Two previous Virginia death row sentences commuted because of mental illness; Morva scheduled to die Thursday

In recent decades, Virginia governors have granted clemency to two mentally ill inmates facing execution. One of them smeared feces over his cell, and the other was dubbed “Crazy Horse.” Gov. Terry McAuliffe is considering a request to commute the sentence of William C. Morva, a double-murderer set to be executed Thursday for slayings in Montgomery County committed during an escape in 2006.