alabama | My Crime Library

Antonio Jones Alabama Death Row

Antonio Jones was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for the murder of 88 year old Ruth Kirkland. According to court documents Antonio Jones would break into the home of Ruth Kirkland and in the process of robbery would murder the elderly woman. Antonio Jones would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Antonio Jones 2021 Information

Inmate:	JONES, ANTONIO DEVOE
AIS:	0000Z706

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Antonio Jones More News

The State’s evidence tended to show that on the afternoon of December 31, 1999, 80-year-old Ruth Kirkland drove her 1990 white Cadillac automobile to the grocery store to purchase groceries. Mrs. Kirkland, who had lived alone since the death of her husband, was a petite woman, who had suffered a stroke, leaving her with a limp and a weak right arm. As a result of the stroke, Mrs. Kirkland used a walker or a cane to get around. It was generally known in the community that Mrs. Kirkland kept money inside her house.

According to testimony at trial, because of her condition, it took Mrs. Kirkland several trips to carry her groceries inside, and it became dark before she got all her groceries into her house. Because Mrs. Kirkland did not like to be outside after dark, she left the remaining groceries in her car for the night.

Some time later, Antonio Jones went to Mrs. Kirkland’s house, turned off the circuit breakers outside, and went inside. From the evidence, the police were unable to determine whether Jones broke into the house or whether Mrs. Kirkland opened the door to investigate the power failure, allowing Jones to enter unimpeded.

Upon gaining entry to the house, Jones beat and kicked Mrs. Kirkland as she attempted to defend herself. Jones broke Mrs. Kirkland’s wrists as she attempted to ward off his blows. In addition to using his hands and feet to assault Mrs. Kirkland, Jones also used one of Mrs. Kirkland’s walking canes and a broken chair leg to savagely beat Mrs. Kirkland. Splatters of Mrs. Kirkland’s blood were found in various locations and pieces of her broken cane were found in several different rooms.

At some point, Jones dumped the contents of Mrs. Kirkland’s purse on the floor. Mrs. Kirkland kept the keys to her car in her purse. He also searched the house for the money Mrs. Kirkland reportedly kept in her house, ransacking the house, leaving open several drawers and cabinets. Mrs. Kirkland’s body was found near the armoire where she kept her money. Jones took Mrs. Kirkland’s car keys-and possibly other undetermined items-and left Mrs. Kirkland’s house driving her white Cadillac.

That same evening, Linda Parrish, Mrs. Kirkland’s daughter, became concerned when she was unable to contact her mother by telephone. Mrs. Parrish asked her son, Brent Parrish-a Dothan police officer-to go by Mrs. Kirkland’s house and check on her. Officer Parrish arrived at his grandmother’s house shortly before 8:00 p.m. He noticed that no lights were on inside the house and that Mrs. Kirkland’s white Cadillac was missing. As he approached the house, Officer Parrish discovered that the back door was open. Officer Parrish notified the police and waited for help to arrive. When the other officers arrived, the police entered Mrs. Kirkland’s house and discovered her body lying on the floor.

Concluding that Mrs. Kirkland’s assailant had taken her automobile, the police began searching for the white Cadillac. Around 9:00 p.m., an officer spotted a white Cadillac matching the description of Mrs. Kirkland’s. The officer activated his emergency lights, signaling the driver to stop; however, the driver failed to stop. The officer requested assistance, and several other patrol cars responded. Eventually, the police were able to stop the car near a K-Mart discount department store on the north side of Dothan. Inside the car were Jones; his sister, Lakeisha Jones; Lakeisha’s baby; and Lakeisha’s boyfriend. Jones, whose clothes and shoes were bloodstained, was taken into custody. During a search of the car, police discovered a number of items, including Mrs. Kirkland’s remaining groceries, two of Mrs. Kirkland’s walking canes, and a torn and empty envelope from SouthTrust Bank apparently given to Mrs. Kirkland when she made a withdrawal. Neither Lakeisha nor her boyfriend knew anything about Mrs. Kirkland’s murder. Lakeisha did, however, tell the police that Jones was acting strangely when he picked them up earlier that evening.

Jones was transported to the Dothan Police Department. At some point, Jones voluntarily stated that he knew where to find bloody clothes related to Mrs. Kirkland’s murder. Officer Jon Beeson then informed Jones of his constitutional rights in accordance with Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966). Jones declined to sign a waiver-of-rights form, but he did agree to accompany police officers to a bridge on Honeysuckle Road where, he claimed, the true killers of Mrs. Kirkland had disposed of their bloody clothing. Before taking Jones to the bridge, officers had him remove the clothes and shoes he was wearing when he was taken into custody. Jones agreed, and he changed clothes. The clothing he had been wearing was taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for testing.

Thereafter, the police took Jones to the bridge on Honeysuckle Road, where they unsuccessfully searched for the reported bloody clothing. The officers also searched for footprints in the area and found none. After daylight, the officers returned to the site but again found no evidence that would support Jones’s claims.

Back at the police station, Jones asked to speak to Officer Beeson again. Before talking with Jones, Beeson informed Jones of his Miranda rights a second time. At 2:55 a.m. on January 1, 2000, Jones signed a waiver-of-rights form, acknowledging that he understood his rights and that he had not been threatened or promised anything in exchange for his statement. Jones told Beeson that three other men had killed Mrs. Kirkland.¹ Jones denied any involvement in Mrs. Kirkland’s killing; he claimed that he was not present when Mrs. Kirkland was killed and that the blood on his clothes came from being around the three killers. Additionally, Jones claimed that the white Cadillac he was driving belonged to his grandfather.²

Around 5:30 a.m., Jones asked to speak with Officer Beeson again, stating that he wanted to tell Beeson the “whole story.” Sgt. Jim Stanley told Jones that Beeson was unavailable, and Jones indicated that he wished to tell Stanley “the rest of the story.” Sgt. Stanley took Jones into his office, where they were joined by Officer Donovan Kilpatrick. Before allowing Jones to give his statement, Sgt. Stanley asked Jones if he remembered his Miranda rights. Jones indicated that he did. Jones proceeded to give the officers additional information regarding Mrs. Kirkland’s murder. As Jones related his version of events, Sgt. Stanley made notes of what Jones told them. During Jones’s second statement, he admitted being present at Mrs. Kirkland’s house during the murder. Jones claimed, however, that the other three men had entered the house with the intent to commit a robbery. He claimed that when he entered Mrs. Kirkland’s house, one of the three men was beating her with a walking cane. According to Jones, he took the cane away from Mrs. Kirkland’s assailant and telephoned 911 for emergency assistance in an attempt to save Mrs. Kirkland. Jones also claimed that the other three men took Mrs. Kirkland’s car. He claimed that after he telephoned for assistance and turned the circuit breakers back on, he became scared and fled the scene on foot. Only later, Jones claimed, did he meet up with the other three who at that time were driving Mrs. Kirkland’s car. When the officers attempted to verify Jones’s claims, they discovered that the three men Jones claimed had killed Mrs. Kirkland all had alibis. Likewise, no 911 emergency calls had been received from Mrs. Kirkland’s home that night.

On January 2, 2000, Dr. Alfredo Paredes, a forensic pathologist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, conducted a postmortem examination on Mrs. Kirkland’s body. Dr. Paredes determined that the cause of Mrs. Kirkland’s death was blunt-force trauma incurred during the attack. Based on his examination, Dr. Paredes concluded that Mrs. Kirkland’s assailant had used his hands and/or fists, and that he had also beaten her with a walking cane and a broken chair leg. Additionally, the assailant kicked Mrs. Kirkland and “stomped” on her breasts. The blows caused over 100 separate injuries to Mrs. Kirkland’s body, including severe bleeding, multiple blows to her head and face, and multiple fractures to her ribs, sternum, and arms.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences also conducted DNA testing on the clothing Jones was wearing when he was taken into custody. DNA testing positively matched Mrs. Kirkland’s DNA to the blood found on Jones’s clothing.

At trial, Jones offered two witnesses-Malik Ali Hasan and Palmer Cox-in an effort to prove either that he was not at Mrs. Kirkland’s house on the night of the incident or that someone else had committed the murder. At the time of their testimony, both witnesses were incarcerated for offenses unrelated to this case.

After both sides had rested and the trial court instructed the jury on the applicable law, the jury returned a verdict finding Jones guilty of capital murder as charged in the indictment.

During the penalty phase of Jones’s trial, the State resubmitted all of the evidence it had introduced during the guilt phase. The State did, however, recall Dr. Alfredo Paredes to testify briefly concerning the extent of Mrs. Kirkland’s injuries and whether she was conscious during her attack. Dr. Paredes testified that based on the massive bleeding and the numerous defensive injuries, he believed that Mrs. Kirkland was conscious during much of the attack.

Jones offered the testimony of several witnesses during the penalty phase. Jill Witsett, Jones’s mother, testified that Jones was raised in a single-parent home and that he had no relationship with his father. She testified that the family did not have a lot of money and, on occasion, received welfare and food stamps. Witsett testified that as a child Jones was diagnosed with hyperactivity; numerous medications were prescribed to treat his condition. According to Witsett, when Jones took his medication, he was much calmer. Jones’s aunt, Marilyn Walker, and his sister, Lakeisha Jones, also testified. Both women testified concerning the difficult circumstances of Jones’s youth.

Edwina Culp, a GED instructor at the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center in Dothan, testified that Jones had attended GED classes at the Saliba Center. She testified that while attending classes, Jones’s progress fluctuated. She testified that an individual’s home environment could cause fluctuations in a student’s progress. According to Ms. Culp, Jones “was not a troublemaker” in class; “he cooperated with me when I would ask him to do something to the best of his ability.” (R. 1379.)

Finally, Jones offered the testimony of Dr. Robert deFrancisco, a clinical forensic psychologist. Dr. deFrancisco testified that he had met with Jones on several occasions after the incident in order to evaluate his mental condition. Dr. deFrancisco determined that Jones’s IQ was 81, which was “below average.” Dr. deFrancisco described Jones as a “gap child,” meaning “someone who doesn’t fit into the school system ․ he’s too smart to be in special ed, but he’s too slow to be in a regular class.” (R. 1432.) Dr. deFrancisco testified that as a gap child falls behind his chronological peers, “the individual becomes more and more frustrated, and ․ tend[s] to have a lot of behavior problems.” (R. 1433.) According to Dr. deFrancisco:

“Under the right guidance and instruction, [Jones] can be a productive person. He is not stupid. He is not mentally retarded. And he is not crazy. He’s totally misguided. And he has suffered from a horrible, horrible childhood. And I’m not justifying anything he’s done. I’m explaining to you the fact that behavior does not occur in a vacuum. You just can’t look at an act. You have to understand the individual.”

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1113703.html

Michael Brown Alabama Death Row

Michael Brown was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for the murder of Betty Kirkpatrick. According to court documents Michael Brown would murder Betty Kirkpatrick during a robbery. Michael Brown would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Michael Brown 2021 Information

Inmate:	BROWN, MICHAEL
AIS:	0000Z707

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Michael Brown More News

The State’s evidence tended to show the following. On October 12, 2001, Ricky Kirkpatrick and his wife discovered the body of his 65-year-old mother, Betty Kirkpatrick, in her mobile home in Hueytown. Her head was covered with a plastic bag and her throat had been cut. A knife and a paper towel were lying on her chest. Betty Kirkpatrick’s purse and her gold 1986 Ford Thunderbird automobile were missing. The forensic pathologist testified that Betty Kirkpatrick died of “asphyxia by strangulation and smothering.” (R. 431.) She also had bruises on her face and hands that, he said, were caused by blunt-force trauma.

Several witnesses testified that they saw Brown driving a gold Thunderbird around the time of the murder. Alisha Spindlow testified that she saw Brown driving a gold Thunderbird and that he told her that he had killed Betty Kirkpatrick. Another individual, Kevin Clayton, testified that he saw Brown two days after the murder, that he was driving a gold Thunderbird, and that he told him that he got the car from a lady and the car would not be “hot” until the lady’s body was discovered. Kelly Watkins said that Brown was driving a gold Thunderbird around the time of the murder and that he told her that he had killed the lady who owned it. Watkins said that Brown told her that he had tried to choke the victim but she would not die so he cut her throat with a knife he got from the kitchen of her house.

Forensic tests were also conducted on the bloodstains found on the paper towel discovered on Betty Kirkpatrick’s chest. Carl Mauterer, a forensic scientist with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, testified that one stain was tested and found to be consistent with Brown’s blood-Brown could not be excluded as the donor.

Detective Charles Hagler also testified that Brown told him that he went to Betty Kirkpatrick’s mobile home with three other individuals, Robert Smith, Kevin Clayton (who testified at Brown’s trial), and Moses Smiley, to rob Betty Kirkpatrick but that Robert Smith killed Kirkpatrick.

The jury found Brown guilty of the two capital offenses charged in the indictment.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1219327.html

Brandyn Benjamin Alabama Death Row

Brandyn Benjamin was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for the murder of Jimmie Lewis. According to court documents Brandyn Benjamin attempted to rob Jimmie Lewis and during the struggle would shoot and kill him. Brandyn Benjamin would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Brandyn Benjamin 2021 Information

Inmate:	BENJAMIN, BRANDYN JOSEPHE
AIS:	0000Z708

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Brandyn Benjamin More News

The victim, Jimmie Lewis, had gone to Wiregrass Commons Mall about 9:00 p.m. on the night of November 18, 2000, to pick up his wife, who operated a shop in the mall. He had gone to Mrs. Lewis’ shop and determined that she was ready to close, and because it was raining outside, he returned to bring the car closer to the mall exit so that Mrs. Lewis wouldn’t get wet. Mr. Lewis had parked his car in a remote area of the mall parking lot. The defendant had gone to the mall with the specific intent of finding a victim to rob. He watched mall security to see how often they made rounds and also parked his car in an area which wouldn’t raise suspicion. As Jimmie Lewis approached his car, the defendant appeared and apparently demanded the victim’s wallet. A struggle ensued, and the defendant struck the victim several times and shot him twice—once in the chest and once in his leg. The defendant took the victim’s wallet and contents and left the scene. The victim was dead when the police and paramedics arrived shortly thereafter. The defendant later related all of the details of the crime to a friend[, Michael Baker,] indicating that he had no remorse for his actions. [Baker then] went with his attorney to the District Attorney. The District Attorney arranged for a body wire to be placed on [Baker] so that the police could hear the defendant confess his actions once again to [Baker]. The defendant was then arrested and his room searched. A copy of the Dothan Eagle newspaper account of the crime was found in the defendant’s room and later the victim’s wallet was also found.”

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1653451.html

Mohammad Sharifi Alabama Death Row

Mohammad Sharifi was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for a double murder. According to court documents Mohammad Sharifi would murder his wife Sarah Sharifi and Derrick Brown. Mohammad Sharifi would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Mohammad Sharifi 2021 Information

Inmate:	SHARIFI, MOHAMMAD
AIS:	0000Z709

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Mohammad Sharifi More News

The State’s evidence tended to show the following: Mohammad Sharifi, an Iranian national, came to Huntsville in December 1998 on a six-month tourist visa. Before the visa expired he married Sarah Kay Smith, an American citizen. Following his marriage, Sharifi petitioned to change his immigration status from “tourist” to “legal alien.”

Sarah and Sharifi separated in late 1999. Thereafter, Sarah, accompanied by Derrick Brown, met with Sharifi’s caseworker at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services). As a result of that meeting, Sharifi’s petition to become a legal alien was denied, and his immigration status was changed to “illegal alien,” because his tourist visa had expired.

Sharifi purchased a .25-caliber pistol on December 6, 1999. On December 13, 1999, Sharifi went to the apartment he had shared with Sarah and forced his way inside. The Huntsville Police were called to the scene, and Sharifi was prevented from removing anything other than his clothes from the apartment. Sharifi left, promising to return. After Sharifi left, Sarah had the locks on the doors to the apartment changed. When Sharifi returned later that same day and discovered that the locks had been changed, he became upset. Sharifi became even more agitated when he learned that although he was not allowed inside the apartment, Derrick Brown was inside. Sharifi demanded of the apartment manager that Brown be removed.

The manager of the apartment complex filed a missing-person report with the Huntsville Police on December 17, 1999, because the manager had not seen Sarah in several days. December 13, 1999, was the last day Sarah and Brown were seen alive. On December 26, 1999, Sarah Sharifi’s body was found on the banks of the Tennessee River; it was wrapped in black plastic bags and tied with an electrical cord. On January 1, 2000, Brown’s body was found in the Tennessee River; it was partially wrapped in black plastic bags and tied with an electrical cord. Both Sarah and Brown had been shot in the head. Subsequent forensic testing determined that the gun used to shoot both victims was the gun Sharifi purchased in December 1999.

On December 28, 1999, the FBI arrested Sharifi in Los Angeles, California, on an unlawful-flight-to-avoid-prosecution warrant relative to Sarah’s murder. In Sharifi’s possession at the time of his arrest were the murder weapon, a license tag from Brown’s vehicle, Brown’s driver’s license, one of Brown’s credit cards, and a pair of sandals that was later determined to have Sarah’s blood on them.

Sharifi was extradited to Alabama and was incarcerated in the Madison County jail awaiting trial for the two murders. During his incarceration, Sharifi met Tasha Borner, another inmate. Sharifi wrote Borner a number of letters professing his love for her and asking her to testify that they were together on the night of December 13, 1999. Borner, who did not meet Sharifi until 2002, turned the letters over to the district attorney and was given a plea deal in exchange for her testimony against Sharifi.

Sharifi’s defense was that he was in Los Angeles, California, at the time of the murders. Aghaishahabdin Moughari testified that Sharifi came by his house in Huntsville on December 13, 1999, that Sharifi’s car was loaded with his possessions, and that he told him that he was moving to California to find work. Moughari also testified that on December 14, 1999, Sarah came by his house looking for Sharifi.

Sharifi’s father, Hossain Sharifi, testified that at the time of the murders he was living in Iran and that he spoke to Sharifi everyday at approximately 2:00 p.m. Huntsville time. He said that on December 13, 1999, he telephoned the apartment Sharifi had shared with Sarah, and a man answered the telephone and gave the phone to Sarah. He further testified that on December 15, 1999, Sharifi telephoned him in Iran and told him that he had moved to California.

The jury chose to believe the State’s version of the events and convicted Sharifi of murdering Sarah and Brown during one act or pursuant to one course of conduct. After a separate sentencing hearing, the jury, by a vote of 10-2, recommended that Sharifi be sentenced to death. The court then issued an order sentencing Sharifi to death. This appeal, which is automatic in a case involving the death penalty, followed. See § 13A-5-53, Ala.Code 1975.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/al-court-of-criminal-appeals/1046307.html

Christopher Hyde Alabama Death Row

Christopher Hyde was sentenced to death and remains on Alabama Death Row for a triple murder. According to court documents Christopher Hyde would shoot and kill Randle Lane, the Rev. Rick Peterson and June Williams at a funeral home. Christopher Hyde would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Christopher Hyde 2021 Information

Inmate:	HYDE, CHRISTOPHER SHANE
AIS:	0000Z712

Institution:	HOLMAN PRISON

Christopher Hyde More News

A judge has sentenced Christopher Shane Hyde to death in the 2003 murders of three people during the robbery of a Sumiton funeral home.

Walker County Circuit Court Judge Jerry K. Selman told Hyde at sentencing Thursday that he had killed “three hard-working and much-loved individuals.”

The death sentence by lethal injection brings an automatic appeal.

Selman told Hyde, a Florida ex-convict, he hopes he has time to contemplate the “atrocity” he committed and what he had done to the victims’ family and friends. “And I hope you have time to contemplate what you have done to your mother.”

Hyde’s mother, Wanda Griffis, wept after the sentencing.

A jury in February found Hyde, 32, guilty of capital murder in the deaths of Randle Lane, the Rev. Rick Peterson and June Williams. In a 10-2 decision, jurors had recommended a death sentence.

Lane, Peterson and Williams were found shot to death March 26, 2003, in the embalming room at Bell’s Funeral Chapel in Sumiton. Peterson’s truck and the two men’s wallets also were taken.

Hyde had been released from prison in Florida four months before the killings after serving time for attempted murder, robbery with a weapon and auto theft. His crimes included beating a paraplegic with a microwave oven, according to Broward County court records.

Hyde told investigators that he had come into the funeral home asking to use the restroom, then with a gun “loaded to the hilt” robbed and shot the three. In a taped confession, Hyde described the robbery and killings.

He fled in one victim’s truck, which was abandoned in nearby Argo. Hyde took a bus to Atlanta where he was captured.

According to testimony, Lane was retired as customer service center manager for Batesville Casket Co. in Birmingham, but had continued delivering caskets; Peterson, pastor of Faith Worship Center in Sumiton, was an apprentice at the funeral home working to become a licensed embalmer; and Williams, who managed the funeral home, was head embalmer and funeral director.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/DA/20050326/news/606105864/TL