Virginia 2005

Sentenced to death in Norfolk County, Virginia

By: A jury

Date of crime: 1/16/2004

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Juniper killed four people in his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. He stabbed his ex-girlfriend, Kesia Stephens, 27, and shot her three times. He killed two of Stephens’ daughters whose bodies were lying across their mother. Two-year-old, Shearyia, was shot in the head and still had Stephens’ hair in her hand. The bullets that killed her mother, first hit Shearyia’s legs. Four-year-old Nykia was also shot in the head. Nineteen-year-old Ruben Harrison III, Stephens’ brother, was killed when he was shot three times in the back. The prosecution presented DNA evidence, eyewitness testimony, and fingerprints. The defense argued that the witnesses were not credible and also argued the fingerprints and DNA could have been left during a prior visit. During the penalty phase, the prosecution presented evidence of Juniper’s abusive behavior.

Prosecutor(s): Philip G. Evans III, John R. Doyle III

Defense lawyer(s): B Thomas Reed, Cynthia Garris

Sources: Virginia Pilot and Ledger-Star (Norfolk) 1/12/2005 (2005 WLNR 1390178), 1/13/2005 (2005 WLNR 1390218), 1/14/2005 (2005 WLNR 1216121), 1/19/2005 (2005 WLNR 1373644), 4/2/2005 (2005 WLNR 5443165).