Two arrested in Waynesburg double homicide
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Shawna Smith, 23, of Waynesburg, is led in to be arraigned Tuesday in the shooting deaths of Kevin Lamar Williford, 54, and Judy Butler Hunter, 47.
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Cortland Rogers, 28, of Waynesburg, is escorted to his arraignment Tuesday in the shooting deaths of Kevin Lamar Williford, 54, and Judy Butler Hunter, 47.
Smith
Rogers
Jon Andreassi/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg Police Chief Tom Ankrom, left, and Greene County District Attorney David Russo address the media during a press conference Tuesday evening.
Two Waynesburg residents have been arrested and charged with criminal homicide in the shooting deaths of two people whose bodies were found on Valentine’s Day.
Cortland J. Rogers, 28, and Shawna M. Smith, 23, were charged Tuesday with a number of offenses, including criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide and burglary in the killing of Kevin Lamar Williford, 54, and Judy Butler Hunter, 47, at their South Morris Street apartment in Waynesburg.
Court documents list both Rogers’ and Smith’s address as 41 Wood St., Waynesburg. Waynesburg Police Chief Tom Ankrom said Smith is originally from Oklahoma.
According to the criminal complaint, Rogers and Smith at one point lived with Williford and Hunter. Hunter’s brother reportedly told police that she had wanted them to leave. Ankrom described Rogers and Smith as not having a permanent address and staying with various friends, most recently at the Wood Street residence.
Borough police said Rogers told them that Smith killed Williford and Hunter, while Smith accused Rogers of shooting the pair.
Complaints filed in the case indicated the landlord discovered the bodies of Williford and Hunter around 1:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Police said Williford’s body was at the top of a staircase and Hunter’s body was on the bedroom floor.
Both, police said, had been shot in the head and their bodies were in advanced stages of decomposition, “indicating that they had been dead for a lengthy period.”
Ankrom said they are still waiting for the coroner to determine how long the bodies had been there.
“It was an extensive period of time. Enough to where I was able to recognize walking in that it wasn’t recent, within a day or so; it was definitely a while before, based upon decomposition,” Ankrom said.
During the course of their investigation, police said three separate people told them Rogers admitted to shooting Williford and Hunter.
In addition to the homicide charges, both also face two counts of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment and one count each of tampering with evidence, obstruction of the administration of law enforcement and criminal mischief.
Rogers and Smith were already in Greene County Prison when they were charged in the homicide case.
Both were arrested for allegedly tying up and assaulting a woman at their home. According to Ankrom, they were in custody at the Waynesburg police station when the bodies were discovered.
In that case, police said Rogers pointed a gun at the woman. The woman later told police that Rogers admitted to killing Williford and Hunter during the incident, according to police.
Police also believe the gun in that case may be the weapon used to kill Williford and Hunter.
“We actually obtained the firearm from the prior assault, through a search warrant, that ties into this case, and it also led us to those names before we started looking into them,” Ankrom said.
When police spoke to Rogers Feb. 16, he told them Smith shot Williford, and walked down the hall and shot Hunter.
Two days later, police spoke to Smith.
She reportedly told them that she and Rogers went to the apartment to confront Williford about missing jewelry and money owed for drugs. During the confrontation, Williford got upset and started walking toward her, Smith said, and Rogers shot him.
Smith told police that Rogers said, “We can’t leave any witnesses.”
Then Smith said he walked down the hall and shot Hunter, according to court paperwork.
Police said they recovered shell casings and a gun at 41 Wood St., where Smith and Rogers were living.
Rogers and Smith were arraigned separately Tuesday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge David Balint. After going through the criminal complaint, Balint asked Smith if she understood the charges against her.
“I understand them. Do I agree with them? No,” Smith replied.
Balint denied bond in the homicide case.
Greene County District Attorney David Russo said he is considering pursuing the death penalty.
In the days after the bodies were discovered, Ankrom said that violent crimes are atypical for the borough.
“I can tell you I’ve been here for approximately 18 years, and I have not had one homicide, let alone two at the same time,” Ankrom said. “I don’t recall in my lifetime of living here 44 years of there being a double homicide in the borough of Waynesburg.”
As police worked to solve the case, Ankrom said the department stepped up patrols.
A dinner is planned in Hunter’s memory at the American Legion post at 676 E. High St. in Waynesburg from noon to 5 p.m. March 12. Spaghetti, garlic bread, dessert and more will be served. Plates will be $10 for adults and $5 for children.