NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Devin Albritton will spend the next 39 years in prison, plus another 11 in suspended time, after a Newport News judge sentenced him Friday afternoon.
Albritton was charged with first-degree murder after he and his wife, Crystal Kaiser-Albritton, kidnapped and killed 17-year-old Asia Cowell in 2020 to keep the teen from testifying in her own rape case. They both pleaded guilty.
In court Friday, Judge Christopher Papile told Albritton, "This was senseless, but we do know the motive. I don't believe it could be more depraved or grotesque." He added that Cowell "was more than brutally murdered; she was executed."
In addition to the prison time, Papile sentenced Albritton to 25 years of uniform good behavior and five years of supervised probation.
According to an investigation, the Albrittons lured Cowell to a home in Norfolk, tricking her into thinking she was there for a hair appointment. They held her captive there before taking her to Newport News, where she was shot and killed.
Though Albritton didn't shoot the gun that killed Cowell, Judge Papile told him, "You could have prevented it, no question." Papile added that he struggled with the sentence, saying, "I can't imagine what that girl went through."
Cowell's aunt, Tatina Cowell, testified during the sentencing hearing. She addressed Albritton directly, saying, "A part of me wants to believe there's good in you, but you could have made a different choice. You broke my heart and you didn't have to."
Cowell later told 13News Now that seeing the defendant "brought me back to that day. Looking at him, looking at his wife’s stature, my niece didn’t stand a chance."
Akiles Malone, a classmate of Cowell's, also testified. He told the court, "It was like she was a sister to me." He also said, "She was very bright, very special, very funny."
Before his sentencing, Albritton read a written apology aloud, telling the Cowell family, "It shouldn't have happened. Once I found out what they did, I couldn't keep up their lies." He added, "I want people who don't know me to have mercy on me."
After the hearing, the Cowell family told 13News Now they don't accept his apology.
"It wasn't sincere," said Cowell's stepmother, Tuwanna Simmons. "That day, you could have stopped it, you could have not gone through with it."
Simmons referenced the fact that law enforcement found Albritton preparing for a cookout just a few hours after the incident. It was later revealed he had already disposed of the murder weapon.
"His emotions are based on the crime as of today, but that day, you could have stopped it," Simmons said.
Family members also said they appreciated the judge's compassion but wished for a longer sentence. "It's not enough," said Simmons. "We can never get Asia back again."
Kaiser-Albritton received a life sentence for the crime on Aug. 16.
The third murder suspect, Dazha Feaster, who was 17 at the time, will be in court for a plea on Oct. 30.
The rape charges brought against Feaster's brother, Desean Corum, were eventually nolle prossed. That means the charges were withdrawn because prosecutors didn't have enough evidence to convict, but the charges could be brought back if more evidence comes to light.
