The state of Arkansas has a storied history with its criminal justice system, particularly concerning its death row inmates. Currently, 26 individuals from across the state await their fate within the lethal injection chamber at Varner Super Max in Grady.
Among the counties contributing to this grim roster from the Today in Fort Smith primary readership area are Sebastian, Johnson, Polk, Benton, and Washington. Eight men in total from those five counties, all convicted of heinous murders, are among those who continue to literally battle in the courts for their lives.
Thomas Leo Springs was convicted of the capital murder of his estranged wife, Christina Springs in Fort Smith.
Jack Greene is a death row inmate from Johnson County. He was convicted of the 1991 murder of Sidney Jethro Burnett. Greene’s crime involved beating Burnett with a can of hominy, stabbing, and shooting him.
Greene’s case has been particularly controversial due to concerns about his mental health. His attorneys have argued that he suffers from severe mental illness, which has led to multiple legal battles over his competency to be executed.
Karl Roberts was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering his 12-year-old niece, Andi Brewer, in 1999. Roberts, who was 32 at the time, took Andi from her Polk County home in his red pickup truck, drove her to nearby woods, and committed the brutal acts before dumping her body near Mena.
Roberts was sentenced to death on May 24, 20001. Despite his conviction, Roberts has remained on death row for over two decades, with his case drawing significant attention due to the severity of his actions and subsequent legal battles.
Five of the s condemned men are out of northwest Arkansas, including three from Benton County.
Don Davis was convicted of the 1990 murder of Jane Daniel. During a burglary in Rogers, Davis, under the influence of cocaine, shot and killed 62-year-old Jane Daniel.
Brandon Lacy was convicted of the brutal murder of Randall Walker in 2007. Lacy, along with an accomplice, Broderick Laswell, robbed Walker’s home in Garfield. During the robbery, Lacy beat and stabbed Walker with a fire poker, ultimately setting his body on fire.
The crime was particularly heinous, involving severe violence and premeditation. Lacy was sentenced to death for his actions, while his accomplice received a life sentence without parole.
Zachary Ward was convicted of the 1990 murder of 18-year-old Rebecca Doss. Ward’s crime involved kidnapping, raping, and strangling Doss to death. The brutality of the crime and the young age of the victim shocked the community and led to Ward’s death sentence.
From Washington County, Gregory Decay is on death row for the 2007 murders of Kevin Barkley Jones and Kendall Rachell Rice. Decay believed that the victims had stolen drugs from him, leading him to their apartment where he fatally shot both individuals.
In 2008, a Washington County jury found Decay guilty of two counts of capital murder and sentenced him to death12. His case has been through various appeals, including a petition for post-conviction relief, but his conviction and death sentence have been upheld.
Zachariah Marcyniuk was sentenced to death for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Katie Wood, a University of Arkansas student. He was convicted and sentenced to die by lethal injection and continues to seek a new trial.
Arkansas death row inmates are housed at the Varner Unit, a high-security prison.
Conditions on death row are typically very restrictive. Inmates spend most of their time in their cells, which are small and isolated. They have limited contact with other inmates and are allowed out of their cells for only a few hours each day for exercise and showers.
The cells are equipped with basic amenities such as a bed, toilet, and sink. Inmates have access to legal resources and can receive visits from family, lawyers, and clergy, but these visits are often conducted through a glass partition.
It has been seven years since the state of Arkansas has sent a condemned man to his death, and a legal system that allows numerous appeals may continue to extend the lives of the convicted murderers in custody of the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
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