Full Version | Mobile Edition
State Journal Home
Featured Links | State Journal Mobile Edition | Local Job Listings | SJ RSS Feed | Generation Next 2009 Winners
HOME |  UPFRONT |  GOVERNMENT |  YOUR BUSINESS |  LAW |  OPINION |  DECISION MAKERS |  WV TONIGHT LIVE |  NOMINATIONS  |  EVENTS  |  MEDIA GUIDE  |  ABOUT US  |  ADVERTISE
  Where to Buy  |  Subscribe Now
Renew Subscription
Change Delivery Address

Home > News

Print this story RSS
 
Guilty Verdict Reached in Franciscan Murder Trial
Posted Tuesday, November 3, 2009 ; 12:18 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Tuesday, November 3, 2009 ; 07:31 PM


Terrell Yarbrough was found guilty of first-degree murder in the murders of two Franciscan University students in 1999. A hearing will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to determine whether or not Yarbrough will receive the death penalty.

Story by Crissy Clutter
Email | Bio | Other Stories by Crissy Clutter

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Terrell Yarbrough was found guilty of first degree murder in the killings of two Franciscan University students back in 1999.

It took a jury two days to decide that Yarbrough was, one of the men, who took the two Franciscan University students, 20-year-old Aaron Land and 18-year-old old Brian Muha from their campus apartment in Steubenville, Ohio and drove them across state lines to Robinson Township, Pa. where they were shot to death.

The victim's families were both in the courtroom and they say...they all have been tormented since their deaths in 1999.

Yarbrough's family left the courthouse in tears without speaking to the media, but the families of the victims spoke to me.

"Being without Brian is lifelong and we miss him so much but having to dredge up all the horror that Brian went through, the cruel treatment by other human beings, having to remember it all, hear all of it, think about all of it.... that's over again and now we can dwell on Brian and that's a good thing," Rachel Muha, the victim's mother, said.

"The state of Pennsylvania has affirmed what the state of Ohio has done. We should never have had to gone through this trial," Kathleen O'Hara, Aaron Land's mother, said. "The defense tried to portray a fairy tale and clearly the jury didn't buy it."

Meanwhile, the families may have to go through another trial. That of co-conspirator Nathan Herring. He too was convicted in the killings but that decision was overturned.

A hearing will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. to determine whether or not Yarbrough will receive the death penalty.

Copyright 2009 West Virginia Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
User Comments [ post comment ]
0 comments have been posted.
Post Your Comments
All fields are Required
Name: 
Email: 
  A valid email address is required to allow State Journal to monitor comments and track users posting inappropriate comments. State Journal does not use these for any type of SPAM operation.
Comments: 
Security Code: 
Enter the code exactly as you see it above.

NOTE: You may refresh the page to load a new Confirmation Code if this one is unreadable.
 
I have read and agree to the JOURNAL Commenting Policy
NOTE: It is unlawful to disclose personal information, including names, of minors under 18 involved in any criminal action.
 



© West Virginia Media Holdings, LLC
WBOY-TV I WOWK-TV I WTRF-TV I WVNS-TV I Your ABC I ABC Ohio Valley
FOX Ohio Valley | FOX WV | The State Journal | Country Roads Journal
Privacy Policy


Site Development and Hosting By Citynet
Citynet