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.

Life Sentence for Joshua Stepp

Josh Stepp, an Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD, has been spared the death penalty.  He will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Comments from jurors here.

Stepp Jury Deliberates

In Wake County, a jury is deciding whether to convict Joshua Stepp of first or second-degree murder in the 2009 killing of his stepdaughter.  Stepp admits to causing the girl’s death, but says that his mental state was so clouded by PTSD and intoxication that he acted without intending to kill.  If Stepp is convicted of first-degree murder, the jury will then hear additional evidence before deciding what sentence to impose.

Stepp Trial Underway in Wake County

Opening arguments were heard this morning in the trial of Joshua Stepp, a former Army infantryman who is accused of killing his ten month-old stepdaughter.  Prosecutors also allege that a sexual assault took place.

Stepp admits to causing the girl’s death, but asserts that he is not guilty of first-degree murder because he did not form the specific intent to kill and because no sexual assault occurred.  [You can read North Carolina's definition of first-degree murder here.]  Stepp intends to testify and present evidence of how substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder caused him to lose control.

Capital Trial Update 8-8-11

There are two death penalty trials underway in North Carolina right now.

In Wake County, prosecutors are seeking capital punishment for Joshua Stepp, who is accused in the 2009 death of his stepdaughter.  Although Stepp has acknowledged injuring the child, he asserts that his actions did not amount to first-degree murder.

In Moore County, jurors are hearing evidence in the trial of Robert Stewart.  Stewart has admitted to a 2009 shooting that left eight people dead.  However, Stewart asserts that his mental state at the time of the killings was such that he should not be convicted of first-degree murder.