Alvin Lee “Butch” Morris is free of the charges that he killed Roger Shifflett back in 1988, Tasha Kates writes in today’s Daily Progress. You’ll recall that Morris was arrested for the murder last year, with the bizarre twist that he went on to marry his alleged victim’s wife. The new evidence that came last year was DNA testing of cigarette butts found at the scene of the crime, which matched Morris’s DNA. But a jury deadlocked, and there was a mistrial. Commonwealth’s attorney Denise Lunsford hasn’t dropped the charges—she’s hopeful that more evidence will come to light—but she isn’t going to push for a second trial now, since there’s no reason to think that the outcome would be any different than the first one.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Maybe this cat can caddy for O.J. sometime. Sounds like they might have something in common to chit-chat about over a cold one back at the clubhouse.
Oh yeah, that’s right. The Juice is back in the can. I forgot.
“Alvin Lee ‘Butch’ Morris is free of the charges that he killed Roger Shifflett back in 1988.”
“Commonwealth’s attorney Denise Lunsford hasn’t dropped the charges—she’s hopeful that more evidence will come to light”
Those two sentences seem to contradict one another, no? There are no statutes of limitations on felonies in the Commonwealth of Virginia (to the best of my understanding)so to say or imply that an alleged murderer has nothing to worry about is not quite true. He, or any other serious criminal may be prosecuted at any time till their stay on this earth is over. I for one like it that way.
Morris was not acquitted in which case he coulld not be tried again due to the double jeopardy provision. A mistrial is not an acquittal. The Commonwealth could ask for a new trial anytime it so desired.
Yes, he is free-but possibly only temporarily. It all depends on what the Commonwealth choosed to do.