WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A man connected to the death of a missing Winston-Salem man is sentenced to life in prison, according to the Forsyth County District Attorney's office.
On Thursday, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts against Damien Quitero-Morrison for first-degree murder and concealment of a body following an unnatural death, after less than one day of deliberations.
Quitero-Morrison was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for his crimes.
Winston-Salem police began a missing person investigation in May 2021 to find 23-year-old Isaiah Mitchell. Several investigative leads were developed that indicated that Mitchell had been the victim of foul play.
Detectives learned that in the early morning hours of May 22, Mitchell was lured to Quitero-Morrison's home after an argument on the phone with another person. Evidence showed that Quitero-Morrison and Mitchell were fighting in Quitero-Morrison's driveway.
Mitchell was shot to death during the fight.
Quitero-Morrison worked to cover Mitchell's murder by taking his body and his belongings to remote locations.
He buried Mitchell's body before going back home to destroy other incriminating evidence. The testimony revealed that he left the country after hiding Mitchell's remains to avoid being caught by law enforcement.
Mitchell is survived by his longtime girlfriend, young son, sisters, father, aunt, uncle, and extended family.
His family has gone 985 days without knowing where his body was hidden unable to fully grieve his loss.
Quitero-Morrison previously rejected a plea offer of second-degree murder in open court and demanded a trial for his crimes.
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