George Huguely’s mother said she is “devastated and confused” by her son’s alleged role in the death of Yeardley Love, breaking a weeklong silence since the 22-year old woman was found bruised and beaten in her Charlottesville apartment.
“It has been difficult to remain silent during this dark, tumultuous time,” Huguely’s mother, Marta Murphy, said in a written statement on Tuesday. “As a mother, I never expected to be in a situation like this. Though my pain is great, it will never come close to the anguish felt by the Love family.”
She said she hoped people would “understand that both George’s father and I love our son. We will support George in whatever way we can — just as any mother or father would do for their child.” Murphy and Huguely’s father divorced in 1998.
Huguely told police he shook Love the night she died, and her head repeatedly hit the wall. He was charged with first-degree murder hours after police found Love’s dead body May 3. Love had ended a relationship with Huguely weeks earlier.
“Yeardley was part of our lives,” Murphy, of Chevy Chase, wrote. “I got to know her as George’s mom. She was a sweet, wonderful, young woman with a limitless future. We also knew her mother, Sharon.”
Also on Tuesday, University of Virginia President John Casteen threw his support behind men’s lacrosse coach Dom Starsia, amid reports that Starsia failed to inform university officials of a violent altercation between Huguely and another player.
Huguely allegedly attacked a teammate while he was sleeping because he suspected the teammate kissed Love. Huguely and his badly bruised teammate confessed the altercation to Starsia, who did not report the incident to the school’s Judiciary Committee. Casteen said he did not know anything about the attack.
Casteen said he “certainly” has confidence in Starsia as the men’s team heads into the NCAA championships this weekend.
Casteen said he also was unaware of Huguely’s arrest record, including a 2008 incident where he threatened to kill a female police officer.
Casteen attributed his ignorance of Huguely’s violent past to a gap in the law, which he urged Gov. Bob McDonnell to fix during a 45-minute meeting Tuesday. McDonnell said Casteen’s plan, which would require police agencies statewide to report student arrests to the university, has a web of logistical problems. McDonnell said he would consult police before making any legislative proposals.
