softheart
05-09-2004, 11:05 AM
May 8, 2004
South Carolina
SUMTER, S.C. (AP) - Officials with the state Attorney General's office say
they expect James Neil Tucker to become the first person in South Carolina
to die in the state's electric chair in nearly eight years.
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday set May 28 as the execution
date for Tucker, who robbed and killed two women in the Midlands in the
summer of 1992. He will be the fourth person executed in South Carolina
this year.
Inmates sentenced to death in the state since June 8, 1995, have been
executed by lethal injection. Because Tucker originally was sentenced to
death in December 1992 for killing 54-year-old Sumter woman Rosa Lee
"Dolly" Oakley, the state will allow him to choose between the electric
chair and lethal injection. Officials said Friday that Tucker, 47, has
indicated he will leave the method up to them.
"It is our understanding that (Tucker) is not going to choose and will be
electrocuted," said Mark Plowden, state Attorney General spokesman.
According to state law, Tucker has until 14 days before the execution to
make his decision.
The last person to die in the state's electric chair was Larry Gene Bell,
who was electrocuted on Oct. 4, 1996.
Oakley was in her yard in June 1992 when Tucker pulled out a gun and
forced her back into her home. Tucker took $14 from Oakley's purse, shot
the woman twice in the head and left, authorities said.
Tucker also faces a second death sentence in Calhoun County.
Prosecutors said a week after killing Oakley, Tucker was running from
police when he broke into 21-year-old Shannon Mellon's home.
Tucker bound the woman's hands and feet and took $20 from her purse. He
shot Mellon three times, dragged her body into the woods and stole her
car. He was arrested 10 days later in Maggie Valley, N.C.
An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected Monday, and on Wednesday,
Tucker's lawyers abandoned his appeals at the South Carolina Supreme
Court, according to the state attorney general's office.
Tucker had his privileges on death row revoked two weeks ago after pulling
a safety razor blade melted into a toothbrush on a guard letting him back
in from the recreation area connected to death row.
Tucker took the guard's keys and locked him in the recreation area. The
guard called for help and Tucker was caught and put back in his cell in
less than five minutes, authorities said.
---
Source : Associated Press
http://www.fox21.com/Global/story.asp?S=1851400&nav=2KPpMxfv
South Carolina
SUMTER, S.C. (AP) - Officials with the state Attorney General's office say
they expect James Neil Tucker to become the first person in South Carolina
to die in the state's electric chair in nearly eight years.
The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday set May 28 as the execution
date for Tucker, who robbed and killed two women in the Midlands in the
summer of 1992. He will be the fourth person executed in South Carolina
this year.
Inmates sentenced to death in the state since June 8, 1995, have been
executed by lethal injection. Because Tucker originally was sentenced to
death in December 1992 for killing 54-year-old Sumter woman Rosa Lee
"Dolly" Oakley, the state will allow him to choose between the electric
chair and lethal injection. Officials said Friday that Tucker, 47, has
indicated he will leave the method up to them.
"It is our understanding that (Tucker) is not going to choose and will be
electrocuted," said Mark Plowden, state Attorney General spokesman.
According to state law, Tucker has until 14 days before the execution to
make his decision.
The last person to die in the state's electric chair was Larry Gene Bell,
who was electrocuted on Oct. 4, 1996.
Oakley was in her yard in June 1992 when Tucker pulled out a gun and
forced her back into her home. Tucker took $14 from Oakley's purse, shot
the woman twice in the head and left, authorities said.
Tucker also faces a second death sentence in Calhoun County.
Prosecutors said a week after killing Oakley, Tucker was running from
police when he broke into 21-year-old Shannon Mellon's home.
Tucker bound the woman's hands and feet and took $20 from her purse. He
shot Mellon three times, dragged her body into the woods and stole her
car. He was arrested 10 days later in Maggie Valley, N.C.
An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected Monday, and on Wednesday,
Tucker's lawyers abandoned his appeals at the South Carolina Supreme
Court, according to the state attorney general's office.
Tucker had his privileges on death row revoked two weeks ago after pulling
a safety razor blade melted into a toothbrush on a guard letting him back
in from the recreation area connected to death row.
Tucker took the guard's keys and locked him in the recreation area. The
guard called for help and Tucker was caught and put back in his cell in
less than five minutes, authorities said.
---
Source : Associated Press
http://www.fox21.com/Global/story.asp?S=1851400&nav=2KPpMxfv