Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 23, 1995 TAG: 9504240008
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
On Jan.1, ROBERT M. MAY, 27, was accused of killing five people during a New Year's party at an Old Southwest carriage house off Highland Avenue. He is scheduled to be tried for capital murder in June. If May escapes the death penalty, he will be ineligible for parole under a law that went into effect just three hours before the killings.
In 1994, PAUL D. THOMPSON, 25, was implicated in the death of a woman who was beaten and then dumped in a car trunk behind her Woods Avenue Southwest home. Thompson, who also is suspected of killing a man in West Virginia, fled to Florida, where he has since been convicted of attempted murder. He is being held in a Florida prison awaiting transfer to Roanoke for trial on a charge of capital murder.
In 1992, ROBERT K. INGRAM, 17, shot one of his cocaine customers on Melrose Avenue Northwest. A capital charge was reduced to first-degree murder, and a judge sentenced Ingram to life in prison. Ingram will become eligible for parole in 2005.
In 1992, PAUL SAUNDERS, 15, shot a man who stopped his pickup truck on Lafayette Boulevard Northwest to buy crack cocaine. A capital charge was reduced by a judge, and Saunders was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He became eligible for parole in 1994 and has a mandatory release date in 2002.
In 1992, REGINALD LEE NOEL, 22, shot a potential drug customer at the Lansdowne housing development in what prosecutors called an effort to "make a name for himself." A capital charge was reduced to first-degree murder, and a judge sentenced Noel to 50 years in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2002 and has a mandatory release date in 2028.
In 1991, GEORGE L. VIA, 35, stabbed a man 14 times, ransacked his Fairfax Avenue Northwest home and took his belongings to finance an addiction to crack cocaine. Via pleaded guilty to capital murder under an agreement and was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2012.
In 1990, REGINALD LEE WILKERSON, 19, fatally shot two people at the Lincoln Terrace housing development as part of an ongoing feud. Prosecutors dropped the capital charge shortly before trial and proceeded on first-degree murder charges. One of the victims was armed, and Wilkerson claimed self-defense. A jury acquitted Wilkerson of one killing, convicted him of the second and sentenced him to 21 years in prison. Wilkerson will become eligible for parole in September and has a mandatory release date in 2002.
In 1990, JAMES ``PETE'' WARE, 24, slashed his aunt's throat at her Hanover Avenue Northwest home and fled with her purse, after sending her 5-year-old son jumping from a second story window to escape. Partly because family members did not want the 5-year-old to testify, a plea agreement was reached. Ware pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2012.
In 1989, THOMAS MANUEL ``T.J.'' PAIGE, 22, was charged with fatally shooting two women and wounding a man and another woman after an all-night crack cocaine party on Staunton Avenue Northwest ended with a dispute over who would pay for the drugs. The case is still pending; Paige fled the scene and remains a fugitive.
In 1988, ALFRED LEE McKENZIE, 34, stabbed a man to death in an argument over payment for some stolen property, then took some cash from his pockets. After a key witness changed her story, prosecutors offered an agreement under which McKenzie pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2001.
In 1987, DAVID JAMES REEDY, 31, set fire to his home on Eighth Street Southeast, killing his 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. A capital murder charge based entirely on circumstantial evidence went to trial, but the jury convicted Reedy of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced him to two life terms plus 10 years. Reedy will become eligible for parole in 2005.
In 1987, TIMOTHY G. WHITE, 18, beat a man to death in his Essex Avenue Northwest home as part of a robbery spree. Two co-defendants caused confusion over who struck the fatal blow. A capital charge was reduced to first-degree murder, and White was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2000.
In 1987, TONJA LEE SPRAY, 21, slashed the throat of her stepfather's stepmother at her Elm Avenue Southwest home and took her credit card. Spray pleaded guilty to capital murder under an agreement and was sentenced to two life terms. She died of natural causes in prison in 1989.
In 1985, KENNY D. EDMONDS, a 35-year-old inmate at the Roanoke City Jail, killed a paramedic in the jail by hitting him in the head with an oxygen tank. Under an agreement prompted by doubts about Edmonds' sanity at the time of the offense, he pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 1997.
In 1985, WILLIAM SHIFFLETT, 25, and ROBERT L. ALBRIGHT, 23, stabbed and sexually mutilated a homeless man in a vacant lot near the City Rescue Mission. Shifflett was tried for capital murder, but a jury convicted him of first-degree murder and sentenced him to three life terms. Prosecutors then reached an agreement under which Albright pleaded guilty to capital murder and was sentenced to three life terms. Shifflett and Albright will be eligible for parole in 2002.
In 1983, REGINALD STITT, 23, stabbed a man to death during a robbery on First Street Northwest. He was tried for capital murder, but a jury convicted him of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison. Stitt will be eligible for parole in 1998.
In 1983, BENJAMIN H. PERDUE, 42, used a shotgun to kill his estranged wife's parents in their home on Blenheim Road Southwest. Capital charges were reduced to first-degree murder in exchange for Perdue's guilty plea, and he was sentenced to two life terms in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 1996.
In 1977, MAJOR H. JOHNSON, 26, shot his landlord to death at his real estate office on Jefferson Street. A Roanoke jury convicted Johnson of capital murder and sentenced him to death, but that decision was reversed by the Virginia Supreme Court. At a new trial, an Alexandria jury convicted Johnson a second time but could not agree on his sentence, leaving a judge to impose a life term. Johnson became eligible for parole in 1991, but remains incarcerated.
ROANOKE COUNTY
In 1992, STERLING A. JOHNSON, 46, beat and stabbed his father-in-law to death at his Vinton home, then took his wallet. A capital charge was reduced to first-degree murder, and Johnson was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2004.
In 1990, DANNY KING, 40, and his wife, BECKY KING, 37, were charged with luring a Roanoke County real estate agent to a home for sale, where she was beaten and stabbed to death and robbed. A capital murder charge against Becky King was reduced. Prosecutors asked a jury to find her guilty of first-degree murder, but she was convicted of being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 12 months in jail. Because of extensive publicity, Danny King's trial was moved to Chesterfield County, where a jury convicted him of capital murder and sentenced him to death. King is on death row awaiting execution.
In 1986, TIMOTHY W. SPRADLIN, 26, shot a man to death after they argued on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then took his car. Spradlin maintained he shot in self-defense after the man demanded sex. While a jury was considering a capital murder charge, Spradlin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2000.
In 1985, GARRETT J. SIMMONS, 24, shot his sister and her baby to death, then wounded his mother with a gun and knife at her Dixie Caverns home. Partly at the request of Simmons' mother, a capital charge was reduced to first-degree murder, and Simmons was sentenced to two life terms plus six years in prison. He will become eligible for parole in 2003.
Parole eligibility dates are simply the first time an inmate is reviewed by the Parole Board. It would be extremely rare for someone serving a life sentence to be granted parole on or near the first eligibility date.
Keywords:
ROMUR
by CNB