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.

No Death Penalty for Watson, Slaydon

In Lee County, Ebony Watson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder just as her trial was getting underway.  Prosecutors had initially sought the death penalty.

In Randolph County, prosecutors also backed away from seeking death for Melba Slaydon and her son Ronald Gibbs.  Slaydon pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and accepted a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.  Gibbs will not face the death penalty when he goes to trial later this year.

Meanwhile, the Tony Summers trial is continuing in Guilford County and jury selection has begun for the Danny Thomas trial in Columbus County.  There is no word on the De’Ante Harris trial in Robeson County.

Capital Trial Update 2-28-11

Jury selection is complete for the trial of Tony Summers in Guilford County.  Opening statements are expected this morning.

There is no word on the Ebony Watson trial in Lee County.

Two other capital trials are scheduled to start today, De’Ante Harris in Robeson County and Melba Slayton in Randolph County.  The Slayton case is of particular note because the defendant is in her mid-70s.  One has to wonder why the State would spend millions of dollars to seek the death penalty against someone who will surely not live to see execution.