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#223
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09-23-2012, 12:01 PM
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Re: 2012 Executions in the USA
Donald L. Palmer Jr. Executed September 20, 2012 10:35 a.m. EDT by Lethal Injection in Ohio ![]() Victims: Charles Sponhaltz Steven Vargo Crime: On May 7, 1989, Palmer, along with his sister Mildred “Angle” Patterson and Edward Hill, drove from Columbus, Ohio to Belmont County, Ohio in Hill’s brown Dodge Charger. On May 8, Hill and Palmer drove out past the residence of George Goolie who had dated Palmer’s ex-wife, Cammy. Cammy was Hill’s sister. Allegedly, Hill and Palmer were going to rob George or burglarize his residence. In February 1989, George’s house had been robbed and George had asked his friend, Charles Sponhaltz to check on the house when he drove by. Around 5 pm on May 8, Hill’s vehicle collided with the back of Charles’ white pick up. There was no damage to either vehicle. However, Palmer got out of the vehicle he was a passenger in and shot Charles twice in the head. Steven Vargo was a passing motorist who stopped to see if he could help. When Steven got out of his vehicle, Palmer shot him twice in the head as well. Palmer and Hill placed Charles in the back of his truck and abandoned it in a field near the scene of the crime. Steven and his vehicle were left at the scene of the crime. Matthew Rutter saw Charles’ white pick up driving quickly in the opposite direction of the crime scene, followed closely by a brown Dodge Charger. Matthew then came upon Steven’s body and his abandoned car. Matthew tried to help Steven and when he did not respond, Matthew called the police. Charles’ body and truck was discovered seven tenths of a mile away. Both bodies had also been robbed. Prior to the murders, Palmer and Hill had been stopped by a police officer who verified that Hill was the owner of the truck. After the murders a description was given of the truck and the police officer recognized it as likely being the same vehicle. Police found Palmer and Hill on May 16, 1989, and brought them in for questioning. At first, Palmer denied knowing anything about the murders. Police then told Palmer that they had evidence linking him to the crime. Palmer confessed to the murders and gave the police a detailed account of what happened. Palmer claimed to have accidently shot Charles as he attempted to break up a fight between Charles and Hill. Palmer then claimed to have shot him again to make sure he was dead. Palmer then admitted to shooting Steve because he was afraid Steven might have witnessed something. While in police custody, Palmer admitted numerous times to killing Charles and Steven, telling the story many times. Citations: none yet Final/Special Meal: A chipped ham and Velveeta cheese sandwich on wheat, ranch-flavored Doritos, peanut M&Ms, hazelnut ice cream, cheesecake and soda Final Words: "I've carried you for years and years in my heart. I know what it's like to lose a parent, sibling, and a child, I wish this could bring it back to you, I know it can't. I pray that you have good lives, I'm sorry. May the Lord bless you and give you good lives. I'm sorry." |
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#224
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09-23-2012, 12:20 PM
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Re: 2012 Executions in the USA
Robert Wayne Harris Executed September 20, 2012 06:43 p.m. by Lethal Injection in Texas ![]() Victims: ![]() Augustine Villasenor, 36 ![]() Rhoda Wheeler, 46 He wasn't tried for them but still confessed the murders of: Sandra Estes Scott, 37 Benjamin Villasenor, 32 Roberto Jimenez Jr., 15 Octavio Ramos, 36 Crime: On March 15, 2000, Robert Wayne Harris was working at the Mi-T-Fine Car Wash in Irving, Texas when he was fired for masturbating in front of a female customer. On the following Monday, knowing that the car wash safe would be filled with the weekend’s cash receipts, Harris forced the manager, Dennis Lee, assistant manager, Agustin Villaseñor, and cashier, Rhoda Wheeler, into the office. He forced Wheeler to open the safe, and she complied and gave him the cash. Harris then forced all three victims to the floor and shot each of them in the back of the head at close range. He also slit Lee’s throat. As Harris was leaving, three other employees arrived for work. Harris forced them to kneel on the floor of the lobby area and shot each of them in the back of the head from close range. One of the victims survived with permanent disabilities. When a Dallas SWAT team arrested Harris, he confessed to the crimes. In addition to the five people he murdered at the car wash, he also led authorities to the body of Sandra Estes Scott, a 37-year-old Irving woman who had disappeared Nov. 29. He later admitted shooting her after an argument, according to court records. Citations: none yet Final/Special Meal: As we all already know Texas no longer offers fancy last meals. So Mr Harris had chicken patties, carrots, green beans, pinto beans, and mashed potatoes like the other inmates. Final Words: "I want to let y'all know that I love you, Billy, I love you, English, Hart and Eloise. Dwight, take care of Dwight. I'm going home. I'm going home. Don't worry about me. I'll be all right. God bless, and the Texas Rangers. Texas Rangers." |
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#227
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09-27-2012, 06:44 AM
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Re: 2012 Executions in the USA
Cleve W. Foster III Executed September 25, 2012 06:43 p.m. by Lethal Injection in Texas ![]() Victim: ![]() Nyaneur Pal, 30 Crime: On February 13, 2002, Cleve Foster and Sheldon Ward met Nyanuer “Mary” Pal at Fat Albert’s, a Fort Worth bar where all three were regular customers. According to the bartender, Pal interacted primarily with Ward until the bar closed at 2:00 a.m. She then walked to the parking lot with Ward where they talked for a few minutes. Afterwards, Pal left in her car, which was followed closely by Foster and Ward driving in Foster’s truck. Approximately eight hours later, Pal’s nude body was discovered in a ditch far off a road in Tarrant County. She had been shot in the head. A wadded-up piece of bloody duct tape lay next to her body. Her unlocked car was later found in the parking lot of the apartment complex where she lived. The police investigation focused on Foster and Ward once police learned that they had been with Pal that night. On February 21, 2002, police searched the motel room shared by Foster and Ward. Only Foster was present. He directed the police to a dresser drawer that contained a gun Ward had purchased from a pawn shop in August 2001. Later that day, Foster voluntarily went to the police department to give a statement and to provide a DNA sample. In his statement, Foster first denied Pal had been inside his truck. However, he then admitted that she may have leaned inside. Finally, he admitted that “they” went cruising, but that “they” brought Pal back to her vehicle at Fat Albert’s. Police also obtained a DNA sample from Ward sometime on the night of February 21, 2002. On March 22, 2002, Foster gave another written statement to police in which he claimed: (1) he and Ward followed Pal to her apartment after meeting her at Fat Albert’s; (2) Pal voluntarily went with them to their motel room in his truck; and (3) after taking sleeping pills and drinking beer, Foster fell asleep watching television while Ward and Pal kissed. In addition to statements, physical evidence also linked Foster and Ward to the offense. DNA tests established that bodily fluids found in Pal’s body contained DNA from both Ward and Foster. DNA testing also revealed that Pal’s blood and tissue were on the gun recovered during the motel room search. In addition, a police detective and medical examiner testified that Pal was not shot where her body was found because there was no blood splatter in the area. Since the soles of her feet indicated that she had not walked to the location where her body was found, the detective testified that he was “very comfortable” with stating that two people carried Pal’s body to that location. In support of his testimony, the detective noted that the raised-arm position of Pal’s body suggested she may have been carried by her feet and hands. In addition, the detective noted that Pal was five-seven and 130 pounds and Ward is only five-six and 140 pounds, while Foster is six feet tall and around 225 pounds. Citations: none yet Last Meal: No special meal for him either. Just the same everybody else had that day: barbecue sandwiches, Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and sliced bread. Final Words: "When I close my eyes, I'll be with the father. God is everything. He's my life. Tonight I'll be with him. I don't know what you're going to be feeling tonight. I pray we'll all meet in heaven." |