Leann Harris, 34, and Asia Payne, 22, were killed in April 2024 by Harris’ cousin who relatives say was her “best friend”

A Virginia man has learned his fate for killing two women, one of whom was four-months pregnant.

Leann Harris, 34, and Asia Payne, 22, were found fatally shot inside a Prince William County, Va. residence in April 2024, according to the county’s Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Edward Jackson Bland, 38, was convicted in December 2025 of several offenses, including three counts of murder, according to a statement from the office.

The investigation began on April 2, 2024 when Prince William County Police responding to a reported carjacking uncovered something much more sinister.

While at the scene of the stolen vehicle, police received a call from the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office claiming Bland was linked to the vehicle, according to the statement from the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

The Shenandoah Sheriff’s office said Bland had confessed to them that he had killed two people in Prince William County. It wasn’t immediately clear how the sheriff’s office came into contact with Bland.

Police tracked down his location prior to the carjacking and entered the home to find both Harris and Payne had been shot in the head, according to the statement.

Family members told WUSA 9 at the time Harris was four-months pregnant — and identified Bland as her cousin. The two had been very close, according to relatives, and “considered themselves the best of friends.”

At his sentencing last week, Harris’ mother said “I pray he never sees the light of day and may God have mercy on his soul,” 13 News Now reported.

Meanwhile, Payne’s mother Angela said, “I forgive you for killing my baby.”

While it wasn’t immediately clear what his motive was, one of the charges he has been convicted of was the murder of a pregnant victim to terminate her pregnancy, according to the statement by the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney issued last week.

Bland was also found guilty of aggravated murder of killing more than one person, second-degree murder, carjacking and three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney said in their statement last week.

He has been sentenced to two life terms without parole, as well as 74 years with 15 years suspended.

Source: https://people.com/man-killed-pregnant-woman-and-her-friend-so-he-could-kill-the-unborn-baby-12012555