Killer of Pregnant Cousin and Friend Sentenced to Life in Prison

A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his pregnant cousin and her friend in Virginia in April 2024. Edward Jackson Bland will serve two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for the shooting deaths of Leann Harris and Asia Payne.

Harris was four months pregnant at the time of the killing. Her father, James Caison, told local media that Bland was Harris’s cousin and they were “best friends,” making the crime even more devastating for the family.

Police were initially responding to a carjacking report when they linked Bland to the stolen vehicle. Officers from the Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office found the bodies of Harris and Payne with gunshot wounds to the head. Bland later confessed to the double murder.

In December 2024, a Prince William County jury found Bland guilty of aggravated murder of a pregnant victim, aggravated murder of multiple people, second-degree murder, carjacking, and three firearm charges. The sentence was handed down last week.

During the sentencing, Harris’s mother told the court: “I pray he never sees the light of day and may God have mercy on his soul.” In contrast, Payne’s mother said: “I forgive you for killing my baby.” When asked if he had anything to say, Bland replied: “I'm good.”

The case has sparked discussions about gun violence and family tragedies in the U.S. Bland will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the chance of parole.