PARKERSBURG, West Virginia – The trial of two men charged with the murder of a Parkersburg man in May 2022 is set to proceed as two separate cases. Justin Keel, also known as George Justin Smith, and Donavon Tyler McCune were charged with murder, first-degree robbery, presentation of a firearm during the commission of a felony, wanton endangerment with a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a felony in the death of Terrance Mills Jr., also known as T.J.
The two men were indicted in September 2022 and were originally set to go to trial together on Monday, Feb. 5. However, during a recent hearing, Wood County Circuit Judge Jason Wharton decided to sever the cases, with Keel expected to be the first to go to trial. McCune’s trial will be scheduled for a later date.
The incident stemmed from an alleged drug deal and robbery that turned into a shooting, resulting in the death of Mills. A woman involved in the incident, Dezaray Lynn Roberts, pleaded guilty to first-degree robbery in December 2022 as part of a plea agreement.
Roberts set up a drug purchase with Mills and the two men on May 17, 2022, with the intent of robbing him and splitting the proceeds. However, during the meeting, Mills was shot and killed by one of the men, and then all three fled the scene in her 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
McCune’s attorney, Courtney Craig, made the motion to sever the cases based on statements from an individual McCune is incarcerated with, where McCune allegedly indicated that Keel was the one who pulled the trigger and McCune did not shoot. Craig expressed concerns about how a jury would view the connection between the two defendants and their decision-making process.
On the other hand, Keel’s attorney, J. Morgan Leach, did not join in the motion to sever and moved to exclude prior bad acts Keel has done during the trial, which was granted by Wharton.
The trial is expected to start with the sitting of a jury and possible opening arguments, followed by a break on Tuesday, as Wharton has another case he has to preside over. The trial will reconvene on Wednesday and finish out the week.
Keel and McCune are currently in custody at the North Central Regional Jail. The trial will be closely monitored as it unfolds in the coming days.