In 2005 the United States Supreme Court abolished the death penalty for any offender under the age of 18 at the time of the crime in a case called Roper v. Simmons. Since that time states have had to re-sentence those teen killers. Some have, no doubt, received life without parole. Others a term of years.
One of NOVJL’s co-founders was in Texas with the family of Napoleon Beasley, the last juvenile executed in the USA before the Roper decision. We know from that conversation that they would have been very grateful at that time for a life sentence instead of a death sentence for their son. Many feel that if the sentence were to be based on the facts of Napoleon’s crime that were proven in court, his sentence should have been a term of years, when compared to the more heinous intent of many other crimes in the USA. He was hardly the “worst of the worst.”
While only 9 states ever allowed offenders under 18 to be executed, several were executed prior to 2005. That life sentences for some of the worst teen killers are now under attack seems, frankly, amazing to us, given that recent history.
Where are These Teen Killers Now?
The Death Penalty Information Center published the following list of former juveniles on death row for their crimes, and we ask where are they now? And what have their victims families been told?
CASE SUMMARIES OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHO WERE ON DEATH ROW IN THE UNITED STATES
ALABAMA (13)
(Last Juvenile Execution: November 24, 1961)Adams, Ranaldo: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 7-1-1980); rape, robbery, burglary, and murder; sentenced on 12-11-1998.
Bonds, James Willis: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 7-24-1983); robbery and murder of white male age 59 in Houston County on 9-?-1999; sentenced on 11-11-2002.
Davis, Timothy Charles: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-18-1961); robbery of store and rape and murder of white female age 60 in Coosa County on 7-20-1978; sentenced on 7-28-1980.
Duke, Mark Anthony: White male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 5-15-1980); murder of white male age 39 (his father), white female age 29, white female age 7, and white female age 6 in Pelham (Shelby Co.) on 3-22-1997; sentenced on 3-25-1999.
Duncan, Trace: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-15-1976); kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 in St. Clair County on 2-22-1994; sentenced on 3-8-1996.
Hart, Gary Davis II: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 9-19-1972); robbery and murder of white male age 22 in Mobile on 8-12-1989; sentenced on 5-9-1990.
Hyde, James Matthew: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-2-1977); murder of white male age 36 (police officer) in Albertville (Marshall County) on 1-24-1995; sentenced on 7-9-1996.
Knotts, William Thomas: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-20-1971); burglary and murder of black female age 37 in Montgomery County on 10-18-1989; sentenced on 8-1-1992.
Loggins, Kenneth: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-15-1976); kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 in St. Clair County on 2-22-1994; sentenced on 3-8-1996.
Pressley, Marcus Dewayne: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 11-24-1978); robbery and murder of white male age 44 and white female age 48 in Sterrett (Shelby County) on 7-25-1996; sentenced on 10-10-1997.
Slaton, Nathan: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-5-1969); rape and murder of white female age 68 in Albertville (Marshall County) on 5-28-1987; sentenced 5-22-1990.
Wimberly, Shaber Chamond: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-6-1979); murder of white male age 67 and white female age 53 in Midland City on 1-27-1997; sentenced on 7-30-1998; reversed in 1999; resentenced to death on 5-?-2001.
Wynn, Gregory: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 2-9-1981); robbery and murder of female age 30 in Anniston on 4-8-1998; sentenced on 9-17-1999.
Duncan, Trace: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-15-1976); kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 in St. Clair County on 2-22-1994; sentenced on 3-8-1996.
Hart, Gary Davis II: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 9-19-1972); robbery and murder of white male age 22 in Mobile on 8-12-1989; sentenced on 5-9-1990.
Hyde, James Matthew: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-2-1977); murder of white male age 36 (police officer) in Albertville (Marshall County) on 1-24-1995; sentenced on 7-9-1996.
Knotts, William Thomas: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-20-1971); burglary and murder of black female age 37 in Montgomery County on 10-18-1989; sentenced on 8-1-1992.
Loggins, Kenneth: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-15-1976); kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 in St. Clair County on 2-22-1994; sentenced on 3-8-1996.
Pressley, Marcus Dewayne: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 11-24-1978); robbery and murder of white male age 44 and white female age 48 in Sterrett (Shelby County) on 7-25-1996; sentenced on 10-10-1997.
Slaton, Nathan: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-5-1969); rape and murder of white female age 68 in Albertville (Marshall County) on 5-28-1987; sentenced 5-22-1990.
Wimberly, Shaber Chamond: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-6-1979); murder of white male age 67 and white female age 53 in Midland City on 1-27-1997; sentenced on 7-30-1998; reversed in 1999; resentenced to death on 5-?-2001.
Wynn, Gregory: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 2-9-1981); robbery and murder of female age 30 in Anniston on 4-8-1998; sentenced on 9-17-1999.
ARIZONA (4)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: July 6, 1934)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: July 6, 1934)
Aguilar, Tonatihu: Latin male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 2-11-1980); murder of Latin male age 28 and Latin female age 28 in Phoenix on 10-15-1996; sentenced on 6-19-2003
Jackson, Levi Jaimes: White male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 1-15-1976); car jacking and murder of white female age 40 in rural Pima County on 12-7-1992; sentenced on 1-26-1994.
Laird, Kenneth Jeremy: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-21-1975); burglary, robbery and murder of white female age 37 in North Phoenix on 9-3-1992; sentenced on 4-15-1994.
Soto-Fong, Martin Raul: Chinese/Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-6-1974); robbery and murder of 3 Asian males, ages 32, 45, and 77, in Pima County (Tucson) on 6-24-1992; sentenced on 2-3-1994.
Jackson, Levi Jaimes: White male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 1-15-1976); car jacking and murder of white female age 40 in rural Pima County on 12-7-1992; sentenced on 1-26-1994.
Laird, Kenneth Jeremy: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-21-1975); burglary, robbery and murder of white female age 37 in North Phoenix on 9-3-1992; sentenced on 4-15-1994.
Soto-Fong, Martin Raul: Chinese/Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-6-1974); robbery and murder of 3 Asian males, ages 32, 45, and 77, in Pima County (Tucson) on 6-24-1992; sentenced on 2-3-1994.
FLORIDA (3)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: November 8, 1954)
Bonifay, James Patrick: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 12-26-1973); robbery and murder of white male age 36 in Pensacola on 1-26-1991; sentenced on 9-20-1991; reversed in 1993; resentenced to death on 12-6-1994.
LeCroy, Cleo Douglas: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-7-1963); robbery and murder of white male age 27 and white female age 25 in Palm Beach County on 1-4-1981; sentenced on 10-1-1986.
Ramirez, Nathan: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 4-22-1977); rape and murder of white female age 71 in New Port Richey on 3-7-1995; sentenced on 11-8-1996; reversed in 1999; resentenced on 12-13-2003.
LeCroy, Cleo Douglas: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-7-1963); robbery and murder of white male age 27 and white female age 25 in Palm Beach County on 1-4-1981; sentenced on 10-1-1986.
Ramirez, Nathan: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 4-22-1977); rape and murder of white female age 71 in New Port Richey on 3-7-1995; sentenced on 11-8-1996; reversed in 1999; resentenced on 12-13-2003.
GEORGIA (2)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: December 7, 1993)
Gibson, Exzavious Lee: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-31-1972); robbery and murder of male age 46 in Eastman (Dodge County) on 2-2-1990; sentenced on 6-14-1990.
Jenkins, Larry Leonarde: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-10-1975); robbery, kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 and white male age 15 in Jessup (Wayne County) on 1-9-1993; sentenced on 9-30-1995.
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: December 7, 1993)
Gibson, Exzavious Lee: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 3-31-1972); robbery and murder of male age 46 in Eastman (Dodge County) on 2-2-1990; sentenced on 6-14-1990.
Jenkins, Larry Leonarde: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-10-1975); robbery, kidnapping and murder of white female age 37 and white male age 15 in Jessup (Wayne County) on 1-9-1993; sentenced on 9-30-1995.
LOUISIANA (4)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: May 18, 1990)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: May 18, 1990)
Bridgewater, Roy: Black male; age 17 at crime; burglary and murder of white female age 70 and white male age 45 in Marrero (Jefferson Parish) on 10-31-1996; sentenced on 3-1-1999.
Craig, Dale Dwayne: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-22-1974); car-jacking and murder of white male age 18 in Baton Rouge on 9-14-1992; sentenced on 1-13-1995.
Howard, Cedric D’Wayne: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 6-6-1978); robbery and murder of white female age 82 on 10-24-1994; sentenced on 7-14-1997.
Wilson, Aaron: Black male; age 17 at crime; kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder of white female age 48 in Caddo Parish on 12-23-2000; sentenced on 9-25-2002.
Wilson, Aaron: Black male; age 17 at crime; kidnapping, robbery, rape, and murder of white female age 48 in Caddo Parish on 12-23-2000; sentenced on 9-25-2002.
MISSISSIPPI (5)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: May 25, 1950)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: May 25, 1950)
Dycus, Kelvin: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-19-1979); robbery and murder of female age 76 on 9-24-1996; sentenced on 6-19-1998.
Eskridge, Roderick: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 1-25-1980); robbery and murder of female age 34 in Grenada County on 12-2-1997; sentenced on 1-26-1999.
Foster, Ronald Chris: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 1-8-1972) robbery and murder of white male adult in Lowndes County on 6-10-1989; sentenced on 1-18-1991.
Holly, William Joseph: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-6-1974); robbery and murder of black male age 37 in Grenada County on 7-12-1992; sentenced on 3-3-1993.
McGilberry, Stephen Virgil: American Indian/white male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 2-7-1978); four death sentences for murders of white female age 44 (his mother), white male age 44 (his stepfather), white female age 24 (his stepsister), and white male age 3 (his stepsister’s son) in St. Martin (Jackson County) on 10-23-1994; sentenced on 2-9-1996.
NEVADA (1)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: April 22, 1949)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: April 22, 1949)
Domingues, Michael (AKA Miguel): Latin male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 1-29-1977); burglary, theft, and murder of Asian female age 24 and Asian male age 4 in Las Vegas on 10-22-1993; sentenced on 9-16-1994.
NORTH CAROLINA (4)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: October 30, 1942)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: October 30, 1942)
Adams, Thomas Mark: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 7-20-1970); robbery and murder of white female age 70 in Iredell County on 12-13-1987; sentenced on 11-19-1988; reversed in 1994; resentenced to death on 9-1-1995.
Chapman, Lamorris: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 12-12-1982); murder of black female age 16 in Johnston County on 7-9-2000; sentenced on 11-2-2001.
Chapman, Lamorris: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 12-12-1982); murder of black female age 16 in Johnston County on 7-9-2000; sentenced on 11-2-2001.
Golphin, Kevin Salvador: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 12-26-1979); murder of white male age 48 (Highway Patrol officer) and white male age 58 (Sheriff’s Corporal) near Fayetteville on 9-23-1997; sentenced on 5-13-1998.
Walters, Travis LeVance: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 7-8-1980); murder of American Indian female age 18 in Lumberton on 1-6-1998; sentenced on 4-5-2001.
PENNSYLVANIA (2)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: December 4, 1916)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: December 4, 1916)
Hughes, Kevin: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 3-5-1962); rape and murder of black female age 9 in Philadelphia on 3-1-1979; sentenced on 10-27-1983.
Lee, Percy: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-24-1968); murder of two black females, ages 17 and 33, in Philadelphia on 2-27-1986; sentenced on 1-28-1988.
SOUTH CAROLINA (3)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: January 10, 1986)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: January 10, 1986)
Hughes, Herman Lee, Jr.: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 7-26-1977); robbery and murder of male age 20 in Orangeburg on 3-18-1994; sentenced in 1995.
Morgan, Eric Dale: White male; age 17 at crime; robbery and murder of white male age 57 near Woodruff (Spartanburg County) on 5-3-2000; sentenced on 3-9-2004.
Powers, Ted Benjamin: White male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 9-19-1973); burglary, robbery, and murder of white male age 68 in Lexington County on 9-8-1990; sentenced on 2-23-1996.
TEXAS (29)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: August 28, 2002)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: August 28, 2002)
Acuna, Robert Aaron: Latin male; age 17 at crime; robberies and murders of adult white (?) male age 75 and white (?) female age 74 in Baytown (Harris County) on 11-11-2003; sentenced on 8-11-2004
Alvarado, Steven Brian: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-11-1974); robberies and murders of adult Latin male and adult Latin female in El Paso on 9-22-1991; sentenced on 10-5-1993.
Arroyo, Randy: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-31-1979); kidnapping and murder of Latin male age 39 on 3-11-1997 in San Antonio; sentenced on 3-6-1998.
Arthur, Mark Sam: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-1-1979); murder of Latin male age 41 in Harris County on 12-21-1996; sentenced on 12-17-1997.
Barraza, Mauro Morris: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 5-5-1972); robbery and murder of white female age 73 in Haltom City (Tarrant County) on 6-14-1989; sentenced on 4-8-1991.
Bernal, Johnnie: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-20-1976); murder of white (?) male age 19 in Houston on 8-19-1994; sentenced on 5-8-1995.
Capetillo, Edward Brian: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 5-13-1977); murders of white male age 19 and white female age 20 in Harris County on 1-16-1995; sentenced on 2-6-1996.
Cobb, Raymond Levi: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 6-18-1976); murders of white female age 23 and white female age 16 months in Huntsville on 12-27-1993; sentenced on 2-27-1997; reversed in 2000; resentenced to death in 2001.
Dewberry, John Curtis: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 1-30-1977); murder of white male age 57 in Beaumont (Jefferson County) on 12-25-1994; sentenced on 11-21-1996.
Dewberry, John Curtis: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 1-30-1977); murder of white male age 57 in Beaumont (Jefferson County) on 12-25-1994; sentenced on 11-21-1996.
Dickens, Justin Wiley: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 7-28-1976); murder of white male age 50 in Randall County on 3-12-1994; sentenced on 5-17-1995.
Dixon, Anthony Tyrone: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-7-1976); robbery and murder of white female age 34 in Houston (Harris County) on 5-15-1994; sentenced on 2-8-1995.
Guillen, Derek Jermaine: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 10-20-1980); robbery, rape and murder of white female age 52 in Tempe on 3-26-1998; sentenced on 6-1-1999.
Horn, Patrick: Black male; age 17 at crime; kidnapping and murder of male age 8 in Tyler on 10-13-1991; sentenced on 10-4-1999 [currently serving life sentence in federal prison in Atlanta, GA.].
Horn, Patrick: Black male; age 17 at crime; kidnapping and murder of male age 8 in Tyler on 10-13-1991; sentenced on 10-4-1999 [currently serving life sentence in federal prison in Atlanta, GA.].
Johnson, Eddie C.: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-26-1978); robbery and murder of white male age 42 in Fort Worth on 3-6-1996; sentenced on 7-31-1997.
Jones, Anzel Keon: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 2-4-1978); murder of white female age 49 in Grayson County on 5-2-1995; sentenced on 6-4-1996.
Little, Leo Gordon: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 7-14-1980); kidnapping, robbery and murder of Latin male age 22 in San Antonio on 1-22-1998; sentenced on 3-5-1999.
Lopez, Michael Anthony, Jr.: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 4-28-1981); murder of male age 25 (deputy constable) in Harris County on 9-29-1998; sentenced on 5-25-1999.
Monterrubio, Jose Ignacio: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-26-1976); rape and murder of Latin female age 16 in Brownsville (Cameron County) on 9-5-1993; sentenced on 8-25-1994.
Perez, Efrian: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-19-1975); rape and murder of white female age 14 and white female age 16 in Houston (Harris County) on 6-24-1993; sentenced on 9-22-1994. [Co-defendant of Raul Villareal]
Reeves, Whitney: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-21-1981); murders of white female age 14 and white male age 40 in Beaumont on 8-20-1999; sentenced on 9-8-2000.
Salinas, Jorge Alfredo: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 4-1-1984); robbery and murder of Latin male age 20 and Latin female age 21 months in Mission (Hidalgo County) on 7-28-2001; sentenced on 8-29-2002.
Solomon, Christopher Julian: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 1-30-1980); robbery and murder of white male adult in Texarcana on 9-19-1997; sentenced on 6-4-1999.
Soriano, Oswaldo Regalado: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 6-26-1975); robbery and murder of white male age 59 in Amarillo on 11-17-1992; sentenced on 5-4-1994.
Springsteen, Robert Burns, IV: White male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 11-26-1974); robbery and murder of white female age 13 in Austin on 12-6-1991; sentenced on 6-1-2001.
Tran, Son Vu Khai: Asian-American male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 5-11-1980); murder of Latin male adult and Asian-American male age 20 in Houston on 10-25-1997; sentenced on 12-18-2000.
Villareal, Raul Omar: Latin male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 9-25-1975); rape and murder of white female age 14 and white female age 16 in Houston (Harris County) on 6-24-1993; sentenced on 9-22-1994. [Co-defendant of Efrian Perez]
Williams, Bruce Lee: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 12-16-1981); car-jacking, rape and murder of Asian-American female age 24 in Dallas on 2-3-1999; sentenced on 12-10-1999.
Williams, Nanon McKewn: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 8-2-1974); murder of white male age 19 in Harris County on 5-14-1992; sentenced on 9-22-1995.
Wilson, Geno Capoletti: Black male; age 17 at crime (DOB: 5-24-1981); robbery and murder of male age 19 in Houston on 12-2-1998; sentenced on 12-10-1999.
VIRGINIA (1)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: January 19, 2000)
(Last Execution of a Juvenile: January 19, 2000)
Johnson, Shermaine Ali: Black male; age 16 at crime (DOB: 12-30-1977); rape and murder of black female age 22 in Petersburg (Prince George County) on 7-10-1994; sentenced on 2-22-1998; reversed in 2001; resentenced to death on 10-28-2002.
