HARRISBURG, PA — A Greene County man who admitted to the murders of two individuals and the subsequent kidnapping and assault of two others has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Cortland Rogers, 31, will serve two mandatory life sentences for the first-degree murders of Kevin Williford and Judy Hunter, along with an additional concurrent term of 15 to 60 years for other violent offenses.
Rogers had previously pleaded guilty to the killings, which occurred on February 1, 2022, in Waynesburg. According to investigators, the murders stemmed from a dispute over money. Rogers, accompanied by his then-girlfriend Shawna Smith, went to Williford and Hunter’s residence to confront them. During the encounter, he fatally shot both victims, allegedly to ensure no witnesses remained. Their bodies were discovered nearly two weeks later, the same day Rogers and Smith were implicated in a separate case of kidnapping and assault.
“The defendant’s actions were senseless and cruel, taking the lives of two individuals who did not deserve such a fate,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday. “In the days that followed, he continued his violence by kidnapping and assaulting two more victims. I commend the investigators and prosecutors whose hard work ensured that Cortland Rogers will no longer be a threat to our communities.”
Court records show that Rogers and Smith later lured the kidnapping victims—one male and one female—to a home under false pretenses. Holding them at gunpoint, Rogers restrained the victims, assaulting the female victim during their captivity.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorneys General Kara M. Rice and Alicia S. Werner, following an investigation by the Waynesburg Borough Police Department. Prosecutors described Rogers’ actions as calculated and brutal, underscoring his continued danger to society.
Shawna Smith, who still faces charges in connection with both the murders and the kidnappings, awaits trial.
Rogers’ sentencing closes a case marked by its violence and disregard for human life. His punishment reflects the gravity of his crimes, ensuring he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
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