NORFOLK — A judge on Friday added another life sentence to the three Cola Beale IV already had been ordered to serve for a murderous crime spree two years ago that resulted in the deaths of three loved ones and a dog.
Beale, 33, chose not to say anything before Circuit Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise issued the maximum sentence of life plus five years.
Friday’s sentencing was for the March 2022 slaying of Beale’s cousin, Downing McLean. A jury convicted Beale in May of first-degree murder and illegal use of a firearm.
In July, Beale was sentenced in Virginia Beach Circuit Court to three life sentences plus 63 years for the murders of his girlfriend and a man who’d been a father figure to him most of his life, as well as the arson of the girlfriend’s home and car, and death of her dog. Those crimes also occurred in March 2022, just days before the shooting of his cousin.
Extra sheriff’s deputies, including two wearing face masks and riot gear helmets, escorted Beale into the courtroom Friday and stood close. Beale, however, appeared calm. The only time he spoke was to say “no” when asked if he had anything to say.
The spree began when Beale shot girlfriend Czavi’er Hill during an argument. Her body was found two days later after Beale started a fire at her townhouse. Her dog was found dead in his crate, and her burned car was discovered nearby.
The following day, police found the body of Clifton Baxter in his home. Baxter — a 73-year-old Vietnam veteran suffering from late-stage cancer — was shot in the face as he slept on a sofa. Beale fled with a safe from the house that contained thousands of dollars and numerous guns. He shot his 32-year-old cousin during an argument at a Norfolk apartment five days later.
Beale was arrested in Hampton a few days after that. He gave interviews to The Virginian-Pilot and other local media outlets from jail, during which he said he felt no remorse and probably would have killed more people had he not been arrested.
In a taped interview with Virginia Beach detectives, Beale said he was upset over a variety of things, including losing his restaurant job, being convicted of a sex crime he said he didn’t commit and problems with probation in another case.
He said he also was angry about Hill’s parents interfering in their relationship. The couple had questioned his intentions and were bothered that he didn’t have a job, he said. Beale told detectives that McLean knew about many of his crimes and had become a liability.
He shot McLean in the mouth, knocking out his teeth, before shooting him again in the back, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Comento told the judge Friday. The reason: He thought McClean was talking too much, Comento said.
“The facts in this case are atrocious,” the prosecutor said. “Mr. Beale has shown us that he doesn’t deserve to be in the community and isn’t able to live in the community. The only place safe enough for Mr. Beale is prison.”
No one from Beale’s or McClean’s family was in court Friday, but Comento said McClean’s mother submitted a victim impact letter.
Charles McAllister, a friend of Beale’s and McClean’s families, said he was there to support both families. McAllister said he was stunned by the crimes. When asked if he thought Beale was capable of such violence, McAllister said, “No. Never.”
Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com
