Accused UVA Murderer Came from A Life of Privilege
George Huguely Attended Prestigious Prep School, Vacationed in Palm Beach
By EMILY FRIEDMAN
May 4, 2010 —
The jail cell that accused killer George Huguely V now calls home is a world away from the privileged upbringing he enjoyed, watched over by a nanny, vacationing in Palm Beach and attending a prestigious prep school.
Huguely, now charged with the murder of fellow University of Virginia senior Yeardley Love, was just two weeks from graduating and starting a job at a real estate firm in Washington D.C.
Francis Lawrence, Huguely's criminal lawyer, is a veteran of the courtroom and has represented several high profile cases, including one in the late 1990s that involved another University of Virginia student accused of battering another.
Growing up in the suburb of Chevy Chase, Md., Huguely -- whose formal name is George Huguely V -- comes from a long line of Huguely men, many of whom are successful businessmen.
"They have always seemed to be a lovely and tight-knit family," said a source close to the family, who asked not to be named. "I am sure they are heartbroken, but hopefully they will be able to support each other in this very difficult time."
Huguely's great grandfather, George Huguely Sr., founded the company Galliher & Huguely in 1912, and has since been supplying the greater Washington D.C., area with construction supplies. Today, it is Huguely's grandfather who serves as the president of the company.
The suspect's own father, George Huguely IV, is described as a self-employed investor, and according to Federal Election Commission filings, has given generously to the Republican Party over the years.
Huguely's mother, Marta Murphy, is no longer married to his father.
Attending the all-boys Landon School in Bethesda, Huguely rose to become an All-American athlete and a three-time honor roll student.
In 2004, then-sophomore Huguely was featured as "athlete of the week" by ABC News' affiliate WJLA, where he talked about the "importance of winning as a team."
The prep school is no stranger to controversy. Several of the Duke lacrosse players who were implicated in the 2006 rape scandal were also alumni.
The prep school boasts a pristine 75-acre campus where tuition is not cheap. One year in the upper school will cost students, at minimum, nearly $29,000.
Huguely and his father were scheduled to play at an alumni golf tournament hosted by the school later this month. Both the Huguelys were listed as sponsors of the event, with each hole starting at $500 for sponsors.
Murder Suspect Raised With Help of Nanny
When Huguely and his younger sister, Elon University sophomore Teran, wanted to vacation, the family's $1.2 million dollar property in a beachside community in Palm Beach, Fla., was at their disposal.
Huguely's former nanny, Danielle Dubois, told WJLA that she was shocked her former charge was mixed up with a murder allegation.
"I'm just shocked and confused and surprised because kids can be kids and boys can be boys, especially being a nanny, but never to the point of something to this magnitude," DuBois said.
She added, "I knew them pretty well. He's a good-hearted kid."
Love hailed from an equally privileged background, attending private school Notre Dame Preparatory, one of Baltimore's oldest Catholic girls' schools.
"Yeardley was the core of our team - she was our laughter - a good soul and an outstanding athlete," said Mary Bartel, Love's high school lacrosse coach. "I don't think there is a person in this [school] building who couldn't say her name without smiling."
Reached by telephone Monday, Love's older sister Lexie declined to comment. Love's uncle, Granville Swope, was an All-American lacrosse student athlete at the University of Virginia and is said to have been the late student's inspiration.
Love's father, John Love III, passed away in 2003 from cancer.
ABC News' Katie Bosland and Michelle Ruiz contributed to this report.