NC Death Penalty – 2011 Year in Review

Quick Facts

• Executions: 0
• Persons removed from death row for other reasons: 3
• New death sentences: 3
• Capital trials not resulting in death: 11

In Detail

• Persons Removed from Death Row

> Isaac Stroud (Durham) – In February, Isaac Stroud was declared incompetent to be executed and re-sentenced to life.

> John Fleming (Northampton) – This fall, John Fleming died of natural causes at the age of 83.  Fleming was first sent to death row at the age of 70.

> David “Bo” Williams (Bertie) – David Williams died of natural causes at the age of 46.  He had been on death row since 1996.

• New Death Sentences

> Tony Summers (Guilford) – Tony Summers was convicted of stabbing Lavell Williams and assaulting her two children.

> Danny Hembree (Gaston) – Danny Hembree was convicted of smothering Heather Catterton.

> William Robinson (Stanly) – William Robinson was convicted of shooting Keith Crump and injuring another man.

• Capital Trials Not Resulting in Death

> Michael Mead (Gaston) – Michael Mead was found not guilty of killing his pregnant fiancée and setting her house on fire.  The defense presented evidence that Mead was 50 miles away when the crime occurred.

> Al Bellamy (Iredell/Gaston) – A mistrial was declared when it was revealed during the guilt-or-innocence phase of Al Bellamy’s trial that prosecutors failed to disclose over 1700 pages of evidence to the defense.  If the State elects to try Bellamy again, it will be prohibited from seeking the death penalty.

> Robert Stewart (Moore) – Robert Stewart was convicted of second-degree murder after opening fire in a nursing home and killing eight people.  The cumulative sentence was at least 141 years in prison.

> Brandon Gross (Buncombe) – Brandon Gross was convicted of second degree murder, robbery, and burglary for beating a man to death in his home.  He will serve at least 43 years in prison.

> Shelton Mills (Pitt) – Shelton Mills was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole after being convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

> Danny Thomas (Columbus) –Danny Thomas, previously convicted of murder in another county was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for four additional killings.

> Joshua Stepp (Wake) – Joshua Stepp was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the sexual assault and beating death of his ten month-old stepdaughter.

> Larry Robinson (Robeson) – Larry Robinson killed two men and injured a third in an ambush-style assault, and was sentenced to life without parole.

> Melba Slaydon (Randolph) – During jury selection, Melba Slaydon accepted a plea to life without parole in the killing of her husband.

> Dennis Mills (Alamance) – During jury selection, Dennis Mills accepted a plea to life without parole for shooting two men to death in their home.  Mills had previously been convicted of another homicide.

> James Richardson (Pitt) – After James Richardson was convicted of killing two men in a drive-by shooting, prosecutors dropped their request for the death penalty.

Hembree Sentenced to Death; Two Robinson Trials Continue

In Gaston County, Danny Hembree was sentenced to death for the murder of Heather Catterton.  Although the victim’s family supported the death penalty, her father recognized, “This was a no-win situation. They’ve lost a son. We’ve lost a daughter.”

The Robeson County trial of Larry Robinson continues without media coverage.

The State is presenting evidence in the Stanly County trial of William Robinson.  Robinson is accused of shooting a man during a 2006 robbery.

NC Capital Trial Update 11-1-11

Six death penalty trials started in North Carolina over the last few weeks.

Larry Robinson (Robeson) and Brandon Gross (Buncombe) – Progress unknown.

The guilt-or-innocence phase is wrapping up in the Gaston County trial of Danny Hembree.  Prosecutors allege that Hembree strangled Heather Catterton in 2009, while defense attorneys say Catterton died of a drug overdose.

In Alamance County, efforts were underway to pick a jury for the sentencing phase of Dennis Mills‘ trial when Mills moved to withdraw his guilty plea for two 2010 shootings.

The Guilford County trial of Isaam Chaplin came to an abrupt halt when the prosecution suddenly located what they believe to be the murder weapon.  A gun seized by police in another county came up as a “hit” in a police database, prompting the judge to delay the trial indefinitely while both sides examine the new evidence.

Jury selection has just gotten underway in the Stanly County trial of William Robinson.  Robinson is accused of a 2006 robbery-murder in Albemarle.

Jury Selection Underway in Capital Trials

In Gaston County, the jury selection process is nearly complete in the trial of Danny Hembree.  Eleven jurors have been seated; one regular juror and three alternates still need to be selected.

Things are just getting underway in the Alamance County trial of Dennis Mills; one juror has been seated.

There is no news on the Robeson County trial of Larry Robinson.

Capital Trial Update 10-4-11

Larry Robinson is on trial for a double homicide in Robeson County, but DW has been unable to find anything recent in the media.

Jury selection is also underway for the trial of Danny Hembree in Gaston County.

Both Robinson and Hembree could face the death penalty if convicted.