DOB: 07-31-63 DOC#: White Male
Warrick County Superior Court
Judge
Edward A. Campbell
Prosecutor: Todd A. Corne, Keith A. Meyer
Defense: S. Anthony Long, Dennis A. Vowels
Date of Murder: March 28, 1996
Victim(s): Brandy Southard W/F/21; John Jay Tyler W/M/29; Kathy Tyler W/F/29
Method of Murder: shooting with SKS Assault rifle
Summary: Jay and Kathy Tyler picked up Brandy Southard from her work in Evansville and were chased by Stephenson to an intersection in rural
Warrick County, where he emptied a 30 round SKS Assault Rifle into the
pickup truck and their bodies. Each were then stabbed repeatedly.
Stephenson was also convicted of the earlier Burglary and Theft from
Southard's residence.
(Believed to be the longest and most expensive trial in Indiana history.
Jury selection began on September 24; Opening Statements began on
December 30; Found Guilty on May 8; Jury recommended death on May 20;
140 total trial days. The defense was allowed 2 attorneys, 2
investigators, a paralegal, a professional photographer, a civil
engineer, a forensic scientist, a jury consultant, a neuropsychologist,
and a mitigation expert. Sister Helen Prejean was flown in to testify at
the sentencing hearing. Claims paid for 2 attorneys fees were $334,156,
paralegal fees were $57,788, expert fees were $79,193, investigator fees
were $74,493, miscellaneous expenses were over $10,000).
Trial: Information/PC for Murder filed (04-02-96); Amended Information for DP filed (05-10-96); Defendant Motion for Speedy Trial (05-15-96); Amended Information filed (05-28-96, 06-11-96, 07-18-96); Voir Dire (09-23-96, 09-24-96, 09-25-96, 09-26-96, 09-27-96, 09-30-96, 10-01-96, 10-02-96, 10-03-96, 10-04-96, 10-07-96, 10-08-96, 10-09-96, 10-10-96, 10-11-96, 10-15-96, 10-16-96, 10-17-96, 10-18-96, 10-21-96, 10-22-96, 10-23-96, 10-24-96, 10-25-96, 10-28-96, 10-29-96, 10-30-96, 10-31-96, 11-01-96, 11-04-96, 11-06-96, 11-07-96, 11-08-96, 11-11-96, 11-12-96, 11-13-96, 11-14-96, 11-15-96, 11-18-96, 11-19-96, 11-20-96, 11-21-96, 11-22-96, 11-25-96, 11-26-96, 11-27-96, 12-02-96, 12-23-96); Motions to Suppress (12-03-96, 12-04-96, 12-05-96, 12-06-96, 12-09-96, 12-10-96, 12-11-96, 12-12-96, 12-13-96, 12-16-96, 12-17-96, 12-19-96, 12-20-96, 12-23-96); Jury Trial (12-30-96, 12-31-96, 01-02-97, 01-03-97, 01-06-97, 01-07-97, 01-08-97, 01-09-97, 01-10-97, 01-14-97, 01-15-97, 01-16-97, 01-17-97, 01-21-97, 01-22-97, 01-23-97, 01-24-97, 01-27-97, 01-28-97, 01-29-97, 01-30-97, 01-31-97, 02-02-97, 02-03-97, 02-04-97, 02-05-97, 02-06-97, 02-07-97, 02-10-97, 02-11-97, 02-12-97, 02-13-97, 02-14-97, 02-18-97, 02-19-97, 02-20-97, 02-21-97, 02-22-97, 02-24-97, 02-25-97, 02-26-97, 02-27-97, 02-28-97, 03-03-97, 03-04-97, 03-06-97, 03-07-97, 03-10-97, 03-11-97, 03-12-97, 03-13-97, 03-14-97, 03-17-97, 03-18-97, 03-19-97, 03-20-97, 03-24-97, 03-25-97, 03-26-97, 03-27-97, 03-31-97, 04-01-97, 04-02-97, 04-03-97, 04-07-97, 04-08-97, 04-10-97, 04-11-97) – Defense Case – (04-11-97, 04-14-97, 04-15-97, 04-10-97, 04-11-97, 04-14-97, 04-15-97, 04-10-97, 04-11-97, 04-14-97, 04-15-97, 04-16-97, 04-17-97, 04-18-97, 04-21-97, 04-22-97, 04-23-97, 04-24-97,04-25-97 – Rebuttal – 04-25-97, 04-28-97, 04-29-97, 04-30-97)– Surrebuttal – (04-30-97, 05-01-97, 05-05-97, 05-06-97, 05-07-97); Verdict (05-08-97); DP Trial (05-19-97); Verdict (05-19-97); Court Sentencing (06-16-97, 06-17-97).
Conviction: Murder (3 counts), Burglary (B Felony), Theft (D Felony)
Sentencing: June 17, 1997 (Death Sentence, Death Sentence, Death Sentence, 10 years, 1 1/2 years concurrent)
Aggravating Circumstances: 3 murders (lying in wait, drive-by shooting rejected)
Mitigating Circumstances:
He has shown that he could be safely imprisoned for Life Without
Parole,
Some multiple murderers are in the Indiana DOC and not on
Death Row.
Direct Appeal:
Stephenson v. State, 742 N.E.2d 463 (Ind. January 25, 2001)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Affirmed 5-0
Sullivan Opinion; Shepard, Dickson, Boehm, Rucker concur.
Stephenson v. Indiana, 122 S.Ct. 905 (2002) (Cert. denied).
PCR:
PCR Petition filed 01-31-02. PCR denied 05-12-03 by Warrick Superior Court Judge Robert R. Aylsworth.
APPEAL PENDING IN INDIANA SUPREME COURT ON DENIAL OF PCR BY TRIAL COURT.
As of July 1, 2006