CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man charged in a double-homicide in Wayne County has a previous history of violence.
Joshua Morrow, 42, of Huntington was arrested early Friday morning and charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of first degree arson. The charges stem from the deaths of Britney Brown, 34, and her mother Erma Brown, 57. Both were discovered dead at their home on Spring Valley Drive near Ceredo on Sunday evening. Investigators said both women had multiple stab wounds when their bodies were recovered from the fire.
Morrow and Brown were in a relationship and have a child together.
He’s lodged in the Western Regional Jail and his preliminary hearing is set for Monday. However, reports indicate this is not his first brush with the law.
Morrow was arrested in 2000 for the murder of Edward D. Washington in Kanawha County. He was age 18 when he was indicted on the murder charges. He entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree murder in 2001 for Washington’s death. He was sentenced to a prison term of 40 years, but it’s unclear how much of that time he served before he was released.
In more recent days Cabell County deputies had a run-in with Morrow at a gambling establishment. Court documents indicate he was accused of pulling a gun at Java Joe’s in Barboursville. The complaint indicated Morrow pointed the gun at the face of the establishment’s employee before he dropped it. He then picked it up and fled the scene. He was charged with wanton endangerment with a firearm, assault, and brandishing. The charges were dismissed in Cabell County Magistrate Court November 15th.