Accused murderer Ronnie Rush tells
Judge Evans he killed Calhoun couple
By Bob Weaver
Calhoun resident Ronnie Rush, 23, entered a guilty plea yesterday for the 2003 murders of Ward Groves, 69, and Mary Hicks, 60, a case that has had a rocky road in the court system because of WV State Police bungling.
The WV Supreme Court has called for new trials twice, and the case was to have been heard again on July 6.
The plea agreement for voluntary manslaughter was presented to Judge Thomas Evans III, with other charges being dropped by special prosecutors Woody Hill and Matt Harvey of Kanawha County.
Rush appears to be facing 3-30 years, according to how the sentencing is meted by Judge Evans. He has already been incarcerated for seven years, and will be given credit for time served.
Following procedural processing of Rush's plea agreement, Judge Evans asked, "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?"
Rush responded, "Yes, your honor."
Judge Evans said he was assured Rush was competent to plead guilty.
"There are issues of functional capacity, but Rush is fully aware of the situation," Evans said.
Members of the Hicks-Groves families meet
with prosecutors outside Jackson courthouse
Members of the Hicks-Groves families were in the courtroom, but will have to return to read their statements when Rush is sentenced.
Sentencing will follow a 60-day evaluation at Anthony Center, requested by his defense attorney Teresa Monk.
Rush was 16 years old when he says he killed Groves and Hicks with a shotgun while they were sleeping. He had been living with with the couple.
He was originally indicted in Calhoun in 2004 on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree robbery, one count of burglary, one count of grand larceny, two counts of conspiracy to commit murder and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
The case then became mired with misconduct by State Police at the Grantsville detachment with lost evidence, including money and guns.
The most recent problem was the tainting of the jury by Cpl. Doug Starcher, having lunchtime conversations with jurors.
The results of internal investigations by the agency have not been released, nor is there any record of officers being charged.
Special prosecutors Hill and Harvey declined to comment about the missing money and guns, indicating it would be improper at this time.
There was an earlier effort by former prosecutor Matt Minney to reach a plea agreement with Rush that fell apart, with Minney having moved to vacate the agreement after Rush gave inconsistent statements and changed his story several times.
Rush first said he shot the couple while under the influence of methamphetamine, before changing his story to say that an accomplice actually killed the couple.
Family members who were not able to give their statements, congregated outside the courthouse, venting their frustration with the drawn-out trial and plea deal, particularly that Rush could soon see his freedom.
Several spoke to WSAZ-TV, WCHS-TV and regional reporters.
"It's been messed up. The cops have just swept it under the rug. I don't think it's fair." said Rose Settle (pictured left) daughter of Mary Hicks.
"I think the whole family's been screwed," she said.
Paul King of Arnoldsburg, Mary Hicks' son, said "It's been really hard."
Rush is at South Central Regional Jail.
(Rush was later sentenced to prison)
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