Jury finds man guilty of murder in beating death of UNC professor

Thursday, March 16, 2017
Jury finds man guilty of murder in beating death of UNC professor
Troy Arrington listens to the verdict

HILLSBOROUGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- A jury found Troy Arrington guilty of first-degree murder and robbery Thursday in the 2014 beating death of a UNC professor. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Derick Davis II, of Durham, is also charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the death of 59-year-old Feng Liu. Davis will be tried next.

Feng Liu

The men allegedly hit Liu over the head with a stone as he walked in Chapel Hill. They then took his wallet. The research professor died a day later at the hospital.

The news stunned the community.

Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall is not seeking the death penalty for either man.

Liu was an internationally-known scientist who had worked in UNC's Eshelman School of Pharmacy since 2005.

Prosecution is not seeking the death penalty for two men accused of beating a UNC professor to death

Report a Typo