George Huguely

Case record: George Huguely (George Wesley Huguely V)

Status

George Huguely was sentenced to 23 years in prison on August 30, 2012.

People involved

• George Wesley Huguely V — defendant; a University of Virginia men’s lacrosse player; originally of Chevy Chase, Maryland; born on September 17, 1987, in Washington, D.C.
• Yeardley Reynolds Love — victim; born on July 17, 1987, in Baltimore, Maryland; died on May 3, 2010; resident of Cockeysville, Maryland.
• John Love — Yeardley Love’s father.
• Sharon Love — Yeardley Love’s mother.
• Lexie Love — Yeardley Love’s sister (named as Lexie Love).
• John Casteen — University president.
• Julie Myers — UVA women’s lacrosse coach.
• Teresa A. Sullivan — university President (issued a statement after the verdict).
• Dom Starsia — UVA men’s lacrosse head coach.
• Marc Van Arsdale — associate head coach.
• Craig Littlepage — UVA director of athletics.
• Judge Edward Hogshire — sentenced Huguely on August 30, 2012.
• Judge Edward L. Hogshire — delivered verdicts on February 22, 2012 (named in connection with the verdict).
• Judge Robert Downer — ruled at a preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence to send the case to the grand jury.
• Prosecutor David Chapman — prosecutor at sentencing; discussed in sentencing material.
• Prosecutor Warren D. Chapman — prosecutor who spoke briefly outside the courthouse after the verdict.
• Prosecutor Dave Chapman — prosecutor mentioned during trial coverage.
• Defense counsel Fran Lawrence — Huguely’s attorney stated: "Ms. Love's death was not intended but an accident with a tragic outcome."
• Defense attorney Francis McQ. Lawrence — co-defense counsel named as speaking after the verdict; also referenced as Francis McQ. Lawrence.
• Defense counsel Rhonda Quagliana — defense counsel during sentencing phase; made statements to jurors.
• Defense attorney Rhonda Quagliana — quoted denying the case was an intentional criminal act after the preliminary hearing.
• William Gormley — Virginia medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Love.
• Neuropathologist Christine Fuller — testified regarding “blunt force trauma.”
• Dr. Jan Leestma — defense medical expert who testified Love died from suffocation.
• Toxicologist Alphonse Polkis — testified about Love’s blood alcohol level.
• Assistant medical examiner Bill Gormley — testified about Love’s blood alcohol content.
• Forensic scientist Angela Rainey — testified DNA tests showed Love and Huguely each had the other's blood under their fingernails.
• Officer K.W. Chapman — Charlottesville Police Patrolman who described the crime scene during testimony.
• Detective(s) — Charlottesville detectives who interrogated Huguely and informed him: "She's dead, George, you killed her".
• Rev. Joseph Scordo — a white-cassocked Roman Catholic priest who visited Huguely in jail weekly; described Huguely’s character.
• Sharon Love — testified during sentencing; filed wrongful death lawsuits.
• Caitey Whiteley — former college teammate and roommate; testified at preliminary hearing.
• Mark Burns — University of North Carolina lacrosse player; romantic acquaintance witness.
• Ken Clausen — former teammate who testified before the prosecution rested.
• Kevin Carroll — teammate who testified about beer run and who called to check where Huguely went.
• Carroll — described as Huguely’s roommate.
• Chris Clements — teammate mentioned in relation to who was in an apartment.
• Will Bolton — teammate referenced as not being with Clements.
• Elizabeth McLean — sorority sister of Love.
• Anna Leahman — downstairs neighbor who heard arguments/loud noise.
• Linda Malone — William and Mary Law School professor quoted about evidence release.
• Jeff Harding — attorney quoted about refinement of information over time.
• Anne Coughlin — criminal law professor quoted about the shift in impressions of facts.

Timeline (dated events)

• May 3, 2010 — Love was found unresponsive in her Charlottesville apartment on 14th Street in the University Corner district; police pronounced her dead. Around 2:15 a.m. (EDT), police were called to Love’s apartment; a 911 call from Love’s roommate reported an alcohol overdose; detectives noticed obvious physical injuries.
• May 3, 2010 — Later that day, Charlottesville Police arrested George Wesley Huguely V.
• May 4, 2010 — Huguely was charged with murdering Love and held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
• May 6, 2010 — A May 6 court appearance occurred; Huguely appeared via video. Huguely’s attorney Fran Lawrence stated: "Ms.
• May 8, 2010 — A funeral Mass for Love was held at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen with attendance of around 2,000.
• May 10, 2010 — UVA women’s lacrosse coach Julie Myers explained why the team planned to go forward with its role in the NCAA tournament: "Let’s do it the way that Yards would want us to do it."
• July 7, 2010 — The coroner’s officer released the results of an autopsy concluding Love died from a "blunt force trauma."
• Aug. 18, 2010 — Court documents released revealed Love’s sorority sisters said they once saw a fight where Love hit Huguely with her purse; the court documents also showed Huguely took Love’s laptop from her room the night she died.
• September 29, 2010 — The Love family announced the creation of the Yeardley Reynolds Love Foundation, Inc., also known as the One Love Foundation.
• November 2008 — Huguely was arrested for public drunkenness in Lexington, Va.; a stun gun was used and he shouted obscenities at an officer.
• February 2009 — Huguely was arrested for public drunkenness and resisting arrest outside the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house at Washington and Lee University; police tased him; he received a suspended sentence of 60 days and 6 months of probation, was fined, and was ordered to perform community service and take a drug treatment program.
• 2007 — Huguely was charged with underage possession of alcohol in Florida.
• April 11, 2011 — A preliminary hearing for Huguely on a first degree murder charge was held in Charlottesville District Court.
• January 7, 2011 — Prosecutors added five additional charges: felony murder, robbery of a residence, burglary, entering a house with an intent to commit a felony, and grand larceny.
• April 18, 2011 — A grand jury indicted Huguely on first degree and felony murder charges; a trial date of February 6, 2012, was set.
• December 15, 2010 — The defense began mounting an attack on the coroner’s report by arguing that hemorrhaging could have been caused by EMS workers who performed CPR; they asked for Love’s medical records; they raised questions about Adderall triggering a cardiac arrhythmia.
• Feb. 3, 2012 — Judge Edward Hogshire ruled graphic photos of Love’s battered body could be shown in court but would not be visible to the public.
• Feb. 6, 2012 — The first day of the murder trial opened with jury selection.
• Feb. 15, 2012 — Trial coverage described testimony including autopsy and expert discussion regarding causes of injury and death theories.
• Feb. 22, 2012 — Huguely was found guilty of second degree murder and grand larceny; the jury recommended a 26 year sentence (25 years for second degree murder and 1 year for grand larceny).
• Apr. 26, 2012 — Sharon Love filed a wrongful death lawsuit against George Huguely V for $29.45 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.
• May 1, 2012 — Sharon Love filed a $29.45 million wrongful death lawsuit against UVA, men's lacrosse head coach Dom Starsia, associate head coach Marc Van Arsdale, and UVA director of athletics Craig Littlepage, alleging gross negligence.
• Aug. 30, 2012 — Huguely was formally sentenced to 23 years in prison by Judge Edward Hogshire; the sentences of 23 years for second degree murder and one year for grand larceny ran concurrently; he received credit for time served and potential time off for good behavior, with release in late 2029.
• As of June 2013 — Huguely’s attorneys continued to appeal his convictions.

Background

Yeardley Reynolds Love was born on July 17, 1987, in Baltimore, Maryland, to John and Sharon Love. She resided in Cockeysville, Maryland. At Notre Dame Preparatory School, Love played on the varsity lacrosse and field hockey teams all four years and was an All-County lacrosse player in 2006. She was admitted to the University of Virginia, where she majored in government and minored in Spanish. As a member of the UVA women’s lacrosse team, she scored her first goal in her first game against Virginia Tech. She started in 9 of her 16 games in 2009 and in 3 of her 15 games in 2010.

George Wesley Huguely V was born on September 17, 1987, in Washington, D.C., to George Huguely IV and Marta Murphy, who subsequently divorced. Huguely attended the all-boys Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, and resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland. At Landon, Huguely was an All-American lacrosse player and played football as well. During his senior year at Landon, Huguely was the quarterback of the football team. In 2007, Huguely was charged with underage possession of alcohol in Florida, where his family owns a vacation home. In 2008, he was arrested for public drunkenness and resisting arrest outside the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity house at Washington and Lee University; police tased him to subdue him. In that incident, he received a suspended sentence of 60 days and 6 months of probation, was fined, and was ordered to perform community service and take a drug treatment program. He did not disclose this arrest to the University of Virginia despite a requirement to do so.

During the 2010 season, Huguely was a midfielder for the Virginia Cavaliers men’s lacrosse team, and he majored in anthropology at Virginia. Huguely and Love dated briefly, but had broken up.

The offence

On May 3, 2010, Love was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at her Charlottesville apartment on 14th Street in the University Corner district. The 911 call from Love’s roommate reported that Love suffered an alcohol overdose, but detectives noticed "obvious physical injuries to her body" upon arrival.

Investigators followed leads of domestic violence between Huguely and Love, including threatening e-mail and text messages that Huguely sent to Love post-breakup, and a violent encounter between the couple that was broken up by several visiting lacrosse players from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They also cited an incident in which Huguely attacked Love while drunk but did not recall having hit her.

At the scene, the suspect was Huguely, who was living next door.

Evidence seized from Huguely’s apartment included two Apple laptop computers, a spiral notebook, two white socks, bathroom and entryway rugs, and a Virginia lacrosse shirt with a red stain. Police testimony and trial evidence also referenced Love’s laptop being taken from her room the night she died.

Investigation

After police arrived at Love’s apartment and treated it as a crime scene, Charlottesville police interviewed Huguely later on May 3. Huguely waived his Miranda rights and narrated graphic details of his assaulting Love, stating that he kicked open Love’s locked bedroom door and "shook Love, and her head repeatedly hit the wall".

A New York Daily News report included that unnamed student stated that Huguely and Love broke up after the drunken Huguely assaulted Love.

Investigators also considered the couple’s on-and-off relationship and incidents in which Huguely’s drinking was associated with aggressive conduct.

Arrest and custody

On May 4, 2010, Huguely was charged with murdering Love and was held in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

At a May 6 court appearance, Huguely appeared via video. Huguely’s attorney Fran Lawrence said: "Ms.

Trial

A preliminary hearing for Huguely on a first degree murder charge was held April 11, 2011, in Charlottesville District Court. Huguely continued to be held without bond at the Charlottesville regional jail.

On January 7, 2011, prosecutors added five additional charges: felony murder, robbery of a residence, burglary, entering a house with an intent to commit a felony, and grand larceny.

A grand jury indicted Huguely on April 18, 2011, on first degree and felony murder charges, and a trial date of February 6, 2012, was set.

Charges and defence

Huguely pleaded not guilty to six charges, including first-degree murder and felony murder in commission of a robbery. The case was heard by a jury of seven men and five women.

The defence argued Love’s death was accidental, including through medical experts who suggested different mechanisms of death, including suffocation and effects linked to prescription medicine. The prosecution argued Love was killed in a jealous rage and that the fatal injuries were blunt force trauma.

A police interrogation video played at trial included statements attributed to Huguely, including admissions that he "maybe I shook her a little bit" and "I may have grabbed her by the neck," and a later admission sequence when informed that Love was dead:

"She's dead,"
"She's not dead. She's not dead,"
"I didn't hurt her...I don't believe it."
"Kill me,"

At trial, Huguely’s head was shown bowed most of the time as the Loves gave emotional testimony during sentencing phase coverage.

The defence opened with medical experts who said it was more likely Love died from suffocation.

Verdict

On February 22, 2012, a jury found Huguely guilty of second degree murder and grand larceny. He was found not guilty on all other charges. The jury recommended a 26 year sentence: 25 years for second degree murder and 1 year for grand larceny.

Sentencing

On August 30, 2012, Huguely was formally sentenced to 23 years in prison by Judge Edward Hogshire. The sentences of 23 years for the 2nd degree murder conviction and one year for the grand larceny conviction ran concurrently.

With credit for time served and potential time off for good behavior at the time of sentencing, Huguely would be released in late 2029.

At sentencing, prosecutor David Chapman presented witnesses describing violent incidents involving Huguely before Love’s death, including violent incidents involving Huguely after drinking and incidents toward other people. Chapman argued for the full 26-year sentence recommended by jurors.

Huguely’s attorneys acknowledged he drank too much, and argued that too much alcohol was not the issue, and framed the issue as violence rather than alcohol in closing arguments. Hogshire reduced Huguely’s sentencing from the jury’s recommended 26 years to 23 years.

When asked if he wanted to address the court before sentencing, Huguely turned to Love’s mother, Sharon Love, and sister Lexie and said: "I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope you find peace."

Huguely was described as shackled and tearful when he addressed the court.

Appeals

As of June 2013, Huguely’s attorneys continued to appeal his convictions.

Outcome

Huguely was convicted of second degree murder and grand larceny, and was sentenced to 23 years in prison on August 30, 2012, with concurrent terms.

Aftermath

University president John Casteen spoke at a May 6 candlelight vigil, saying:

"My hope for Yeardley, and for you,"
"is that her dying inspires an anger, a sense of outrage that engenders determination here and wherever Yeardley's name is recognized that no woman, no person in this place, this community, this state, our nation need either fear for her safety or experience violence for any reason."

A funeral Mass for Love was held at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on May 8, with attendance around 2,000.

UVA women’s lacrosse coach Julie Myers explained the team’s decision to continue in the NCAA tournament:

"Let’s do it the way that Yards would want us to do it."

The New York Daily News quoted a romantic acquaintance Mark Burns describing an earlier confrontation:

“Help me, help me.”

A funeral Mass and team statements followed Love’s death, and the case received national attention.

On September 29, 2010, the family of Yeardley Love announced the creation of the Yeardley Reynolds Love Foundation, Inc., also known as the One Love Foundation, to honor her memory. Sharon Love explained:

"The mission of the foundation is to encourage and develop in children and young adults four qualities of character that Yeardley exemplified … service, kindness, humility and sportsmanship … that together add up to One Love,"

She added:

"The foundation would like to 'bring out the Yeardley' in everyone by igniting the spirit of One Love in children and young adults, encouraging them to choose a path of goodness."

Civil litigation

On April 26, 2012, Sharon Love filed a wrongful death lawsuit against George Huguely V asking for $29.45 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages.

On May 1, 2012, she filed a $29.45 million wrongful death lawsuit against UVA, men’s lacrosse head coach Dom Starsia, associate head coach Marc Van Arsdale, and UVA director of athletics Craig Littlepage, alleging gross negligence on the part of the coaching staff.

The lawsuit alleged that it was well known to players and coaches that Huguely’s alcohol abuse and erratic, aggressive behavior was increasingly getting out of control, especially his obsession with Love and his aggressiveness and threats to Love. The lawsuit further alleged that no action was taken "to discipline Huguely, to suspend or remove Huguely from the lacrosse team, to refer Huguely for treatment or counseling for alcohol/substance abuse or anger/aggressive behavior management, or to subsequently report Huguely's potential risk of violence pursuant to the UVA Policy on Preventing and Addressing Threats or Acts of Violence."

Statements by prosecutors and officials after the verdict

After delivering the verdict, prosecutor Warren D. Chapman said:

"There are no winners here."
"There is nothing but loss."

University President Teresa A. Sullivan issued a statement, saying:

"Our sympathy and compassion go to the Love family, as well as to the Huguely family, as they face the future and their personal grief,"

Co-defense counsel Francis McQ. Lawrence said after the verdict that he was disappointed but proud to represent Huguely "in his fight for fairness over the last couple years."

Huguely family issued a statement calling it "a sad day for our family." They echoed the defence position and stated:

"We continue to believe what Mr. Lawrence said within hours of meeting George, on May 3, 2010: `Yeardley's death was not intended but an accident with a tragic outcome.'"

Love’s family issued a statement that read in part:

"We find no joy in others' sorrow."

Evidence viewing and evidentiary references

During a public viewing in Charlottesville Circuit Court, a 64-minute video was described in which Huguely was informed of Love’s death, plus photographs of Love’s bloodstained bedroom and plaintive text messages Huguely wrote to her. A decision about release of photos and sensitive evidence was described as pending, and it was stated that the jury saw evidence not publicly available.

A UVA professor Linda Malone described release as a balancing test:

"It’s completely a balancing test that involves the judge's discretion."
"The jury is making a very critical determination of innocence or guilt,"
"The public has a right to be an informed public, but that's not the same thing."

Romantic and earlier confrontation testimony

At an incident involving Mark Burns, Burns testified that during a party he heard a girl’s voice yell, “Help me, help me.” He opened a door and saw George Huguely V lying on a bed with his arm around the neck of Yeardley Love. Burns testified that Love rushed out of the room and said:

“She just said ‘Thank you so much,’ ”

Burns testified Love broke down in tears and said she could not breathe.

An April 30, 2010 email from Huguely included the statement: "I should have killed you." Love replied: "You should have killed me? You’re so fed up," and "You’re so fed up," was included in the cited exchange.

A defense medical expert Dr. Jan Leestma testified in the courtroom that Yeardley Love died from lying facedown in a pillow while blood built up in her mouth, and said "That could do it," in relation to the defence explanation.

Other details

At trial and related coverage:

• The case described that Love was wearing only underwear and lying near the side of her bed when officer K.W. Chapman responded to a 911 call for a potential alcohol overdose. He kneeled to check whether she was breathing and unsuccessfully tried CPR; her face was bloodied and bruised. Chapman said:

"When I saw that, I knew that this was nowhere near the report that I was given,"

• Text message evidence included a message in which Huguely invited one woman to "come ova," which was refused with the response that she was at the library.

• Emails and messages between Love and Huguely were displayed during court proceedings, including a statement from Love in an email to Huguely: "I have never been in a relationship like this and I don't know what to do," and a statement from Huguely: "Help me make this work".

• A coroner concluded she died of blunt force trauma, and the defence’s medical experts disputed the prosecution’s theories and presented alternative explanations including suffocation and medication effects.

• University of Virginia retired Love’s lacrosse number on March 6, 2011.