Man faces another charge in ‘88 killing

An Albemarle County man faces another indictment in connection with a 1988 homicide.

Alvin Lee “Butch” Morris, 67, appeared in court this morning as a first appearance on a murder during the course of a robbery charge. Circuit Judge Cheryl Higgins said the charge will be secured under Morris’s previously set $50,000 bond.

An Albemarle County grand jury handed down the indictment Monday against Morris along with ones for first-degree murder, robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He will face the new charge during a previously scheduled five-day trial starting April 13.

In May, Morris was charged in connection with the killing of Roger L. Shifflett. Shifflett’s body was found in the early morning of June 20, 1988, inside his convenience store on Route 20.

Morris later married the victim’s widow and helped raise some of Shifflett’s children.

Morris remains free on bond.