Hudson Valley Man Guilty of Murder After Botched Robbery

The ringleader of a botched robbery is heading to prison for killing a 63-year-old Hudson Valley man.

On Wednesday in Orange County Court, Omarrio Morrison, 26, of Newburgh was sentenced to over 27 years in prison in connection with the June 2017 slaying of a 63-year-old man in Newburgh.

“This sentence reflects the reality that killing a person during the commission of a felony is just as reprehensible and can be punished as severely as committing an intentional murder,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. “This defendant planned the robbery and then recruited others to carry it out. His cowardly attempt to insulate himself from criminal liability failed."

Morrison was found guilty in June of murder, attempted robbery, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of tampering with physical evidence.

During the trial, prosecutors argued Morrison planned to rob 63-year-old Raul Diaz-Martinez and recruited Dejoire Fox, 21, and a 17-year-old from Newburgh to commit the actual robbery, supplying both with guns.

Fox and the 17-year-old both previously pleaded guilty to murder.

Prosecutors claimed Fox entered the victim’s apartment to commit the robbery and fatally shot the 63-year-old.