Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 11, 1993 TAG: 9309110073
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV 8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Morehead, 21, was convicted last month of first-degree murder and sentenced to life plus 44 years in prison for the slaying of Lorna Crockett, a shoe store clerk from Pulaski.
Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Dow Owens ordered Morehead to face a jury trial Nov. 8 on charges that he robbed Jim's Steakhouse manager Jim Duke in May 1992 as Duke was carrying that day's proceeds to his house.
Then, on Dec. 17, Morehead will be tried on additional charges of robbery, malicious wounding, conspiracy to commit robbery and wearing a mask during commission of a robbery. He's accused of taking almost $2,500 from Pizza Hut manager Mike Frost and another employee when the pair was about to make a night deposit in Pulaski, also in May 1992.
Morehead's former girlfriend, Katina Zelenak, 20, who also was convicted of murder in the Crockett killing, will face trial on similar charges. Her trial dates won't be set until the November term.
Another defendant in the Duke robbery, Brent Alan Cook, 20, already has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Zelenak said she drove Morehead to the bank where he robbed Frost and that Cook was with them. She was the only witness to link Morehead to those robberies. Frost and Duke said they could not recognize their masked assailants.
Owens also set a Jan. 20 trial date for Garnet Price, 50, who's been accused of the murder of Lester Dale Harris, 46, a Fairlawn man whose body was pulled from the New River off Hazel Hollow Road on Dec. 21.
Harris, who had been missing for five days, died of drowning and one wound, according to an autopsy report.
After Price was charged with Harris' death, authorities characterized the killing as the result of a drug deal gone awry. An investigation revealed that Harris and others had sold marijuana for which Price provided the money. The marijuana turned out to be of lesser quality and quantity than agreed on, Sheriff Ralph Dobbins has said.
by CNB