Virginia man convicted of double homicide in Huntingdon County seeks new trial

HUNTINGDON COUNTY (WTAJ) — A Virginia man serving a double life sentence for the murders of two Huntingdon County women is seeking a new trial.

Morico Johnson was found guilty in July 2024 of the murders of two women in Huntingdon County. Huntingdon County District Attorney, David Smith confirmed with WTAJ on Friday that Johnson’s lawyer filed a post-sentence motion last Tuesday.

Johnson’s lawyer brought up a previous argument that during the initial trial, evidence had been compromised. The judge took the motion under advisement, but no decision has been made yet.

The case stems back sixteen years to 2009 when Christine McWhorter and Beatrice Daniels were found shot dead at the Chestnut Terrace Housing Development in Mount Union. The case went cold for more than a decade until Johnson was arrested in 2022 after multiple blood spots found at the scene were found to match his DNA.

During closing arguments for his murder trial, Johnson’s lawyer argued that investigators couldn’t recall details, and that evidence had been compromised. He also added that there was no evidence that Johnson was violent and that he had no motive.

Prosecutors, however, argued that motive is not needed when there is DNA evidence. Adding that Johnson had tried to create false alibis for himself by working double shifts at work. Johnson was ultimately convicted last year on both counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced in October to two life sentences.

Smith said that he is hopeful that the appeal will get dismissed and that he is confident in the jury’s decision to convict last year. He added that the case by the prosecutors was very well constructed and that all of the evidence that they presented was meticulously gathered before it was presented through the proper channels.

“All of those motions were argued litigated and properly vetted,” Smith said. “We are very confident that the verdict in this case was the correct verdict. Blood doesn’t lie and if you follow the blood it leads you to Mr. Johnson.”