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William Morva | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
William Charles MORVA
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Escape - To avoid arrest
Number of victims: 2
Date of murders: August 20-21, 2006
Date of arrest: August 21, 2006
Date of birth: 1982
Victims profile: Derrick McFarland, 32 (hospital security guard) / Cpl. Eric Sutphin,
40(Sheriff's deputy)
Method of murder: Shooting (.40-caliber Glock pistol)
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on June 23, 2008
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.
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.
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 a deputy 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.
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 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. 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
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William Morva | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
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.
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.
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.”
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. On March 13, 2008
Morva was sentenced to death
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