On July 2, a Prince William County Circuit Court judge sentenced Manassas resident Edward Jackson Bland, 38, to two life terms without parole for the April 2024 killings of two women, one of whom was pregnant. Bland was also ordered to serve an additional 74 years in prison, with 15 years of that time suspended. The victims were identified as 34-year-old Leann Renee Harris and 22-year-old Asia Payne.
Judge Hands Down Sentence
Circuit Court Judge Petula Metzler imposed the punishment on July 2, granting prosecutors’ request for two life terms without the possibility of parole, plus the extra multi-decade sentence. The hearing followed a December jury conviction on multiple counts tied to the slayings, closing out the trial phase of the case. The sentencing was reported by WTOP.
Investigation And Arrest
According to Prince William County police, officers were first called to the Westgate Apartments and Townhomes in the 8100 block of Porter Ridge Lane early on April 2, 2024, after reports came in about a man with a gun and a separate armed carjacking. A short time later, Shenandoah County deputies detained a man after his reportedly stolen vehicle became inoperable near the I-66/I-81 interchange. Deputies reported that the driver confessed, and investigators then forced entry into the Porter Ridge Lane apartment, where the two women were found. Those details appear in a Prince William County Police Department incident release, cited by the Prince William County Police Department.
Guilty Verdict Last December
In December 2025, a Prince William County jury returned guilty verdicts against Bland on charges that included aggravated murder of a pregnant victim to terminate a pregnancy, aggravated murder for killing more than one person, second-degree murder, carjacking and three firearm offenses. During the multi-day trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking Bland to both the killings and the related carjacking. The jury’s decision and trial timeline were covered by Potomac Local.
Prosecutors And A Statement
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew J. Sweet and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kimberly Rothenberger. In a news release, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth described the killings as “senseless, brutal and unprovoked” and said that permanently removing Bland from society would make Prince William County safer. Her statement and the prosecution team credits were reported by Patch.
What This Sentence Means
With two life terms ordered without the possibility of parole, Bland has no avenue for release on those counts, and the additional 74-year sentence further extends his prison time. Local officials say the punishment reflects both the severity of the crimes and the strength of the evidence presented at trial. As noted in the department’s release, Prince William County police continue to ask anyone with information about the April 2024 incident to contact their tip line, according to the Prince William County Police Department.
