|
Defendants Whose Death Sentences
Have Been Reduced
Because of a Finding of Mental Retardation since Atkins v. Virginia
(2002)
-Compiled by Prof. John Blume, Cornell University Law School, as of
May 8, 2008.
State
|
Name
|
Defendant Race/Gender
|
Victim(s) Race/Gender |
IQ
Scores
|
Defects
in Adaptive Functioning
|
Source
|
Etc.
|
AL
|
James
Borden
|
W/M
|
W/F
|
65-66,
53
|
Ability
to manage money, manage
home and transportation, manage health and safety and in his social
adjustment.
|
2004
WL 362256 (Ala.Crim.App.)
|
|
AL
|
Glenn
Holiday (Holladay?)
|
W/M
|
|
49,
56, 54, 66, 71, 69, 68, 72,
71, 65
|
functional
academics, work,
communication, social skills, community use
|
granted
MR relief in federal
court, but the State is appealing
|
|
AL
|
Jeremiah
Jackson
|
B/M
|
F
|
69-72
|
|
Jackson
v. State, 2006 WL
2788980 (Ala.Crim.App. Sep 28, 2006).
|
|
AZ
|
Jose
Calderon-Palomino |
H/M
|
|
|
|
|
|
AZ
|
Ramon
Martinez-Villareal |
H/M
|
W/M
&H/M
|
50-64
|
work,
social skills, language
and communication, and self-care
|
stipulated
to Atkins relief
|
|
AZ
|
Efrain
Vega-Bustamante
|
M
|
|
|
|
|
|
CA
|
Efrain
Hernandez
|
M
|
|
67,
65, 57
|
|
|
|
CA
|
Jorge
Vidal
|
M
|
M
|
81,
92, 78, 77
|
|
|
|
CA
|
London
Willard
|
M
|
|
|
|
Contra
Costa County Superior
Court Case No. 020571-6.
|
District
Attorney stipulated to
client’s incompetence under Penal Code § 1368, and dropped death
demand, based in part on client’s mental retardation.
|
CO
|
Jimmy
Vasquez
|
H/M
|
F
|
70,
72, 61, 64
|
communication,
functional
academics, work
|
People
v. Vasquez, 84 P.3d 1019
(Colo. 2004).
|
|
CO
|
Trevon
Washington
|
B/M
|
2M
1?
|
69,
71
|
between
3 and 5 of the
following: communication, health and safety, leisure, self-direction,
social
|
|
|
FL
|
Charles
Michael Kight
|
W/M
|
B/M
|
67,
68
|
|
State
agreed to life after their
expert found him MR.
|
|
FL
|
Charlie
Thompson
|
B/M
|
M
& F
|
|
|
plea
to life in exchange for
dropping guilt phase pc claims… not sure if formal mr finding
|
|
FL
|
Kenneth
Leroy Watson
|
B/M
|
F
|
69,
73
|
|
|
|
GA
|
Johnny
Lee Gates
|
B/M
|
|
|
|
case
settled during MR hearing
to jury because of a witness's outburst
|
|
IL
|
Emerald
Ausby
|
B/M
|
|
|
|
|
|
IN
|
Gregory
Rouster
|
B/M
|
M
& F
|
|
|
Rastafari
v. State, Lake
Superior Court case no. 2CR-133-886-531 (June 16, 2003 order of the
post-conviction court)
|
aka
Gamba Rastafari
|
LA
|
Joseph
Carmouch
|
M
|
|
borderline
range of 70-80
|
|
remand,
state and defense
doctors agreed so done by consent
|
Remanded
by State v. Carmouche,
01-0405 (La. 09/25/03); 872 So. 2d 1020, Atkins relief granted by 15th
Judicial District Court, Parish of Acadia, Honorable Edward Rubin, Judge
|
LA
|
Thomas
Deboue
|
B/M
|
B/M
& B/F
|
65
|
|
MDLA
#01-464. Court ruled
on the papers (more or less negotiated, i.e., state declared it would
let the ct rule on the petition without hearing)
|
Nick
Trenticosta was lawyer. .
. I believe Judge Ginger Berrigan granted Atkins relief
|
LA
|
Richard
Hobley
|
B/M
|
B/M
|
55
|
not
established
|
on
retrial, convinced DA not to
seek death due to MR
|
|
LA
|
Tyrone
Lindsey
|
B/M
|
W/F
|
50-60
or 65
|
not
established
|
542
So.2d 886 (La 1989)
|
|
LA
|
Eddie
Mitchell
|
M
|
|
80?
|
|
post-conviction,
judge summarily
ruled based on earlier proceedings and testing put in the record
|
Relief
granted in PCR by 14th
JDC. I believe Eddie was the first post-Atkins MR hearing in La.
|
LA
|
Herbert
Welcome
|
B/M
|
B/M
|
50-57
|
|
clemency
by governor following
pardon board hearing and recommendation to commute death.
|
|
LA
|
Corey
Williams
|
B/M
|
M
|
65-68
|
multiple
adaptive behavior
deficits in the moderate to severe range (less than 1st percentile)
|
State
v. Corey Williams (No.
193,258 Caddo Parish, First Jud. Dist. Ct. La. Feb. 21, 2004).
|
|
MO
|
Alis
Johns
|
W/M
|
M
|
61-84
|
communication,
daily living, and
socialization
|
Johns
v. State, No. CV501-0389CC
(Mo Cir. Ct. July 17, 2003).
|
|
MO
|
Steven
W. Parkus
|
W/M
|
W/M
|
65-82
|
personal
relationships, self
care, employment, academic, social
|
In
re Parkus, 219 S.W.3d
250 (Mo. 2007) (en banc)
|
|
MS
|
Jimmie
(James) Mack
|
B/M
|
M
|
61-73
|
All
skills, Vineland showed
deficits in MR range
|
Mack
v. State, No. 7344 (order
of circuit court post-conviction)
|
|
MS
|
Howard
Neal
|
W/M
|
2F
|
|
|
|
|
MS
|
Mack
Wells
|
B/M
|
M
|
|
|
Wells
v. State, 903 So.2d 739
(Miss., 2005) (en banc).
|
|
NC
|
Melanie
Anderson
|
W/F
|
W/F
|
75,
69, 62, 67
|
functional
academics
|
State
v. Anderson, 94 CRS 5669,
95 CVR 887 (N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. July, 29, 2003).
|
|
NC
|
Anthony
Bone
|
B/M
|
W
|
69,
63, 72
|
social
skills, communication,
functional academics
|
State
v. Bone, 97 CRS 73219
(N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. January 28, 2004).
|
|
NC
|
Leon
Brown
|
M
|
F
|
30,
51, low 50s, 57
|
all
skills areas
|
State
v. Brown, No. 93 CRS
3374-75 (N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. March 24, 2004).
|
|
NC
|
Chamberlin,
Jr.
|
M
|
|
60s
|
unlisted
|
State
v. Chamberlin, Jr., No.
01-CRS-7175-78, 54889 (N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. Jan. 14,
2004).
|
|
NC
|
Renwick
Gibbs
|
B/M
|
3B
|
51,
57
|
unlisted
|
State
of North Carolina v.
Gibbs, No. 91-CRS-4082 (Gen. Ct., Jun 31, 2004).
|
|
NC
|
Anthony
Hipps
|
B/M
|
W
|
60,
68
|
social
skills, functional
academics, communication, work, self-care
|
State
of North Carolina v.
Hipps. Rowan county Superior Court
|
|
NC
|
Russell
Holden
|
B/M
|
B/F
|
70
and below
|
Communication,
social skills,
self-direction, functional academics, work skills
|
State
of North Carolina v.
Russell Holden Citation for Order was unpublished, N.C. Supreme Court
Case available at State v. Holden, 488 S.E.2d 514 (N.C.,1997).
|
|
NC
|
Jonathan
Leeper
|
B/M
|
2B/M
|
64,
70
|
functional
academics,
communication, social skills, self-care, self-direction, and work skills
|
State
of North Carolina v.
Leeper (Citation for Order was unpublished, N.C. Supreme Court Case
available at State v. Leeper, 565 S.E.2d 1 (N.C., 2002). State v.
Leeper, No. 98 CRS 10902-03 (N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div.
May 11, 2004).
|
|
NC
|
Robert
McClain
|
B/M
|
B/M
|
70,
65, 15, 70, 64
|
|
State
v. McClain, 94 CRS 30181
(N.C. Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. Dec. 11, 2002). State v.
McClain, 610 S.E.2d 783 (N.C.App., 2005).
|
|
NC
|
Elton
Ozell McLaughlin
|
B/M
|
B
|
70,
72, 71, 76
|
functional
academics,
communication, social skills
|
On
habeas review
|
|
NC
|
Lorenza
Norwood
|
B/M
|
Middle
Eastern
|
67,
69, 64
|
|
State
v. Norwood, 93 CRS 5239,
5251 (N.C Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. Sept. 20, 2003).
|
|
NC
|
Dwight
Robinson
|
B/M
|
W
|
69,
56
|
functional
academics, home living
|
State
v. Robinson, 86 CRS 25054
(N.C Gen. Ct. Justice Superior Ct. Div. Nov. 7, 2003
|
|
NC
|
Sherman
Skipper
|
W/M
|
W
|
69
|
communication,
self-care, home
living, social skills, community use, self-direction, health and
safety, functional academics, work
|
|
|
NC
|
Johnnie
Spruill
|
B/M
|
B
|
68,
65, 73/75, 55
|
functional
academics, health and
safety, self-direction, home living, social skills
|
State
v. Spruill, No. 404A92-5
(Supreme Court of North Carolina, 7/26/04).
|
|
NC
|
Tony
Staten
|
B/M
|
M
|
61,
68
|
functional
academics,
communication, social skills, health and safety
|
|
|
NC
|
Larry
Williams
|
B/M
|
2W
|
69,
62, 75
|
5
areas
|
State
of North Carolina (Gaston
County) v Larry Darnell Williams, General Court of Justice, Superior
Court Division, 79-CRS-1867, -1241
|
|
NV
|
Jimmy
Todd (JT) Kirksey
|
B/M
|
M
|
|
|
Trial
court concluded MR, in a
post-conviction proceeding
|
|
NY
|
Craig
Godineaux
|
BH/M
|
|
|
|
DA
agreed not to seek DP in
exchange for a LWOP plea
|
|
OH
|
Derrick
L. Evans
|
B/M
|
2B
|
|
|
CR-87-216710-C
|
|
OH
|
Derryl
Gumm
|
W/M
|
W
|
73,
70, 71, 79, 70, 67 (67 and
79 not included in analysis)
|
all
three areas, although those
are most clearly demonstrated in the areas of practical and conceptual
adaptive skills
|
State
v. Gumm, 169 Ohio App. 3d
650 (2006)
|
|
OH
|
Kevin
Yarbrough
|
B/M
|
W
|
69
|
functional
academics, social
skills, communication
|
|
aka
Robert Lee Johnson
|
OK
|
Richard
Eugene Hammon
|
B/M
|
M
|
|
|
Hammon
v. State, 2004 WL 352200
(Okla. Crim. App. Feb. 26, 2004).
|
|
OK
|
Robert
Lambert
|
W/M
|
W/M
& W/F
|
|
|
71
P3d 30 (Okl.Cr. 2003) (rem
for jury trial) MODIFIED TO LWOP 126 P3d 646, 2005 OK CR 26 (12/7/05)
cd - US -, 127 SC 42, 166 LEd2d 251 (10/2/06)
|
|
OK
|
Barney
Marshall
|
NA/M
|
NA
|
50
on OLMAT
|
academics
|
PCD-2002-981
|
|
OK
|
Gilberto
Martinez
|
H/M
|
2H/F
|
62-63
|
|
80
P.3d 142 (2003).
|
|
OK
|
Darrin
Pickens
|
B/M
|
W/F
|
|
|
74
P3d 601 (7/23/03) (rem for
jury trial) MODIFIED TO LWOP 126 P3d 612 (12/7/05) cd - US -, 127 SC
42, 166 LEd2d 251 (10/2/06).
|
|
OK
|
Max
Salazar
|
NA/M
|
W/F
|
|
|
84
P3d 764 (2004) (review
procedures) MODIFIED TO LWOP 126 P3d 625, 2005 OK CR 24 (12/7/05) cd -
US -, 127 SC 42, 166 LEd2d 251 (10/2/06).
|
The
Court of Criminal Appeals
did not necessarily find him to be mr, although there is an argument
they came close.
|
OK
|
Rocky
Snow
|
W/M
|
W/F
|
68
|
|
87
P3d 626 (2004).
|
|
PA
|
Karl
Chambers
|
W/M
|
F
|
|
|
granted
resentencing pretrial
Atkins relief
|
|
PA
|
Jose
DeJesus
|
M
|
M
|
61
|
social
skills, functional
adacemic skills, home and personal living
|
|
|
PA
|
Arthur
Faulkner
|
B/M
|
F
& W/F
|
|
|
Faulkner
v. Horn, NO. 99-5986
(E.D. Pa. July 2, 2002).
|
government
stipulated to MR in
plea
|
PA
|
Jerome
Gibson
|
B/M
|
M
|
70-75
or below
|
functional
academic skills,
self-direction, and work skills
|
Commonwealth
v. Gibson, 925 A.2d
167 (2007).
|
|
PA
|
Marty
Graham
|
W/M
|
|
63,
66, 75
|
|
Commonwealth
v. Graham, No.’s
3948, et seq. CD 1987 (Pa. Ct. Common Pleas, Dec. 18, 2003).
|
|
PA
|
Peter
Karenbauer
|
W/M
|
F
|
68
|
|
Commonwealth
v. Karenbauer, No.
642 of 1995, CR. (Pa. Sept. 23, 2002).
|
the
state's expert at trial
admitted on cross that Karenbauer was MR so when Atkins came down
during the state post conviction proceeding he was resentenced without
argument from the state
|
PA
|
Joseph
D. Miller
|
W/M
|
2F
|
66,
67, 55, 59, 55, 78, 81
|
|
Commonwealth
v. Miller, 2003 WL
23278215 (Pa.Ct. Common Pleas June 30, 2003).
|
|
PA
|
Simon
Pirela
|
H/M
|
M
|
57,
67/55, (84/83 on the EIWA
that translates to a low 60s on the WAIS)
|
communication,
functional
academics
|
|
aka
Salvador Morales
|
PA
|
Nathan
Scott
|
B/M
|
F |
|
|
|
|
PA
|
Raymond
Whitney
|
B/M
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC
|
Thomas
Lee Davis
|
M
|
|
57 |
Memory/orientation,
managing
money, managing home and transportation, home and safety, and social
adjustment |
Proposed
order, expert report |
|
SC
|
Ricky
George
|
B/M
|
M |
66,
69 |
communication,
self-care,
safety, social skills, home-living, work, self-care, daily-living |
|
|
| SC |
Johnny
Ringo Pearson
|
B/M
|
B/F |
62, 72, 70, 65, 72, 69,
64, 65, 64 (mean of 67 and median of 65)
|
|
functional
academics, work,
communication, home living, health and
safety, self direction, social skills, community use, leisure, self care |
|
|
TN
|
Eddie
Harris
|
W/M
|
W/M
& W/F |
64 |
"auditory
processing, simple
concentration, mental flexibility, language
problems" |
Remand,
state and defense
doctors agreed so done by consent |
|
TX
|
Walter
Bell
|
B/M
|
W/F
& W/M |
|
|
Ex
Parte Bell, 152 S.W.3d 103
(Tex.Crim.App. 2004) (per curiam). Ex
Parte Walter Bell, AP-75, 038 (Texas Ct. Crim. App., Nov. 10, 2004). Ex
parte Bell, No. AP-75,038 (Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 11, 2004). |
|
TX
|
Darrell
Carr
|
B/M
|
H/F
(pregnant) |
|
|
Ex
parte Carr, No. AP-75,627
(Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 28, 2007). |
|
TX
|
David
DeBlanc
|
B/M
|
W/M
|
|
|
Ex
parte DeBlanc, AP-75,113
(Tex. Crim. App. Mar. 16, 2005). |
|
TX
|
Doil
Lane
|
W/M
|
H/F |
|
|
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2007-03-09.2849
|
|
TX
|
Willie
Mack Modden
|
B/M
|
W/F
|
64,
58 |
|
Ex
parte Modden, 147 S.W.3d 293
(Tex. Crim. App. 2004). Ex Parte Modden, No. 74,715 (Tex. Crim. App.
April 21, 2004). |
|
TX
|
Eric
Lynn Moore
|
M
|
F |
72 |
conceptual
and social skills |
Moore
v. Dretke, 2005 WL 1606437
(E.D.Tex. Jul. 1, 2005). |
|
TX
|
Jose
Alfredo Rivera
|
M
|
M
|
64,
68, (70, 85, 92, and 80
given less weight) |
self-care,
social skills, home
living, and functional academics |
Rivera
v. Quarterman, 2007 WL
3027070 (5th Cir. 2007). |
|
TX
|
Demetrius
Simms
|
B/M
|
B/F |
|
|
Ex
parte Simms, No. AP-75,625
(Tex. Crim. App. Feb. 28, 2007). |
|
TX
|
Robert
Smith
|
B/M
|
W/M |
|
|
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2004-03-12.4200/view
|
|
TX
|
Exzavier
Lamont Stevenson
|
B/M
|
2M |
|
|
Ex
parte Stevenson, No.
AP-75,639 (Tex. Crim. App. Mar. 21, 2007). |
|
TX
|
Alberto
Valdez
|
H/M
|
W/M |
|
|
Ex
parte Valdez, No. 75,039
(Tex. Crim. App. Nov. 11, 1004). Ex Parte
Alberto Valdez, AP-75, 039 (Texas Ct. Crim. App., Nov. 10, 2004). |
|
TX
|
Gregory
van Alstyne
|
M
|
M |
69,
69, 56 |
|
Ex
Parte Gregory van Alstyne,
Trial Crt No. 30,941-02-B, CCA No. 33,801-02; 2007 WL 3375149 |
|
|
