Cleveland Clark – Black, age 43
Sentenced in Fulton County, Georgia
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: April 2000
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Clark was hired by Chiman Rai to murder his daughter-in-law, Sparkle Rai. Clark strangled and then stabbed her. Chiman Rai hired Clark for ten-thousand dollar because he did not want a black daughter-in-law. The defense argued that others involved in hiring Clark gave him up to get a deal with the prosecutor and save their own lives.
Sources: Atlanta Journal-Constitution 06/27/08 (2008 WLNR 12097917), 10/12/08 (2008 WLNR 19441349), 08/04/09 (2009 WLNR 15017206).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: April 2000
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Clark was hired by Chiman Rai to murder his daughter-in-law, Sparkle Rai. Clark strangled and then stabbed her. Chiman Rai hired Clark for ten-thousand dollar because he did not want a black daughter-in-law. The defense argued that others involved in hiring Clark gave him up to get a deal with the prosecutor and save their own lives.
Sources: Atlanta Journal-Constitution 06/27/08 (2008 WLNR 12097917), 10/12/08 (2008 WLNR 19441349), 08/04/09 (2009 WLNR 15017206).
David Edenfield – White, age 58
Sentenced in Glynn County, Georgia (by a Jeff Davis County jury)
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: March 8-15, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Edenfield sodomized and choked to death Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. (age 6). Edenfield was a convicted child molester. Police found the body of Barrios in a trash bag at a park near the trailer park he was taken.
Sources: AP DataStream 10/7/09 – 01:47:10; The Florida Times-Union 10/11/09 (2009 WLNR 20071226), 01/29/10 (2010 WLNR 1953793), 03/21/10 (2010 WLNR 5911450), 08/04/10 (2010 WLNR 15461810).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: March 8-15, 2004
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Edenfield sodomized and choked to death Christopher Michael Barrios Jr. (age 6). Edenfield was a convicted child molester. Police found the body of Barrios in a trash bag at a park near the trailer park he was taken.
Sources: AP DataStream 10/7/09 – 01:47:10; The Florida Times-Union 10/11/09 (2009 WLNR 20071226), 01/29/10 (2010 WLNR 1953793), 03/21/10 (2010 WLNR 5911450), 08/04/10 (2010 WLNR 15461810).
Michael Ledford – White, age 43
Sentenced in Paulding County, Georgia
By: a jury
Date of crime: July 25, 2006
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Ledford ambushed Jennifer Ewing (age 54) along a bike trail. Ledford dragged Ewing into the bushes and attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she fought back and bit him. Ledford then went into a rage punching her over thirty times, and then stomped on her twice breaking several ribs. Ledford also crushed Ewing’s nose and larynx. Ewing died from suffocation caused by the broken ribs. At the time of the attack Ledford was on probation from an earlier rape. The defense argued that Ledford could not control his anger because of decade of abusing alcohol and a childhood injury. Defense further argued that Ledford had been sexually abused as a child.
Sources: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (GA) 05/12/09 (2009 WLNR 9000769), 05/20/09 (2009 WLNR 9572035), 05/23/09 (2009 WLNR 9829226); AP Alert 05/22/09 – GA 21:33:53
By: a jury
Date of crime: July 25, 2006
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Ledford ambushed Jennifer Ewing (age 54) along a bike trail. Ledford dragged Ewing into the bushes and attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she fought back and bit him. Ledford then went into a rage punching her over thirty times, and then stomped on her twice breaking several ribs. Ledford also crushed Ewing’s nose and larynx. Ewing died from suffocation caused by the broken ribs. At the time of the attack Ledford was on probation from an earlier rape. The defense argued that Ledford could not control his anger because of decade of abusing alcohol and a childhood injury. Defense further argued that Ledford had been sexually abused as a child.
Sources: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (GA) 05/12/09 (2009 WLNR 9000769), 05/20/09 (2009 WLNR 9572035), 05/23/09 (2009 WLNR 9829226); AP Alert 05/22/09 – GA 21:33:53
James Allyson Lee – White, age 19 (re-sentence after appellate review)
Sentenced in Charlton County, Georgia
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: May 26, 1994
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Lee shot his father’s live in girlfriend, Sharon Chancey, in the face. Lee had gone to his father’s home in order to steal his father’s vehicle. When his father was not home he killed Chancey and took a vechicle. Lee was given another sentencing after an appellate court determined that his counsel at trial had not presented enough evidence of his childhood. Evidence included substantial physical abuse.
Sources: The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) 03/15/09 (2009 WLNR 4941916); AP Alert 09/09/09 – GA 22:44:54; Fulton County Daily Report 11/13/09 (2009 WLNR 22775633).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: May 26, 1994
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Lee shot his father’s live in girlfriend, Sharon Chancey, in the face. Lee had gone to his father’s home in order to steal his father’s vehicle. When his father was not home he killed Chancey and took a vechicle. Lee was given another sentencing after an appellate court determined that his counsel at trial had not presented enough evidence of his childhood. Evidence included substantial physical abuse.
Sources: The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) 03/15/09 (2009 WLNR 4941916); AP Alert 09/09/09 – GA 22:44:54; Fulton County Daily Report 11/13/09 (2009 WLNR 22775633).
De’Kelvin Martin – Black, age 29 (re-sentence)
Sentenced in Fulton County, Georgia
By: a jury
Date of crime: October 2002
Prosecution’s case/defense response: (re-sentencing) Martin stabbed to death Travis and Ila Ivery (ages 83 and 77 respectively) and their great-grandson Savion Wright (aged 12). Martin requested threw himself on the mercy of the court at his first trial but was still sentenced to death. Martin appealed his death sentence on the grounds that his only pleaded guilty because he had a deal with the judge to avoid the death penalty. Before the next trial began Martin was then offered life imprisonment. However, as one of the primary witnesses against Martin had died (a statement was read into evidence), Martin refused the offer. Martin was sentenced to death again.
Sources: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (GA) 02/03/09 (2009 WLNR 2001677), 02/12/09 (2009 WLNR 2730899)
By: a jury
Date of crime: October 2002
Prosecution’s case/defense response: (re-sentencing) Martin stabbed to death Travis and Ila Ivery (ages 83 and 77 respectively) and their great-grandson Savion Wright (aged 12). Martin requested threw himself on the mercy of the court at his first trial but was still sentenced to death. Martin appealed his death sentence on the grounds that his only pleaded guilty because he had a deal with the judge to avoid the death penalty. Before the next trial began Martin was then offered life imprisonment. However, as one of the primary witnesses against Martin had died (a statement was read into evidence), Martin refused the offer. Martin was sentenced to death again.
Sources: Atlanta Journal and Constitution (GA) 02/03/09 (2009 WLNR 2001677), 02/12/09 (2009 WLNR 2730899)