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John Matthew
STEPHENSON
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Robbery
Number of victims: 3
Date of murders:
March 28,
1996
Date of birth: July
31,
1963
Victims profile: Brandy Southard, 21; John Jay Tyler,
29, and Kathy Tyler, 29
Method of murder:
Shooting
(SKS Assault rifle)
Location: Warrick County, Indiana, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on June 17, 1997
STEPHENSON, JOHN
MATTHEW # 88
ON DEATH ROW SINCE 06-17-97
DOB: 07-31-63
DOC#: White Male
Warrick County Superior Court Judge Edward A. Campbell
Prosecutor: Todd A. Corne, Keith
A. Meyer
Defense: S. Anthony Long, Dennis
A. Vowels
Date of Murder: March 28, 1996
Victim(s): Brandy Southard
W/F/21; John Jay Tyler W/M/29; Kathy Tyler W/F/29
Method of Murder: shooting with
SKS Assault rifle
Summary: Jay and Kathy Tyler
picked up Brandy Southard from her work in Evansville and were
chased by Stephenson to an intersection in rural Warrick County,
where he emptied a 30 round SKS Assault Rifle into the pickup truck
and their bodies. Each were then stabbed repeatedly.
Stephenson was also convicted of the earlier
Burglary and Theft from Southard's residence.
(Believed to be the longest and most expensive
trial in Indiana history. Jury selection began on September 24;
Opening Statements began on December 30; Found Guilty on May 8; Jury
recommended death on May 20; 140 total trial days. The defense was
allowed 2 attorneys, 2 investigators, a paralegal, a professional
photographer, a civil engineer, a forensic scientist, a jury
consultant, a neuropsychologist, and a mitigation expert. Sister
Helen Prejean was flown in to testify at the sentencing hearing.
Claims paid for 2 attorneys fees were $334,156, paralegal fees were
$57,788, expert fees were $79,193, investigator fees were $74,493,
miscellaneous expenses were over $10,000).
Sentencing: June 17, 1997 (Death
Sentence, Death Sentence, Death Sentence, 10 years, 1 1/2 years
concurrent)
Aggravating Circumstances: 3
murders (lying in wait, drive-by shooting rejected)
Mitigating Circumstances: He has shown that he could be safely imprisoned for Life
Without Parole, Some multiple murderers are in the Indiana DOC and
not on Death Row.
