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Harry Nicks Alabama Death Row

Harry Nicks was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for the murder of a man during a robbery. According to court documents Harry Nicks would force two employees of a pawn shop to lie on the floor after robbing the store. Harry Nicks would shoot both of the employees in the back of the head. The man, Robert Back, would die from his injuries however the woman would survive. Harry Nicks would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Harry Nicks 2021 Information

Inmate:	NICKS, HARRY
AIS:	0000Z444

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Harry Nicks More News

This case arises out of an incident which occurred on March 5, 1983, in the Bessemer Pawn Shop at 315 N. 19th Street, Bessemer, Alabama. The pawn shop was owned and operated by Robert and Isadore Back. At approximately 2:30 p.m., a black male entered the shop. He was wearing a red vinyl jacket, blue jeans, and a clear plastic shower cap on his head. He had acne scars on the right side of his face. He was carrying a red canvas tote bag which had a white shoulder strap. Robert Back and an employee, Debra Lynn Love, were in the shop at the time. The man approached Back and said, “Man, I need some money. I got to get out of town quick.” He then pulled a pistol from the tote bag, pointed it at Back, and told Love not to move. Back took money from a cash drawer and put it in the tote bag. The robber demanded more money. He demanded “big bucks,” and continuously called Back a “god damned old man” and “mother fucking old man.” He threatened to kill Back and pulled a second pistol from the bag. Back took money from a second cash drawer and put it in the bag. The robber demanded more money. He wanted “big bucks” and “big bills.” He ordered Love to lie on the floor and she complied. Back opened the cash drawer in the safe and handed more money to the robber and told him, “This is all I have.” The robber ordered Back to lie next to Love on the floor. As Back and Love lay face down on the floor, the robber fired three shots. One shot entered the back of Love’s head; one entered the back of Back’s head, penetrating his brain; and one went into a rubber mat on the floor. Back either died instantly or in a matter of minutes from the bullet wound to his head; however, the bullet fired into Love’s head lodged in her skull and she survived. As soon as Love heard the robber leave the shop, she telephoned the police, giving them a detailed description of the robber. *1021 Subsequently, Love identified appellant, in two lineups conducted by the police, as the person who robbed the pawn shop and shot Back and her. She also made a positive in-court identification of appellant.

Venita Bishop was working as a cashier in a nearby store on the date of the incident. She observed a black male, fitting the description of the robber, in her store around 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. Subsequently, she identified appellant, in a lineup, as the person she observed in the store where she worked on the day of the incident. She also made a positive in-court identification of appellant.

A firearms expert determined that two of the bullets fired by the robber were .22 caliber and fired from the same gun. The two pistols displayed by the robber were never found. The autopsy performed on Back’s body disclosed stippling, or powder burns, around the wound to the back of his head, indicating that the pistol from which the shot was fired was very close to his head, probably within two inches.

Harry Nicks did not testify in his own behalf during the guilt phase of the trial. He called only two witnesses: Dr. Clifford B. Hardin, a psychiatrist, and Gordon Burkhead, his landlord, in support of his insanity plea.

https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/1987/521-so-2d-1018-0.html

William Bush Alabama Death Row

William Bush was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for a murder committed during a robbery. According to court documents William Bush and Edward Pringle would enter a convenience store to commit a robbery. Once inside of the store William Bush would shoot two men who were working in the store. One of the men would die from his injuries. William Bush and Edward Pringle would go to another store where another clerk was shot and killed. William Bush would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

William Bush 2021 Information

Inmate:	BUSH, WILLIAM
AIS:	0000Z412

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

William Bush More News

The state presented evidence showing that around 3:00 a.m., on July 26, 1981, William Bush and a companion, Edward Lewis Pringle,[2] entered a Majik Market convenience store on Carter Hill Road in Montgomery, Alabama. When they entered, two people were in the store: Larry Dominguez, the store clerk, and his friend, Tony Holmes. Dominguez was in the restroom. Appellant pointed a pistol at Holmes and forced him toward the restroom at the rear of the store. When Dominguez opened the restroom door, appellant shot both Dominguez and Holmes with the pistol. Appellant then returned to the front of the store and attempted to open the cash register. Dominguez stumbled out of the restroom, and appellant shot him again. Appellant took two bags of “zodiac sign tags” from the store and departed. The first shot striking Dominguez passed through his chin, lodging in his neck and severing a large artery. The second shot striking Dominguez entered his right shoulder and passed through his lungs and heart. He died from the injuries caused by the second shot; however, the injuries sustained as a result of the first shot were potentially fatal. Holmes was shot in the neck and, although seriously injured, survived. He was able to give a description of his assailant and of the getaway automobile. He described the automobile as a 1973 whiteover-green Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

After leaving the Majik Market, appellant and Pringle drove to a Seven-Eleven convenience store on Narrow Lane Road in Montgomery, arriving there sometime prior to 4:00 a.m. Appellant entered the store and purchased a package of cigarettes from the clerk, Thomas Adams. After Adams opened the cash register, appellant forced him into an office area behind the counter and shot him in the head with the same pistol he had used to shoot Dominguez and Holmes. The shot to Adams’s head apparently killed him instantly. Appellant took from $20.00 to $30.00 from the cash register.

Appellant did not testify at the guilt phase or at the sentencing phase of his trial. It is apparent from the arguments of his counsel, cross-examination of the state’s witnesses, and questions asked defense witnesses, that his defense was based upon a theory of mistaken identity. He attempted, in every way possible, to bolster Holmes’s identification of Edward Pringle’s brother, Cornelias Pringle, as the triggerman, while at the same time trying to discredit the testimony of Patricia Pringle, the wife of Edward Lewis Pringle, who testified that appellant had told her that he had shot Dominguez, Holmes, and Adams. He endeavored to point the finger of suspicion *543 at Edward and Cornelias Pringle and away from himself. Cross-examination of the officers and arguments to the jury show an attempt to discredit appellant’s incriminating statements. Appellant attempted to make it appear that the statements had been coerced and that the words in the statements were not appellant’s but the officers’. In other words, the thrust of defense counsel’s argument is that the officers had made up the statements and forced appellant to adopt them as his own. Defense counsel attempted to explain appellant’s knowledge of the whereabouts of the murder weapon by claiming that appellant purchased it from someone on the street after the robbery-murders and prior to the time he was arrested. Counsel based this explanation on an investigator’s testimony that appellant had told him that he had purchased the pistol after the crimes had been committed.

https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/1988/523-so-2d-538-0.html

Donnie Abernathy Alabama Death Row

Donnie Abernathy was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for the murders of three women. According to court documents Donnie Abernathy was upset over a child custody matter would go to the home of his ex girlfriend and opened fire killing three women: Sylvia Duffy, 71, her sister Clara Edwards, 68, and Edwards’ daughter, Pamela O’Shel, 48. Donnie Abernathy would kidnap a fourth woman after shooting a man at the residence who would survive his injuries. Donnie Abernathy would be involved in a car chase with police that ended shortly after it started. Donnie would be arrested and the woman was saved. Donnie Abernathy would be convicted and sentenced to death.

Donnie Abernathy 2021 Information

Inmate:	ABERNATHY, DONNIE LEE
AIS:	0000Z818

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Donnie Abernathy More News

A Cherokee County man has been convicted on two counts of capital murder, attempted murder, criminal mischief and attempting to elude following a trial held this week in Cherokee County District Court.

Donnie Lee Abernathy is charged in the killing of three women and the wounding of a man back in November of 2015 at a residence in the Round Mountain Community of Cherokee County.

Abernathy shot and killed the victims and forcefully took his ex girlfriend Jerrica Hamilton from the residence and attempted to elude officers before crashing his Ford Mustang a short time later.

Jerrica Hamiltion told investigators that Abernathy came into the house shot and killed all three victims and then kidnapped her, just prior to eluding police, Donnie Abernathy then told Hamilton to place a 911 call and tell them that everything was ok and that if she did not do so he would kill her and she would never see her child again.

Cherokee County, Alabama Man Convicted In Triple Homicide

Donnie Abernathy Other News

A Centre man has been sentenced to death, in connection with slayings that occurred back in November of 2015 here in Cherokee County.

Donnie Lee Abernathy has been sentenced to death by lethal injection with the order being handed down Monday (November 29th) by Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Andrew J. Hairston.

hat was District Attorney Mike O’Dell from a conversation WEIS Radio had with him just over a month ago following Abernathy’s conviction.

He went on to say Hamilton informed investigators that Abernathy entered the home on County Road 664 in an isolated area of the Round Mountain community, where he shot the victims before forcing her into his car and fleeing the scene.

Law Enforcement was able to take Abernathy into custody, after he lost control of the car and crashed.

The death sentence comes from the two counts of Capital Murder that Abernathy was facing. The date of execution will be set by the Alabama Supreme Court. Additionally Abernathy was given time for convictions on three other charges: Attempted Murder, Attempting to Elude and Criminal Mischief 1st Degree.

We’ll continue to follow the case and will also announce when the execution date has been set.

Donnie Abernathy News

Michael Iervolino Alabama Death Row

Michael Iervolino was sentenced to death by the State of Alabama for the murder of a man. According to court documents Michael Iervolino would fatally shoot Nicholas Sloan Harmon inside of his vehicle. The victim who was the son of St Clair County District Attorney was driving home from his girlfriends home. Michael Iervolino would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death,

Michael Iervolino 2021 Information

Inmate:	IERVOLINO, MICHAEL DALE
AIS:	0000Z817

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Michael Iervolino More News

Michael Dale Iervolino has been found guilty of two counts of capital murder for the shooting death of Nicholas Sloan Harmon.

A jury found Iervolino guilty Monday after almost an hour-long deliberation after both the prosecution and defense gave their closing statements Monday morning.

Harmon, the 20-year-old son of St. Clair County District Attorney Lyle Harmon, was fatally shot while returning home from his girlfriend’s apartment in Moody on Nov 5, 2019.

Irvolino had been charged with two counts of capital murder, one stating that Iervolino fatally shot the younger Harmon from inside of a vehicle,and the other stating that he fatally shot Harmon while Harmon was in a vehicle.

Iervolino has also been charged with stealing a white Chevrolet work truck from the Best Western in Moody before the shooting, charges he pled guilty to Nov. 1.

Monday began with closing statements from the prosecution, Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens and Chief Assistant District Attorney Christina Kilgore, who were prosecuting the case after the entire St. Clair District Attorney’s office recused themselves.

Kilgore said the case came down to two men, Harmon and Iervolino, who made very different choices in their lives and how Iervolino’s choices changed both their lives. She went through Iervolino’s actions that day including borrowing a Hi Point 9mm from a man named Jacob Wilson and stealing the truck. She also pointed to testimony from Dylon Stewart, who was with Iervolino before and after the shooting that night, saying that Iervolino said he had shot someone that night.

Kilgore also pointed to several witnesses who said they either saw Irvolino in possession of the Hi Point pistol or that he had admitted to shooting a gun while inside the truck. She also pointed to expert testimony that said four shell casings found in the truck matched the Hi Point handgun and the projectile recovered from Harmon’s vehicle had marks on it consistent with rifling Hi Point pistol even if the gun had no consistent pattern during test fires by the Alabama Department of Forensics.

Kilgore also showed video from the Sunoco in Moody which showed the work truck with Iervolino inside passing Harmon’s Mazda 3 as it turned onto Kelly Creek Road, where the prosecution argued the shooting took place.

She said while the case was about Iervolino’s choices that night, ultimately the jury had the final say in the case.

“You get to make the decisions today,” Kilgore told the jury before ending her closing.

Defense Attorney Bill Barnett said in his closing statement that no one was disputing that Iervolino stole the truck, but that he did not mean he killed Harmon. He said that the bullet could not be matched to the pistol conclusively and was a .38 caliber slug.

During his statement, Barnett proposed an alternate theory of events where another gunman had laid in wait for Harmon on Kelly Creek Road and shot Harmon after he turned, after Iervolino had been on his way. He said the state should be looking for that man not prosecuting Iervolino.

“Don’t just make a fall guy out of somebody who made bad decisions,” Barnett said.

He also pointed to a statement by the prosecution that the shooting had taken place close to Carl Jones Road, which the prosecution objected to, saying they had never said that.

Giddens said in his rebuttal that Barnett was presenting an alternate world not an alternate theory of the case.

“I wonder if he’s been watching the same trial I have,” he began, adding that he found Barnett’s theory ridiculous.

Giddens also pointed out that a 9mm is a .38 caliber round. He ended by asking the jury to see justice done in the case and give some solace to the Harmon family.

“Justice is the hope for those who suffer and it’s the dread for those who’ve done wrong,” he said.

Judge Chad Woodruff said while the guilt portion of the trial has concluded, because the case is a capital offense, it will move into a penalty phase Tuesday morning. Giddens has said previously the state is seeking the death penalty in the case.

https://www.annistonstar.com/the_st_clair_times/stclair_news/verdict-jury-finds-iervolino-guilty-of-two-counts-of-murder-in-harmon-death/article_1a783fb8-3ea8-11ec-b52b-f79a7f111a0b.html

Arthur Jones Alabama Execution

Arthur Jones was executed by the State of Alabama for the murder of a taxi driver. According to court documents Arthur Jones would fatally shoot taxi driver William Hosea Waymon during a robbery. Arthur Jones would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Arthur Jones would be executed by way of the electric chair on March 21 1986

Arthur Jones More News

Inmates shouted and clanged on prison bars today as double murderer Arthur Lee Jones Jr. was led to the electric chair and executed for shooting a 71- year-old cab driver to death during a robbery.

Arthur Jones, 47, who was first arrested 30 years ago and came within 16 hours of execution in 1984, was pronounced dead at 12:15 a.m., seven minutes after a 30-second surge of 1,900 volts passed through his stocky, 5-foot-3 frame.

His face was covered with a black veil that hung from the front of a metal skullcap containing electrodes, and his feet didn’t reach the floor as he sat in the electric chair known as ″Yellow Mama″ for its garish color.

Arthur Jones ″seemed to be thinking and getting control of himself″ as he was led into the death chamber to the sound of inmates shouting and clanging on the bars in Holman Prison, said state Prison Commissioner Freddie Smith.

″He was calm and collected,″ Smith said. ″There was, as we predicted, no last remarks whatsoever.″

Jones, a Muslim who argued that those of his faith don’t steal or kill and that police had framed him for the 1981 slaying of cabbie William Hosea Waymon, was the 53rd person executed since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. He also was under a death sentence for the murder of Vaughn Thompson, 21, during another robbery in 1981.

He was the first person executed in Alabama since 1983, when an execution that took 14 minutes raised calls for changing the method of death.

Jones was executed after after the U.S. Supreme Court refused late Thursday on a 5-4 vote to delay it and Gov. George C. Wallace declined to commute the sentence to life in prison.

Wallace ″prayed extensively about it and read his (Jones’) record and decided not to grant a stay,″ said Smith, who was on the telephone with the governor throughout the execution.

Warden Willie Johnson, 43, a 20-year veteran of the prison system, threw the switch that killed Jones. It was Johnson’s first execution.

″When you’re poor and hired out, you do what’s required of you,″ he said.

John Furman of Mobile, Jones’ attorney and one of the witnesses to the execution, said Jones had lost contact with his relatives but events leading up to the execution had brought some of them together.

Jones spent about eight hours Thursday with two sisters and a female cousin. Smith said Jones spoke briefly by telephone with his estranged wife, whom he did not identify, about 1 1/2 hours before the execution.

He ate a last meal of pink salmon, cole slaw, candied yams, chilled peaches and a grape drink, officials said.

″I believe the state of Alabama has fulfilled a solemn responsibility to its citizens tonight by executing Arthur Lee Jones,″ Attorney General Charles Graddick said. ″Jones was a habitual offender who was given chance after chance to reform.″

Death-penalty opponents rallied Thursday at the Capitol in Montgomery.

https://apnews.com/article/1e8c7580536b34df4a853df73793318c