A chilling story unfolded in West Virginia, where a man is accused of committing a series of horrifying crimes that left two women dead and a community shaken.
Authorities say 42-year-old Joshua Russell Morrow, who had already been convicted of murder in the past, is facing charges for the brutal killings of his fiancée, Britney Brown, 34, and her mother, Irma Brown, 57. He’s also accused of setting their home on fire and fleeing with his 15-month-old daughter.
The tragic chain of events began on Sunday evening in Wayne County, on Spring Valley Drive. According to police, a neighbor’s security camera captured Morrow arriving at the house around 7:54 p.m. and leaving about 28 minutes later. Shortly after he drove away, a glow from the property signaled the start of a fire that would eventually destroy the home.
Authorities say that just before 10 p.m., Morrow showed up at a friend’s house in Hamlin, about 40 miles away, with his young daughter. Witnesses told police that Morrow asked them to look after the baby, claiming that people were trying to “put him in jail.” He also reportedly made a chilling comment, saying that “they’re all gone” and went up in flames.
Less than an hour later, firefighters responded to the blaze on Spring Valley Drive. Once the fire was extinguished, the bodies of Britney and Irma were discovered among the rubble. Police confirmed the women had been stabbed, and their deaths were ruled as homicides.
Neighbors quickly informed police that both Morrow and the baby were missing. Surveillance footage from the area helped investigators connect Morrow to the crime, as he was seen driving away from the burning home. An Amber Alert was issued to locate the child, and authorities launched a manhunt for Morrow.
Thankfully, the baby was found unharmed at the friend’s home shortly after the alert was issued. Police located Morrow early the next morning in Huntington, about 20 miles from the scene of the crime, and arrested him.
This isn’t the first time Morrow has been linked to a murder. Back in 2001, he was indicted for a killing in Kanawha County when he was just 18 years old. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison but was released on parole in 2017.
Currently, Morrow is being held in the Western Regional Jail without bail and is expected to appear in court on Monday. Authorities are still investigating whether he will face additional charges related to taking his daughter, who he did not have custody of.
This heartbreaking case has left the local community stunned, as they grapple with the devastating loss of two lives and the dark past of a man who has once again been accused of a horrific crime.
