Marion County Superior Court
Judge John
W. Tranberg
Prosecutor: John V. Commons, David E. Cook
Defense: Steven B. Lazinsky, Rick Mendes
Date of Murder: January 26, 1988
Victim(s): Steve Wentland W/M/19; Tony Moore W/M/24; Bruce Voge W/M/19 (Acquaintances of Conner)
Method of Murder: stabbing with knife (Wentland); shooting with shotgun (Moore/Voge)
Summary: Conner was drinking with friends Steve Wentland, Tony Moore, and Bruce Voge at Moore's home. Wentland left for a drive with Moore in the front seat and Conner in the back. Wentland and Moore argued and Moore struck Wentland with Conner's knife. Wentland fled from the car but was chased down and run over by Moore. Conner then stabbed him to death. They drove to the warehouse of Conner's employer, where Conner and Moore began arguing about the nights events. Cooner shot Moore to death with a shotgun. Conner then returned to Moore's home and shot Voge on the couch. Conner then fled to Texas.
Conviction: Murder, Murder, Murder
Sentencing: November 3,
1988
(Death Sentences for murder of Moore and Voge, 60
years for murder of Wentland)
Aggravating Circumstances: 3 murders
Mitigating Circumstances: intoxication, 22 years old at time of murder, no significant history of criminal conduct, genuine remorse, loss of his father, interest in drawing and writing, generosity in helping pay rent for girlfriend.
Direct Appeal:
Conner v. State, 580 N.E.2d 214 (Ind. October 24, 1991)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Affirmed 5-0
Krahulik Opinion; Shepard, Debruler, Givan, Dickson concur.
Conner v. Indiana, 112 S. Ct. 1501 (1992)
(Cert. denied)
Conner v. Indiana, 112 S. Ct. 2006 (1992) (Rehearing denied)
PCR:
01-04-93 PCR Petition filed. PCR denied by Special Judge James Coachys 03-29-95.
Conner v. State, 711 N.E.2d 1238 (Ind. May 25, 1999) (Appeal of PCR denial)
Affirmed 5-0. Dickson Opinion; Shepard, Sullivan, Selby, Boehm concur.
Conner v. Indiana, 121 S. Ct. 812 (2000) (Cert. denied).
Conner v. State, ___ N.E.2d ___ (Ind. June 16, 2005) (49S00-0504-SD-164).
(Conner sought permission to file Successive Petition for Postconviction Relief. Held: Denied.)
Shepard Opinion; Dickson, Sullivan, Boehm, Rucker concur.
Habeas:
Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus filed on 09-26-00 in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana.
Writ denied by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker on 01-15-03.
Conner v. Anderson, 259 F.Supp.2d 741 (S.D. Ind. January 15, 2003).
(Habeas denied by Judge Sarah Evans Barker, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana.)
Conner v. McBride, 375 F.3d 643 (7th Cir. July 20, 2004) (03-1951).
(Appeal of granting of Habeas Writ) Affirmed 3-0.
Michael S. Kanne Opinion; Frank H. Easterbrook, Ilana Diamond Rovner concur.
Conner v. McBride, 125 S.Ct. 1399 (February 28, 2005) (Cert. denied).
Conner v. McBride, 125 S.Ct. 1930 (April 25, 2005) (Reh. denied).
CONNER WAS EXECUTED BY LETHAL INJECTION ON JULY 27, 2005 12:31 A.M. HE WAS THE 85TH CONVICTED MURDERER EXECUTED IN INDIANA SINCE 1900, AND 15TH SINCE THE DEATH PENALTY WAS REINSTATED IN 1977.
As of July 1, 2006