Hearl Thomas Collins

PARKERSBURG — A Vienna man has pleaded guilty to murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend in July 2024.

Hearl Thomas Collins, 32, pleaded guilty this week before Wood County Circuit Judge Jason Wharton to charges of first-degree murder and child neglect creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Collins was arrested July 21, 2024, in Harrison County and charged with the murder of 22-year-old Morgan Lee Stutler-Lott.

At approximately 3:57 p.m. the day before, Vienna Police were dispatched to 1000 19th St. Apartment 6, Vienna, for an unresponsive person, according to a Vienna Police release. It said officers located Stutler-Lott inside and she had suffered from an apparent gunshot wound. It said Stutler-Lott was located by a family member who immediately contacted 911.

Working with the United States Marshals Office and the West Virginia State Police, officers located Collins at a residence in Stonewood, W.Va., in Harrison County, according to the press release.

A child was present during the shooting of her mother and was left alone in the apartment for several hours.

Collins could face life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. He also faces a sentence of 1-5 years for the child neglect charge and fined $1,000-$3,000.

He is scheduled to be sentenced before Wharton at 2 p.m. July 11.

Collins is currently in custody of the North Central Regional Jail.