April 28
TEXAS----impending execution
Dexter Darnell Johnson's execution is scheduled to occur at 6 pm CDT, on
Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary
in Huntsville, Texas. 30-old Dexter is convicted of the murder of 23-year-old
Maria Aparece and 17-year-old Huy Ngo on June 18, 2006, in Houston, Texas.
Dexter has spent the last 11 years of his life on Texas’ death row.
Dexter was born and raised in Texas. He dropped out of school following the 9th
grade.
During the early morning hours of June 18, 2006, Dexter Johnson and 4 of his
friends, Ashley Ervin, Louis Ervin, Keithron Fields, and Timothy Randle, were
driving around in Ashley’s car, looking for someone to rob. The group
discovered Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo siting in Maria’s vehicle on the street.
Johnson took a shot gun and stood outside the driver’s side door, threatening
to shoot Maria if she did not cooperate. Johnson demanded she open the door,
and when she did, he threw her into the back seat and sat in the driver’s seat.
Fields, who was out side the passenger side door, threw Huy into the back seat
with Maria, and sat in the front seat on the passenger side. Louis sat in the
back. Ashley and Randle followed in Ashely’s car.
Johnson demanded money from Maria and Huy. Eventually, Johnson pulled over into
a wooded area and forced Huy from the car. Johnson then raped Maria, while
Fields forced Huy to listen and taunted him. Maria and Huy were then marched
into the woods, by Johnson and Fields, where they were shot and killed.
Over the next several days, Johnson used Maria’s credit card several times.
On June 21, 2006, Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was
quickly linked by police to the disappearance of Maria and Huy. Police were
able to obtain security footage from a Wal-Mart, where Maria’s credit card was
used after she went missing.
During his trial, testimony was presented that showed Johnson was the leader of
a gang. Johnson is also believed to be connected to several other murders.
Following his sentencing, Johnson threw a chair in courtroom, resulting in him
being forcibly restrained and escorted out of the courtroom by several
sheriff’s deputies.
Ashley Ervin is currently serving a prison sentence and is eligible for parole
in 2046. Keithron Fields has been sentenced to life in prison, without the
possibility of parole. Timothy Randle is currently serving a 25 years in
prison. Louis Ervin was a juvenile at the time of the crime.
Please pray for peace and healing for the families of the Maria Aparece and Huy
Ngo. Please pray for strength for the family of Dexter Johnson. Please pray
that if Dexter is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed or should not
be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be presented prior to his
execution. Please pray that Dexter will come to find peace through personal
relationship with the Lord, if he has not already.
(source: The Forgiveness Foundation of Christian Ministries)
CONNECTICUT:
Court to Hear Former Death Row Inmate's Appeal
The Connecticut Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal of former death row
inmate Lazale Ashby, who says he was wrongly convicted of murder and sexual
assault in the 2002 slaying of a single mother in Hartford.
Arguments are scheduled for Monday.
Ashby was convicted in 2008 in the rape and strangulation of Elizabeth Garcia
inside her apartment as her 2-year-old daughter watched television in another
room. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence was changed to life in prison
after the state abolished capital punishment in 2015.
Ashby says he had consensual sex with Garcia the night of the killing and
another man's DNA was found on her body. He says police did not adequately
investigate and state officials failed to disclose evidence in his favor.
(source: Associted Press)
PENNSYLVANIA:
Court upholds Frein’s death sentence
Pennsylvania’s highest court upheld the death sentence and conviction on Friday
of a sniper who killed a state trooper and wounded another in a nighttime
ambush outside their barracks in a heavily wooded area.
The state Supreme Court’s decision upholds lower court decisions in the case of
Eric Frein, who was convicted in the 2014 murder of Cpl. Bryon Dickson II
outside the Blooming Grove barracks in northeastern Pennsylvania. Another
trooper, Alex Douglass, was badly wounded.
In a 45-page opinion supported by 5 of the court’s 7 justices, Justice Debra
Todd wrote that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support a
1st-degree murder conviction and death penalty. The court also rejected several
challenges by Frein’s lawyers, including one in which they contended that the
trial judge violated Frein’s right to remain silent and right to a lawyer by
allowing the jury to see his post-arrest videotaped interview with police.
After the ambush, Frein led authorities on a 48-day manhunt through the rugged
Pocono Mountains before U.S. marshals caught him at an abandoned airplane
hangar. The area was briefly transformed, with heavily armed federal agents and
police from several states patrolling streets, combing forests and cordoning
off neighborhoods.
Frein was convicted in 2017. He is on death row, but the most recent execution
in Pennsylvania was nearly 2 decades ago. The state’s current Democratic
governor has said he will grant a reprieve each time an execution is scheduled
until the Legislature addresses problems identified in a report last year. Gov.
Tom Wolf has called the system “ineffective, unjust and expensive.”
(source: The Citizens' Voice)
GEORGIA----impending execution
Scotty Garnell Morrow is scheduled to be executed at 7 pm EDT, on Thursday, May
2, 2019, at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson,
Georgia. 52-year-old Scotty is convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Barbara
Ann Young, and her friend Tonya Woods, on December 29, 1994, in Gainesville,
Georgia. Scotty has spent the last 19 years of his life on Georgia’s death row.
Scotty had a sad childhood. While in elementary school, his family moved from
Georgia to New York City, to escape his abusive father. While in New York City,
Scotty was repeatedly raped by a teenager. As he grew up, his mother’s
boyfriends were abusive to him and Scotty was bullied both at home and at
school. Scotty also witnessed the physical abuse of his mother and emotional
abuse of other family members.
In June 1994, Barbara Ann Young began dating Scotty Morrow. After several
months of abusive behavior towards her, Barbara broke up with Morrow in early
December 1994. On December 6, 1994, Morrow hit Barbara. On December 9, 1994,
Morrow abducted Barbara, beating and raping her, before eventually letting her
go. On December 24, 2019, Barbara expressed her fears to a neighbor that Morrow
“was going to kill her.”
On December 29, 1994, Morrow and Barbara argued over the telephone, with
Barbara wanting Morrow to leave her alone. Morrow, angered, showed up
unexpectedly at Barbara’s house, armed with a handgun. At the home with Barbara
was her friends Tonya Woods and LaToya Horne, and Barbara’s 2 young children -
5-year-old Christopher and 8-month-old Devonte.
Morrow entered the house and found the 3 women in the kitchen. Barbara and
Morrow argued before Morrow shot Barbara in the stomach, severing her spine and
paralyzing her. Morrow then turned and shot LaToya in the arm. Tonya fled to a
bedroom. Morrow chased her, kicking open the bedroom door and the 2 fought for
the gun, which went off and injured Tonya. Tonya attempted to flee, but Morrow
caught her and shot her once in the head, killing her. A wound to her hand
suggested Tonya was attempting to shield her head.
Morrow returned to the kitchen and shot and killed Barbara. Morrow also shot
LaToya, injuring her face and arm. Morrow then cut the telephone line and fled
the house. LaToya was able to run to neighbor’s house and call for help,
despite her injuries. LaToya survived, but was left with permeant injuries. She
testified against Morrow at the trial. 5-year-old Christopher, who witnessed
the shooting, also testified at the trial.
Following his arrest, Morrow confessed to the crime, saying he shot Barbara
because he “wanted her to shut up.” Police also found the murder weapon in his
backyard.
Prior to his trial, Morrow made it known that he was willing to plead guilty
and spend the rest of his life in prison, however, the District Attorney was
unwilling to strike a plea deal. Morrow was convicted and sentenced to death in
June 1999. Morrow’s death sentence was overturned by a lower court, after
Morrow successfully argued that his trial lawyers failed to present sufficient
evidence of his childhood abuse and trauma. The Georgia Supreme Court later
reinstated Morrow’s death sentence. Many of his appeals have continued to focus
on the ineffectiveness of his trial lawyers.
Please pray for peace and healing for the families of Barbara Ann Young and
Tonya Woods. Please pray for strength for the family of Scotty Morrow. Please
pray that if Scotty is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should
not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be provided before his
execution. Please pray that Scotty will come to find peace through a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already. (source: The Forgiveness
Foundation Christian Ministries)
FLORIDA----impending execution
Robert Joseph Long a/k/a Bobby Joe Long is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm
EDT, on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at the Florida State Penitentiary in Raiford,
Florida. 65-year-old Robert, a serial murder, has pled guilty to 8 murders, and
will be executed for the murder of 22-year-old Michelle Denise Simms in the
Tampa Bay Area of Florida in 1984. Robert has spent the last 32 years on death
row in Florida.
Robert had a difficult childhood and was teased as a child due to a birth
defect. During his childhood, he also suffered multiple head injuries. Robert
had a dysfunctional relationship with his mother, sleeping in the same bed as
her until he was a teenager. He had no stable male role model while growing up,
as his mother had a string of short-term boyfriends. Shortly after graduating
high school, Robert married his high school girlfriend, and they went on to
have 2 children. They divorced six years after they got married. While
recovering from a severe motorcycle accident, Robert began suffering from
blinding headaches, unpredictable violent rages, and became obsessed with sex.
On May 27, 1984, the nude body of Michelle Simms was discovered near Plant
City, Florida. Her hands and body were bound in rope and her clothing was found
scattered nearby. Rope burns indicated that she had been strangled, as well as
had her throat slit and multiple head injuries. Her exact cause of death was
unknown, but any of the aforementioned injuries could have been the cause of
death.
The discovery of Michelle’s body began an intense investigation into the
abduction, rape, and murder of least 9 other women in Hillsborough, Pasco, and
Pinellas, Florida, collectively known as the Tampa Bay Area. The investigation
involved law enforcement officials from multiple counties, as well as the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Forensic evidence, specifically fibers
from a vehicle carpet, linked the crimes to a single perpetrator.
On November 3, 1984, Lisa McVey was kidnapped leaving a donut shot in northern
Tampa, Florida. She was taken to an unknown apartment and was sexually
assaulted for the next 26 hours. She was then released. Carpet fibers gathered
from her clothing matched the carpet fibers found in the other cases. Lisa was
extensively interviewed by law enforcement officials after the connection was
made. She was able to recall that her abductor had a red vehicle with a red
interior. The vehicle also had the word “Magnum” on the dash. Using this
information, police were able to narrow down the suspect list. Lisa identified
Robert Long, a/k/a Bobby Long as her abductor through a photo lineup.
On November 16, 1984, Long was arrested and charged with the sexual battery and
kidnapping of Lisa. After waiving his Miranda rights, Long eventually confessed
to the kidnapping and rape of Lisa. Investigators continued questioning Long,
bringing up the recent murders. Long evading answering questions, claiming he
did not know anything, about these murders, eventually stating that he thought
he needed an attorney.
Over an 8-month period in 1984, 10 women were kidnapped, raped, and murdered:
20-year-old Artiss Ann Wick on March 27, 1984; 19-year-old Ngeun Thi Long on
May 13, 1984; 22-year-old Michelle Denise Simms on May 27, 1984; 22-year-old
Elizabeth Loudenback on June 8, 1984; 21-year-old Vicky Marie Elliott on
September 7, 1984; 18-year-old Chanel Devoun Williams on October 7, 1984;
28-year-old Karen Beth Dinsfriend on October 14, 1984; 22-year-old Kimberly
Kyle Hopps on October 31, 1984; Virginia Lee Johnson on November 6, 1984; and
21-year-old Kim Marie Swann on November 11, 1984.
Eventually, Long confessed to 8 of the murders, including providing police with
instruction on where to find one of the bodies. He also confessed to being the
“Classified Ad Rapist,” a man who would schedule appointments for the middle of
day to view furniture advertised through classified ads. Upon arriving, if the
women were alone, Long would force his way into the homes at knife point and
rape the women, before robbing them and fleeing.
Long reached a plea bargain for 8 of the murders and was sentenced to 24
concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole, two consecutive
life sentences without the possibility of parole, and seven life sentences with
the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Long was tried separately for the murders of Virginia Johnson and Michelle
Simms. He was sentenced to death for both murders, however those sentences were
later overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. Long was again sentenced to
death for the murder of Michelle.
Please pray for peace and healing for Lisa McVey and for the families of Artiss
Wick, Ngeun Long, Michelle Simms, Elizabeth Loudenback, Vicky Elliot, Chanel
Williams, Karen Dinsfriend, Kimberly Hopps, Virginia Johnson, and Kim Swann.
Please pray for any others that have been affected by Robert Long. Please pray
that if Robert is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed or should not
be executed for any other reason, evidence will be presented prior to his
execution. Please pray that Robert may come to find peace through personal
relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not already.
(source: The Forgiveness Foundation Christian Ministries)
ALABAMA----impending execution
Michael Brandon Samra is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CDT, on Thursday, May
16, 2019, at the Holeman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. 42-year-old
Michael is convicted of the murder of 39-year-old Randy Duke, 29-year-old Dedra
Mims Hunt, 7-year-old Chelsea Marie Hunt and 6-year-old Chelisa Nicole Hunt, on
March 23, 1997, in Shelby County, Alabama. Michael has spent the last 21 years
on death row in Alabama.
Michael Samra was friends with Mark Anthony Duke. On March 22, 1997, Mark and
his father Randy Duke, were in a heated argument and Randy threatened to not
let Mark use his truck. This enraged Mark. Later in the day, Mark met up with
David Collums, Michael Ellison, and Samra. Mark relayed the argument to his
friends, stating that he wanted to kill his father. The friends obtained two
handguns and began developing a plan to murder Randy and not leave any
witnesses.
On March 23, 1997, Mark, Samra, Ellison, and Collums drove to Randy’s house.
Ellison and Collums then left, agreeing to meet back up with Mark and Samra
later in the day. Mark and Samra entered the home and Mark shot Randy, killing
him. Samra aimed at Dedra, Randy’s fiancee. He shot her in the face, although
she managed to flee upstairs with her 2 daughters, Chelsea and Chelisa.
According to Samra, Mark chased Dedra and Chelisa into the bathroom, where he
shot and killed Dedra. Samra and Mark ran out of bullets after murdering Dedra.
They retrieved kitchen knives and resumed searching for the two girls. Chelisa
was found hiding behind the shower curtain, while Chelsea was found under the
bed. Both girls eventually died after having their throats hacked with a dull
knife.
After being questioned by law enforcement, Samra confessed to the crime and
showed police where the weapons used in the crime were located. Evidence also
showed that Samra used a knife to kill one of the girls. Samra was convicted
and sentenced to death.
Mark was also sentenced to death, however, his sentence was commuted to life in
prison without the possibility of parole, after the Supreme Court of the United
States ruled that prisoners could not be executed for crimes committed when
they were younger than the age of 18. Mark was 16 at the time of the murder.
Ellison and Collums were given prison terms for their parts in the crime. Both
have since been released from prison.
Please pray for peace and healing for the families of the Randy Duke, Dedra
Hunt, Chelsea Hunt, and Chelisa Hunt. Please pray for strength for the family
of Michael Samra. Please pray that if Michael is innocent, lacks the competency
to be executed, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence
will be provided prior to his executed. Please pray that Michael may come to
find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if he has not
already.
(source: The Forgiveness Foundation Christian Ministries)
*********
Judge considering bond for pregnant capital murder suspect
A circuit court judge is considering bond for Latoni Daniel, who is 8 months
pregnant and awaiting trial on a capital murder charge.
Daniel has been in jail since Dec. 5, 2017, following the robbery and shooting
death of Thomas V. Chandler of Goodwater, a case in which the state is seeking
the death penalty if she is convicted.
Daniel, 26, of Alexander City went before Circuit Court Judge David Law in
Rockford Friday seeking to be free on bond to give birth to the child.
“The elephant in the room is Ms. Daniel is a little over eight months
pregnant,” said attorney Jon Taylor, who represents Daniel. “Her due date is
May 25.”
Chief assistant district attorney Joe Ficquette argued Daniel should not have a
bond due to the capital murder charge and the punishment that would be levied
if she is convicted.
“This is a very horrific murder,” Ficquette said. “We are seeking the death
penalty.”
The other penalty option is life in prison without parole.
Taylor said Daniel needs care beyond what can be provided while she is
incarcerated and made other arguments for bond.
“She would get additional prenatal care if she was on bond,” Taylor said. “She
has no criminal history. She served in the military with honor and has strong
family ties to the area.”
Taylor said Daniel’s father, mother and uncle were in attendance at the hearing
and would agree to make sure Daniel abides by any conditions of bond put in
place including curfews or house arrest except for medical treatment.
Taylor said Daniel has worked with investigators and Daniel’s part in the
robbery and death came out in the preliminary hearing before the case was bound
over to the grand jury.
“She has been cooperative with law enforcement,” Taylor said. “Ms. Daniel was
the driver in this case. She was not the shooter.”
LaDaniel Martel Tuck, 28, of Alexander City has also been indicted on a capital
murder charge in the same incident and Taylor argued Tuck was the shooter based
on testimony in a preliminary hearing.
Daniel and Tuck are accused of robbing and shooting Chandler, 87, on Coosa
County Road 7 in Goodwater Dec. 4, 2017. The Goodwater Police Department was
assisted in the case by investigators with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency,
the Coosa County Sheriff’s Department and the Alexander City Police Department.
At the time of Chandler’s death, Tuck was only 6 months into his parole after
his release from prison stemming from a guilty plea to first-degree robbery in
2010 according to court records.
Taylor argued for a $100,000 bond for Daniel based a 1931 case. Ficquette
argued more current case law does not allow bond in capital murder cases.
“Once a capital case has made its way through a grand jury, a presumption of
guilt in the highest degree is triggered when indicted for the purposes of
bond,” Ficquette said.
Law gave Taylor 7 days to file responses to the case law filed by Ficquette and
Ficquette 7 days after that to file a rebuttal.
Following the hearing, just as Daniel started to walk away with her hands
cuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit with Talladega County Jail printed on the
back, Taylor had to hold Daniel up as she felt weak. Daniel’s father also tried
to render aid. Daniel was allowed to sit and recompose herself before walking
out of the courtroom.
(source: alexcityoutlook.com)
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