July 20 TEXAS: WARRANT AFFIDAVITS REVEAL EVIDENCE IN MURDER CASE Tyler police discovered fingerprints and blood inside Cecilia Schneider's stolen and abandoned vehicle. Evidence, which led authorities to the alleged culprit of her murder, was released on Tuesday in arrest and search warrant affidavits that were executed on Friday. The documents led to the capture of Clifton Lamar Williams, who was brought to court and arraigned on capital murder charges Monday. Ms. Schneider, 93, was found July 9 beaten and stabbed to death inside her home at 311 Callahan St. in Tyler. The suspect then set fire to the victim and her bedding, according to the arrest warrant affidavit signed by 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr. Ms. Schneider's 1997 Toyota Camry was stolen, along with her purse. The vehicle was recovered wrecked in rural Smith County on Greenbriar Road in front of 11041 Spur 164. A "large amount of blood" was found both inside and outside of the car. A bloody Kleenex and fingerprints were also retrieved, according to the affidavit by Tyler police Officer Dennis Matthews, who said he was informed by several witnesses that observed a black male standing in front of and walking away from the wrecked car. On Friday, Matthews was contacted by a person who claimed a man known as "Crazy C" had claimed he had stabbed a man in north Tyler, stole his car and wrecked it out in the county. He informed police where "Crazy C" lived on South Fannin Street and gave officers the name of one of the suspect's friends, the affidavit states. That man told officers that "Crazy C" was Williams, who had told him the same story. Williams had appeared at his house the same day of the murder. Williams' hand was bleeding and covered with Kleenex and the suspect said he had cut himself while stabbing the man, the document states. A neighbor of Ms. Schneider and a friend of the suspect said she went to Williams' residence the night before the murder and he left shortly after her arrival. Williams never returned home that night but called the following morning, advising her to get out of the house and "lock everything up." She also said they saw a cut on his hands. A certified fingerprint examiner matched a print found on the driver's door of the Camry to Williams. Skeen also signed an evidentiary search warrant on Friday, allowing police to seize possible evidence they found in Williams' apartment at 220 S. Fannin St. Authorities were searching for knives or edged weapons, DNA or trace evidence, indications of ownership or occupancy, a purse, keys or any other items belonging to the victim. Found in the apartment was a Band-Aid, pillow case, paper towels, cigarette butts, lighters and a box, an earring, butcher knife, a blue jersey, prescription paperwork, tan shorts with blood, 2 white T-shirts, Andrews Center and East Texas Medical Center paperwork and a white matchbook, the affidavit states. Williams was not at his apartment when authorities arrived on Friday but he was arrested later that night when relatives brought him to the police station. The 21-year-old Williams was advised of his rights on Monday by 114th District Judge Cynthia Stevens Kent, who appointed attorney Melvin Thompson to represent him in the capital case. Williams faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. He remains jailed on $1 million bond. Records show that Williams has been convicted of two misdemeanor charges in 2002 and 2003. (source: Tyler Morning Telegraph) VIRGINA----female to face death penalty Death penalty sought for woman in slaying----Mental state, alcohol cited in her killing of 70-year-old neighbor Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White asked that Xenia Morgan be put to death for the stabbing death of a 70-year-old neighbor whom Morgan attacked in an alcohol-fueled rage. In her opening statement of the sentencing phase that began yesterday, White said the crime was so violent and vile that "no other sentence is justice." Brain problems cited But defense attorneys Joseph M. Teefey Jr. and R. Clinton Clary Jr. pleaded with Circuit Court Judge William Wellons to spare their client. The defense attorneys insist that Morgan has frontal lobe problems that, coupled with being heavily under the influence of alcohol at the time, left her with no knowledge of what she was doing. "Clearly, there was a blackout situation," Clary said. Morgan's sentencing got under way just more than a year after she pleaded guilty to the May 9, 2003, capital murder and robbery of Lillian Taylor. Morgan, 33, changed her plea from not guilty to guilty last July after attorneys had spent parts of 3 days on jury selection. Wellons accepted Morgan's plea -- she later unsuccessfully tried to withdraw it -- and must now decide whether she will be given life in prison or a death sentence. Morgan also faces 5 years to life in prison on the robbery conviction. During the attack, Taylor sustained 78 cuts and stab wounds, fractures to her ribs, and there were indications she was stomped. An autopsy showed Taylor died of multiple stabbings as well as blunt-force injuries. Prosecutors have said that robbery is believed to have been the motive, but it appears only a few dollars were stolen. Yesterday, family members said the loss has been traumatic. Just days before Taylor's death, family members had gathered to celebrate daughter Sherry Hyler's birthday and were planning to get together again soon for Mother's Day. Hyler testified yesterday that she had moved to Danville from Alexandria to be close to her mother, and they spoke several times a day. Trauma in the family Now, Hyler testified, her daughter had to be talked into marching in her recent high school graduation -- where her grandmother had promised to be the loudest person there. And, Hyler said, her son is in counseling. In the meantime, Hyler said, she talks to nearly everyone about her mother. "I know my mother is dead but she's not forgotten," Hyler said, her voice breaking. "The more I talk about her, the more I know she's with me." The defense called expert witnesses to testify that Morgan has a low IQ and a long history of alcohol and drug abuse, as well as problems in the frontal lobe of the brain that helps inhibit behavior. Alcohol makes the situation worse because it also curtails restraint, testified James R. Thomas, a clinical psychologist. 'She likes to bully' However, Evan Nelson, a licensed clinical psychologist called to testify by the prosecution, said that while frontal lobe damage is possible, probably a better explanation for Morgan's behavior is intoxication and personality disorder. Also, White and Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Michele Gowdy called several guards from the Halifax jail and Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Lynchburg to testify that even in jail Morgan continued to menace. "She likes to bully people," said Amanda Barksdale, wearing an orange jumpsuit. If "you don't agree with Xenia, Xenia doesn't like you. Simple as that." But the defense called two of Morgan's former guards who noted that while Morgan often made threats, she did not lay hands on anyone. The defense will continue calling witnesses this morning and the hearing is expected to conclude today. (source: Richmond Times-Dispatch) INDIANA----new execution date Justices decline to block execution----Death Row inmate claims he was mentally ill when he killed his wife, parents in '85. The Indiana Supreme Court on Tuesday cited procedural reasons for rejecting a death row inmate's claim that he should not be executed because he was gravely mentally ill in 1985 when he strangled his pregnant wife and stabbed his parents to death. The court set an execution date of Aug. 31 for Arthur P. Baird, 59, formerly of rural Montgomery County. Baird has been in the Indiana State Prison at Michigan City since a jury found him guilty of 3 counts of murder and 1 count of feticide. 3 Indiana inmates have been executed so far this year -- the most in one year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977. Another inmate, Kevin Conner, 38, has been scheduled for execution July 27. Baird's pro bono attorney, Sarah L. Nagy, said Tuesday she would seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court to determine whether it's constitutional to execute someone who is mentally ill. The U.S. Supreme Court has never addressed the question of executing people who kill due to an "irresistible impulse" inspired by mental illness. Baird strangled his pregnant wife, Nadine, on Sept. 6, 1985, and fatally stabbed his parents, Arthur and Kathryn Baird, the next morning. He was arrested the following day while watching baseball on TV. Baird at the time believed he had solved the national debt, then $1.94 trillion, and that the federal government was to pay him $1 million for his advice. In reality, Baird was in debt and had just lost his job at R.R. Donnelley, a commercial printing company. "To this day, he thinks a big, burly man was moving his arms. Before that, he was law-abiding for 39 years," Nagy said. One psychiatrist found Baird insane at the time of the crime. Three said he was sane. Indiana law prohibits executing people who are mentally retarded but doesn't say whether the lives of mentally ill killers should be spared. Indiana's high court said Baird's claim was flawed because it had not been raised in earlier reviews of the case. In Tuesday's order, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard said Baird has until Monday to bring new issues before the court. Justice Robert D. Rucker sided with the unanimous court but indicated he is open to hearing about Baird's current mental state. "I continue to believe that a sentence of death is inappropriate for a person suffering a severe mental illness," Rucker wrote. "Nowhere in his lengthy petition does Baird contend that he is now mentally ill." (source: Indianapolis Star) TENNESSEE: Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty Against Tony Pope Prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty against Tony Pope, who is charged with killing his wife, 5-week-old son and 13-year-old stepdaughter. Pope, 36, confessed to killing his wife, Andrea Pope, with a hammer, beating and dropping his infant son, Christian, and strangling and stomping his stepdaughter, Brianna Justice. The incident happened May 2 at a duplex in Hixson just off Highway 153. Prosecutors said the incident amounted to mass murder. Pope is held without bond at the County Jail. He had been released on parole in 2001 after serving about 5 years of a 15-year sentence for killing his girlfriend in 1995. (source: Chattanoogan.com)
