Accomplice in Pitcairn Murder Gets 5 Additional Years

Lavelva Merritt, the accomplice of the man convicted of killing Johns Hopkins researcher Stephen Pitcairn, received an additional five years in prison on Monday.

Merritt will serve more than five years for violating her probation in addition to the 15 years of a 30-year sentence she is serving for her involvement in the murder and robbery of Pitcairn in July 2010, according to a news release from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office.

On Friday John Wagner, the man who killed Pitcairn, received an additional seven years for violating his probation. Wagner was sentenced to life plus 20 years for the

“Thanks to the participation of Mr. Pitcairn’s loved ones and the hard work of police and prosecutors, we have removed two very dangerous violent, repeat offenders from our streets. We are gratified by the outcome,” State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said in the news release.

Merritt received a reduced sentence as part of a plea deal for her testimony against Wagner.

During Wagner’s trial Merritt testified that she and Wagner , who was walking home from Penn Station, in the 2600 block of St. Paul Street. She said when she and Wagner approached him that a struggle ensued and Wagner stabbed Pitcairn.

Police later found Pitcairn’s iPhone and a portion of his wallet in the Maryland Avenue apartment they shared with several other people.

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