Appeals Court Upholds Conviction In Murder Of Former PNJ Reporter

January 23, 2015

An appeals court has upheld the conviction of the man responsible for the murder of a former Pensacola News Journal reporter.

William Joseph Cormier was convicted by an Escambia County Jury of first degree murder on February 13, 2014, and received a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Sean Dugas. Cormier appealed his convcition to the First District Court of Appeals, which upheld his conviction and sentence.

Dugas was reported missing on September 13, 2012. His body was discovered buried in the residential backyard in Winder, GA, where the father of William Joseph Comier lived. In October 2012, Cormier was arrested and later charged with first degree murder. His brother, Chris Comier, was also charged with accessory after the fact to first degree murder.

Chris Comier pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison in February 2014.

Comments

3 Responses to “Appeals Court Upholds Conviction In Murder Of Former PNJ Reporter”

  1. Mike J on January 24th, 2015 8:52 am

    brother Chris should get more time and brother William should get death penalty execution by electric chair. Put fear back into the execution process to reduce murders. They don’t fear twenty years to lethal injection.

  2. mick on January 23rd, 2015 4:49 pm

    15 years IS NOT ENOUGH for the other…

  3. traumaqueen on January 23rd, 2015 3:48 pm

    If I remember correctly Mr. Dugas was found beneath a concrete slab in the father’s back yard. How in the world would you ever think any appeals court wouldn’t uphold it? Monsters belong in prison for the rest of their lives.