Anthony Kirkland
| Anthony Kirkland | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 13, 1968 United States |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Conviction(s) | Murder |
| Killings | |
| Victims | 5 |
Span of killings | 1987–2009 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Ohio |
Date apprehended | March 8, 2009 |
Anthony Kirkland (born September 13, 1968)[1] is an American serial killer. Between 2006 and 2009, Kirkland murdered two women and two girls in the Cincinnati area, following a 16-year prison term for the 1987 killing of his girlfriend.
1987 killing
On May 20, 1987, Kirkland killed his girlfriend, Leola Douglas, and set her body on fire. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served 16 years in prison.[2] He was released from parole in 2004.[3]
2006–2009 murders
From May 4, 2006, through March 7, 2009, Kirkland murdered four females (two women and two teenagers), three of them by strangulation. In each case, he had burned his victim's body in an attempt to conceal evidence of rape.[4][5] Kirkland was arrested near the scene of his last murder victim in possession of her watch and iPod.[4]
Victims
Kirkland's five victims include:
- Leola Douglas, age 27, killed May 20, 1987;[3]
- Casonya Crawford, age 14, murdered May 4, 2006;[4][6]
- Mary Jo Newton, age 45, murdered June 14, 2006;[4][7]
- Kimya Rolison, age 25, murdered December 22, 2006;[4][8] and
- Esme Kenney, age 13, murdered March 7, 2009.[4][9]
Trial
On the morning of his trial, Kirkland voluntarily entered a plea of guilty to the murder and abuse-of-a-corpse charges relating to Mary Jo Newton and Kimya Rolison. On March 12, 2010, the jury found Kirkland guilty on all the remaining counts, including all the death-penalty specifications; the jury recommended a sentence of death. On March 31, 2010, he was sentenced to death.[10] The court sentenced Kirkland to death for the aggravated murder of Esme Kenney (while committing or attempting to commit a rape) and for the aggravated murder of Casonya Crawford (while committing or attempting to commit a robbery). The court also sentenced Kirkland to 70-years-to-life for the murders of Mary Jo Newton and Kimya Rolison.
Kirkland is presently incarcerated at Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio.
Appeals
On May 13, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio upheld Kirkland's conviction and death sentence.[11][12][13]
On October 16, 2014, the Supreme Court of Ohio granted a motion by Kirkland for a stay of execution.[14]
On April 6, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Kirkland's appeal.[15]
In May 2016, the Supreme Court of Ohio granted a motion for a new sentencing hearing for Kirkland.[16]
See also
- Capital punishment in Ohio
- List of individuals executed in Ohio
- List of offenders scheduled to be executed in the United States
References
- ↑ Offender Details
- ↑ Police: Anthony Kirkland suspect in several murders - FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather & Sports
- 1 2 http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090311/NEWS0107/903110316/Anthony-Kirkland-law-1987-2009
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kirkland sentenced to death | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com
- ↑ http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090310/NEWS0107/903100391/Coroner-Esme-strangled
- ↑ State of Ohio vs. Anthony Kirkland, Case No. 2010-0854, In the Supreme Court of Ohio, Merit Brief of Appellant Anthony Kirkland, at Page 1
- ↑ State of Ohio vs. Anthony Kirkland, Case No. 2010-0854, In the Supreme Court of Ohio, Merit Brief of Appellant Anthony Kirkland, at Page 1
- ↑ State of Ohio vs. Anthony Kirkland, Case No. 2010-0854, In the Supreme Court of Ohio, Merit Brief of Appellant Anthony Kirkland, at Page 1
- ↑ State of Ohio vs. Anthony Kirkland, Case No. 2010-0854, In the Supreme Court of Ohio, Merit Brief of Appellant Anthony Kirkland, at Page 1
- ↑ Jurors find Anthony Kirkland guilty of all 12 counts, including aggravated murder | Cincinnati.com | cincinnati.com
- ↑ "Death sentence upheld for killer of 2 teen girls". Washington Times. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ Maloney, Kathleen (13 May 2014). "Supreme Court Rejects Death Penalty Appeal of Hamilton County Man in Murders of Two Women and Two Girls". COURT NEWS OHIO. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ "Court rejects serial killer's death sentence appeal". cincinannati.com. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
- ↑ "The Supreme Court of Ohio State of Ohio v. Anthony Kirkland" (PDF). 16 October 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ Johnson, Alan (6 April 2015). "Child killer Anthony Kirkland loses early round at U.S. Supreme Court". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ↑ "Anthony Kirkland, convicted Cincinnati killer, granted re-sentencing". YAHOO! NEWS. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.