Inmate convicted of Amherst murder linked to 2nd prison death

A Hopewell man serving a life sentence for murdering a Madison Heights man and facing a possible death-penalty sentence this month for murdering his cellmate last year was implicated in the death of a second inmate last week.

Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Ron Elkins confirmed late Saturday that Robert Gleason Jr. was “involved” in the death of Aaron Alexander Cooper, though Elkins refused to elaborate. Gleason has not been charged in the death, he said Saturday.

Cooper, 26, died Wednesday in the recreation yard for inmates housed in segregation at the maximum security Red Onion State Prison in southwestern Virginia.

Elkins was supposed to have received a report from the medical examiner Monday, but said authorities believed Cooper was strangled. Elkins did not return a call Monday.

Gleason is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 31 for killing his cellmate at Wallens Ridge State Prison. Harvey Watson Jr., 63, was serving a 100-year sentence for the slaying of a Glasgow man and wounding of two others in Lynchburg in 1983.

Gleason fired his attorneys and pleaded guilty to capital murder in May, telling prosecutors he would kill again if they didn’t seek the death penalty in his case.

“I murdered that man cold-bloodedly. I planned it, and I’m gonna do it again,” the 40-year-old Gleason told The Associated Press. “Someone needs to stop it. The only way to stop me is put me on death row.”

His comments echoed those made in 2008 when Gleason was sentenced in Amherst County Circuit Court for the May 8, 2007 murder of Michael Kent Jamerson. Jamerson’s body was found near Virginia 130 less than two miles from the Rockbridge County line.

“I have no regret for what happened to Mike Jamerson at all,” Gleason said then. “I gave that man what needed to be done.”

He said he killed Jamerson because he believed Jamerson was going to implicate him in a Campbell County methamphetamine-dealing ring under investigation by federal agents. While jailed before sentencing, Gleason wrote a letter asking a man identified only as “Big Jeff” to kill his lawyer and two prosecution witnesses.

In the letter, Gleason asked that the killings be completed by May 8, 2008, the anniversary of Jamerson’s slaying. Watson was killed on May 8, 2009.

Amherst County Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Maddox said she was not surprised to learn he could be involved in another killing.

“I don’t think he has respect for anyone,” Maddox wrote in an e-mail. “He showed no remorse for the murder he pleaded guilty to in Amherst. I have always thought he was evil, but now I wonder if he just wants to be ‘famous’ in his mind and be executed.”

Elkins said Saturday he may wait until after Gleason is sentenced to determine whether to charge him in Cooper’s death. He was set to visit Red Onion on Monday morning to review video surveillance of the incident.

“If he gets the death penalty I’m not really sure what we’ll do,” he said.

Department of Corrections spokesman Larry Traylor declined to discuss Watson’s death with the Associated Press, but said that two officers were disciplined and two others were fired. One of the fired officers was reinstated upon appeal.

Traylor said the department was investigating Cooper’s death. He referred all questions regarding Gleason to Elkins’ office.

Cooper was serving 34 years for crimes including carjacking and robbery.

Staff writer Chris Dumond contributed to this report.