Virginia Killer William Morva Executed

RICHMOND, VA— William Morva was executed Thursday night after being convicted of two murders despite pleas to stop the execution.

Hopes were dashed when the office of Virginia Governor announced he would not stop the execution. His office said that while the governor says he opposes the death penalty but believes there is not enough evidence to overturn the jury's decision.

Morn's death was announced at 9:15 p.m., Eastern, Thursday. Morva, 35, was sentenced to the death penalty by a jury for shooting and killing sheriff’s deputy Eric Sutphin and hospital security guard Derrick McFarland during a Montgomery County jail escape in 2006.

His lawyer submitted a petition for clemency, stating he suffered from a mental disorder that did not allow him to understand the consequences of his actions. A psychiatrist had diagnosed Morva with the disorder. He was in jail awaiting a sentence for charges of robberies and burglaries when he committed the murders.

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Lawmakers and others urged McAuliffe to stop the execution in a letter, saying the jury was not completely aware of his mental illness.

“The system failed Mr. Morva. “I do not believe he should die because of a lack of due process,” said Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) in the letter, according to The Washington Post.

The murdered deputy's daughter, Rachel Sutphin, also said she was opposed to his execution because of her beliefs against capital punishment, NBC News reported. A group called Mercy for Morva has also been pushing for people to call the governor.

In a statement, McAuliffe said," At the conclusion of that review, I have determined that Mr. Morva was given a fair trial and that the jury heard substantial evidence about his mental health as they prepared to sentence him in accordance with the law of our Commonwealth. In short, the record before me does not contain sufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary step of overturning the decision of a lawfully empaneled jury following a properly conducted trial."

McAuliffe's office checked with the Department of Corrections, and mental staff have not reported signs of mental illness for the nine years he was incarcerated.

The governor was the last chance to stop the death penalty, as the Supreme Court declined to take his case in February.

Image via Virginia Department of Corrections via AP File