Category : Violent Crimes
Child Murderer Sentenced to Death Penalty
The Supreme Court of Kentucky has just issued an order that will set forth the execution of Marco Allen Chapman, a 36-year old felon convicted of two counts of murder. In addition to these murder charges, Chapman has also been convicted of one count of rape, one count burglary and PFO II (indicating that he’s a persistent felony offender).
Interestingly, the Court’s ruling may be the final word in the manner, as Chapman filed an affidavit in 2007 asking that public defenders not be able to file further appeals on his behalf. In explanation, Chapman has stated that he wants to die for his crimes.
What Led to His Death Sentence: Chapman’s Crimes
On August 23, 2002, Chapman broke into a home located in Warsaw, Ky., where he brutally stabbed and then slit the throats of Cody Sharon, 6, and Chelbi Sharon, 7. During his rampage, Chapman also:
- Stabbed the victims’ 10-year old sister, Courtney Sharon, several times (the 10-year old victim ultimately survived the attack by playing dead)
- Bound, raped and stabbed the children’s mother, Carolyn Marksberry
Like her 10-year old daughter, Marksberry survived the attack. Chapman left her for dead after breaking a small knife in her chest and then stabbing her with a larger knife.
Following these heinous crimes, Chapman proceeded to rob the home before he fled the scene. Later that same day, Chapman was captured and arrested in West Virginia.
The Controversy: A Defense Lawyer’s Nightmare
While Chapman’s crimes are shocking and indefensible, his act of preventing appeals on his behalf has raised an interesting legal controversy.
Is Chapman incompetent for asking to be put to death? And, if so, shouldn’t execution be out of the question, as Chapman doesn’t understand what he’s asking for? Or, is Chapman’s request sane and rational? If this happens to be the case, shouldn’t he be obligated to fulfill the terms of his sentence, which includes death by lethal injection?
Although Chapman’s defense lawyers say they are unsure of what to do next, given the presence of their client’s affidavit, they haven’t given up. Chapman’s group of attorneys are still working on possible strategies for preventing the execution.
However, barring their success, Chapman is scheduled to be put to death Nov. 21, 2008.
(Source: New York Times)
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Former Police Lt. Faces 45 Years in Prison
Former police Lieutenant Jon Burge, 60, was arrested in mid-October 2008 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Burge is accused of lying about his role in and knowledge of torturing African American murder suspects in Chicago throughout the 1980s.
The accusation of Burge’s perjury and former policemen’s misconduct came to light in a 2006 report compiled by Cook County prosecutors. In this report, authorities revealed that Chicago police employed during the 1970s and 1980s regularly beat and tortured a number of African American suspects in an effort to elicit their confessions.
Many of these alleged torture sessions led to hundreds of convictions and death row sentences. However, the recent reports of police misconduct influenced the then-Governor of Chicago, George Ryan, to pardon or commute the sentences of 168 inmates.
An Example of Wrongful Convictions: The Case of Madison Hobley
One of the many wrongful convictions that came out of Burge’s illegal actions was the conviction of Madison Hobley, a 46-year old African American, who was suspected of setting a fire in 1987 that killed seven people, including his wife and daughter.
According to Hobley, Burge and three other detectives “bagged” Hobley. “Bagging” is an act of torture in which an object—in this case a typewriter—is used to cover a person’s head to prevent him from breathing. During this interrogation, Burge and his fellow officers alleged that Hobley confessed to the crime.
False Testimonies Led to Wrongful Conviction
While Hobley has always denied giving such a confession, Burge testified that a confession occurred. Burge’s testimony, along with that of his fellow detectives, directly led to Hobley’s conviction and death row sentence.
In 2003, after spending 13 years on death row, Hobley was pardoned by Ryan and, subsequently, filed a civil rights case against the Chicago police department. During these proceedings, Burge testified that he and his fellow detectives never tortured Madison Hobley in an effort to force his confession.
Multiple Innocent Men Set Free
Hobley ultimately won his case. He and other wrongfully convicted and/or tortured inmates have been awarded over $20 million in damages, which are to be paid out by the city of Chicago.
Although the statute of limitations for charging Burges with torture and police misconduct is up, prosecutors plan on charging him with one count of perjury and two counts of obstruction of justice. If convicted, Burges faces up to 45 years in prison.
(Source: New York Times)
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Grandmother Accused of Murder for Hire
Betty Neumar, a 76-year old grandmother living in Raleigh, N.C., has recently been charged with hiring a man to murder her 4th husband, Harold Gentry. In 1986, Gentry was shot to death at home. While Gentry’s brother, Al, has been petitioning prosecutors to pursue this case for years, only recently has action been taken.
Thursday, October 16, 2008, Neumar was released from a prison in North Carolina on $300,000 bail. Neumar had been in custody for six months prior to her release.
Although Neumar will likely not be able to leave the state, Al Gentry and other family members of the victim said they are appalled that she was granted bail and released at all. Because Gentry did have a hand in getting Neumar arrested, police and prosecutors have warned him to be especially cautious and keep his distance from Neumar.
Facts of the Case
According to authorities, Neumar approached three men and tried to solicit each to kill her husband over two decades ago. While prosecutors haven’t specified whether these individuals will testify against Neumar, they have stated that they have hundreds of documents and leads to investigate before they will be ready to present their case.
Along with court documents, witness testimonies and other potential evidence, Neumar’s credibility will also play a big role in this case. Interestingly, Neumar has survived five dead husbands (including Gentry) and one dead child.
Neumar’s Suspicious Past
Although she has never faced charges for playing a role in any of these deaths, except for Gentry’s, authorities are now re-examining each case to see if Neumar did, in fact, have a criminal part in any of them.
Presently, police are focusing on the death of Neumar’s latest husband, John Neumar, who was cremated after dying in Augusta, Ga. His ashes are being examined at the FBI’s crime lab.
Another suspicious fact muddying Neumar’s credibility is that authorities have uncovered multiple overseas bank accounts in her name. The nature and activities of these accounts is also pending investigation.
“Black Widow”
In response to this new series of investigations surrounding Neumar, Charles Parnell, Neumar’s defense lawyer, has claimed that his client is being prejudicially portrayed as a “black widow” or a serial murderer. He continues to affirm that his client will have her day in court and that the truth will come out during her trial.
(Source: New York Times)
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Illinois Resident Charged with Murder
Marcus Powell, a 27-year old Illinois resident, has been charged with the murder of Delarrian Davis, 12, who died in a drive-by shooting allegedly performed by Powell. At the time of the shooting, Davis was at home in Madison, Illinois, which is near St. Louis.
Investigators have concluded that Davis was working on his homework when he was fatally shot, as authorities found books and school supplies alongside the boy’s body on Oct. 7, 2008.
Immediately after the incident, police wanted to interrogate Powell, who had eluded them for two days. While authorities have yet to pinpoint or announce Powell’s motive, they do have the suspect in custody and are following through with their investigation.
The Chase to Capture Powell
Powell had been eluding police for sometime before his recent arrest, as detectives wanted to question him for his suspected role in another shooting. The manhunt for Powell intensified; however, upon his alleged role in the drive-by shooting that killed Davis.
In an effort to track down Powell and keep locals safe, area schools closed or were locked down during the manhunt.
Powell surfaced around the St. Louis area Oct. 9, 2008. Following a short chase, police located Powell at a mobile home park. One resident witness stated that over 40 policemen converged on the shed where Powell was expected to be hiding with their guns drawn. Although the witness did hear Powell yelling, it appears that the suspect ultimately surrendered himself without a struggle.
The Evidence
Currently, investigators are still collecting evidence to prove that Powell was, indeed, responsible for murdering Davis. Despite the fact that prosecutors are confident that Powell is guilty, authorities have only disclosed to the public that they have one eyewitness linking Powell to the crime.
The witness, a neighbor of Davis’, reported seeing a man stopping his car in front of the Davis’ home, turning off his headlights and then shooting at the residence. Authorities haven’t stated whether the witness has identified Powell as the shooter.
(Source: CNN)
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Las Vegas Man Faces Federal Assault Charges
A Las Vegas man faces federal assault charges for running into a U.S. Immigration and Customs detention officer with his vehicle. Lon Allen Clark, 29, was arrested Sept. 23 and charged with assault and resisting and impeding officers.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention officers were searching for a fugitive, Sept. 17, when they noticed a man, who they claim to be Clark, sitting alone in a parked Honda Accord.
Man Hit an ICE Officer with His Car
The officers thought he may have been connected to the investigation, so they blocked him in with two —one in the front of his car and one in the back, both flashing emergency lights. One of the ICE officers attempted to approach the Honda Accord on foot, when the driver drove the car directly into the officer.
The driver hit the officer and the parked SUV and fled the scene. As he drove away, the officer fired his gun at the car, hitting it several times. The Honda Accord was later found, abandoned, with bullet holes in the front windows. The officers and agents believe Clark was the man driving the Accord that day.
(Source: Las Vegas Sun)
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Freed Inmate Hopes to Help Others
A man in Kansas City, Missouri, was recently released from prison and hopes that his case will help others who may be falsely imprisoned in the future.
The man was convicted in 1984 for a murder that occurred during a gas station shooting in St. Louis.
However, it was discovered that one of the key witnesses in the case lied about the convicted man’s involvement in the shooting.
Prisoner’s Innocence Proven
Darryl Burton, 46, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole for 50 years and was released from the Jefferson City Correctional Center last Friday when he was proven innocent.
Burton was released when his case was sent back to trial and it was revealed that witness Claudex Simmons lied about seeing Burton shoot the victim who died.
Effort to Help Other Innocent Victims
Burton is now hoping that his case will better inform the general public about the wrong imprisonment of thousands of innocent victims throughout the country.
“I come to prison thinking that this is an isolated incident, I’m the only person this has ever happened to,” Burton said. “But it does happens in more cases than we know.”
(Source: The Associated Press)
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Inmate Admits to Murder and Innocent Man Freed
An inmate in Ohio recently admitted to a murder one of his fellow inmates was being imprisoned for.
The murder took place in 1998 and took the life of a legally blind woman.
Murderer Comes Forward
Earl G. Mann, 35, recently came forward and pleaded guilty to taking part in the brutal murder of Judith Johnson, 58.
Johnson was reportedly raped and killed at her Barberton home in the early morning.
Her granddaughter, who was an unexpected houseguest that night, was also raped, but survived.
Wrong Man Sent to Jail
Clarence Elkins was accused of the rapes and murder and investigators believed Elkins drove to Johnson’s home, who was his mother-in-law, and raped and killed her, before raping his niece.
The girl claimed it was Elkins who raped her, which served as key evidence in the case.
Family Fights Back
Since his imprisonment, Elkins and his wife have fought for his release and called on another DNA testing.
Investigators found that on Johnson’s property was a cigarette with Mann’s DNA on it.
Elkins was released and Mann’s new sentence, he was in jail for several attacks on girls, is 55 years in prison.
(Source: Canton Rep)
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Ohio Man Awarded in Wrongful Imprisonment Case
A man living in Pike County, Ohio was recently awarded in a case involving the murder of his friend.
The man’s conviction was reportedly overturned when he was awarded $600,000 in damages for wrongful imprisonment.
Innocent Man Admits to Murder
Kenneth Moore, 49, admitted to a jury in 1995 that he shot and killed his friend, Darrel Benner, 44, one night while they were drinking.
Since this time, Moore has spent nine years of a 15 years-to-life sentence behind bars for the murder.
Victim Receives Compensation
Moore’s case was recently overturned by an appeals court who found that the lawyers working for him did not inform him of favorable evidence at the time of the trial.
As a result, he was tried once again and found to be innocent of the murder that took his friend’s life.
Moore was awarded statutory damages of $44, 204 for each year he spent in jail along with $106, 764 in legal fees and $80,817 for lost wages.
(Source: The Columbus Dispatch)
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$30,000 Settlement Reached in False Arrest Case
A woman living in Syracuse, New York, recently reached a settlement in the suit she filed against the city for her false arrest and imprisonment.
The arrest occurred four years ago and since this time the woman, was arrested on drug charges and despite her pleads with the officers, was taken to the Auburn Police Station.
Law Enforcement Agents Make False Arrest
Teresa Morris says she was getting ready to leave for work on the day when three law enforcement officers came to her home and arrested her on cocaine-related charges.
Morris, who was 39 at the time, was handcuffed in front of her son and taken to the police station where she was questioned, fingerprinted and photographed.
Mother Spends Day in Jail
After three hours of being in jail, the officers realized they had the wrong person, apologized, and took her home, with her handcuffs still on.
According to the suit filed by Morris, she suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome. She filed the suit against the city claiming false arrest and imprisonment, assault and battery and for the violation of her constitutional rights.
The case was settled this week and Morris was compensated $30,000 in damages for the incident.
(Source: Syracuse.com)
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Texas Man Cleared of Shootings
A jury recently decided not to indict a Texas man who shot and killed two illegal immigrants who were leaving his neighbor’s house.
The man reportedly thought the men were posing a threat to him and his neighborhood and shot them in the back.
Man Calls Authorities on Suspects
Joe Horn, 62, called authorities and declared his intention to shoot the men, who he suspected were trespassers, with his 12-gauge shotgun.
The conversation is recorded and the dispatcher told Horn multiple times that the “property is not worth killing someone over.”
However, as the tape rolled, Horn went outside and screamed at the men, “Move, or you’re dead!” before firing his weapon.
Controversy Surrounds Shootings
After the incident, 140,000 protestors flooded the city of Pasadena, near Houston, TX.
The controversy only grew when authorities revealed that the two men were illegal immigrants from Colombia.
Decision Reached
“Joe would be the first to tell you that he wasn’t acting as a vigilante,” explained his attorney, Tom Lambright, to the jury.
Horn as expressed his remorse for the shootings and claims that he felt the men were harmful.
“In this case, the grand jury concluded that Mr. Horn’s use of deadly force did not rise to a criminal offense,” says Kenneth Magidson, the District Attorney for the County.
(Los Angeles Times)
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