Death Row Inmates | My Crime Library

Randy Gay Arkansas Death Row

Randy Gay was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for the murder of a woman. According to court documents Randy Gay, who had already been convicted twice of murder, would fatally shoot the victim, Connie Snow, and dumped her body in a forest. Randy Gay was convicted and sentenced to death. Randy Gay had previously murdered his father and his father in law

Arkansas Death Row Inmate List

Randy Gay 2021 Information

ADC Number 000980

Name: Gay, Randy W

Race CAUCASIAN Sex MALE Hair Color BROWN Eye Color BROWN

Height 72 inches Weight 178 lbs.

Birth Date 09/01/1958

Initial Receipt Date 01/20/2012

Facility Varner Supermax

Randy Gay More News

According to a Garland County Circuit Clerk, Randy Gay has been sentenced to death.

The sentencing phase started on Wednesday after the jury convicted him Tuesday of capital murder for the death of Connie Snow.

Prosecutors say Gay shot and killed Snow in 2011, and left her body in the Ouachita National Forest. Gay was previously convicted for killing his father-in-law in 1978 and his father in the early 90’s.

https://www.thv11.com/article/news/local/randy-gay-sentenced-to-death-in-murder-trial/91-189304288

Robert Holland Arkansas Death Row

Robert Holland was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for a prison murder. According to court documents Robert Holland was serving a life sentence for murder and refused to take a cellmate. The prison would discipline him for this so Holland agreed to have a cellmate. Twelve hours after the cellmate moved in Robert Holland would fashion a noose and murder the victim, Matthew Scheile. Robert Holland would be convicted and sentenced to death.

Arkansas Death Row Inmate List

Robert Holland 2021 Information

ADC Number 000977

Name: Holland, Robert J

Race CAUCASIAN Sex MALE Hair Color BROWN Eye Color BROWN

Height 73 inches Weight 213 lbs.

Birth Date 11/28/1968

Initial Receipt Date 11/12/1991

Facility Varner Supermax

Robert Holland More News

After deliberating just 30 minutes Thursday, a Lincoln County jury sentenced a prison inmate already serving a sentence of life without parole to death in the slaying of another inmate.

Robert Holland, now 45, was convicted of capital murder in the Dec. 2, 2012, death of Matthew Scheile, 22, in a cell in the east building at Cummins Prison.

Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter said Friday that because the death of Scheile was “so premeditated,” the state decided to give the jury the option of imposing the death penalty, which they did.

According to the State Police investigation, Holland, who was convicted of capital murder in Union County in 1991, was housed in a two-man cell at the prison and had previously refused to accept a cellmate, which resulted in disciplinary actions. Holland finally agreed to allow another person in the cell with him, and Scheile was killed about 12 hours after he was put in the cell with Holland.

Hunter said Holland waited until Scheile was asleep before making a noose out of a bed sheet and strangling Scheile, and when Holland was questioned, he admitted the crime.

Hunter said jury selection, which began Tuesday, took two days before a jury of seven women and five men were seated, and the trial itself was completed in one day.

The jury took about 20 minutes to find Holland guilty of capital murder.

Hunter said the death penalty was the first that has been imposed in the 11th West Judicial District since Kenneth Williams was sentenced to death in the 1999 death of Cecil Boren outside Cummins Prison after Williams had escaped from prison. Williams is still on death row.

“The legislature is going to have to fix the execution procedures before anybody is executed,” Hunter said.

Hunter and Chief Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Juneau represented the state, while John Cone and Rebekah Kennedy of the Public Defender’s Office represented Holland. Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. presided at the trial.

Jerry Lard Arkansas Death Row

Jerry Lard was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for the murder of a police officer. According to court documents Jerry Lard was pulled over by Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt. When the Officer approached the car Jerry Lard would shoot him in the head, Lard would get out of his car shooting the officer twice more before grabbing the Officers gun to fire the last shot. Jerry Lard would be convicted and sentenced to death.

Arkansas Death Row Inmate List

Jerry Lard 2021 Information

ADC Number 000976

Name: Lard, Jerry D

Race CAUCASIAN Sex MALE Hair Color BROWN Eye Color BLUE

Height 64 inches Weight 234 lbs.

Birth Date 03/13/1974

Initial Receipt Date 07/30/2012

Facility Varner Supermax

Jerry Lard More News

A convicted cop killer has been sentenced to death.

A jury has sentenced Jerry Lard to death in the shooting death of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt. Three hours into their deliberations, jurors agreed on the death penalty for Jerry Lard.

The father of fallen Trumann officer Jonathan Schmidt says the last two weeks have been difficult.

“It’s been extremely difficult for both families to endure such pain that we’d endured,” said Donald Schmidt, Sr. “It’s closure. It’s been a long time coming. We can start healing now,” he added.

Minutes after Jerry Lard was sentenced to death, Schmidt said the jury sent a message.

“If anybody out there ever wants to assassinate or murder an innocent officer, the great people of this state will stand up to them,” Schmidt said.

Andrea Schmidt, wife of officer Jonathan Schmidt said she was glad the trial is over, adding, “I still miss Jonathan every day. He’s never going to come back.”

During the trial, the Schmidt family tearfully told the jury about what life has been like without Jonathan, a man the community of Trumann hails a hero.

Jonathan died April 13, 2011.

Prosecutors presented evidence that he was shot four times. The fourth, fatal shot, fired with his own gun at close range.

Saturday, the family says justice was served.

“We’ve all lost in this situation. There’s not a winner,” said Andrea Schmidt.

Shortly after the sentence was handed down, both families consoled each other. Expressing sympathy for what had happened.

“I understand that they lost a son,” said Ricky Lard. “I think and pray for that family every day since this happened.”

https://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/19139197/lard-sentenced-to-death/

Brandon Lacy Arkansas Death Row

Brandon Lacy was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for the murder of a man. According to court documents Brandon Lacy and Broderick Laswell would rob the victim Randall Walker in 2007. Walker would be stabbed to death by a fire poker and set on fire. Broderick Laswell would receive a life sentence and Brandon Lacy would be sentenced to death.

Arkansas Death Row Inmate List

Brandon Lacy 2021 Information

ADC Number 000973

Name:Lacy, Brandon E

Race CAUCASIAN Sex MALE Hair Color BROWN Eye Color BLUE

Height 71 inches Weight 192 lbs.

Birth Date 01/01/1979

Initial Receipt Date 05/14/2009

Facility Varner Supermax

Brandon Lacy More News

Death row inmate Brandon Lacy on Thursday lost his appeal to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which considered his case for the fourth time.

The high court ruled 6-1 to not set aside precedent and consider the cumulative effect of all the alleged errors in Lacy’s trial. Instead, the justices found that no single error did enough harm to require overturning his death sentence.

Lacy, a 37-year-old from Rogers, was convicted of robbing and killing 47-year-old Randall Walker in 2007. Police found Walker’s body burned and determined that the victim had been beaten and stabbed with a fire poker.

Lacy and another man convicted in the killing, Broderick Laswell, made off with $20 and a handgun from Walker’s home, according to court records.

Laswell is serving a sentence of life without parole at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys. Lacy is incarcerated on death row at the Varner Supermax prison near Grady.

In prior appeals to the court, Lacy had argued that he should be permitted to present evidence of his brain damage and mental defect, and that he should get a new sentencing hearing after his original attorney claimed that closing arguments were “one of the worst” that attorney had ever delivered.

Lacy’s latest attorney, Michael Kaiser, said Thursday he was preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, officials in Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s office said they would not seek to immediately begin the process of scheduling an execution.

“This moves us one step closer to justice for Randy Walker and his family,” a spokesman for Rutledge said in an email. “We are confident that the federal courts will likewise reject any challenge Lacy may try to bring in that forum.”

Kaiser said he plans on appealing to the U.S. justices before the Arkansas court issues its mandate. This action would delay any setting of an execution date.

If the U.S. Supreme Court declines Lacy’s petition, Kaiser said federal appeals will begin, but the state could begin scheduling an execution.

“At that point, the book is kind of closed on the state round of appeals,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser said the case was ripe for appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court because of a split in how courts around the country consider “cumulative” errors in the trial and sentencing phases. Arkansas does not recognize cumulative-error arguments.

“That little difference in opinions has massive implications for defendants,” Kaiser said.

A dissent by Justice Josephine Hart did not mention the cumulative-error principle but determined that Lacy’s representation at trial had been defective.

Lacy is one of 29 men on Arkansas’ death row. One other inmate, Don Davis, has completed his state appeals and his lawyers are preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/18/high-court-rejects-death-row-appeal-201/

Zachariah Marcyniuk Arkansas Death Row

Zachariah Marcyniuk was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for the murder of a woman. According to court documents Zachariah Marcyniuk was upset with the victim Katie Wood for ending their relationship. Zachariah Marcyniuk would break into the woman’s apartment where he would brutally stab the woman to death before leaving her body in the bathtub. Zachariah Marcyniuk was soon arrested, convicted and stabbed to death

Arkansas Death Row Inmate List

Zachariah Marcyniuk 2021 Information

ADC Number 000972

Name: Marcyniuk, Zachariah S

Race CAUCASIAN Sex MALE Hair Color BROWN Eye Color BROWN

Height 68 inches Weight 150 lbs.

Birth Date 05/21/1979

Initial Receipt Date 12/12/2008

Facility Varner Supermax

Zachariah Marcyniuk More News

Convicted murderer Zachariah Scott Marcyniuk got an appointed attorney for his post-conviction appeal Friday, but not before deputies dragged him out of the courtroom as he tried to speak with his victim’s father and mother.

Marcyniuk, 31, was sentenced to die by lethal injection for the murder of Katie Wood. Marcyniuk attacked Wood, beating and stabbing her to death in 2007.

“I didn’t kill her on purpose. I know you know that,” a seated and shackled Marcyniuk turned and told Wood’s parents, who were in the courtroom waiting for the hearing to begin. “I never got a chance to tell you that in person.”

Two Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies grabbed Marcyniuk, who was wearing prison whites, and quickly escorted him out of the courtroom to a holding cell. Wood’s parents, who had driven from Greenbriar, left the courtroom and listened to the hearing from another location.

Marcyniuk was in Washington County Circuit Court for a mandatory hearing to explain his rights and make sure he has an attorney.

As Circuit Judge William Storey tried to explain the reason for the hearing, Marcyniuk argued he needed an attorney first.

“I don’t think I should be in here until I have an attorney to tell me what’s going on,” Marcyniuk told Storey.

Storey patiently explained he was going to appoint Marcyniuk an attorney if he did not have one. Storey asked if he had an attorney or assets to hire one.

“I’ve been in a room for the last year and a half. I’ve been in a concrete room 23-hours-a-day,” Marcyniuk said. “I have no assets whatsoever.”

Storey then appointed the Arkansas Public Defender’s Commission to represent Marcyniuk during his appeal.

“How many people have you sentenced to death?” Marcyniuk asked Storey. “I’m just curious, more than 10?”

As Marcyniuk began explaining again he didn’t kill Wood with premeditation or deliberation, Storey adjourned the hearing and Marcyniuk was again taken out of the courtroom to be returned to death row at the Arkansas Department of Correction.

Wood was a 24-year-old University of Arkansas student. She and Marcyniuk dated for a time and she wanted to move on.

Marcyniuk broke into Wood’s Fayetteville apartment in the early hours of March 9, 2007, and laid in wait for her to come home. Wood was attacked when she opened her front door. The key was broken off in the lock, her purse and one of her shoes were outside when police arrived.

Marcyniuk dragged Wood inside her apartment and killed her. Then he dragged Wood’s body to the bathtub and fled.

Wood had more than 40 wounds on her arms, head and body from the attack and bled to death. Stab wounds in her abdomen were from 4 to 7 inches deep, after cutting through her thick coat. Her aorta was sliced in two.

Before he left, Marcyniuk pulled the shower curtain closed, locked all the doors, took the knife and crawled back out the window before police arrived minutes later. He fled the state after dropping off his dog at his parents house near Winslow. He was in western Oklahoma when a trooper stopped him for speeding and discovered Marcyniuk was wanted for murder.

Marcyniuk’s December 2008 capital murder conviction and resulting death sentence was upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court in May. Judges said there was ample evidence for a jury to believe Marcyniuk acted deliberately and with premeditation.

The high court earlier this month refused Marcyniuk’s request for a rehearing on that finding. A mandate was then issued. After a mandate has been issued, a convicted murderer can begin challenging the way his attorneys handled his case.

After state appeals are exhausted, there are appeals to the federal courts. In the federal appeals process, claims must be based on constitutional issues or violations.

The appeals process in Arkansas has averaged more than a decade, according to prison officials.

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2010/aug/21/murderer-tries-talk-victims-parents/