Murder of Ann Harrison: Difference between revisions
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| name = Ann Harrison |
| name = Ann Harrison |
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| image = Ann Harrison.jpg |
| image = Ann Harrison.jpg |
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| birth_name = |
| birth_name = Ann Marie Harrison |
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1974|2|22}} |
| birth_date = {{birth date|1974|2|22}} |
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| birth_place = |
| birth_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], U.S. |
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| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|3|22|1974|2|22}} |
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|3|22|1974|2|22}} |
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| death_place = [[Raytown, Missouri]], U.S. |
| death_place = [[Raytown, Missouri]], U.S. |
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| death_cause = [[Murder]] by [[stabbing]] |
| death_cause = [[Murder]] by [[stabbing]] |
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| education = [[Raytown South High School]] |
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}} |
}} |
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| ⚫ | '''Ann Marie Harrison''' (February 22, 1974 – March 22, 1989) was a 15-year-old American girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by two men in [[Raytown, Missouri]]. On March 22, 1989, Harrison was abducted from outside her home as she waited for the school bus. She was taken to a house where she was raped by her abductors before being stabbed to death in the trunk of a car.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Blakeman|first1=Karen|last2=Beauchamp|first2=Lane|title=Man describes abduction, rape, murder of girl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102324724/man-describes-abduction-rape-murder/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=January 29, 1991|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102324724/man-describes-abduction-rape-murder/ A-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102324750/defendant-confesses-to-girls-murder/ A-6]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 24, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=April 28, 2003|title=Death-Row Inmates Speak About Murder Of 15-Year-Old Girl|work=[[KMBC-TV]]|url=http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/2165033/detail.html|access-date=August 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927173638/http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/news/2165033/detail.html|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Her two killers: '''Michael Anthony Taylor''' (January 30, 1967 – February 26, 2014) and '''Roderick Nunley''' (March 10, 1965 – September 1, 2015) were executed for the crime by the state of [[Missouri]] via [[lethal injection]], in 2014 and 2015, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 26, 2014|title=Michael Taylor executed by Missouri using compounded pentobarbital|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/26/michael-taylor-executed-by-missouri-using-compounded-pentobarbital|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=September 2, 2015|title=Missouri executes man after 25 years on death row for murder of teenage girl|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/02/missouri-executes-man-death-row-roderick-nunley|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> |
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==Background== |
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| ⚫ | '''Ann Harrison''' (February 22, 1974 – March 22, 1989) was a 15-year-old American |
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Ann Marie Harrison was born on February 22, 1974, in [[Kansas City, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Adler|first=Eric|title=Victims of crime gather to remember the hurt|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102345177/victims-of-crime-gather-to-remember-the/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=April 25, 1994|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102345177/victims-of-crime-gather-to-remember-the/ B-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102345254/families-friends-remember-victims/ B-2]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref><ref name="obituary">{{cite news|title=Ann M. Harrison|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102344605/ann-m-harrison/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Times]]|date=March 25, 1989|page=26|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> She attended [[Raytown South High School]] where she was a freshman honor student.<ref name="obituary" /> |
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==Murder== |
==Murder== |
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| Line 35: | Line 38: | ||
| criminal_status = [[Executed]] |
| criminal_status = [[Executed]] |
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| conviction = [[First degree murder]] |
| conviction = [[First degree murder]] |
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| penalty = [[Death sentence]] |
| penalty = [[Death sentence]] (May 3, 1991 & May 10, 1994) |
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| victims = Ann Harrison, 15 |
| victims = Ann Harrison, 15 |
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| date = March 22, 1989 |
| date = March 22, 1989 |
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}} |
}} |
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| ⚫ | On March 22, 1989, Harrison left her home to go to school and waited for the school bus outside her house. As she waited by the mailbox, a blue '84 Monte Carlo pulled up next to her. Inside the vehicle, which was stolen, were Taylor and Nunley. One of the two men exited the vehicle and asked Harrison for directions. As the man approached her, he pulled her towards him and forced her into the front of the vehicle. The men then sped off with Harrison in the car. A girl waiting for a bus spotted the vehicle speeding past her moments later. Meanwhile, the school bus arrived at Harrison's home and sounded the horn, but no one came. The driver noticed Harrison's books, purse, and flute case had been left by the mailbox. As the bus driver waited and sounded the horn, Harrison's mother came outside to see what was happening. Figuring her daughter was still inside the house, she instructed the bus driver to move on, saying she would drive her to school. After searching the house, Harrison's mother grew concerned when there was no sign of her. She headed to a neighbor's house and then called her husband and the police.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Rizzo|first=Tony|date=September 1, 2015|title=From the archives: 15-year-old Ann Harrison was just waiting for the bus...|work=[[The Kansas City Star]]|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article33153267.html|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171121152749/http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article33153267.html|archive-date=November 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Harrison was driven to the home of Nunley's mother. Inside the vehicle, the men blindfolded her and threatened to kill her if she continued to scream. After parking in the garage, the two men led Harrison inside and took her to the basement. Both men then took turns raping her. Afterward, the men discussed what to do with her. Not wanting to let her go because she had seen their faces, the men told her to get into the trunk of the vehicle. As Harrison pleaded with them to let her live, both men stabbed her to death with kitchen knives as she lay in the trunk of the car. They then drove the car to a quiet street and left the area in another vehicle. Later on, local media began broadcasting the news of Harrison's disappearance.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| ⚫ | On March 22, 1989, Harrison left her home to go to school and waited for the school bus outside her house. As she waited by the mailbox, a blue '84 Monte Carlo pulled up next to her. Inside the vehicle, which was stolen, were Taylor and Nunley. One of the two men exited the vehicle and asked Harrison for directions. As the man approached her, he pulled her towards him and forced her into the front of the vehicle. The men then sped off with Harrison in the car. |
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| ⚫ | Thirty-six hours after Harrison's abduction, a neighbor reported the abandoned blue '84 Monte Carlo. When police checked the license, they learned the vehicle had been stolen. After calling the owner to collect it, he arrived and opened the trunk, discovering Harrison's body.<ref>{{cite news|last=Penn|first=Steve|title=Missing girl's body found in car trunk|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103978698/missing-girls-body-found-in-car-trunk/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Times]]|date=March 24, 1989|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103978698/missing-girls-body-found-in-car-trunk/ A-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103978822/missing-girl-found-dead-in-car-trunk/ A-19]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=June 18, 2022}}</ref> Three months after Harrison's murder, the reward for information leading to the capture of her killers had reached $9,000. A tipster then told police about Taylor and Nunley. When they were brought in, both confessed, but each blamed the other as the instigator of the crime. However, the semen and hair matched Taylor.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| ⚫ | Harrison was driven to the home of |
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| ⚫ | Thirty-six hours after Harrison's abduction, a neighbor reported the abandoned blue '84 Monte Carlo. When police checked the license, they learned the vehicle had been stolen. After calling the owner to collect it, he arrived and opened the trunk, discovering Harrison's body. Three months after Harrison's murder, the reward for information leading to the capture of her killers had reached $9,000. A tipster told police about Taylor and Nunley. When they were brought in, both confessed, but each blamed the other as the instigator of the crime. However, the semen and hair matched Taylor.<ref name=":0" /> |
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==Trials== |
==Trials== |
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Both men waived trials and pleaded guilty before a judge.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 2, 2015|title=Missouri executes Ann Harrison's killer Roderick Nunley|work=[[KMBC-TV]]|url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-executes-ann-harrison-s-killer-roderick-nunley/3690289|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220522175141/https://www.kmbc.com/article/missouri-executes-ann-harrison-s-killer-roderick-nunley/3690289|archive-date=May 22, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 3, 1991, the judge sentenced both men to death.<ref>{{cite news|last=Blakeman|first=Karen|title=Death is penalty for killers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102335845/death-is-penalty-for-killers/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=May 4, 1991|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102335845/death-is-penalty-for-killers/ A-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102335908/death-is-penalty-for-two-who-admitted/ A-15]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> |
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In 1993, the [[Supreme Court of Missouri]] overturned the death sentences for Nunley and Taylor without commenting or providing a reason for doing so. Both men were then retried.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Lambe|first=Joe|title=Death sentence reinstated|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102336788/death-sentence-reinstated/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=May 11, 1994|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102336788/death-sentence-reinstated/ C-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102336807/nunley-sentenced-to-die/ C-3]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Lambe|first=Joe|title=Killer again gets death sentence|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102337111/killer-again-gets-death-sentence/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=June 18, 1994|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102337111/killer-again-gets-death-sentence/ C-1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102337151/killer-of-ann-harrison-again-sentenced/ C-8]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> |
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On May 10, 1994, Nunley was sentenced to death for the second time. In addition, the judge sentenced him to life in prison for rape, life in prison for armed criminal action, and fifteen years for kidnapping.<ref name=":1" /> |
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| ⚫ | |||
On June 17, 1994, Taylor was also sentenced to death for the second time. The judge also sentenced Taylor to life in prison for rape, fifty years for armed criminal action, and fifteen years for kidnapping. The sentences were to run consecutively.<ref name=":2" /> |
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==Appeals== |
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Taylor was first scheduled to be executed on February 1, 2006, but was granted a [[stay of execution|stay]] by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]], on the grounds that [[lethal injection]] in his case could be [[cruel and unusual punishment]]. Missouri asked the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] to vacate the stay, allowing the execution. Justice [[Samuel Alito]], in his first official act on the Supreme Court, voted with the majority (6–3) to refuse [[Missouri]]'s request. Alito's vote made headlines because he did not vote with Justices [[Antonin Scalia]], [[Clarence Thomas]] and Chief Justice [[John Roberts]], said to be the [[Conservatism|conservative]] wing of the court.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shelton IV|first=Lee R.|date=February 3, 2006|title=Alito's First Ruling Isn't Encouraging|work=The Sierra Times|url=http://www.sierratimes.com/06/02/03/lee.htm|access-date=August 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224816/http://www.sierratimes.com/06/02/03/lee.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mears|first=Bill|date=February 2, 2006|title=Justice Alito casts his first vote|work=[[CNN]]|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/01/alito/|access-date=August 24, 2007}}</ref> |
Taylor was first scheduled to be executed on February 1, 2006, but was granted a [[stay of execution|stay]] by the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit]], on the grounds that [[lethal injection]] in his case could be [[cruel and unusual punishment]]. Missouri asked the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] to vacate the stay, allowing the execution. Justice [[Samuel Alito]], in his first official act on the Supreme Court, voted with the majority (6–3) to refuse [[Missouri]]'s request. Alito's vote made headlines because he did not vote with Justices [[Antonin Scalia]], [[Clarence Thomas]] and Chief Justice [[John Roberts]], said to be the [[Conservatism|conservative]] wing of the court.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shelton IV|first=Lee R.|date=February 3, 2006|title=Alito's First Ruling Isn't Encouraging|work=The Sierra Times|url=http://www.sierratimes.com/06/02/03/lee.htm|access-date=August 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927224816/http://www.sierratimes.com/06/02/03/lee.htm|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Mears|first=Bill|date=February 2, 2006|title=Justice Alito casts his first vote|work=[[CNN]]|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/01/alito/|access-date=August 24, 2007}}</ref> |
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In 2006, Nunley was accused of attacking a manager at the [[Potosi Correctional Center]], where he was being held. Officials said Nunley stabbed the manager in the head, collarbone, and back with a metal shard. The manager survived the attack. On August 19, 2010, it was announced that Nunley was to be executed on October 20, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ratcliffe|first=Heather|date=August 19, 2010|title=Execution set for Kansas City killer|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/execution-set-for-kansas-city-killer/article_d120571c-abc2-11df-b63a-00127992bc8b.html|access-date=August 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008194533/http://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/missouri/execution-set-for-kansas-city-killer/article_d120571c-abc2-11df-b63a-00127992bc8b.html|archive-date=October 8, 2012}}</ref> However, he was later granted a stay of execution by a federal judge.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rizzo|first=Tony|title=Parents resigned to execution delay|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102335508/parents-resigned-to-execution-delay/|newspaper=[[The Kansas City Star]]|date=October 21, 2010|page=4|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=May 22, 2022}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | |||
On February 26, 2014, Taylor was executed via lethal injection, after last minute appeals questioning the reliability of Missouri's new, unnamed supplier of the execution drug [[pentobarbital]] were turned down. He became the fourth person to be executed in Missouri in four months.<ref>{{cite news|last=Salter|first=Jim|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/michael-taylor-executed_n_4856320.html|title=Michael Taylor Executed: Missouri Puts To Death Fourth Person In 4 Months|work=[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]|date=February 26, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201029/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/michael-taylor-executed_n_4856320.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> |
On February 26, 2014, Taylor was executed via lethal injection, after last minute appeals questioning the reliability of Missouri's new, unnamed supplier of the execution drug [[pentobarbital]] were turned down. He became the fourth person to be executed in Missouri in four months.<ref>{{cite news|last=Salter|first=Jim|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/michael-taylor-executed_n_4856320.html|title=Michael Taylor Executed: Missouri Puts To Death Fourth Person In 4 Months|work=[[HuffPost|The Huffington Post]]|date=February 26, 2014|access-date=February 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924201029/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/michael-taylor-executed_n_4856320.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> |
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On September 1, 2015, Nunley was executed, also via lethal injection, after three [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] issued orders denying him a stay of execution. He was 50 years old. The appeals pending before the Court questioned the constitutionality of the death penalty, the sentencing of Nunley before a jury rather than a judge, and the secrecy of the state of Missouri in acquiring the drug used to perform the execution.<ref>{{cite news |
On September 1, 2015, Nunley was executed, also via lethal injection, after three [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] issued orders denying him a stay of execution.<ref>{{cite news|last=Salter|first=Jim|date=September 1, 2015|title=Supreme Court won't stop Missouri man's execution, set for 6 p.m.|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/supreme-court-wont-stop-missouri-mans-execution-set-for-6-p-m/article_d423d55e-e5c1-5dfe-8ef8-b93075f95f0c.html|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220522154044/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/supreme-court-wont-stop-missouri-mans-execution-set-for-6-p-m/article_d423d55e-e5c1-5dfe-8ef8-b93075f95f0c.html|archive-date=May 22, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> He was 50 years old. The appeals pending before the Court questioned the constitutionality of the death penalty, the sentencing of Nunley before a jury rather than a judge, and the secrecy of the state of Missouri in acquiring the drug used to perform the execution.<ref>{{cite news|date=September 1, 2015|title=The Latest: Missouri executes man for girl's 1989 killing|work=[[Yahoo! News]]|url=https://news.yahoo.com/latest-supreme-court-weighs-appeals-death-row-inmate-113316636.html|access-date=September 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305154242/https://news.yahoo.com/latest-supreme-court-weighs-appeals-death-row-inmate-113316636.html|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pulley|first=Mary|date=September 1, 2015|title=Friend of Ann Harrison says execution of second convicted killer brings much needed closure|work=[[WDAF-TV]]|url=https://fox4kc.com/news/friend-of-ann-harrison-says-execution-of-second-convicted-killer-brings-much-needed-closure/|access-date=May 22, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220522175200/https://fox4kc.com/news/friend-of-ann-harrison-says-execution-of-second-convicted-killer-brings-much-needed-closure/|archive-date=May 22, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Capital punishment in Missouri]] |
* [[Capital punishment in Missouri]] |
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* [[Capital punishment in the United States]] |
* [[Capital punishment in the United States]] |
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* [[List of kidnappings: 1980–1989|List of kidnappings]] |
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* [[List of people executed in Missouri]] |
* [[List of people executed in Missouri]] |
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* [[List of people executed in the United States in 2014]] |
* [[List of people executed in the United States in 2014]] |
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[[Category:Deaths by stabbing in Missouri]] |
[[Category:Deaths by stabbing in Missouri]] |
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[[Category:March 1989 events in the United States]] |
[[Category:March 1989 events in the United States]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Child murder in the United States]] |
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[[Category:People murdered in Missouri]] |
[[Category:People murdered in Missouri]] |
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[[Category:Violence against women in |
[[Category:Violence against women in Missouri]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:52, 4 October 2024
Ann Harrison | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ann Marie Harrison February 22, 1974 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | March 22, 1989 (aged 15) Raytown, Missouri, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Murder by stabbing |
| Education | Raytown South High School |
Ann Marie Harrison (February 22, 1974 – March 22, 1989) was a 15-year-old American girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by two men in Raytown, Missouri. On March 22, 1989, Harrison was abducted from outside her home as she waited for the school bus. She was taken to a house where she was raped by her abductors before being stabbed to death in the trunk of a car.[1][2] Her two killers: Michael Anthony Taylor (January 30, 1967 – February 26, 2014) and Roderick Nunley (March 10, 1965 – September 1, 2015) were executed for the crime by the state of Missouri via lethal injection, in 2014 and 2015, respectively.[3][4]
Background
[edit]Ann Marie Harrison was born on February 22, 1974, in Kansas City, Missouri.[5][6] She attended Raytown South High School where she was a freshman honor student.[6]
Murder
[edit]Michael Taylor | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Anthony Taylor January 30, 1967 |
| Died | February 26, 2014 (aged 47) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death sentence (May 3, 1991 & June 17, 1994) |
| Details | |
| Victims | Ann Harrison, 15 |
| Date | March 22, 1989 |
Roderick Nunley | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 10, 1965 |
| Died | September 1, 2015 (aged 50) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death sentence (May 3, 1991 & May 10, 1994) |
| Details | |
| Victims | Ann Harrison, 15 |
| Date | March 22, 1989 |
On March 22, 1989, Harrison left her home to go to school and waited for the school bus outside her house. As she waited by the mailbox, a blue '84 Monte Carlo pulled up next to her. Inside the vehicle, which was stolen, were Taylor and Nunley. One of the two men exited the vehicle and asked Harrison for directions. As the man approached her, he pulled her towards him and forced her into the front of the vehicle. The men then sped off with Harrison in the car. A girl waiting for a bus spotted the vehicle speeding past her moments later. Meanwhile, the school bus arrived at Harrison's home and sounded the horn, but no one came. The driver noticed Harrison's books, purse, and flute case had been left by the mailbox. As the bus driver waited and sounded the horn, Harrison's mother came outside to see what was happening. Figuring her daughter was still inside the house, she instructed the bus driver to move on, saying she would drive her to school. After searching the house, Harrison's mother grew concerned when there was no sign of her. She headed to a neighbor's house and then called her husband and the police.[7]
Harrison was driven to the home of Nunley's mother. Inside the vehicle, the men blindfolded her and threatened to kill her if she continued to scream. After parking in the garage, the two men led Harrison inside and took her to the basement. Both men then took turns raping her. Afterward, the men discussed what to do with her. Not wanting to let her go because she had seen their faces, the men told her to get into the trunk of the vehicle. As Harrison pleaded with them to let her live, both men stabbed her to death with kitchen knives as she lay in the trunk of the car. They then drove the car to a quiet street and left the area in another vehicle. Later on, local media began broadcasting the news of Harrison's disappearance.[7]
Thirty-six hours after Harrison's abduction, a neighbor reported the abandoned blue '84 Monte Carlo. When police checked the license, they learned the vehicle had been stolen. After calling the owner to collect it, he arrived and opened the trunk, discovering Harrison's body.[8] Three months after Harrison's murder, the reward for information leading to the capture of her killers had reached $9,000. A tipster then told police about Taylor and Nunley. When they were brought in, both confessed, but each blamed the other as the instigator of the crime. However, the semen and hair matched Taylor.[7]
Trials
[edit]Both men waived trials and pleaded guilty before a judge.[9] On May 3, 1991, the judge sentenced both men to death.[10]
In 1993, the Supreme Court of Missouri overturned the death sentences for Nunley and Taylor without commenting or providing a reason for doing so. Both men were then retried.[11][12]
On May 10, 1994, Nunley was sentenced to death for the second time. In addition, the judge sentenced him to life in prison for rape, life in prison for armed criminal action, and fifteen years for kidnapping.[11]
On June 17, 1994, Taylor was also sentenced to death for the second time. The judge also sentenced Taylor to life in prison for rape, fifty years for armed criminal action, and fifteen years for kidnapping. The sentences were to run consecutively.[12]
Appeals
[edit]Taylor was first scheduled to be executed on February 1, 2006, but was granted a stay by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, on the grounds that lethal injection in his case could be cruel and unusual punishment. Missouri asked the Supreme Court to vacate the stay, allowing the execution. Justice Samuel Alito, in his first official act on the Supreme Court, voted with the majority (6–3) to refuse Missouri's request. Alito's vote made headlines because he did not vote with Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts, said to be the conservative wing of the court.[13][14]
In 2006, Nunley was accused of attacking a manager at the Potosi Correctional Center, where he was being held. Officials said Nunley stabbed the manager in the head, collarbone, and back with a metal shard. The manager survived the attack. On August 19, 2010, it was announced that Nunley was to be executed on October 20, 2010.[15] However, he was later granted a stay of execution by a federal judge.[16]
Executions
[edit]On February 26, 2014, Taylor was executed via lethal injection, after last minute appeals questioning the reliability of Missouri's new, unnamed supplier of the execution drug pentobarbital were turned down. He became the fourth person to be executed in Missouri in four months.[17]
On September 1, 2015, Nunley was executed, also via lethal injection, after three Supreme Court issued orders denying him a stay of execution.[18] He was 50 years old. The appeals pending before the Court questioned the constitutionality of the death penalty, the sentencing of Nunley before a jury rather than a judge, and the secrecy of the state of Missouri in acquiring the drug used to perform the execution.[19][20]
See also
[edit]- Capital punishment in Missouri
- Capital punishment in the United States
- List of kidnappings
- List of people executed in Missouri
- List of people executed in the United States in 2014
- List of people executed in the United States in 2015
References
[edit]- ^ Blakeman, Karen; Beauchamp, Lane (January 29, 1991). "Man describes abduction, rape, murder of girl". The Kansas City Star. pp. A-1, A-6. Retrieved August 24, 2007 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Death-Row Inmates Speak About Murder Of 15-Year-Old Girl". KMBC-TV. April 28, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
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- ^ Adler, Eric (April 25, 1994). "Victims of crime gather to remember the hurt". The Kansas City Star. pp. B-1, B-2. Retrieved May 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ann M. Harrison". The Kansas City Times. March 25, 1989. p. 26. Retrieved May 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Rizzo, Tony (September 1, 2015). "From the archives: 15-year-old Ann Harrison was just waiting for the bus..." The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Penn, Steve (March 24, 1989). "Missing girl's body found in car trunk". The Kansas City Times. pp. A-1, A-19. Retrieved June 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Missouri executes Ann Harrison's killer Roderick Nunley". KMBC-TV. September 2, 2015. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ Blakeman, Karen (May 4, 1991). "Death is penalty for killers". The Kansas City Star. pp. A-1, A-15. Retrieved May 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Lambe, Joe (May 11, 1994). "Death sentence reinstated". The Kansas City Star. pp. C-1, C-3. Retrieved May 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Lambe, Joe (June 18, 1994). "Killer again gets death sentence". The Kansas City Star. pp. C-1, C-8. Retrieved May 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Shelton IV, Lee R. (February 3, 2006). "Alito's First Ruling Isn't Encouraging". The Sierra Times. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
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