftermath and related incidents

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 has denied any connection with Morva's August 2006 escape from police custody.Morrison, Shawna. [http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/80351 "Death penalty will be sought for Morva, prosecutor says"] , "The Roanoke Times", August 30, 2006, retrieved August 30, 2006.] [http://news.pajamasmedia.com/health/2006/08/22/10399821_Back_in_custody_.shtml "Back in custody: Officers found shooting suspect William Morva hiding underneath thick briars"] , "Pajamas Media", August 22, 2006, URL Accessed: August 25, 2006] Garrity, Mike. [http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:sL0SpAXTeGoJ:www.nbc12.com/news/state/3708411.html "Captured jail inmate indicted"] , URL Accessed: August 25, 2006]

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. [http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190275355 "Morva will face new capital charge"] , "Richmond Times-Dispatch", August 29, 2006, retrieved August 29, 2006.]

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.” [http://www.collegiatetimes.com/news/1/ARTICLE/8155/2006-12-06.html "Defense blames publicity in attempt to move Morva trial"] , "The Collegiate Times", December 6th, 2006, retrieved December 15, 2006.]

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. [cite web|url=http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7104346&Call=Email&Format=HTML|title=Morva trial moved out of Montgomery Co.|date=2007-09-20|publisher=WDBJ|accessdate=2007-09-20] On March 13, 2008 Morva was sentenced to death. [Citation |last=Lindsey |first=Sue |title=Death Verdict for Escapee Who Killed 2 |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5htW9OMBCWc8LHFlPsTd-I_STJjhQD8VCQ0UG0 |publisher="Associated Press" |date=2008-03-13 |accessdate=2008-03-14]

References

External links

* [http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190099866 Timeline from the Richmond Times-Dispatch]
* [http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=40185 America's Most Wanted]