On a summer day in August 2006, the life of Derrick Lamont McFarland, a 32-year-old Black man, was tragically cut short. A devoted husband and father, McFarland was known for his quiet and gentle nature, a 'gentle giant' who often communicated more with his warm smile than with words. He was a man of many talents, capable of fixing anything, and had a deep love for riding his bike and spending cherished moments with his family. After serving his country in the U.S.
Marine Corps, he took on the role of a security guard at Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he was a respected and dedicated employee.
The events that led to McFarland's untimely death began to unfold on August 20, 2006. William Morva, an inmate who was at the hospital for an evaluation, managed to overpower a sheriff's deputy, seize his firearm, and escape custody. In his desperate bid for freedom, Morva fatally shot McFarland, who was courageously attempting to aid the officer and protect those in the hospital. This heroic act, a final testament to his character, was a profound loss to his family, friends, and the entire community that held him in high regard.
The search for William Morva ended the following day when he was captured by law enforcement. The legal proceedings that followed brought his case to the forefront of public attention. Morva's defense attorneys argued that he suffered from a severe delusional disorder that influenced his actions. Despite these claims of mental illness, the court found him guilty of capital murder. Appeals for clemency were made by various groups, both locally and internationally, but were ultimately denied. William Morva was sentenced to death for his crimes and was executed by lethal injection on July 6, 2017.
