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Murder

Legal news related to Murder

49 articles

State Court
•4 min read
Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Penalty in 2005 Burial Murders

The Florida Supreme Court issued a corrected opinion in the case of Michael James Jackson, who was convicted of robbing, kidnapping, and murdering an elderly couple by burying them alive in 2005. Jackson's death sentences were vacated in 2017 but the case has continued through appeals under changing Florida capital punishment laws.

•Jackson and three codefendants murdered James and Carol Sumner by burying them alive in 2005
•Original death sentences vacated in 2017 due to Hurst v. State requiring unanimous jury recommendations
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State Court
•4 min read
Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Life Sentence in Puckett Murder Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld the conviction and life sentence of Jonathan Puckett, who was found guilty of intentional murder, second-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, and being a persistent felony offender in connection with a 2014 killing.

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Jonathan Puckett's life sentence for intentional murder and related charges
•Case involved 2014 killing of coworker Thomas Ray Pendygraft following theft of prescription pills
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State Court
•4 min read
Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence After Jury Law Changes

The Florida Supreme Court ruled on the case of Michael James Jackson, who was convicted of murdering an elderly couple in 2005. Jackson's death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to jury unanimity requirements but were later reimposed under revised state laws allowing non-unanimous jury recommendations.

•Michael James Jackson was convicted of murdering James and Carol Sumner by burying them alive in 2005
•His death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to Hurst v. State requiring unanimous jury recommendations
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State Court
•4 min read
Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Murder Convictions in Heightchew Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the murder, arson, and attempted murder convictions of Gregory Mason Heightchew in a case involving the killing and burning of Elijah Creekmore. The court upheld a life sentence without parole for 25 years in the Henry County case.

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Gregory Heightchew's murder, arson, attempted murder, and evidence tampering convictions
•Heightchew received life sentence without parole for 25 years for killing and burning Elijah Creekmore
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of North Carolina

NC Supreme Court Rules on Castle Doctrine in Fatal Doorway Shooting

The North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision in State v. Allison, addressing whether a jury was properly instructed on the castle doctrine after George Lee Allison was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Brandon Adams in his doorway in December 2020.

•North Carolina Supreme Court ruled on jury instruction standards for castle doctrine in State v. Allison shooting case
•George Lee Allison convicted of second-degree murder for shooting Brandon Adams in doorway in December 2020
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of North Carolina

NC Supreme Court Reverses Court of Appeals on Juvenile Sentencing

The North Carolina Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision in State v. Kelliher, allowing consecutive sentences for robbery convictions to run alongside concurrent life sentences for a juvenile murderer. The case involves James Ryan Kelliher, who was 17 when he committed the August 2001 murders of Eric Carpenter and his pregnant girlfriend Kelsea Helton.

•North Carolina Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals decision allowing consecutive sentences for robbery convictions alongside concurrent life sentences for juvenile murder
•Case involves James Ryan Kelliher, who was 17 when he murdered Eric Carpenter and pregnant girlfriend Kelsea Helton in 2001
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State Court
•4 min read
Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Denies Final Appeals for Death Row Inmate

The Florida Supreme Court denied all final appeals from death row inmate Frank A. Walls on December 11, 2025, clearing the way for his execution scheduled for December 18. The court rejected Walls' successive motion for postconviction relief, petition for habeas corpus, and request for a stay of execution.

•Florida Supreme Court denied Frank A. Walls' successive postconviction relief motion, habeas corpus petition, and stay request on December 11, 2025
•Walls is scheduled for execution on December 18, 2025, for the 1987 murders of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson in Okaloosa County
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State Court
•4 min read
Connecticut Supreme Court

Connecticut Supreme Court Rules on Confrontation Rights in State v. Bester

The Connecticut Supreme Court issued a decision in State v. Damond Bester, addressing constitutional confrontation clause violations in a murder case involving gunshot residue testimony and prosecutorial conduct during cross-examination.

•Connecticut Supreme Court addressed confrontation clause violations in murder case involving gunshot residue testimony
•Defendant challenged expert testimony based on another analyst's work who did not testify at trial
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State Court
•4 min read
Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Bars Retrial After Jury Polling Issues in Murder Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed a Charleston County trial court decision and ruled that double jeopardy bars the retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter after issues arose during jury polling at the conclusion of his initial trial.

•South Carolina Supreme Court ruled double jeopardy bars retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter
•Court reversed Charleston County Circuit Court decision after issues arose during jury polling at conclusion of original trial
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State Court
•4 min read
Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Dismisses Grayson Pretrial Detention Appeal as Moot

The Illinois Supreme Court dismissed as moot an appeal regarding the pretrial detention of Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy, after he was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. The high court ruled the detention question became irrelevant following Grayson's trial and conviction.

•Illinois Supreme Court dismissed pretrial detention appeal as moot after Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder
•Grayson was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonja Massey during a domestic disturbance call
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