James Allen Coddington – white, age 25 (re-sentence after appellate reversal)
Sentenced in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: March 5, 1997
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Coddington beat Albert Troy Hale (age 73) to death. Coddington tried to borrow $50 from Hale but Hale refused. When Hale tried to push Coddington out of his home, Coddington grabbed a claw hammer and bludgeoned Hale to death. He also took $525 from Hale’s pocket. Prosecutors argued Coddington was a violent felon who committed a heinous crime to avoid arrest. They also argued he was a continuing threat to society. Coddington was sentenced to death in 2003 but, in 2005, an appeals court overturned the sentence. In this resentencing he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s): Sandra Elliot, Suzanne Lister
Defense lawyer(s): Cathy Hammarsten, Faustine Curry
Sources: AP Alert 6/17/08 – OK 05:17:20; The Daily Oklahoman 7/3/08 (2008 WLNR 12467099); AP Alert 7/3/08 – OK 04:48:37; www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=448039; newsok.com/for-convicted-killer-another-death-sentence/article/3258377
By: a jury
Date of crime: March 5, 1997
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Coddington beat Albert Troy Hale (age 73) to death. Coddington tried to borrow $50 from Hale but Hale refused. When Hale tried to push Coddington out of his home, Coddington grabbed a claw hammer and bludgeoned Hale to death. He also took $525 from Hale’s pocket. Prosecutors argued Coddington was a violent felon who committed a heinous crime to avoid arrest. They also argued he was a continuing threat to society. Coddington was sentenced to death in 2003 but, in 2005, an appeals court overturned the sentence. In this resentencing he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s): Sandra Elliot, Suzanne Lister
Defense lawyer(s): Cathy Hammarsten, Faustine Curry
Sources: AP Alert 6/17/08 – OK 05:17:20; The Daily Oklahoman 7/3/08 (2008 WLNR 12467099); AP Alert 7/3/08 – OK 04:48:37; www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=448039; newsok.com/for-convicted-killer-another-death-sentence/article/3258377
Clarence Goode, Jr. – black, age 28
Sentenced in Tulsa County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Goode, Ronald Thompson and Kenneth Johnson fatally shot Tara Burchett-Thompson (age 25), her daughter, Kayla Burchett (age 10), and her husband, Mitch Thompson (age 28). Thompson was also Ronald Thompson’s cousin. The bodies were found on August 26, 2005 in their home. Prosecutors argued Goode was the orchestrator. Goode received three death sentences.
Prosecutor(s):
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: AP Alert 12/13/07 – OK 14:43:23; Tulsa World 1/8/08 (2008 WLNR 470127); AP Alert 1/8/08 – OK 15:19:08
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Goode, Ronald Thompson and Kenneth Johnson fatally shot Tara Burchett-Thompson (age 25), her daughter, Kayla Burchett (age 10), and her husband, Mitch Thompson (age 28). Thompson was also Ronald Thompson’s cousin. The bodies were found on August 26, 2005 in their home. Prosecutors argued Goode was the orchestrator. Goode received three death sentences.
Prosecutor(s):
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: AP Alert 12/13/07 – OK 14:43:23; Tulsa World 1/8/08 (2008 WLNR 470127); AP Alert 1/8/08 – OK 15:19:08
Franklin Cecil Green – white, age 60
Sentenced in Garvin County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 10, 2007
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Green fatally shot his wife, Gloria Hunter (age 60). He was worried that Hunter was going to report him to his federal probation officer. Hunter was opening her barbershop when Green forced her out the back with a gun. When Hunter tried to run, Green shot at her twice causing her to fall between two vehicles. Green went to Hunter, kneeled down and fired four shots at her head. Green then walked away and surrendered, himself and the gun, when approached by a police officer. Green was on federal probation for kidnapping when he shot Hunter.
Prosecutor(s): Susan Caswell
Defense lawyer(s): Craig Corgan, Lynn Birch
Sources: Oklahoman 10/29/08 (2008 WLNR 20693174); The Daily Oklahoman 10/29/08 (2008 WNR 20596941); AP Alert 10/29/08 – OK 05:10:46; www.kxii.com/home/headlines/6960892.html; downloads.newsok.com/documents/chargefrankgreen.pdf; www.paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/homepage/local_story_276115345.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 10, 2007
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Green fatally shot his wife, Gloria Hunter (age 60). He was worried that Hunter was going to report him to his federal probation officer. Hunter was opening her barbershop when Green forced her out the back with a gun. When Hunter tried to run, Green shot at her twice causing her to fall between two vehicles. Green went to Hunter, kneeled down and fired four shots at her head. Green then walked away and surrendered, himself and the gun, when approached by a police officer. Green was on federal probation for kidnapping when he shot Hunter.
Prosecutor(s): Susan Caswell
Defense lawyer(s): Craig Corgan, Lynn Birch
Sources: Oklahoman 10/29/08 (2008 WLNR 20693174); The Daily Oklahoman 10/29/08 (2008 WNR 20596941); AP Alert 10/29/08 – OK 05:10:46; www.kxii.com/home/headlines/6960892.html; downloads.newsok.com/documents/chargefrankgreen.pdf; www.paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/homepage/local_story_276115345.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
Wendell Arden Grissom – white, age 36
Sentenced in Garfield County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: November 3, 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Grissom fatally shot Amber Matthews (age 23) during an attempted robbery. Grissom and Jessie Floyd Johns forced their way into the home of Matthews’ friend Lauren Drue Kopf and began shooting. Kopf struggled with Grissom and was shot three times. Grissom then shot Matthews twice in the head – once while she was holding Kopf’s daughter and again as she lay on the floor. After being shot, Kopf managed to escape and alert authorities. The jury found Grissom’s acts met three aggravating circumstances: Grissom knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person, the murder was committed by a person while serving a sentence of imprisonment on conviction of a felony, and Grissom would be a continuing threat to society.
Prosecutor(s): Mike Fields
Defense lawyer(s): J.W. Coyle
Sources: Oklahoman 9/15/06 (2008 WLNR 16159224); AP Alert 3/5/08 – OK 17:25:05; AP Alert 3/7/08 – AR 14:53:11; AP Alert 6/18/08 – AR 14:25:53; www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_067011012.html; www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_058004853.html
By: a jury
Date of crime: November 3, 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Grissom fatally shot Amber Matthews (age 23) during an attempted robbery. Grissom and Jessie Floyd Johns forced their way into the home of Matthews’ friend Lauren Drue Kopf and began shooting. Kopf struggled with Grissom and was shot three times. Grissom then shot Matthews twice in the head – once while she was holding Kopf’s daughter and again as she lay on the floor. After being shot, Kopf managed to escape and alert authorities. The jury found Grissom’s acts met three aggravating circumstances: Grissom knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person, the murder was committed by a person while serving a sentence of imprisonment on conviction of a felony, and Grissom would be a continuing threat to society.
Prosecutor(s): Mike Fields
Defense lawyer(s): J.W. Coyle
Sources: Oklahoman 9/15/06 (2008 WLNR 16159224); AP Alert 3/5/08 – OK 17:25:05; AP Alert 3/7/08 – AR 14:53:11; AP Alert 6/18/08 – AR 14:25:53; www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_067011012.html; www.enidnews.com/localnews/local_story_058004853.html
Marlon Deon Harmon – black, age 23
Sentenced in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 23, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Harmon murdered Kamal Choudhury (age 55). While robbing Choudhury’s convenience store, Harmon shot Choudhury three times. He walked around the counter to fire the last two shots. Choudhury died the next day.
Prosecutor(s): Scott Rowland
Defense lawyer(s): Cathy Hammarsten
Sources: Oklahoman 5/30/08 (2008 WLNR 10395199); The Daily Oklahoman 7/3/08 (2008 WLNR 12467099)
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 23, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Harmon murdered Kamal Choudhury (age 55). While robbing Choudhury’s convenience store, Harmon shot Choudhury three times. He walked around the counter to fire the last two shots. Choudhury died the next day.
Prosecutor(s): Scott Rowland
Defense lawyer(s): Cathy Hammarsten
Sources: Oklahoman 5/30/08 (2008 WLNR 10395199); The Daily Oklahoman 7/3/08 (2008 WLNR 12467099)
Victor Cornell Miller – black, age 36 (re-sentence after appellate reversal)
Sentenced in Tulsa County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 31, 1999
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Miller and George John Hanson carjacked Mary Agnes Bowles (age 77) and drove her to a secluded area where Jerald Thurman (age 44), a trucking company owner, happened to be picking up a load of dirt. Prosecutors argued that Miller shot Thurman and Hanson shot Bowles. The jury found Miller guilty of murdering Bowles and Thurman under two legal theories: that there was a deliberate intent to kill, and a felony murder allegation that Bowles and Thurman were shot to death while Miller and Hanson were robbing Bowles of her car. Prosecutors presented four aggravating circumstances supporting a death sentence: Miller created a great risk of death to more than one person, is a continuing threat to society, has a previous violent felony conviction, and murdered to avoid or prevent an arrest or prosecution. Jurors decided that all four circumstances existed for both murders. Miller was given death sentences for both murders. In 2002, Miller was convicted of both murders and given a death sentence for only the Thurman killing. He received a no-parole life sentence for Bowles’ murder. In 2004, the state Court of Criminal Appeals overturned those convictions and sentences and granted new trials. In this retrial he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s): Bill Musseman
Defense lawyer(s): Pete Silva
Sources: Tulsa World 11/18/08 (2008 WLNR 21990018), 12/9/08 (2008 WLNR 23686083); www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=14&articleid=20081209_14_A5_Ajudge89787; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081117_298_Akil844602
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 31, 1999
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Miller and George John Hanson carjacked Mary Agnes Bowles (age 77) and drove her to a secluded area where Jerald Thurman (age 44), a trucking company owner, happened to be picking up a load of dirt. Prosecutors argued that Miller shot Thurman and Hanson shot Bowles. The jury found Miller guilty of murdering Bowles and Thurman under two legal theories: that there was a deliberate intent to kill, and a felony murder allegation that Bowles and Thurman were shot to death while Miller and Hanson were robbing Bowles of her car. Prosecutors presented four aggravating circumstances supporting a death sentence: Miller created a great risk of death to more than one person, is a continuing threat to society, has a previous violent felony conviction, and murdered to avoid or prevent an arrest or prosecution. Jurors decided that all four circumstances existed for both murders. Miller was given death sentences for both murders. In 2002, Miller was convicted of both murders and given a death sentence for only the Thurman killing. He received a no-parole life sentence for Bowles’ murder. In 2004, the state Court of Criminal Appeals overturned those convictions and sentences and granted new trials. In this retrial he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s): Bill Musseman
Defense lawyer(s): Pete Silva
Sources: Tulsa World 11/18/08 (2008 WLNR 21990018), 12/9/08 (2008 WLNR 23686083); www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=14&articleid=20081209_14_A5_Ajudge89787; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081117_298_Akil844602
Alfred Brian Mitchell – black, age 18 (re-sentence after appellate reversal)
Sentenced in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: January 7, 1991
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Mitchell murdered Elaine Maries Scott (age 21). Scott was working at a recreation center when Mitchell stabbed her with a mathematical compass and beat her with a golf club and coat rack. Mitchell was sentenced in 1992 but that sentenced was reversed by a federal appeals court, in part because of false and misleading testimony given by a former Oklahoma City forensic chemist. Mitchell was resentenced by another jury, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned that sentence in May 2006. In this resentencing he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s):
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: Tulsa World 1/17/08 (2008 WLNR 1039309); www.murdervictims.com/Voices/Elaine_Scott_news.htm; speakout.com/activism/apstories/10069-1.html; www.patrickcrusade.org/former_oklahoma_city_forensic_ch.htm; abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92649&page=1
By: a jury
Date of crime: January 7, 1991
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Mitchell murdered Elaine Maries Scott (age 21). Scott was working at a recreation center when Mitchell stabbed her with a mathematical compass and beat her with a golf club and coat rack. Mitchell was sentenced in 1992 but that sentenced was reversed by a federal appeals court, in part because of false and misleading testimony given by a former Oklahoma City forensic chemist. Mitchell was resentenced by another jury, but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned that sentence in May 2006. In this resentencing he again received a death sentence.
Prosecutor(s):
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: Tulsa World 1/17/08 (2008 WLNR 1039309); www.murdervictims.com/Voices/Elaine_Scott_news.htm; speakout.com/activism/apstories/10069-1.html; www.patrickcrusade.org/former_oklahoma_city_forensic_ch.htm; abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92649&page=1
James Lawrence Mitchell III – black, age 25 (re-sentence after appellate reversal)
Sentenced in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2000
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Mitchell murdered Charita Rashawn Frerene (age 3) by beating her to death. The defense argued the child’s mother was to blame. In 2005, Mitchell’s 2003 death sentence was overturned when the appeals court ruled inadmissible evidence that had been used against him. Mitchell had the chance to avoid the death penalty in a plea agreement with Oklahoma County prosecutors, but he refused. After Mitchell declined the deal, the jury again sentenced him to death.
Prosecutor(s): Gayland Geiger
Defense lawyer(s): Jason Spanich
Sources: Oklahoman 6/3/08 (2008 WLNR 10538008); newsok.com/crime-and-court-briefs/article/3249965
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2000
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Mitchell murdered Charita Rashawn Frerene (age 3) by beating her to death. The defense argued the child’s mother was to blame. In 2005, Mitchell’s 2003 death sentence was overturned when the appeals court ruled inadmissible evidence that had been used against him. Mitchell had the chance to avoid the death penalty in a plea agreement with Oklahoma County prosecutors, but he refused. After Mitchell declined the deal, the jury again sentenced him to death.
Prosecutor(s): Gayland Geiger
Defense lawyer(s): Jason Spanich
Sources: Oklahoman 6/3/08 (2008 WLNR 10538008); newsok.com/crime-and-court-briefs/article/3249965
Gilbert Ray Postelle – white, age 19
Sentenced in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: May 30, 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Postelle, his father, Earl Bradford Postelle, and his brother, David Bradford Postelle, fatally shot James Swindel, Jr., Amy Wright, Terry Smith and James Alderson because they blamed Swindel for the 2004 motorcycle wreck that left the Postelle’s father with brain damage. Prosecutor’s argued the decedents were herded out of a mobile home and then someone fired all 30 shots from an AK-47 magazine at the group. Another six shots were fired into Swindle’s head with a rifle.
Prosecutor(s): David Prater, Diane Box
Defense lawyer(s): Jim Hughes; David Autry
Sources: The Daily Oklahoman 8/30/08 (2008 WLNR 16411528); AP Alert 10/3/08 – OK 05:31:45; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080508_12_OKLAH46213; newsok.com/article/3213699/1204951031; newsok.com/article/3215629/1205380366; www.koco.com/news/17443349/detail.html; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080307_1__OKLAH40100
By: a jury
Date of crime: May 30, 2005
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Postelle, his father, Earl Bradford Postelle, and his brother, David Bradford Postelle, fatally shot James Swindel, Jr., Amy Wright, Terry Smith and James Alderson because they blamed Swindel for the 2004 motorcycle wreck that left the Postelle’s father with brain damage. Prosecutor’s argued the decedents were herded out of a mobile home and then someone fired all 30 shots from an AK-47 magazine at the group. Another six shots were fired into Swindle’s head with a rifle.
Prosecutor(s): David Prater, Diane Box
Defense lawyer(s): Jim Hughes; David Autry
Sources: The Daily Oklahoman 8/30/08 (2008 WLNR 16411528); AP Alert 10/3/08 – OK 05:31:45; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080508_12_OKLAH46213; newsok.com/article/3213699/1204951031; newsok.com/article/3215629/1205380366; www.koco.com/news/17443349/detail.html; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080307_1__OKLAH40100
Phillip Anthony Summers – black, age 18
Sentenced in Tulsa County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: February 23, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Summers murdered Shelly and Ples Vann, Jr. They were each shot three times in their home. Prosecutor’s argued the killings were linked to gang rivalry. Shelly and Ples Vann were the parents of Lawrence Tennyson who is believed to have murdered one of Summers’ brothers. During the penalty phase, the prosecution offered three aggravating circumstances: Summers had a previous felony conviction – shooting with an intent to kill – that involved the threat of violence; Summers created a great risk of death to more than one person; Summers constitutes a continuing threat to society. In an effort to mitigate punishment, the defense lawyers pointed to evidence that Summers came from a family environment of crime, drug abuse and violence. Jurors found all three aggravating circumstances applied to both homicides. Summers received a death sentence for each murder.
Prosecutor(s): Tim Harris, Steve Kunzweiler
Defense lawyer(s): Robert Stubblefield, Mark Matheson
Sources: Tulsa World 1/13/08 (2008 WLNR 752328), 2/6/08 (2008 WLNR 2342877); AP Alert 3/26/08 – OK 03:55:44; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080205_1_A12_hHeha26302
By: a jury
Date of crime: February 23, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Summers murdered Shelly and Ples Vann, Jr. They were each shot three times in their home. Prosecutor’s argued the killings were linked to gang rivalry. Shelly and Ples Vann were the parents of Lawrence Tennyson who is believed to have murdered one of Summers’ brothers. During the penalty phase, the prosecution offered three aggravating circumstances: Summers had a previous felony conviction – shooting with an intent to kill – that involved the threat of violence; Summers created a great risk of death to more than one person; Summers constitutes a continuing threat to society. In an effort to mitigate punishment, the defense lawyers pointed to evidence that Summers came from a family environment of crime, drug abuse and violence. Jurors found all three aggravating circumstances applied to both homicides. Summers received a death sentence for each murder.
Prosecutor(s): Tim Harris, Steve Kunzweiler
Defense lawyer(s): Robert Stubblefield, Mark Matheson
Sources: Tulsa World 1/13/08 (2008 WLNR 752328), 2/6/08 (2008 WLNR 2342877); AP Alert 3/26/08 – OK 03:55:44; www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080205_1_A12_hHeha26302
Kevin Ray Underwood – white, age 26
Sentenced in McClain County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 12, 2006
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Underwood murdered and mutilated the body of Jamie Rose Bolin (age 10). Underwood lured the girl into his apartment, beat her over the head with a cutting board, suffocated her, sexually assaulted her and then tried to cut off her head with a decorative dagger. Underwood told authorities that he was fueled by sexual fantasies that involved torturing, raping, killing and eating his victim. No evidence was presented that he cannibalized the girl’s body. Her body was found hidden in a plastic tub in Underwood’s apartment on April 14, 2006. The defense argued that Underwood suffered from mental illness that could be treated with medication.
Prosecutor(s): Greg Mashburn
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: Oklahoman 3/9/08 (2008 WLNR 4765239), 4/4/08 (2008 WLNR 6493536); Tulsa World 4/4/08 (2008 WLNR 6423951); www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346350,00.html
By: a jury
Date of crime: April 12, 2006
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Underwood murdered and mutilated the body of Jamie Rose Bolin (age 10). Underwood lured the girl into his apartment, beat her over the head with a cutting board, suffocated her, sexually assaulted her and then tried to cut off her head with a decorative dagger. Underwood told authorities that he was fueled by sexual fantasies that involved torturing, raping, killing and eating his victim. No evidence was presented that he cannibalized the girl’s body. Her body was found hidden in a plastic tub in Underwood’s apartment on April 14, 2006. The defense argued that Underwood suffered from mental illness that could be treated with medication.
Prosecutor(s): Greg Mashburn
Defense lawyer(s):
Sources: Oklahoman 3/9/08 (2008 WLNR 4765239), 4/4/08 (2008 WLNR 6493536); Tulsa World 4/4/08 (2008 WLNR 6423951); www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346350,00.html