In fall 1977 Peter Stephen Cornelius, a freshman engineering major from Chattanooga, was murdered in his Hess Hall dormitory room. Cornelius was allegedly attempting to purchase marijuana from Roy Powell and John Morrison, while John Beal, the driver of the car in which the two allegedly arrived at the residence hall, waited outside. Morrison accepted a plea agreement and testified that Powell shot Cornelius. Powell was tried and acquitted of the murder, so Morrison stood trial on the original charges of the indictment—murder in the first degree and murder while attempting an armed robbery.