(Morganton News Herald) Justin Nojan Sullivan was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the chance for parole for the murder of his neighbor John Bailey Clark. The life sentence will be served on top of the life sentence Sullivan received in federal court on June 27 for attempting to commit an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries.
District Attorney David Learner confirmed Monday that Clark’s murder was the first ISIS-connected murder committed on American soil.
Outside the Burke County Courthouse, Clark’s sister-in-law, Glenda Clark, said hearing the details of the crime was rough but the family can now have some closure. She said they wanted justice for Johnny and feel they got it. She said they are satisfied with the plea deal and sentencing.
During Sullivan’s sentencing, family members of Clark got the chance to address the court. Glenda Clark read a statement for the family. She said John Clark was a very good person who would take his mother out to eat and then take her riding around when she was alive.
John Clark lived in the house on Rose Carswell Road his mother left him when she died in the 1970s, Learner said. Glenda Clark said her brother-in-law had a saying, “Everything living should have a chance to live.”
John Clark was a vegetarian and wouldn’t kill anything, even a spider, according to family members. Glenda Clark said John Clark shouldn’t have had to die the way he did.
While the family received some closure with Sullivan’s sentencing and guilty plea, Sullivan did not apologize to the family when he got a chance Monday to address the court. Before speaking to the court, Sullivan affirmed to tell the truth rather than swear on the Bible, which typically is standard procedure. Sullivan has converted to Islam.
Sullivan, 21, said before he got to court Monday he was afraid Clark’s family would “trash-talk me” but they didn’t. “I appreciate that,” Sullivan said. The closest Sullivan came to apologizing to Clark’s family was to say, “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
He added that he never wanted to move to Morganton.
Sullivan lived with his parents at the time he killed Clark and started communicating with ISIS.
During a press conference after the sentencing, Clark’s brother, Douglas Clark, said they’ve never said anything negative about Sullivan’s parents or him. Learner said he feels bad for Sullivan’s parents, and added it must be a horrific burden to have a son commit murder.
In court, Learner talked about some of the evidence he would have presented if the case had gone to trial. He talked about how Sullivan shot Clark in the head three times as he lay in his bed with his back to the bedroom door, dragged Clark out of his house, striped him naked and spent hours digging a grave before burying him.