BEDFORD —
A Maryland man admitted in Bedford County Court on Friday that he shot and killed another man as part of what turned into a deadly love triangle.
Mark Shirey, 45, of Cumberland, avoided the death penalty with his guilty plea to first-degree murder in front of Bedford County President Judge Thomas Ling.
The plea carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole and cannot be withdrawn between now and Shirey’s sentencing, which is anticipated in mid-October, Ling said.
In the days following the March 27, 2011, shooting of Michael Simpson, 49, Bedford County District Attorney William Higgins said he would seek the death penalty if a jury convicted Shirey of first-degree murder.
Shirey admitted to the judge that he shot Simpson, who lived alone, as the victim entered his Cumberland Valley home south of Bedford.
Shirey was arrested a few days later in the Cumberland area.
He was charged with gunning down Simpson.
Shirey had told friends that Simpson had stolen his family from him.
Higgins told the court Friday that Simpson had been dating Shirey’s ex-wife, Karen Bennett, for a lengthy time. Bennett contacted police a day after the shooting when Simpson did not answer his phone.
Police allege that Shirey later told his brother, Larry Shirey, that he killed Simpson “because he snapped.”
He also allegedly told a friend that Simpson deserved to die, and it was nine years in the making.
Simpson died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Police reported finding six spent 12-gauge shotgun shells and four spent .22-caliber casings on the floor of Simpson’s kitchen and dining room. His body was found in the dining room.
Police also discovered Simpson’s blood on Shirey’s pants and shoes, Higgins said.
The two men had been at odds for some time. Criminal records show that Shirey previously had been convicted of assaulting Simpson.
Ling spoke to Shirey for several minutes to make sure he fully understood the plea he was entering.
The judge also questioned court-appointed guilty phase attorney Steve Passarello and penalty phase attorney Thomas Hooper, both of Blair County, to ensure that they had done all they could in preparation to defend Shirey.
Four experts had been hired as part of the case, Passarello said: A forensic pathologist, DNA expert, mitigation expert and a forensic psychologist.
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