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Photo by Kim Raff/The News & Advance
Timothy Wright Jr. listens to testimony in his murder trial this week.
AMHERST — Jurors deliberated nearly four hours Saturday before convicting Timothy Wright Jr. of first-degree murder in the May 3 slaying of a 19-year-old Naola man.
Before a half-filled courtroom, the nine-woman, three-man jury also convicted Wright of use of a firearm in the slaying, shooting from a vehicle and shooting at an occupied vehicle.
After the verdict, jurors heard emotional testimony from family members of the victim and defendant. They then recommended a sentence of 63 years.
Upon hearing the verdict and sentence recommendation, members of the victim’s and defendant’s families began to cry.
According to testimony and evidence presented during the four-day trial in Amherst County Circuit Court, Wright killed Justin Baumgardner because he was jealous of the man’s past relationship with a then 17-year-old girl named Nicole Turpin.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst told the jury Wright was frustrated that Turpin, at some time in their month-long relationship, had found out that he was married and refused to have sex with him. When Turpin told him about her past relationship with Baumgardner — that she had become pregnant by him and lost the baby — he threatened to kill Baumgardner, the girl testified earlier in the week.
On May 3, Baumgardner met Turpin at Monacan Park off Virginia 130 in southwestern Amherst County. Before she left to meet him, she testified, she called Wright to tell him about the meeting.
Wright then came to the park with a friend, Justin Davis. Davis testified that after getting into an argument with Baumgardner, the men chased his truck down Virginia 130 toward Naola. Garst said Wright fired into the truck six times.
His truck and body were found in a driveway a few hundred feet off Virginia 130 the morning of May 4.
“He amounted to more at 19… than the three people involved could or will ever amount to,” Baumgardner’s mother Lisa Vosburgh said Saturday.
Vosburgh told the jury she has to drive by her son’s murder scene every day.
In describing her son, she recounted a recent Christmas when she was expecting a diamond ring from her boyfriend. Baumgardner, then 18, went to a jewelry store and bought his mother a small diamond ring — a ring she now wears around her neck.
Her testimony brought several jurors to tears.
“I’m moving away. I’m moving out of the county,” she said.
Pointing to Wright, Baumgardner’s father Robert Baumgardner said, “That gentleman over there stole my life from me.”
Zack Baumgardner also chastised Wright, asking how he was able to testify Friday about a nonexistent friendship with his brother and how he could look at his family and lie.
“If he will do that, he’s capable of anything,” Zach Baumgardner told the jury.
Wright’s sister, Hannah Wright, told the jury her brother was a good friend to all of his younger siblings.
“I don’t understand how it happened,” she said. “I believe the truth will come out.”
Wright’s final sentencing hearing before Judge Michael Gamble is scheduled for Dec. 3.
The jury came up with the 63-year sentence recommendation based on 50 years for murder and 13 years on the other charges.
Davis, who is charged as an accessory to the slaying for allegedly driving Wright’s truck during the shooting, has not been scheduled for another hearing as of Saturday.
Reader Reactions
On behalf of my family, we would like to thank everyone who has supported us through this most difficult of times. Our loss of Justin has been a great burden, and we will be forever effected by it. What we would like people to know is what a wonderful young man Justin was. He did nothing to bring about what happened to him. He was a good hearted person, funny, kind, honest, and just a joy to be around. The three people who brought about his death aren’t worth the air they breath. Wright is a lost cause. Lifelong incarceration is the best we can hope for him, for society’s sake. As for Davis and Turpin, they should spend the rest of their lives trying to making some contribution to society. It won’t bring back Justin, but it might make their existence count for something. My sister was right when she said Justin amounted to more at 19, then those three ever would. Now we can only imagine what kind of man he would have become. Knowing how he was raised, and what his character was like, I can tell you that he would’ve always held a job. He would have always paid his own way in life. If he’d been allowed to have a family, he would have taken care of them, supported his children, and been a loving father. Unlike Wright and Davis, who seem to have no trouble (or conscience) producing offspring they don’t take care of. With each new generation, there’s hope though. We can only hope their children with be decent, productive people. Something they themselves aren’t.
Again, thank you for keeping Justin in your hearts. Know that your feelings are not wasted. He was worth every good feeling we all have for him.
I think Wright got off light. He should have gotten the death penalty. The good ol “ Greensville Cocktail.“ To me it was premeditated murder. I guess the courts didn’t see it that way. Sure he’ll spend most, if not all of his remaining life in prison. Still too easy. I think Davis was a partner in this tragic event and should pay the same as well. He will probably get off with a lot lighter sentence since he rolled over on Wright. Plus it seems with government strings here in AC it seems to get people off or lighter sentences. I don’t think he was a hostage either. I don’t think Davis thought Wright was seriousiously going to kill him either, maybe to chase him down to threaten Baumgardner, run him out the road or whip his butt but not to kill him. Too late now. I guess now it will be payback time for Davis. I wonder if Wright will be the key witness to convict Davis saying it was his idea and pulled the trigger? The appeals, if any, should prove to be interesting as well. Nothing more than a waste of our tax dollars.
One of the main players here is walking away free, Nicole Turpin. I hope her conscious plays a major part in making the rest of her life miserable. I still think she’s guilty in all this too and needs to answer for her actions. But probably not. Davis, it’s your turn next.
May Justin RIP and his famliy and friends find closure to this the best they can with their son and friend being murdered from all this.
Well this has come to an end for this guy but now it is Mr. Davis’ that will be tried next. I believe that justice has been done. Dec 3 is along time to see but it is as I thought. The evidence is there and the jury did what justice calls for to convict if the evidence is beyond a reasonible douht(sp). I want to say to the victums family, I am sorry for your loss and this is of little comfort to them.
In May I hated to hear of a 19 boy killed. I too, have been following this case. My nephew, Justin Davis, was involved. Myself I do not know what happened on May 3rd. I guess only Tim, Justin and the good lord know for sure. I know that all the families involved have been through a great ordeal. I am glad that I will not be sitting in the big man’s chair on judgment day. To sit aside all prejudice and be completely fair is beyond my capabilities. Myself I want to believe my nephew but I honestly don’t know. I state that in God’s eyes, that no one person at any time on this earth is better or worse than another.
I’m a relative of Justin and have been keeping account of the trail over the internet. I hope they give each of the defendents the maxium penalty allowed. I also feel that Nicole is not an innocent person in this case, and also sure be on trial. Her actions also played apart in the death of my cousin. How anyone can live with this on their conscious is beyond me. There will be a judgement day for all.
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