THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230533
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Relatives of the four victims in the city's first mass killing packed two rows in General District Court on Thursday, sometimes weeping as they listened to details of the rampage at the Witchduck Inn earlier this year.
Detective Shawn Hoffman testified that Michael D. Clagett, 33, admitted shooting the victims with a .357-caliber Magnum, leaving them lying in blood on the floor of the bar the night of June 30.
When the violence ended, four people were dead: bar owner LamVan Son, 41; tavern handyman Wendel G. ``J.R.'' Parrish Jr., 32; bartender Karen S. Rounds, 31; and patron Abdelaziz Gren, 34.
On Thursday, Judge John B. Preston ruled that there is enough evidence to send to a grand jury capital murder charges against Clagett and first-degree murder charges against his girlfriend, Denise Holsinger.
If convicted, Clagett could face the death penalty. Holsinger originally was charged with capital murder, but because she did not fire the shots, the charges against her were reduced.
Detective Paul Yoakam testified Thursday that Holsinger, a former bartender at the inn, first denied any part in the crime, then admitted helping to plan a robbery there.
The detective also said Holsingeradmitted emptying the cash drawer of about $400. Holsinger said she had nothing to do with the murders.
``He and his girlfriend had talked about the robbery while making love on the couch,'' Yoakam said of Clagett's confession to him. ``Denise told him they could make a lot of money because it was Navy payday.''
Yoakam said Clagett admitted making three of his victims lie face-down on the floor. Parrish refused to move from a bar stool. Clagett told Yoakam that he pointed the gun at J.R. Parrish's forehead, Yoakam testified.
``J.R. said, `Do it,' '' Yoakam testified of Clagett's confession. ``So he did,'' and Parrish slumped over the bar, dead.
Then, one by one, Clagett killed the others, firing a single bullet into the back of each victim's head, Yoakam testified.
LamVon Son's widow wept intermittently throughout the hearing as others supported her. Several men sat in court, arms crossed. Some cried as the stories unfolded.
Denise Holsinger shook so violently during the detectives' testimony that her orange jumpsuit quivered. She stared straight ahead, never moving her head. Clagett stood less than 5 feet away, looking at Holsinger whenever defense attorneys moved out of the way.
The night of the murders, Holsinger told Clagett several times to ``Do them. Do them,'' Yoakam testified.
While Clagett shot the four victims, Holsinger emptied the cash register, Yoakam said.
After Hoffman told Holsinger her actions had been videotaped by a hidden security camera, she admitted stealing the money. She later told Yoakam she had used her ``Cheers'' T-shirt to wipe gunpowder and fingerprints from the murder weapon and had helped get rid of the bullet casings. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
The grand jury will get capital murder charges against Michael
Clagett, above, and first-degree murder charges against Denise
Holsinger, left. Clagett could face the death penalty.
KEYWORDS: MURDER SHOOTING TRIAL GRAND JURY by CNB