David Runyon was sentenced to death by the Federal Government for a contract killing
According to court documents Catherina Voss and Michael Draven were having an affair and they decided the only way they could be together was to get rid of her husband US Navy Officer Cory Voss.
Michael Draven would hire David Runyon for the contract killing
David Runyon would shoot Cory Voss multiple times causing his death
David Runyon would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
David Runyon Photos
David Runyon FAQ
Where is David Runyon now
David Runyon is currently incarcerated at Terre Haute USP
When is David Runyon execution
David Runyon execution has yet to be scheduled
David Runyon Case
The murder in this case was highly planned. Briefly, the facts, which are set out in more detail in our earlier opinion, 707 F.3d at 484-86, show that Catherina Voss (“Catherina”), the wife of Cory Voss (“Voss”), a U.S. Navy officer, had been engaged in an extramarital affair with Michael Draven. Catherina and Draven decided to murder Voss in the hope of gaining Voss’s Navy death benefits and life-insurance proceeds. To carry out the murder, Draven hired David Runyon, whom Draven had met as a co-participant in a drug-research study.
Shortly before the crime, Catherina opened an account at a branch of a local bank in Newport News with a five-dollar deposit. Thereafter, on the night of the murder, Catherina sent Voss to the bank’s ATM to withdraw cash. Video surveillance of the scene showed that while Voss stood at the ATM, an unidentified man — later found to be Runyon — entered Voss’s pickup truck. Voss then drove away from the ATM but returned a few minutes later and attempted another withdrawal, which was denied due to insufficient funds. The next morning, Voss was found dead in his truck in a parking lot near the bank, having been shot five times at close range. Compelling evidence connected the bullets used in the murder to Runyon.
Runyon, Catherina, and Draven were ultimately arrested and charged for the murder of Voss and related offenses. Catherina pleaded guilty to all counts and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Runyon and Draven proceeded to trial, with the government seeking the death penalty against Runyon. The jury returned a verdict, finding both Runyon and Draven guilty of conspiracy to commit murder for hire, carjacking, and murder with the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Draven was sentenced to life imprisonment, while the trial continued against Runyon pursuant to the Federal Death Penalty Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3591-98.
