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SENTENCING SET FOR RONNIE RUSH IN JACKSON COUNTY - Rush Plead Guilty To 2003 Double Murder |
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Ronnie Rush, 23, will be sentenced at 1 p.m. today in Ripley for the 2003 murders of Ward Groves, 69, and Mary Hicks, 60, both of Calhoun. Rush was 16 years old when he killed Groves and Hicks with a shotgun while they were sleeping. He had been living with with the couple. The case has had a rocky road in the court system for seven years because of WV State Police bungling, jury decisions having been reversed twice by the West Virginia Supreme Court. Rush accepted a plea agreement for voluntary manslaughter before Judge Thomas Evans III, and he appears to be facing 3-30 years, according to how the sentencing is meted. Following procedural processing of Rush's plea agreement, Judge Evans asked Rush, "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" Rush responded, "Yes, your honor." Rush was sent to 60-days at the Anthony Center for evaluation following his guilty plea. He has already been incarcerated for seven years, and will be given credit for time served. The case was mired with misconduct by State Police at the Grantsville detachment with lost evidence, including revelations of missing money and guns. During a re-trial, the Supreme Court agreed that Cpl. Doug Starcher allegedly tainted the jury by having lunchtime conversations with jurors. The results of internal investigations by the West Virginia State Police have not been released regarding problems with the Rush case, nor is there any record of officers being charged. Family members of the murdered couple are expected to give statements at the sentencing. See RUSH TELLS JUDGE HE MURDERED CALHOUN COUPLE - Plea Deal Reached In Troubled Case
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