VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach jury found Cola Beale IV guilty Wednesday of murdering his girlfriend and father figure in Virginia Beach nearly two years ago.
Beale, 32, who had multiple prior convictions, including ones for robbery and sexual battery, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of arson, abduction, torturing an animal causing death, and gun charges. It took the jury of six women and six men about an hour to deliberate before reaching that verdict.
Day Three
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Defricke delivered closing arguments Wednesday morning, quoting a portion of Beale’s interview with Virginia Beach Police lead homicide detective.
“I did all this sh** by myself,” said Beale.
The prosecutor paints a picture of the “willful, deliberate and premeditated” actions of Beale, who admitted to police that he committed a series of deadly and disturbing of crimes over several days starting March 22, 2022.
Over the three-day trial, Defricke and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kari Kolar called on 15 expert witnesses, first responders, forensic scientists, an animal control specialist, a veterinarian and a medical examiner.
The testimonies corroborate the things Beale admitted to police and 10 On Your Side.
Beale “bound and gagged” Czavi’er Hill before shooting her in the head with her gun inside her home on Baccalaureate Drive. Ring camera videos show he then invited friends over to take items from Hill’s house.
Days later, Beale set her house, dog and car on fire using gasoline.
During this week’s trial, the Commonwealth showed the gruesome pictures of Hill’s home after Beale set it on fire with her body and dog still inside.
The photos were hard for her family to look at. Hill’s family was visibly heartbroken by the details in the case.
Evidence also shows Beale shot Clifton Baxter, a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran that was battling the final stage of prostate cancer.
Police confirm Baxter was shot in the head while in a sleeping position in his home on Linda Court.
Beale said he killed Baxter because he would only give him small amounts of money.
“My brother was kind of hardcore, but he was fair,” said Sherry Edwards-Banks, Clifton Baxter’s sister. “He was honest. If he saw that you helped yourself, he doesn’t mind helping you. But Mr. Beale wasn’t working and wasn’t trying to find a job.”
Edwards-Banks explained that Beale’s mom used to date Baxter.
Baxter stayed in their life, and Beale’s mail was found by police at Baxter’s home.
“It’s hurtful because my brother raised him,” Edwards-Banks said. “He felt like he treated him just like he was his son. How could you take his life like that? How can you take a life of somebody that you say you love?”
Dr. Wendy Gunther, a medical examiner, confirmed that Baxter was shot at close range. A loaded gun with the same bullet branding were obtained as evidence at a house in Hampton after Beale was arrested.
After the guilty verdict was read in court, Beale yelled out “can y’all get this sh** over with.”
Judge James Lewis ordered Beale out of the courtroom. This really upset Baxter’s daughters who started to cry.
“He hurt the family,” Edward-Banks said. “This is really heartbreaking, because my brother went to Vietnam for our freedom and you just took his life like it was nothing. Then you had an outburst in the court.”
Despite that, she told WAVY she believes justice was served. “Yes, I do. But I wish they had the death penalty.”
Edwards-Banks added: “I’m just so sorry because Ms. Hill was very pleasant. She was very loving, and her little dog was just as cute as a button. I’m sorry that that happened to her, that she lost their daughter and that manner.”
Beale, who in previous interviews with 10 On Your Side and with police did not admit to any remorse — he confessed to detectives that “I did all this sh** and said “I don’t feel nothin’ right now” — admitted to remorse in a jailhouse interview Wednesday with 10 On Your Side’s Lauryn Moss.
He said Wednesday that he had since come out of what he called a blackout and a trance, and now feels remorse for his actions, saying it took some time to reflect on what happened, and that’s when he became remorseful.
Beale said sitting through the trial and seeing all the evidence and testimony didn’t make him feel good. He offered an apology, but knows that’s not enough, and said the verdict was justice.
“I thought in the process of the jury trial, at the end, I was going to be sentenced,” Beale said. “But it was 1 o’clock, so I’m thinking, by 5 o’clock, I’ll be sentenced. But we was standing there, and it’s March, so I’m thinking, ‘why are they saying months from now. They’re saying May, June, maybe July. I’m ready to get this over with. The family’s sitting right there behind me. They’ve got to come back to court to watch me get sentenced. They’re ready to get it over with. I’ve been ready to get it over with. It’s 24 months in, I’m ready to move on. I’ve got another case that I’ve got to go deal with.”
He said he would have to think about whether he wants to say anything at his sentencing.
Beale could spend rest of his life in prison when he is sentenced for the crimes. Beale is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
