Dontae Callan – black, age 18
Sentenced to death in Jefferson County, Alabama
By: a judge after a jury recommendation of death (vote unknown)
Date of crime: 10/29/10
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Callen stabbed three of his relatives to death—his aunt Bernice Kelly, his adult cousin Quortles Kelly, and his 12-year-old cousin Aaliyah Budgess. No motive was given. The defense argued that Callen’s youthful age (six weeks past his 18th birthday) and his unstable home life warranted a non-death sentence.
Sources: Birmingham News 8/21/13; AP Alert – AL 11/5/10.
Thomas Crowe – white, age 30
Sentenced to death in Blount County, Alabama
By: a judge following a jury recommendation of death (11-1)
Date of crime: 11/25/09
Prosecution’s case/defense response: On Thanksgiving Day 2009, Crowe burglarized the home of Marvin Allen Dailey, 71. Crowe, who was high on crystal meth and alcohol, set the house on fire and struck Dailey with a hatchet. Crowe took the television and stole a vehicle.
Sources: The Blount Countian online.
Carlos Kennedy – black, age 24
Sentenced to death in Mobile County, Alabama
By: a judge following a jury recommendation of death (11-1)
Date of crime: 6/28/10
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Kennedy sexually assaulted realtor Zoa White before bashing her head with a heavy object while burglarizing her home. Kennedy instructed court-appointed lawyers to present no arguments or testimony on his behalf.
Sources: Press-Register (Mobile, AL); 6/19/13, 9/27/13.
Joshua Russell – black, age 24
Sentenced to death in Calhoun County, Alabama
By: a judge overriding a jury recommendation of life-without-parole (8-4)
Date of crime: 8/24/11
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Russell was convicted of capital murder for the killing of Anniston police officer Justin Sollohub. Russell shot Sollohub in the head with a .22 caliber pistol while running from Sollohub because the gun was stolen and he had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Russell’s court-appointed attorney asked that his entire life, including having two drug-addicted parents, be taken into account.
Sources: Anniston Star (Ala.) 9/18/13, 12/17/13.
Nicholas Smith – black, age 22
Sentenced to death in Calhoun County, Alabama
By: a judge following a jury recommendation of death
Date of crime: 4/20/11
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Smith along with two other men, kidnapped, robbed and then stabbed to death Kevin Thompson, an elementary school teacher. The defense and family members presented testimony of Smith’s difficult childhood, having been exposed to drinking and drug abuse as well as allegations of being sexually abused by a family member as a toddler.
Sources: Anniston Star (Ala.) 7/19/13, 9/3/13.