MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A Monongalia County circuit judge sentenced a Morgantown man to the maximum 40 years in prison Monday for his part in a 2022 drug-debt murder.

Arlo Romano, 44, pleaded guilty earlier this year to second degree murder in the 2022 shooting of Moore. Co-defendant Cleotis “Ghost” Eppes was sentenced earlier this month to two consecutive life terms in state prison after his conviction on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Moore’s death.
“I do not know if you were a true friend of Matt Moore before May of 2022; however, I do know that on May 7, 2022, you were no friend of his,” Monongalia County Circuit Court Judge Paul Gwaltney said during sentencing. “In the court’s opinion, the state’s plea agreement reflects the appropriate mercy for your involvement in the murder of Matthew Moore. Arlo Romano, for your conviction for the felony offense of second-degree murder, it’s the sentence of this court that you be confined to a state correctional facility for a term of 40 years.”
On May 6, 2022, Eppes enlisted the help of Romano, a childhood friend of Moore, to find him over a drug debt estimated to be about $30,000. After locating Moore, the trio drove to a remote area just outside city limits and shot Moore twice. Romano was the driver of the pickup truck and ran over Moore’s body as he fled the shooting scene on Round Bottom Road.
This all happened about one day after Romano tried to check in to rehab but had an accident while on the way.
“I’ve pleaded guilty to my role in what happened to Matt, and I didn’t know that was going to happen,” Romano told the court. “I didn’t assist in that voluntarily.”
During victim impact statements, Moore’s sister, Brandi Shaffer, told Romano she would have provided that ride to rehab if she had known it would have saved her brother’s life.
“Arlo, I pray every day to be able to forgive you because I knew you in school and I never expected you to do something like this,” Shaffer told Romano.
Moore’s girlfriend, Carrie White, testified about the loss she now shares with his mother, who has fallen into poor health since the killing. White said that weekend in May, she was frantically looking for Matt when she heard what had happened from a friend and contacted his mother.
“I had to call his mother on Mother’s Day night to tell her that someone called me to tell me Matthew was dead in the woods, but I didn’t know where,” White said. “That was the hardest phone call I’ve ever had to make in my life.”
Monongalia County Prosecutor Gabe Mucciola thanked the family for their strength and the court for delivering them justice.
“We are appreciative of the ability of the court to provide justice for the family and friends of Mr. Moore today,” Mucciola said.
Gwaltney noted drug violence is becoming more commonplace in the community and has concerns about the future of the community.
“At this point, it would be premature to say our community has been ravaged by those seeking a quick high or a quick dollar,” Gwaltney said. “However, I fear that at the rate we are going with the drug-related deaths in the next five years, we may be able to say that our small college town has been ravaged by it.”
Story by Mike Nolting, WAJR