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  • Message from Prosecuting Attorney
  • Clark County Cases
  • Current Indiana Death Row
  • Indiana Death Row 1977 - 2008
  • Indiana Executions Since 1900
  • Indiana Death Row Statistics
  • Indiana Death Penalty Laws
  • The Death Penalty in the U.S.
  • Capital Punishment Timeline
  • U.S. Executions Since 1976
  • Methods of Execution
  • Public Opinion Polls
  • Updates Since April 1, 2008
  • 1000+ Death Penalty Links


  • On Indiana Death Row As of July 1, 2007: 15

    On Indiana Death Row since 1977: 93

    (Includes Christopher Peterson twice, with two separate death sentences; includes each of those 10 inmates resentenced to death again after remand only once)

    INDIANA DEATH SENTENCES BY YEAR

    1977 - 00 1985 - 10 1993 - 02 2001 - 00
    1978 - 01 1986 - 07 1994 - 02 2002 - 04
    1979 - 01 1987 - 04 1995 - 03 2003 - 01
    1980 - 04 1988 - 08 1996 - 04 2004 - 00
    1981 - 05 1989 - 03 1997 - 01 2005 - 05
    1982 - 04 1990 - 03 1998 - 02 2006 - 00
    1983 - 08 1991 - 04 1999 - 01 2007 - 01
    1984 - 04 1992 - 06 1998 - 02

    INDIANA DEATH ROW (1977-2007) BY RACE AND GENDER

    White 62 (66.7%) Male 89 (95.7%)
    Black 29 (31.2%) Female 04 (04.3%)
    Hispanic 02 (02.2%)
    Native Am 00 (00.0%)
    Asian 00 (00.0%)

    CURRENT INDIANA DEATH ROW BY RACE AND GENDER

    White 11 (73.3%) Male 14 (93.3%)
    Black 04 (26.7%) Female 01 (06.7%)
    Hispanic 00 (00.0%)
    Native Am 00 (00.0%)
    Asian 00 (00.0%)

    Youngest NOW on Indiana Death Row :
    Benjamin Ritchie (27 years, 32 days)

    Youngest on Indiana Death Row SINCE 1977:
    Paula Cooper (16 years, 320 days)

    Oldest NOW on Indiana Death Row :
    Norman Timberlake (59 years, 321 days)

    Oldest on Indiana Death Row SINCE 1977:
    Richard D. Moore (75 years, 203 days)

    Longest NOW on Indiana Death Row:
    Mark A. Wisehart (23 years, 278 days)

    Longest on Indiana Death Row SINCE 1977:
    Michael W. Daniels (25 years, 113 days)


    Of the 93 Defendants sentenced to death since 1977:

    Average age at time of Murder = 27 years, 034 days
    Average age at Sentencing = 29 years, 254 days

    Of the 15 Inmates on Death Row as of July 1, 2007:

    Average Age = 43 Years, 064 days



    VICTIMS

    The 93 Defendants sentenced to death since 1977 have accounted for 150 murders for which they were convicted at the same trial they received a Death Sentence. (Includes victims on each of Christopher Peterson’s two separate capital murders; includes victims of those ten inmates resentenced to death again after remand only once; includes co-defendant victims twice; does not include victims in cases of Larry Hicks and Charles Smith.)

    VICTIMS BY RACE AND GENDER

    White 125 (83.1%) Male 81 (54.0%)
    Black 21 (14.2%) Female 69 (46.0%)
    Hispanic 03 (02.0%)
    Indian 01 (00.7%)

    VICTIMS BY AGE AND RELATIONSHIP

    00-09 19 Wife/Girlfriend/Ex 11
    10-19 18 Husband/Boyfriend/Ex 02
    20-29 32 Parents/Foster Parents 06
    30-39 24 Child 04
    40-49 20 Other Family 14
    50-59 09 Friend/Acquaintance 34
    60-69 15 Employer/Co-Worker 06
    70-79 08 Police 10
    80+ 05 Stranger 58

    Average age of Victim: 35.9 years

    Youngest Victims:
    Elizabeth Waggoner (4 months) murdered by Dennis Ray Roark.
    Ashlyn Bowsher (17 months) murdered by Joseph L. Trueblood.
    Dennis Waggoner (20 months) murdered by Dennis Ray Roark.
    Jordan Hanmore (21 months) murdered by James P. Harrison.
    Shelby McManus (23 months) murdered by Paul M. McManus.

    Oldest Victims:
    Ruby Hutslar (82 years) murdered by Gregory S. Johnson.
    Francisco Alarcon (82 years) murdered by Reynoldo Rondon.
    Mark Thompson (80 years) murdered by James Lowery.
    Gertrude Thompson (80 years) murdered by James Lowery.

    METHOD OF MURDER

    84 Shooting w/gun (50.3%)
    41 Stabbing / Slashing (24.6%)
    22 Strangling (13.2%)
    09 Bludgeoning (05.4%)
    03 Stomping (01.8%)
    03 Drowning (01.8%)
    02 Fire Burning (01.2%)
    02 Smoke Inhalation (01.2%)
    01 Superglue (00.6%)


    TRIALS RESULTING IN DEATH SENTENCE

    MOST ACTIVE COUNTIES

    23 Lake
    22 Marion
    06 Allen
    04 Vanderburgh
    04 Boone
    04 Madison
    03 Porter
    03 St. Joseph
    02 Morgan
    02 Decatur
    02 Wayne
    02 Tippecanoe
    02 Vigo
    02 Decatur
    02 Johnson
    01 (21 others)

    MOST ACTIVE TRIAL JUDGES

    07 Judge James L. Clement (Lake)
    06 Judge James Letsinger (Lake)
    05 Judge Patricia J. Gifford (Marion)
    04 Judge John W. Tranberg (Marion)
    04 Judge Alfred W. Moellering (Allen)
    04 Judge John R. Barney (Marion)
    03 Judge Richard W. Maroc (Lake)
    03 Judge Jeffrey V. Boles (Hendricks)
    03 Judge Thomas Newman (Madison)
    02 Judge Thomas E. Alsip (Marion)
    02 Judge Cynthia S. Emkes (Johnson)
    02 Judge Richard J. Conroy (Lake)
    02 Judge John A. Westhafer (Decatur)
    02 Judge Thomas W. Webber (Porter)
    02 Judge Thomas Milligan (Montgomery)
    02 Judge Richard Young (Vanderburgh)
    02 Judge James Kimbrough (Lake)

    CHANGE OF VENUE

    26 of 103 trials resulting in a death sentence have been venued outside the county of filing. Of the 43 cases originally filed in Marion and Lake Counties, only Averhart (twice) and Moore (twice) have had their cases venued to another county. Excluding the 43 cases which were originally filed in Marion and Lake Counties, 23 of 60 were venued to another county. Short of a change of venue, recent legislative changes have allowed trial courts to obtain jurors from another county and transport them to the county of filing for trial. The above figures do not take into account this recent procedure.

    On June 30, 2004 the Indiana Supreme Court reversed the murder conviction and vacated the death sentence of Roy Lee Ward on the grounds of failure to change venue or to obtain jurors from another county pursuant to IC 35-36-6-11, in the face of extensive pretrial publicity and community bias in a small county. It is thought to be the only such reversal in the state’s history. Ward v. State, 809 N.E.2d 274 (Ind. June 30, 2004).


    DEATH SENTENCES AFTER GUILTY PLEA TO MURDER

    Ward (BR> Moore
    R. Smith
    Prowell
    Trueblood
    Cooper
    Patton
    Harris (GBMI)
    F. Davis
    Van Cleave
    Hollis
    Moore
    Judge Pigman (Clay) Judge Detamore (Boone)
    Judge Pierson (Sullivan)
    Judge Young (Vanderburgh)
    Judge Melichar (Tippecanoe)
    Judge Kimbrough (Lake)
    Judge Alsip (Marion)
    Judge Tranberg (Marion)
    Judge Cook (Marshall)
    Judge Gifford (Marion)
    Judge Clement (Lake)
    Judge Barr (Hamilton)
    06-08-07
    01-12-00
    07-12-96
    05-05-94
    04-13-90
    07-11-86
    07-20-84
    02-10-84
    01-25-84
    05-27-83
    11-12-82
    10-25-80

    DEATH SENTENCES FROM JUDGE OVERRIDE OF JURY

    Saylor
    Roark
    Peterson
    Kennedy
    Jackson
    Kennedy
    Minnick
    Martinez
    Thompson
    Schiro
    Judge Newman (Madison)
    Judge Clement (Lake)
    Judge Clement (Lake)
    Judge Westhafer (Decatur)
    Judge Stewart (Franklin)
    Judge Westhafer (Decatur)
    Judge Chezem (Lawrence)
    Judge Letsinger (Lake)
    Judge Miller (Harrison)
    Judge Rosen (Brown)
    02-07-94
    10-29-92
    06-05-92
    04-28-92
    06-07-88
    03-21-88
    09-18-85
    05-15-85
    03-18-83
    10-02-81

    None remain on death row. As of July 1, 2002, IC 35-50-2-9 requires the Court to sentence the Defendant "accordingly" following a jury verdict.

    DEATH SENTENCES AFTER HUNG JURY IN DEATH PHASE

    E. Williams
    Holmes
    Burris
    Roche
    G. Davis
    L. Hicks
    Judge Letsinger (Lake)
    Judge Emkes (Marion)
    Judge Gifford (Marion)
    Judge Clement (Lake)
    Judge Jones (Marion)
    Judge Kimbrough (Lake)
    03-02-93
    03-26-93
    11-22-91
    11-30-90
    10-26-84
    09-01-78

    SENTENCED TO DEATH AGAIN AFTER REMAND


    Ward
    Kubsch
    J.K. Thompson
    Moore
    Averhart
    Roark
    Kennedy
    Burris
    Minnick
    J. Lowery
    First
    12-18-02
    08-28-00
    05-25-96
    05-15-95
    05-08-82
    10-17-89
    03-21-88
    02-20-81
    05-22-82
    07-11-80
    Second
    06-08-07
    04-18-05
    09-29-00
    01-03-00
    03-18-96
    10-29-92
    04-28-92
    11-22-91
    09-18-85
    01-17-83


    AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCES

    Cases alleging single aggravator: 40
    Cases alleging multiple aggravators: 53
    Most aggravators alleged in a single case: 05 (Baer)

    b(1) Intentional Murder
    Robbery: Allen, Averhart, Baer, Benirschke, Bivins, Burris, Cooper, Daniels, Games, Holmes, Hough, Huffman, James, Jackson, Kennedy, Landress, Lockhart, J.Lowery, Martinez, McCollum, Miller, Minnick, Rondon, Rouster, Saylor, C.Smith, Stroud, J.K.Thompson, Underwood, Van Cleave, D.Williams, E.Williams, L.Williams, Wisehart, Woods.

    Burglary: Barker, Bellmore, Bieghler, Boyd, Canaan, G.Davis, Dillon, Fleenor, Johnson, J.Lowery, Matheny, Roche, Stroud, Thompson, Wallace, Wisehart.

    Rape: Baer (Attempt), Benefiel, G.Davis, Evans, Harris, Judy, T.Lowery, Miller, Minnick, Overstreet, Patton, Schiro, Ward.

    Kidnapping: Barker, Harris, Jackson, Kennedy, Ingle.

    Criminal Deviate Conduct: Benefiel, Canaan, Evans, Miller, T.Lowery, Ward.

    Child Molesting: Brown, Coleman, F.Davis, T.Lowery, Stevens.

    Arson: Harrison, Johnson.

    b (2) Explosives: None

    b (3) Lying in Wait: F. Davis, G. Davis, Fleenor, Matheny, Stephenson, Thacker, Vandiver, Ingle.

    b (4) Hired to Kill: Vandiver

    b (5) Hiring to Kill: Thacker

    b (6) Law Enforcement Victim: Averhart, Lambert, Moore, Pruitt, Resnover, Ritchie, T. Smith, Spranger, Timberlake

    b (7) Convicted of Another Murder: Brown, Coleman, Harrison, Hough, Lockhart, Peterson, L.Williams, J.R. Thompson, J.K. Thompson

    b (8) Committed Another Murder: Baer, Baird, Barker, Benirschke, Bieghler, Castor, Conner, Corcoran, Dillon, Dye, Fleenor, Hollis, Holmes, Hough, Judy, Kubsch, J.Lowery, McCollum, McManus, Moore, Peterson, Potts, Prowell, Roark, Roche, Rouster, Stephenson, J.K. Thompson, Townsend, Trueblood, Wallace, D.Williams, E.Williams, Wrinkles

    b (9) On Probation or Parole or In Custody: Baer, Miller, Ritchie, Saylor, R. Smith, Stevens, Ward

    b (10) Dismemberment: None

    b (11) Burning, Mutilation, Torture: Ward

    b (12) Victim Less Than 12 Years Old: Baer, Harrison, Kubsch, Roark, Stevens, Trueblood, McManus

    b (13) Victim was previous felony domestic violence victim of Defendant: None

    b (14) Victim was Witness Against Defendant: None

    b (15) Drive-By Shooting: Stephenson

    b (16) Intentional Killing of Viable Fetus: None


    DEATH PENALTY REQUESTS BY INDIANA PROSECUTORS

    According to the Indiana Supreme Court Administrator, since 1990 Indiana Prosecutors have requested a Death Sentence 181 murder cases as of July 1, 2007:

    1990 - 25
    1991 - 21
    1992 - 13
    1993 - 08
    1994 - 18
    1995 - 15
    1996 - 10
    1997 - 08
    1998 - 16
    1999 - 06
    2000 - 10
    2001 - 06
    2002 - 04
    2003 - 03
    2004 - 06
    2005 - 06
    2006 - 06
    2007 - 00

    PENDING DEATH PENALTY CASES

    According to the Indiana Supreme Court Administrator, who monitors the progress of death penalty cases pursuant to Rule 24 of the Indiana Rules of Criminal Procedure, 21 death penalty cases are pending and awaiting trial as of July 1, 2006:

    Defendant (County)

    John K. Adams (Marion)
    Kenneth Allen (Marion)
    Rufus Averhart (Lake/Allen)
    Mark S. Baker (Fulton)
    Peter Burton (Lake)
    Joseph Corcoran (Allen) Chad A. Cottrell (Parke)
    Greagree Davis (Marion)
    James P. Harrison (Posey)
    William A. Minnick (Putnam/Lawrence)
    Christopher Peterson (Porter)
    Simon Rios (Allen)
    Christopher Stevens (Putnam/Lawrence) Desmond Turner (Marion)
    Katron L. Walker (Vigo)
    Daniel Wilkes (Vanderburgh)

    Date Filed

    02-25-00
    02-17-05
    08-12-81
    01-13-06
    07-31-97
    04-20-93
    11-10-05
    04-09-84
    01-18-89
    10-27-81
    02-21-91
    05-04-06
    07-22-93
    06-06-06
    06-19-06
    06-19-06

    Sources:

    Indiana Supreme Court Administrator
    312 State House
    200 West Washington Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204

    Indiana Department of Corrections
    E334 Indiana Government Center South
    302 West Washington Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204

    Indiana Attorney General
    5th Floor Indiana Government Center South
    402 West Washington Street
    Indianapolis, IN 46204



  • Message from Prosecuting Attorney
  • Clark County Cases
  • Current Indiana Death Row
  • Indiana Death Row 1977 - 2008
  • Indiana Executions Since 1900
  • Indiana Death Row Statistics
  • Indiana Death Penalty Laws
  • The Death Penalty in the U.S.
  • Capital Punishment Timeline
  • U.S. Executions Since 1976
  • Methods of Execution
  • Public Opinion Polls
  • Updates Since April 1, 2008
  • 1000+ Death Penalty Links

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