Business Editors/Legal Writers
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2002--The Circuit Court
of Rockingham County issued an injunction today to block the next of
kin of Daniel L. Zirkle from carrying out his threat to have his ashes
scattered on the gravesites of his murder victims.
Zirkle was executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia on April 2 for
the capital murders of his 4-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old
half-sister. The Order was sought by Barbara Shifflett, the mother of
the victims.
Zirkle killed both girls on August 2, 1999 before attempting
suicide by cutting his own throat. Daniel L. Zirkle plead guilty to
the 1999 murders of 4 year-old Christina Zirkle, and 14 year-old
Jessica Shifflett. Zirkle welcomed the imposition of the death
sentence, and waived his right to appeal. Zirkle was executed on
April 2.
As long as a year and a half ago, and as recently as April 1,
2002, Zirkle had expressed his desire to be cremated, and to have his
remains scattered on his victims' graves in the event that he was put
to death. Zirkle reportedly remained quiet about his plans because he
knew that Shifflett would oppose them and try to stop his family from
carrying them out. When Zirkle communicated the threat to a
corrections officer prior to his execution, word was sent to
Shifflett, who was determined to protect her daughters' graves from
this threatened act.
Shifflett contacted Edward J. Fuhr and Eric H. Feiler in the
Richmond, Virginia office of the law firm of Hunton & Williams, who
agreed to represent Shifflett on a pro bono basis.
"When we learned of the heinous acts contemplated by Zirkle's
family, we knew we had to do whatever we could to prevent this final
indignity to Zirkle's innocent victims, including Barbara Shifflett,"
said Fuhr, a partner at Hunton & Williams. "Barbara Shifflett has
already had to suffer through the deaths of her daughters at the hands
of Zirkle, she should not have to continue to suffer with the fear
that Zirkle's family will commit this obscene desecration of the
graves of her innocent daughters," added Fuhr.
"It truly shocks the conscience to imagine that any person would
even think about violating the sanctity and the dignity of the
gravesites of two innocent children in this way," said Fuhr. "We hope
that this injunction will bring Barbara Shifflett some peace knowing
that Zirkle can do no more harm to her children," said Fuhr.
Fuhr added, "If there is any violation of this order we will
devote whatever resources are necessary to obtain appropriate criminal
and civil relief. For Eric Feiler and me this has been a moral
obligation and remains one. Hunton & Williams has a tradition of pro
bono service to those in need and we take these obligations
seriously."
The injunction prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from
carrying out his wishes, or from permitting any other person to do so.
The injunction further prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from
entering the cemetery where Jessica and Christina are buried. The
injunction will remain in place until May 17, 2002, or until the Court
has an opportunity to rule on Shifflett's request for a permanent
injunction.
Barbara Shifflett is represented by Edward J. Fuhr, a litigation
partner, and Eric H. Feiler, a litigation associate with the Richmond,
Virginia law firm of Hunton & Williams.
Fuhr is a litigation partner who has been involved in some of the
most hotly contested and significant corporate litigation in the
region, including representing the developers of the proposed Short
Pump Town Center Mall in its trial in one week and in the Supreme
Court on Wednesday on behalf of Bon Secours Health Systems.
"You make time when an emergency like this occurs," said Fuhr.
Founded in 1901, Hunton & Williams is a major U.S. law firm with a
significant international presence. More than 850 attorneys serve
clients in 80 countries from 17 offices around the world:
Atlanta - Austin - Bangkok - Brussels - Charlotte - Dallas - Hong
Kong - Knoxville - London - McLean - Miami - New York - Norfolk -
Raleigh - Richmond - Warsaw - Washington
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2002--The Circuit Court
of Rockingham County issued an injunction today to block the next of
kin of Daniel L. Zirkle from carrying out his threat to have his ashes
scattered on the gravesites of his murder victims.
Zirkle was executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia on April 2 for
the capital murders of his 4-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old
half-sister. The Order was sought by Barbara Shifflett, the mother of
the victims.
Zirkle killed both girls on August 2, 1999 before attempting
suicide by cutting his own throat. Daniel L. Zirkle plead guilty to
the 1999 murders of 4 year-old Christina Zirkle, and 14 year-old
Jessica Shifflett. Zirkle welcomed the imposition of the death
sentence, and waived his right to appeal. Zirkle was executed on
April 2.
As long as a year and a half ago, and as recently as April 1,
2002, Zirkle had expressed his desire to be cremated, and to have his
remains scattered on his victims' graves in the event that he was put
to death. Zirkle reportedly remained quiet about his plans because he
knew that Shifflett would oppose them and try to stop his family from
carrying them out. When Zirkle communicated the threat to a
corrections officer prior to his execution, word was sent to
Shifflett, who was determined to protect her daughters' graves from
this threatened act.
Shifflett contacted Edward J. Fuhr and Eric H. Feiler in the
Richmond, Virginia office of the law firm of Hunton & Williams, who
agreed to represent Shifflett on a pro bono basis.
"When we learned of the heinous acts contemplated by Zirkle's
family, we knew we had to do whatever we could to prevent this final
indignity to Zirkle's innocent victims, including Barbara Shifflett,"
said Fuhr, a partner at Hunton & Williams. "Barbara Shifflett has
already had to suffer through the deaths of her daughters at the hands
of Zirkle, she should not have to continue to suffer with the fear
that Zirkle's family will commit this obscene desecration of the
graves of her innocent daughters," added Fuhr.
"It truly shocks the conscience to imagine that any person would
even think about violating the sanctity and the dignity of the
gravesites of two innocent children in this way," said Fuhr. "We hope
that this injunction will bring Barbara Shifflett some peace knowing
that Zirkle can do no more harm to her children," said Fuhr.
Fuhr added, "If there is any violation of this order we will
devote whatever resources are necessary to obtain appropriate criminal
and civil relief. For Eric Feiler and me this has been a moral
obligation and remains one. Hunton & Williams has a tradition of pro
bono service to those in need and we take these obligations
seriously."
The injunction prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from
carrying out his wishes, or from permitting any other person to do so.
The injunction further prohibits any member of Zirkle's family from
entering the cemetery where Jessica and Christina are buried. The
injunction will remain in place until May 17, 2002, or until the Court
has an opportunity to rule on Shifflett's request for a permanent
injunction.
Barbara Shifflett is represented by Edward J. Fuhr, a litigation
partner, and Eric H. Feiler, a litigation associate with the Richmond,
Virginia law firm of Hunton & Williams.
Fuhr is a litigation partner who has been involved in some of the
most hotly contested and significant corporate litigation in the
region, including representing the developers of the proposed Short
Pump Town Center Mall in its trial in one week and in the Supreme
Court on Wednesday on behalf of Bon Secours Health Systems.
"You make time when an emergency like this occurs," said Fuhr.
Founded in 1901, Hunton & Williams is a major U.S. law firm with a
significant international presence. More than 850 attorneys serve
clients in 80 countries from 17 offices around the world:
Atlanta - Austin - Bangkok - Brussels - Charlotte - Dallas - Hong
Kong - Knoxville - London - McLean - Miami - New York - Norfolk -
Raleigh - Richmond - Warsaw - Washington
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