William Morva was convicted of all seven charges he faced, including three counts of capital murder, after a three-day trial in Abingdon yesterday.
Morva, 26, was found responsible for killing an unarmed hospital security guard, Derrick McFarland, as well as sheriff's Cpl. Eric Sutphin of the Montgomery County Sheriff's office, following his escape from Montgomery Regional Hospital. Morva was also convicted of an additional count of capital murder for killing two people within three years.
On August 20, 2006, after complaining of a sprained ankle, Morva was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital from Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on charges of robbery.
After using a restroom at the hospital, he overpowered the deputy guarding him with a toilet paper dispenser, shot and killed McFarland and fled from the hospital. His escape prompted a 36-hour manhunt by police in the area.
On the following morning of Aug. 21, he killed Sutphin, who was on bicycle patrol while participating in the search for Morva on Huckleberry trail.
During the hunt for Morva, Virginia Tech canceled the first day of classes and closed the campus.
In addition to the three counts of capital murder, Morva faced two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, one count of assault and battery of a police officer, and one count of escape with force, according to the Commonwealth Attorney's Web site.
It took the jury three and a half hours to deliberate before a verdict was reached.
Morva's trial, which lasted for three days, was moved to Washington County after an unsuccessful jury selection in Montgomery County. The defense was concerned that Morva could not receive a fair trial because of the case's high profile in the area.
Morva's brother, Michael Akos Morva, was charged with conspiring to escape after allegedly plotting an escape with his brother in January 2006 while the two were in jail for robbery charges.
According to the Associated Press, Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Brad Finch described Morva as a cold-blooded killer. The defense argued that Morva suffered "mental problems and severe sinus and digestive difficulties" and "felt a building sense of frustration" while being held in jail for charges of theft.
Testimonies from a number of witnesses aided the trial, including those from nurses Dawn Doss and Melissa Epperly who were working at the Montgomery Regional hospital on the day Morva escaped. Both said they attempted to save McFarland after he was shot. Epperly testifed that she experiences haunting memories whenever she walks down that particular hallway of the building.
The jury will now begin the sentencing process which will conclude with a sentence of either the death penalty or life in prison, the only two punishments for capital murder in Virginia.