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Department of Justice United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, September 21, 2009 |
CONTACT: Brian McGinn PHONE: 540-857-2974 FAX: 540-857-2179 EMAIL: Brian.McGinn@usdoj.gov www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw |
CHARLOTTESVILLE REALTOR PLEADS GUILTY
TO HIRING MAN TO KILL HIS WIFE
Patrick Shemorry Offered Cash, A Place To Stay
and Drugs For the Murder of his Wife
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA -- A local real estate agent whose marriage was falling apart admitted today to offering cash and a place to live to a family friend in exchange for the murder of his wife.
Patrick Scott Shemorry, 28, a resident of Charlottesville, pleaded guilty today to one count of murder for hire causing interstate travel with the promise of payment. The defendant, who was arrested on a criminal complaint on June 23, 2009, faces a possible sentence of 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
Today in District Court, Shemorry admitted that in March of 2009 he and his wife traveled to New Orleans, La. While in Louisiana, they met and befriended a local resident, “Witness One.” Shemorry and his wife invited Witness One to return to Charlottesville at the culmination of their trip, which he did.
Their marriage, which had been falling apart over a period of time, began to deteriorate even further after Shemorry and his wife separated and she returned to New Orleans. Following the separation, Shemorry made several comments regarding his desire to have his wife killed and that he wanted Witness One to be the person to kill her. During one of these conversations, Witness One recorded Shemorry telling him to kill his wife. Shemorry described her as “poison” and a “disease.”
Shemorry told Witness One that he wanted him to travel New Orleans and kill his wife. The two spoke about their plan to purchase large quantities of marijuana and cocaine for distribution. Shemorry also gave Witness One $1,200 in travel money to go to New Orleans and commit the murder.
After speaking with Shemorry, Witness One went to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and turned over the tape he had made of the two discussing the murder. At that time, the FBI developed a plan to have Witness One wear a recording device and once again record Shemorry speaking about the murder for hire plot.
On that second recording, Witness One told the defendant he had killed his wife and asked Shemorry if this is what he wanted “...she disgraced everything, she disgraced herself, family, me, you. She wreaks people.” To this, Witness One said, “I killed your wife,” to which Shemorry replied. “We did what we had to do.”
Shemorry has been in custody since being arrested on a criminal complaint on June 23, 2009. The defendant will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing..
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Charlottesville Police Department. The University of Virginia Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the case. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Healey is prosecuting the case for the United States.