Scarborough sentenced to more than 108 years in 2020 murders

By Linda Cicoira

Julian Travis Scarborough, the police informant who was convicted by an Accomack Circuit Court jury in late August for murdering a local couple in 2020 was sentenced to more than 108 years in prison Thursday for the deaths, robbing the pair, concealing and defiling their bodies, four firearm offenses, and destroying evidence.

“I hope you reflect, if you are capable of reflecting,” Judge Lynwood W. Lewis Jr. told the defendant. “Maybe you can find some way … for something positive.” The judge also noted that Scarborough came from married working parents and a stable environment. “I don’t know what created you.”

Forty-five-year-old Scarborough, of Linhaven Circle in Painter, said “I’m not going to ask the court for anything, no forgiveness or remorse. I’m sorry that that happened to them. I didn’t do it … That’s the truth. I’m sorry you all had to go through all that … I would have never done that to him or her.” He said it particularly hurt him about the woman.

The defendant also spoke to Lt. Joshua Marsh, who led the investigation, just after the trial. At that time, he said he knew he was facing four life terms in prison and didn’t care.

The victims were 36-year-old Princeton Howard Bragg and 38-year-old Lolita Monique Boggs, also of the Painter area. Bragg was alleged to be Scarborough’s drug dealer. The couple had a total of 17 children and were expecting another when they were killed.

Their bodies were found in their car in secluded woods near Doughty Farm Road, not far from the defendant’s home. Bragg’s body was in the trunk. Boggs’ body was on the floor of the back seat. Both had been shot numerous times. It was concluded that the couple was killed elsewhere because there were no riddled windows or damages to the car.

Scarborough was also indicted on a count of first-degree murder of the couple’s unborn child. That charge was not prosecuted. The death was not mentioned during the trial but was part of the autopsy report that was given to the jury.

According to testimony at the trial, Scarborough told the head of the Eastern Shore Drug Task Force that he was angry when Bragg ignored his request for cocaine and had previously made him wait for about five hours before making a delivery.

The defendant was not aware that investigators had put a camera near Bragg’s house on Coal Kiln Road. Scarborough was caught on video surveillance kicking in the couple’s door after the two disappeared. Scarborough said he broke into the house to steal Bragg’s stash.

The case included 100 search warrants and 70 pieces of evidence, three murder weapons, and likely more participants in the crimes.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan said Scarborough’s DNA was found on the inside of Bragg’s out-turned pants pockets. Scarborough’s cell phone pinged in the same areas off the same cell tower at the same times that the victims’ phones pinged.

He also sought to buy firearms that night and questioned a neighbor about the comings and goings of the victims.

Morgan also said Scarborough is very violent and was involved in a drive-by shooting as a juvenile. The prosecutor said the report reflects the defendant’s low intelligence, emotional instability, verbal aggressive and manipulative behavior. He was convicted in 2009 of wounding. “He should never have a chance… again,” Morgan said

“There are no circumstances that are good where you have your hand in someone else’s pocket,” Morgan said at the trial. “There’s even fewer when it is a dead man.”