Roger Wheeler was sentenced to death by the State of Kentucky for a double murder. According to court documents Roger Wheeler who was on parole for a series of robberies would stab the two victims to death inside of their home. Nigel Malone and Nairobi Warfield were stabbed using a pair of scissors. Nairobi was pregnant at the time. Roger Wheeler would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): ?
DEATH SENTENCE
Parole Eligibility Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Location:
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Age:
60
Race:
Black
Gender:
M
Eye Color:
Brown
Hair Color:
Black
Height:
5′ 9 “
Weight:
195
Roger Wheeler More News
While on parole for 10 counts of robbery I, Wheeler killed Nigel Malone and Nairobi Warfield. Both of the victims were stabbed multiple times. When detectives arrived at the scene they discovered the murder weapon, a pair of scissor, still in the neck of one of the victims and a blood trail leading from the victims to the street. Blood samples collected at the scene matched Wheeler’s blood.
Roger Wheeler Other News
On the morning of October 2, 1997, the bodies of Nigel Malone and Nairobi Warfield were discovered inside the apartment they shared in Louisville, Kentucky. Malone was discovered laying in a pool of blood in the hallway of the apartment. He had been stabbed nine times. Warfield was found in a bedroom, leaning against a wall and covered with a blanket, with a pair of scissors protruding from her neck. She had been beaten and strangled to death. An autopsy later revealed that she was pregnant.
Wheeler became a suspect just hours after the bodies were discovered. He initially claimed that he did not visit Malone and Warfield’s apartment the night of the murders. However, after DNA testing of blood swabs recovered at the murder scene confirmed the presence of Wheeler’s blood on the bedroom sheets, bedroom telephone, and thigh of Nairobi Warfield, Wheeler changed his story. At trial, he testified that he went to the apartment to deliver crack cocaine and was attacked by the real murderer, a man dressed in Army fatigues and wearing a Halloween mask.
The jury rejected Wheeler’s story. He was found guilty of two counts of intentional murder and sentenced to death. Wheeler took a direct appeal as a matter of right to the Supreme Court of Kentucky where he raised 28 issues for review. The Kentucky Supreme Court entered a final opinion that affirmed Wheeler’s conviction and death sentence on December 18, 2003. See Wheeler v. Commonwealth, 121 S.W.3d 173 (Ky. 2003).
William Thompson was sentenced to death by the State of Kentucky for the murder of a prison guard. According to court documents William Thompson was serving a life sentence for a contract killing at Western Kentucky Farm Center in Graves County on March 18, 1998 when he would strike Correctional Guard Fred Cash repeatedly with a hammer causing his death. William Thompson would be convicted and sentenced to death.
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): ?
DEATH SENTENCE
Parole Eligibility Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Location:
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Age:
69
Race:
White
Gender:
M
Eye Color:
Green
Hair Color:
Brown
Height:
5′ 10″
Weight:
167
William Thompson More News
Thompson was sentenced to death on March 18, 1998 in Graves County. Thompson entered a plea of guilty on January 12, 1995, to the following charges: capital murder, robbery in the 1st degree, and escape in the 1st degree, which occurred on May 9, 1986. Thompson, of Pike County, Kentucky, was sentenced to life for the 1986 murder of Correctional Officer Fred Cash at the Western Kentucky Farm Center in Graves County on March 18, 1998. Thompson was currently serving a life sentence at the Western Kentucky Farm Center for the offense of willful murder for hire in Pike County. While working with an inmate crew at the dairy, Thompson struck Correction Officer Fred Cash repeatedly in the head with a hammer, dragged the body into a barn stall, and fled n the prison farm van. Police arrested Thompson in a bus station on his way to Indiana. Thompson was convicted and sentenced to death in October 1986 in Lyon County, but seven years later the state Supreme Court threw out the conviction and ordered a new trial. Thompson also won a change of venue from Lyon County to Graves County.
William Thompson Other News
In 1986, Thompson, having served 12 years of a life sentence for an unrelated murder for hire, killed his prison-farm supervisor, stole his possessions, and fled. Thompson was captured and convicted of murder, robbery, and escape. Thompson was granted a retrial on direct appeal, then pleaded guilty to all three counts to avoid jury sentencing. A state court held that Commonwealth was entitled to jury sentencing despite the plea agreement. The jury returned a death-penalty verdict. In state post-conviction proceedings, Thompson succeeded on his claim that the trial court had failed to hold a mandatory competency hearing but was unsuccessful on his other claims for relief. After the trial court held the required competency hearing and found that Thompson had been competent to plead guilty, the Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Thompson’s convictions and sentences. The Sixth Circuit affirmed denial of Thompson’s federal habeas corpus petition raising claims that the jury improperly considered extraneous evidence when it discussed a news account about another violent criminal who had committed a murder after earning parole at age 70; that jury instructions violated the Supreme Court’s 1988 holding, Mills v. Maryland, because they stated that the “verdict” had to be returned unanimously but did not expressly state that unanimity was not required for a juror to find a mitigating factor; and the Kentucky Supreme Court did not adequately conduct a comparative-proportionality review in assessing whether Thompson’s death sentence was excessive or disproportionate.
Victor Taylor was sentenced to death by the State of Kentucky for a double murder. According to court documents Victor Taylor was responsible for what is known as the Trinity Murders. Victor Taylor would kidnap two students from Trinity High School. The two victims, Dewayne Taylor and George Ellis Wade, were brought to a vacant load where one of the students was sexually assaulted before the pair were fatally shot. Victor Taylor would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): ?
DEATH SENTENCE
Parole Eligibility Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Location:
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Age:
60
Race:
Black
Gender:
M
Eye Color:
Brown
Hair Color:
Black
Height:
5′ 10″
Weight:
179
Victor Taylor More News
Taylor was sentenced to death on May 23, 1986 in Jefferson County for kidnapping, robbery, sodomy, and murder. On September 29, 1984, Taylor and another man kidnapped at gunpoint two high school students, Scott Nelson and Richard Stephenson, in Louisville, Kentucky. The men took the boys to a vacant
Victor Taylor Other News
Taylor and codefendant George Wade were charged with the murders, kidnapping and robbery of two high school students. The prosecution presented evidence in the form of a statement by Wade which indicated that he and Taylor kidnapped and robbed the two students who had gotten lost on their way to a football game. The young men had stopped at a fast food restaurant to ask directions when they were confronted by Taylor and Wade. Other witnesses indicated that Taylor had a *74 gun and forced the victims to get into their car and drive away. Wade in his statement said that he and Taylor robbed the boys and that he had removed both boys trousers, bound their ankles and gagged them in a Louisville alley. Wade’s statement was that Taylor decided to kill the two victims because he was afraid they would identify them. Wade said he waited on a nearby street while Taylor shot both boys in the head.
Upon a change of venue both Taylor and Wade were tried in Lexington. Wade was tried separately and found guilty of two counts of murder, kidnapping, first-degree robbery, but was acquitted of sodomy. The jury recommended sentences of fifteen years on the robbery, twenty-two years on the kidnapping and life imprisonment on the murders. All sentences were to run concurrently, and Wade was sentenced to a total of life imprisonment.
At Taylor’s trial Wade, who was tried first, cited his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and refused to testify. His edited confession was admitted against Taylor.
Vincent Stopher was sentenced to death by the State of Kentucky for the murder of a police officer. According to court documents Deputy Sheriff Gregory Hans went to the home of Vincent and a struggle ensued where Stopher would disarm the victim and fatally shoot him. Vincent Stopher was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): ?
DEATH SENTENCE
Parole Eligibility Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Location:
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Age:
48
Race:
White
Gender:
M
Eye Color:
Green
Hair Color:
Brown
Height:
6′ 01″
Weight:
200
Vincent Stopher More News
Stopher was sentenced to death on March 23, 1998 in Jefferson County. On March 10, 1997 in Jefferson County, Deputy Sheriff Gregory Hans was dispatched to the home of Vincent and Kathleen Becker. A struggle occurred whereby Stopher obtained Hans’ 9mm pistol and shot Deputy Sheriff Hans.
Vincent Stopher Other News
On March 10, 1997, Deputy Hans responded to a call made to the Louisville Police Department concerning a disturbance at Appellant’s home. When Deputy Hans arrived at the location, Appellant approached the police cruiser and began striking Hans. Deputy Hans attempted to defend himself but Appellant pinned him to the seat of the cruiser with the result that Deputy Hans’ left hand and arm were trapped beneath his body. Appellant unholstered Deputy Hans’ handgun, pressed the barrel of the gun into Hans’ face, and pulled the trigger. Immediately thereafter, Appellant got out of the police cruiser and pointed the gun at a witness, Steve Porter. Porter, afraid he was about to be shot, dropped to his knees and raised his hands. Appellant pulled the trigger, however, the gun jammed and would not fire. At this time, other officers arrived on the scene and apprehended Appellant. Witnesses stated that Appellant was enraged and shouted that he hoped the officer had died. Four officers were required to wrestle Appellant to the ground and handcuff him. While the officers were struggling with Appellant, he grabbed another officer’s weapon and attempted to fire it.
Following an extensive and highly publicized trial, Appellant was found guilty of intentional murder and was sentenced to death.
David Sanders was sentenced to death by the State of Kentucky for a double murder during a robbery. According to court documents David Sanders would shoot and kill the two vicitms, Jim Brandenburg and Wayne Hatch, during a grocery store robbery.
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): ?
DEATH SENTENCE
Parole Eligibility Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date:
DEATH SENTENCE
Location:
Kentucky State Penitentiary
Age:
60
Race:
White
Gender:
M
Eye Color:
Green
Hair Color:
Brown
Height:
6′ 0 “
Weight:
231
David Sanders More News
Sanders was sentenced to death on June 5, 1987 in Madison County for the murders of Jim Brandenburg and Wayne Hatch on January 28, 1987 in Madison County, Kentucky, during a grocery store robbery.
David Sanders Other News
On January 28, 1987, David Sanders walked into Boone Variety Store to buy a few items and to use the phone. He called his parents to find out if he needed to help his father work on a barn that day—he did—then called his wife to let her know that he would be helping his father and spending the night with his parents. Finished with his business in the store, he walked outside to his truck, retrieved two guns, and reentered the store. He shot and killed the proprietor, James Brandenburg, and a customer, Wayne Hatch. Sanders killed both men with a single shot to the back of the head. Sanders got in his truck and went home, tossing some of Hatch’s items out of the window and off of a bridge along the way.
On January 31, Kentucky State Police Detectives Skip Benton and Robert Stephens, along with Madison County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Smith, drove to Flemingsburg, Kentucky, to question Sanders—the first of several police interrogations. They interrogated David Sanders about the Madison County murders and a similar shooting that occurred a few weeks before in Lincoln County. Sanders steadfastly denied killing Brandenburg and Hatch or having any part in the Lincoln County shooting. Sanders admitted that he did drive to Madison County that afternoon and showed Detective Benton where he parked the day of the murders. Later that day, Detective Benton had Sanders’ truck taken to the state police post in Madison County to be searched for evidence.
On February 2, David Sanders and his wife called the Kentucky State Police to see when the truck would be released. Detective Benton told them that it could be released to someone whose name was on the Bill of Sale. Sanders went to retrieve the truck that evening. Upon Sanders’ arrival at the state police post, Detective Benton Mirandized him and, along with Stephens and Smith, interrogated him again. They arrested Sanders between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. that night and put him in the drunk tank.
Before long, David Sanders began to break down. He started hitting his head against the wall and would later report that he wanted to kill himself. He finally told one of the jailors to find Detective Benton. When Benton arrived early the next morning, Sanders confessed to killing Brandenburg and Hatch. Sanders also admitted to the Lincoln County shooting.
A grand jury indicted David Sanders on two charges of capital murder and two charges of first-degree robbery. Sanders retained Kevin Charters as defense counsel. Two weeks after his arrest, Sanders asked for psychiatric help; so the court sent him to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center (“KCPC”) for evaluation. Though Sanders requested treatment for his neurological health, the court directed KCPC to also evaluate whether Sanders was competent to stand trial and whether he had been insane when he committed the murders. After a forty-day evaluation by a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, the KCPC concluded that Sanders was competent to stand trial and was not insane at the time of the murders. In late May, a week before Sanders’ trial, he secured the pro bono services of Dr. Stuart Cooke, a clinical psychologist. Dr. Cooke spent an afternoon evaluating Sanders and concluded that Sanders was insane when he shot Brandenburg and Hatch.
Sanders’ trial took place during the first week of June 1987. He offered insanity as his sole defense. During the Commonwealth’s case-in-chief, Detective Benton testified about his interrogations of Sanders, including Sanders’ inconsistent stories and confession. He also testified about the similarities between the Lincoln County and Madison County shootings. A firearms examiner testified that the bullet removed from Brandenburg and the bullet removed from the Lincoln County victim, Ethel Rankin, were fired from the same gun—a gun Sanders admitted he borrowed from his brother.
The Commonwealth called Sanders’ wife to testify. She detailed Sanders’ actions the morning of the shooting, recounted some of his past, and declared that he was a good father to her two children. She insisted that he would not hurt anyone and said that their marriage had been happy. She also described two incidents where Sanders hit her—she said that she provoked him and that he felt awful for doing it.
Sanders testified in his own defense. He admitted that he killed Brandenburg and Hatch and shot Rankin. He recounted the events of both shootings, testifying that he felt like he was watching himself commit the crimes from outside his own body.
Dr. Cooke also testified for the defense. Dr. Cooke concluded that Sanders had a depersonalization disorder—a disorder where a person feels like he has lost control over his own body. He believed that this illness prevented Sanders from conforming his conduct to the law.
In rebuttal, the Commonwealth presented testimony from Dr. Candace Walker, the clinical psychologist who led the KCPC evaluation team. She described the evaluation and presented the team’s findings. Though Sanders had some type of personality disorder, Walker concluded, he was not insane. She said that the team considered but quickly rejected Dr. Cooke’s diagnosis. Throughout the KCPC’s extensive evaluation, Walker’s team could not find evidence of psychosis or the type of mental illness that would prevent Sanders from understanding the criminality of his conduct. In Walker’s opinion, Sanders showed no remorse and was motivated by a desire for money.
The jury found Sanders guilty on both counts of murder and on both counts of robbery. The penalty phase of trial was short; the Commonwealth moved and the court agreed to incorporate all of the guilt-phase evidence into the sentencing phase. Sanders presented a total of about ten minutes of mitigation testimony from four witnesses. Sanders also took the stand himself. He cried throughout his eight-minute statement, stated he did not understand what happened or why, and blamed the KCPC for not giving him the help he needed. After the close of evidence and arguments, the jury found two aggravating circumstances supporting a death sentence: (1) the murders were committed during the course of a robbery, and (2) the murders were intentional and resulted in multiple deaths. The jury recommended and the court imposed a sentence of death.
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