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Thread: Death Penalty Sought for Shawna Marie Smith and Cortland James Rogers in 2022 PA Slaying of Judy Hunter and Kevin Williford

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    Death Penalty Sought for Shawna Marie Smith and Cortland James Rogers in 2022 PA Slaying of Judy Hunter and Kevin Williford




    Feb. 22, 2022

    2 Arrested In Waynesburg Double Homicide

    By Erika Stanish and Jennifer Borrasso
    KDKA News

    WAYNESBURG, Pa. (KDKA) - Two people have been arrested in connection with a double homicide in Waynesburg.

    Judy Hunter, 47, and Kevin Williford, 54, were found shot to death in a home on Morris Street last Monday after the landlord said he hadn't heard from his tenants in several days.

    Shawna Smith and Cortland Rogers are now facing charges in the deaths of Hunter and Williford. The boyfriend and girlfriend were arrested and arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

    Police chief Thomas Ankrom said the victims and suspects knew each other and said several events led up to the shooting led them right to the suspects.

    The chief said the same day they found the victims' bodies, the suspects were involved in an assault separate from the case. He said Rogers and Smith were taken into custody and when his department learned of the homicide, it was easy to connect the suspects to the crime based on evidence left behind, like the gun used and shell casings.

    According to the criminal complaint, the suspects were staying with the victims at one point and later went back to confront them, apparently, about missing jewelry and drug money. During interviews, police said the suspects blamed each other over who pulled the trigger. Police say Rogers told Smith, "We can't leave any witnesses."

    Police said the victims had been living in the home for about three months. The downstairs neighbors hadn't heard from them in over a week, police said, and the two had been dead "a period of time." The coroner ruled both victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

    In his 18 years of being Waynesburg police chief, Thomas Ankrom said he'd never seen a homicide, let alone two at the same time.

    The victims' friends are still shocked and stunned. They told KDKA's Jennifer Borrasso the two had moved back to the area a few months ago.

    "I was kind of devastated, like I just talked to her a week before that and you never know stuff like that's gonna happen," said Mary Martin.

    The district attorney said the investigation isn't over and could take several more months. He said he's considering the death penalty in the case.

    Bond was denied for both Smith and Rogers. A preliminary hearing is set for March 4.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/n...icide-arrests/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Couple could face death penalty in Waynesburg double homicide

    By Mike Jones
    Greene County Messenger

    Greene County District Attorney David Russo said he plans to seek the death penalty against a Waynesburg couple accused of killing two people who were found shot to death inside a borough residence in February.

    Russo cited several aggravating circumstances in the case against Cortland J. Rogers and Shawna M. Smith that he said allowed him to pursue the death penalty as the couple appeared for their formal arraignment Monday afternoon in Greene County Court.

    Rogers and Smith are accused of killing Kevin Lamar Williford, 54, and Judy Butler Hunter, 47, who were found dead Feb. 14 inside their South Morris Street apartment in Waynesburg.

    Rogers, 28, and Smith, 23, are facing two counts each of homicide, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, along with charges of burglary, evidence tampering, obstruction of justice and criminal mischief.

    The couple is also accused of tying up and assaulting a woman inside their residence at 41 Wood St. in Waynesburg on Feb. 14, the same day the bodies were discovered. Waynesburg police said Rogers also pointed a gun at the woman and allegedly admitted to killing Williford and Hunter.

    Rogers and Smith were arrested and jailed for the alleged assault, and then charged a week later in connection with the homicides. Both are being held without bond while they await trial.

    It was not know when Williford and Hunter were killed, although investigators said their bodies appeared to have been in the apartment for some time. Investigators said Rogers and Smith during police interviews each blamed the other for the killings. Police said the motive for the killings was over jewelry and drug money.

    District Judge David Balint ordered Rogers and Smith to stand trial in both cases during their April 8 preliminary hearing.

    https://www.heraldstandard.com/gcm/n...de5991a5a.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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