On what would have been Jayne Warren McGowan’s 29th birthday, one of the two men accused of killing her in November 2007 admitted it in Charlottesville Circuit Court.
Michael Stuart Pritchett, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday to felony murder, breaking and entering, robbery, use of a firearm during the commission of a robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a burglary. The remaining counts of discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling were not prosecuted.
Pritchett and his cousin, William Douglas Gentry Jr., have now both been convicted in the slaying of 26-year-old Jayne Warren McGowan. Authorities have said the men, who were seeking money, spotted her computer in the window of her St. Clair Avenue apartment and knocked on her door Nov. 8, 2007. McGowan was shot four times in the head and died as a result, according to an autopsy report.
Pritchett was scheduled to have a five-day jury trial starting Monday. Claude Worrell, deputy commonwealth’s attorney, said in court that he was preparing for a motions hearing - not a guilty plea - Thursday morning.
Steven D. Rosenfield, one of Pritchett’s attorneys, said his client did not have a plea agreement.
“It was just him taking responsibility because it’s the right thing to do,” Rosenfield said.
Worrell said in court that his office wasn’t seeking the death penalty for Pritchett, who had been charged with capital murder, because Pritchett had confessed and helped point out evidence to police.
“It’s uncharacteristic,” Worrell said in court. “We don’t see this every day.”
Authorities have said Gentry fired three shots at McGowan’s head with a .22 caliber revolver and Pritchett fired the final shot with a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The men left with McGowan’s laptop and computer equipment, which was later recovered in the Rivanna River, and her car, authorities have said.
McGowan was found in her St. Clair Avenue apartment by her co-workers the next day after she didn’t show up for work. McGowan had been planning the AIDS/HIV Services Group’s 20th anniversary gala scheduled for that weekend.
Gentry, 24, pleaded guilty in 2008 to capital murder and other charges and received two life sentences plus 63 years when he was sentenced in March. He testified earlier this month that he thought his cousin should plead guilty and take responsibility for what he did. Gentry also said he was unwilling to help his cousin.
Rhonda Quagliana, one of Pritchett’s attorneys, said in court that her client respected Gentry.
“Michael has always looked up to this man,” she said in court.
Pritchett is scheduled to be sentenced May 26.
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