CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A federal jury convicted Larry Whitfield, 20, of literally scaring a woman to death while running from the cops after attempting a bank robbery.
The case involved the death of 79-year-old Mary Parnell, a retired Wachovia officer who was at home September 2008 when Whitfield tried to use her house as a safe haven.
Parnell suffered a heart attack and died. The jury Friday said Whitfield's actions in her home caused her death, though the verdict stopped short of saying he'd killed her.
Whitfield was convicted of attempting to rob the Fort Financial Credit Union in Gastonia with a friend, Quanterrious McCoy, who has already pleaded guilty to the robbery. Whitfield was also convicted on two firearms charges.
Investigators said he and McCoy were separated while running from the cops, and Whitfield was trying to change clothes to get away. They believe he entered two homes in the process.
Parnell was dead when her husband found her hours later. The jury found Whitfield not guilty of killing her, but -- in a quirky three part verdict -- voted to place the blame for her death on him. That distinction still means he'll serve a mandatory life sentence.
Parnell's large family, in court Friday, was thrilled with the verdict. They spoke exclusively to Newschannel 36.
"He committed this crime with callous indifference. My mother-in-law had a heart attack right in front of this guy, and he didn't even have the decency to call an ambulance," David Hains said. "All he cared about was himself, and he can think about that for the rest of his life in jail."
A large group was also in court to support Whitfield. His mother Pauline declined to speak with us after the verdict. Before this case, he had a clean record and had graduated Harding High School in Charlotte.
