death penalty news April 20, 2005
PENNSYLVANIA: Jury chooses death penalty in hatchet killing After deliberating for only 2 1/2 hours, a Clinton County jury sentenced a woman to die Tuesday for murdering her elderly neighbor with a hatchet in 2003. Shonda Walter, 25, sat quietly as the jury's foreman announced the sentence. She is the first person to be sentenced to death in the county since Pennsylvania reinstated capital punishment in the early 1970s, and will be one of only a few women on death row. Judge Richard Saxton asked Walter if she had anything to say before he formalized the sentence. "No, your honor," she responded in a soft voice. The same jury deliberated for fewer than 30 minutes Monday before finding Walter guilty of murdering neighbor James Sementelli, 83, in 2003. Prosecutors said Walter struck Sementelli with a hatchet 66 times, then used it to carve a cross in his stomach. The attack, they said, lasted between 45 minutes and an hour. Walter then watched television and ate ice cream before leaving in Sementelli's car. Later she returned and stole $510 in quarters. District Attorney Ted McKnight said that prior to trial, his office had offered Walter a chance to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life in prison. After the sentencing hearing, McKnight called the murder "an evil act." Sementelli was a World War II veteran who had survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Walter was arrested after one of her friends called police and told them that she had come to her house wearing gloves covered in blood and confessed. Defense attorney Steve Smith had argued that under Pennsylvania law, Walter was not eligible to receive the death penalty. (source: AP / PennLive.com) INDIANA: Benefiel Faces Execution This Week for Gruesome 1987 Murder The Indiana Civil Liberties Union has asked Governor Mitch Daniels to grant clemency to a man who committed one of the most heinous murders in recent Indiana history. Bill Benefiel is scheduled to be executed early Thursday morning. News 8 was there at the 1988 trial when Benefiel was convicted of kidnapping, sexually abusing and torturing a young mother to death. ?Well, baby girl, it's finally your turn. It's time for Bill Benefiel to be held accountable and pay with his life for what he has done to you,? said Marge Hagan, mother of Delores Wells. Hagan visited her daughter?s grave two days before the scheduled execution of Delores? killer. In 1988, after several days of unimaginable testimony, Bill Benefiel was convicted and sentenced to death. The prosecution alleged that Benefiel took the young mother hostage for twelve days. He then glued her mouth and eyes shut and beat her to death at the site of the shallow grave he had dug. After his sentencing, Benefiel said he wanted to die. ?I'm very happy ?cause I got what I wanted,? Benefiel said after the 1988 sentencing. According to Governor Mitch Daniel's office, Benefiel has waived his right to clemency. Attorneys representing him, and the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, have asked the governor to consider clemency. ?Executing a severely mentally ill man is not what the state of Indiana should be doing,? said Fran Quigley, ICLU executive director. ?The governor is in the process of reviewing all of the case file, including clemency requests. He reviews all arguments, opinions, as much information as he can,? said Jane Jankowski, Daniels? press secretary. The governor will also look closely at the many mental evaluations Benefiel has had. Marge Hagan wants Benefiel to die. She intends to be at the Michigan City penitentiary if he is executed. She spoke at her daughter?s grave Tuesday. ?As your mother, I can't put into words the love that burns in my heart for you. I would have given my life to save yours. I will never forget you, baby girl. Please rest in peace.? Governor Daniels has until just before the scheduled execution time to grant clemency. His press secretary says he's not obliged to respond to the clemency petitions. (source: WorldNow / WISH-TV) ------ Benefiel Execution Preview A Terre Haute man is just hours away from being put to death at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Bill Benefiel is scheduled to die by lethal injection early Thursday morning. It comes 18 years after the brutal torture/slaying of Delores Wells. Tonight, a Terre Haute mother prepares for the execution of her daughter's killer. Margie Hagan has been coming here to talk to her daughter for nearly two decades. Delores Wells was buried here at the young age of 18...the victim of a brutal crime. Now, Bill Benefiel, the man convicted of her murder, waits for his execution planned for early Thursday morning. And Delores's mother, Margie, searches for closure. On this day, Margie reads a letter she wrote from her heart to her youngest child. (Margie Hagan/Delores Well's mother) .... "Well, baby girl it's finally your turn. It's time for Bill Benefiel to be held accountable and pay with his life for what he's done to you"... ... "There is not a day that goes by I don't think of you"... ... "It hurts to talk to you in the past tense. I thank God for the memories. Bill Benefiel can't take them"... ... "Delores, I came here today to let you know what is in my heart and on my mind. I'll always remember your sweet smile and sometimes I can still smell your hair. I will most of all remember that you never left a family member without your soft voice saying "I love you"... ... "So, please know your family loves you and will never forget you. As your mother I cannot put into words the love that burns in my heart for you. I would have given my life to save your's. I will never forget you baby girl..please rest in peace"... It is peace Margie Hagan hopes to finally find. Margie says she and her family will be at the Indiana State Prison Thursday morning. By state law, she cannot witness Bill Benefiel's execution, but she hopes.. somehow..the end of his life...will be the beginning of healing for her heart. Now, we must tell you we tried on several occasions to talk to Benefiel's family. One of his sons, Billy Benefiel told us today he cannot comment.. and phone calls to wife Marilyn have been unsuccessful. Action Ten News will bring you a report from Michigan City with details on the Benefiel execution. (source: WTHI-TV)
