Arthur Ray Jenkins | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Arthur Ray JENKINS III

Classification: Murderer

Characteristics:

Robbery

Number of victims: 2

Date of murder:

October 12,

1991

Date of birth: 1969

Victims profile: Floyd Jenkins, 72

(his uncle) and Lee Hopewell Brinklow, 69

Method of murder: Shooting (.22-caliber rifle)

Location: Warren County, Virginia, USA

Status: Executed by lethal injection in Virginia on April 20,

1999

United States Court of Appeals
For the Fourth Circuit

opinion 98-13

On October 12, 1991, when Arthur Ray Jenkins was 22, he and a 16-year-old accomplice went to the home of Jenkins' uncle, Floyd Jenkins. They murdered Floyd and his 69-year-old friend Lee Hopewell Brinklow and robbed them of their wallets, cash and various other valuables from the home.

According to a court summary of the case, Arthur Jenkins and a younger brother, Kevin Frame, had been drinking when they went to a house shared by Jenkins' uncle and Brinklow.

An argument ensued, and the younger Jenkins took a .22-caliber rifle from a bedroom and shot his uncle and Brinklow, then repeatedly stabbed the uncle. Jenkins then broke into his aunt's bedroom and stole money and other items.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Statement by Governor Jim Gilmore Regarding The Execution of Arthur Ray Jenkins III

RICHMOND- "Arthur Ray Jenkins III murdered Floyd Jenkins and Lee Brinklow in their home. Floyd Jenkins was 72 and Lee Brinklow was 69. The murders were excruciatingly brutal, involving use of both a firearm and a butcher knife.

"There never has been any question as to Jenkins' guilt. A jury convicted Jenkins of capital murder for the murder and robbery of Floyd Jenkins and Lee Brinklow and sentenced him to death. After reviewing all of the evidence, the judge imposed the death sentence. Before deciding on the death penalty, the jury and the judge heard a detailed recounting of Jenkins' family history and record of violent behavior both in and out of institutions. The convictions and death sentence were upheld on multiple appeals.

"Even while on death row Jenkins has proved to be a threat to correctional officers and other inmates. He was found in possession of a razor blade fashioned into a knife on one occasion. On other occasions he has assaulted prison guards, once slicing a guard's hand.

"Upon a thorough review of the Petition for Clemency, the numerous court decisions regarding this case, and the circumstances of this matter, I decline to intervene."

Arthur Ray Jenkins III, 29, 99-04-20 - Virginia

A Front Royal man who murdered his uncle and another man in Warren County was executed Tuesday night after Gov. Jim Gilmore denied his request for clemency.

Arthur Ray Jenkins III was put to death by injection at the Greensville Correctional Center. He was pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m.

"Forgive me for my sins," Jenkins said when asked for a final statement.

He cried out several times as prison officials inserted needles that would carry the lethal chemicals into his body.

Outside the prison, a handful of death penalty opponents lined the road with candles lit at their feet as the execution hour approached.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Jenkins' final appeal.

Jenkins, 29, was convicted of capital murder in the Oct. 12, 1990, slayings of his uncle, Floyd Jenkins, 72, and Lee H. Brinklow, 69.

According to a court summary of the case, Arthur Jenkins and a younger brother, Kevin Frame, had been drinking when they went to a house shared by Jenkins' uncle and Brinklow.

In his appeals, Jenkins' attorneys admitted he killed the men. But, they say, he was mentally ill after years of physical and sexual abuse.

According to his lawyers, Jenkins was neglected, beaten and sexually abused as a child. He then spent a decade in juvenile institutions. He was judged to be mentally ill and placed on anti-psychotic medication when he was 13.

When he was 16, Jenkins was returned to the custody of his parents. But they didn't want him in the house, so he lived in a tent and was frequently seen begging for food around Front Royal. Soon after, he was arrested for breaking into a gas station.

He was sentenced to 7 years for burglary and grand larceny and was sent to adult prison at age 16. He received anti-psychotic medications while incarcerated.

In 1989, he was transferred to the Washington County jail for his own protection after he told authorities about a prison slaying. While there he was cut off from his medication and, according to his appeal, suffered "outrageous physical and mental abuse'' at the hands of the chief jailer.

The appeal accuses the jailer, Robert A. Clenenden Jr., of giving inmates alcohol, marijuana and pills in exchange for sexual favors. Clenenden, who later served jail time on unrelated embezzlement charges, denied the sex and drug claims.

Jenkins was released from the jail on Sept. 6, 1990 without supervision or medication, said Jenkins' lawyers, Charles F. Witthoefft and Ian J. Wilson. He had been out of jail 36 days when he committed the 2 murders.

The jury never got to hear of the alleged abuse suffered by Jenkins in jail. A federal appeals court ruled that evidence of the abuse could not be raised because it was not introduced earlier in the appeals process.

The Virginia attorney general's office said Jenkins' criminal record is unchanged by the new abuse claims.

"Jenkins is a violent, predatory killer," said David Botkins, the attorney general's spokesman. "Jenkins admits his guilt, but continues to try and manipulate the system."

Gilmore, in denying clemency, said the slayings of the two elderly men were "excruciatingly brutal" and that Jenkins, while on death row, had assaulted guards and was found with a razor blade fashioned into a knife.

Jenkins becomes the 6th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Virginia, and the 65th overall since Virginia resumed executions on August 10, 1982.

(sources: Associated Press and Rick Halperin)