Ernest Lee Johnson
Ernest Lee Johnson | |
---|---|
Auto theft | |
Criminal penalty | Death |
Details | |
Victims | Mary Bratcher, 46 Mable Scruggs, 57 Fred Jones, 58 |
Date | February 12, 1994 |
Country | United States |
Location(s) | Boone County, Missouri |
Weapons | Gun Hammer Screwdriver |
Ernest Lee Johnson (August 20, 1960 – October 5, 2021) was an American criminal convicted and executed for the murder of three convenience store employees in Boone County, Missouri in 1994. Johnson's execution by lethal injection proved controversial, as a 2008 surgery had removed up to 20 percent of his brain tissue, leaving Johnson permanently cognitively disabled.
Early life
Johnson was born on August 20, 1960,
Murders and trial
On February 12, 1994, Johnson killed three convenience store employees during an attempted robbery of a local Casey's in Columbia, Missouri: Mary Bratcher (46), Mable Scruggs (57), and Fred Jones (58).[6] Johnson, who had been under the influence of cocaine at the time, had borrowed a .25-caliber pistol with the intention of robbing the store. When Bratcher attempted to destroy a key to the Casey's safe during the attempted robbery, Johnson became angry with his victims. He shot them with the borrowed gun before beating them to death with a claw hammer. Bratcher was also stabbed in the head with a screwdriver.[7] Johnson then stored the bodies in the store's bathroom and cooler before fleeing the scene, disposing of most of his belongings in a nearby field.[8] Bratcher and Scruggs were both mothers.[9]
Johnson went to trial on May 11, 1995, in the
Brain surgery
In 2008, Johnson underwent brain surgery to remove a tumor. The surgery was an incomplete success, with some tumor mass remaining, as well as scar tissue from the procedure, which led to Johnson developing
Execution
With Johnson's execution approaching, his attorney, public defender Jeremy Weis, attempted to argue before the
On October 4, Parson released a statement saying that he would not grant clemency to Johnson, and that the execution would proceed as planned.[17] Johnson died by lethal injection at 6:11 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri.[18] He read a written last statement aloud, apologizing for his actions, reiterating his love for his friends and family, and thanking those who had prayed on his behalf. As the injection began, he mouthed unknown words to his relatives. Johnson was formally pronounced dead nine minutes after receiving an injection of pentobarbital.[8]
Johnson's last meal consisted of two double bacon cheeseburgers, onion rings, two large strawberry milkshakes and a large pizza.[19]
See also
- Capital punishment in Missouri
- List of people executed in Missouri
- List of people executed in the United States in 2021
References
- ^ Zivot, Joel (2016). "Too Sick to Be Executed: Shocking Punishment and the Brain". Fordham Law Review. 85 (2): 697–703. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ Hauser, Christine; Jiménez, Jesus (October 4, 2021). "Missouri Executes Death Row Prisoner Despite Pleas From Pope and Others". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- Newspapers.com.
- The Springfield News-Leader. Associated Press. February 17, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved October 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FindLaw's Supreme Court of Missouri case and opinions". Findlaw. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ Burdziak, Alan (November 1, 2015). "Grisly triple murder case shocked mid-1990s Columbia". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "A Missouri man is executed for killing 3 workers in 1994 robbery". NPR. Associated Press. 2021-10-05. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ a b c d Salter, Jim (October 6, 2021). "Missouri man executed for killing 3 workers in 1994 robbery". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ Schmelzer, Elise (2 November 2015). "Victim's family prepares for execution of their mother's killer, Ernest Lee Johnson". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ "Trial begins in slayings of convenience store clerks". The Springfield News-Leader. Associated Press. May 11, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved October 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jury recommends death penalty in triple-murder case". The Springfield News-Leader. Associated Press. May 19, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved October 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dunlap, Charles (October 5, 2021). "Missouri executes Ernset Johnson, who killed three Columbia Casey's employees in 1994". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ Bellware, Kim (October 5, 2021). "Missouri executes man whose advocates say had intellectual disabilities". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ Bellware, Kim (October 2, 2021). "Missouri is slated to execute Ernest Johnson. Lawmakers and the pope want his life to be spared". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ Dunlap, Charles (August 31, 2021). "Missouri Supreme Court refuses to halt pending execution of Ernest Lee Johnson". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Eastham, Julia; Muller, Destiny (September 29, 2021). "Mike Parson called on to halt the execution of Ernest Lee Johnson". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Nozicka, Luke (October 4, 2021). "Parson won't halt execution of Missouri man lawyers say is intellectually disabled". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Kuang, Jeanne; Nozicka, Luke (October 5, 2021). "Missouri executes Ernest Johnson, killer of 3 but mentally disabled, supporters say". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Fallis and Southey, Patterson and Stephanie (5 October 2021). "State executes Ernest Johnson 27 years after Columbia triple murder". KOMU 8. Retrieved 2022-04-27.