|
|
Published May 20, 2009 11:46 pm - BONNE TERRE, Mo. — The execution of Dennis Skillicorn could be the first of many in the coming months in Missouri. Skillicorn, 49, was put to death early Wednesday. He was one of three men convicted in the 1994 murder of Richard Drummond, a Good Samaritan who had stopped to help the men after their car stalled on Interstate 70.
Missouri: Many more executions possible in state
The Associated Press
BONNE TERRE, Mo. — The execution of Dennis Skillicorn could be the first of many in the coming months in Missouri.
Skillicorn, 49, was put to death early Wednesday. He was one of three men convicted in the 1994 murder of Richard Drummond, a Good Samaritan who had stopped to help the men after their car stalled on Interstate 70.
It was the first execution in Missouri since October 2005. In 2006, capital punishment was put on hold over concerns about lethal injection in general and Missouri’s three-drug method in particular. The courts ruled last year in favor of lethal injection and Missouri’s protocol.
Now, more than half of Missouri’s 50 death row inmates have been awaiting execution for a decade or longer, and in many cases, they are running out of appeals.
Richard Dieter, executive director of the Washington-based Death Penalty Information Center, expects to see a spike in executions in Missouri and around the country.
“There is a sense that at least the usual issues of a case may have been concluded in the appeals process,” Dieter said.
State Rep. Scott Lipke, R-Cape Girardeau, chairs the House Crime Prevention Committee and witnessed Skillicorn’s death. He believes the state should move forward with executions.
“If the appeals have run their course the dates should be set,” Lipke said. “We owe it to the victims and the victims’ families not to prolong it anymore.”
For many years, executions were fairly common in Missouri. Since the death penalty was revived in 1989, the state has executed 67 men. The peak year was 1999, with nine executions.
Things changed in Missouri and nationally as the new century dawned. In 2000, Illinois Gov. George Ryan halted executions over concerns that the penalty was not administered fairly. New issues were raised about executing the mentally handicapped. And inmates, including Michael Taylor in Missouri, began challenging whether lethal injection violated their constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment.
The argument was that if the initial anesthetic doesn’t take hold, a third drug that stops the heart can cause excruciating pain. But the inmate would not be able to communicate the pain because of a second drug that paralyzes him.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld lethal injection. And in July, a federal judge ruled that Missouri’s execution method was constitutional.
With those hurdles cleared, states have picked up the pace on executions. The execution of Skillicorn was the 29th in the U.S. this year, Dieter said. There were 37 nationwide in all of 2008.
Missouri is showing signs of moving forward quickly. The state Supreme Court on Monday set a June 17 date to execute Reginald Clemons, one of four men convicted of pushing 21-year-old Julie Kerry and her 19-year-old sister, Robin, to their deaths from an abandoned Mississippi River bridge in St. Louis in the early 1990s.
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:


 |
|
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR SUPERVISOR full time, responsible for development and supervision of ongoing activities required to...>MORE
SEEKING MICROSOFT SYSTEMS ANALYST
Seeking Microsoft Systems Analyst. Candidate will assist with presales consulting, primary installation and support of W...>MORE
OFFICE PERSON NEEDED
Some experience. Apply in person: Coss Painting, 712 Willard, Joplin. ...>MORE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER
COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKER, full time, providing support and case management for adults with chronic mental illness. BS/BA...>MORE
TELLER
Local credit union has opening for part time teller 25-35 hours per week, experience preferred. Apply in person Joplin M...>MORE
HAIR STYLIST
for Carthage salon. 417-388-2074. ...>MORE
HIRING HAIR STYLIST
NOW HIRING HAIR STYLIST. Fun and energetic salon. 417-845-0555, Tanya....>MORE
3 BOOTH RENTALS
small salon atmosphere, lots of exposure, 15th/Main. 417-529-8646...>MORE
SERVICE COORDINATOR
SERVICE COORDINATOR, excellent career opportunity! Fulltime positions available providing case management services and a...>MORE
MEMBER SERVICES ASSOCIATES
The Freeman Southwest Family YMCA in Neosho, MO has two openings for Member Services Associates. These part-t...>MORE
See all ads |
|
2005 HONDA PILOT EXL-DVD
4 door, 4x4, red with tan leather, 8 passenger, 89,000 miles, new tires, $14,500. (918)961-8995....>MORE
2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
LS, 4X4, 80,000 miles, priced to sell, $9,000 or best offer. 417-529-1957....>MORE
2005 SAAB 9-3 TURBO
leather, automatic, 83,000 miles, $6800. (417)438-5487....>MORE
2008 NISSAN VERSA
4-door, 4500 miles, 4 cylinder, automatic, power steering, air, AM/FM CD, power windows/locks, silver with black interio...>MORE
PONTIAC, 1997 SUNFIRE,
2 door, automatic, low miles, very nice, $2650. 434-7382....>MORE
JEEP, 1999 GRAND CHEROKEE,
4x4, automatic, loaded, new tires, $3200. 434-7382....>MORE
1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY
127,000 miles, nice and clean, $3420. 529-2207....>MORE
1990 FREIGHLINER CAB OVER
set back axle, 400 Cummins, 9 speed over drive, flat top, big sleeper, 10 near new tires, new transmission, new brakes a...>MORE
2001 FORD WINDSTAR
Super sharp, loaded, cold air front and rear, extra clean, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
1999 FORD F350
crew cab, 7.3 diesel, 4x4, white, Astro top, best offer. 434-3995...>MORE
See all ads |
|
BY OWNER REDUCED PRICE!
3 br, 2 ba, 1840 sq. ft., remodeled, all new interior, new roof, $79,900. 436 N. Wall, Joplin. 240-432-8336....>MORE
OPEN HOUSE 2-4 P.M.
3 br, 2 ba, 2-car gar., 1660 sq. ft. with lots of amenities, 2228 W. 29th. $129,900. 417-825-0557....>MORE
ATTRACTIVE, COMFORTABLE 4 BR
3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronogo, MO. Open house, Sunday 11 a...>MORE
DEERFIELD ESTATES
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE
BY OWNER: 3 BR, 2 BA
1880 sq. ft., Cedar Ridge subdivision $189,900 417-621-5098...>MORE
BRIARBROOK
3 BR, 2.5 ba, 1 year lease $725/$700, no pets. 417-310-0056....>MORE
819 A STREET
Charming 2 story, 2 bedroom home with a lot of character. Hardwood floors, huge screened porch, central heat and air, co...>MORE
2 BR, 9523 HIGHWAY NN
$450/$400; 417-592-2088....>MORE
916 OREGON
OPEN SUNDAY 1-3 PM , CARTERVILLE. 3 br, 2 1/2 ba REDUCED! 417-439-5010....>MORE
3 BR, 1 BA, 827 S. PICHER
central heat/air, refrigerator, stove $500/$500. 437-6365....>MORE
See all ads |
|
TWO LIVING ESTATE SALES, ONE SITE
Saturday, November 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. 28245 Fir Road, Carl Junction, MO. Follow signs. Downsizing...>MORE
WANENMACHER’S WORLD’S LARGEST
GUN SHOW -November 14 and 15. Tulsa Fairgrounds, Saturday, 8-6 p.m., Sunday 8-4 p.m. www.tulsaarmsshow.com....>MORE
BOW FLEX EXTREME HOME GYM
(417)438-9041...>MORE
COUCH
full size, with pillows, light pastel colors, lavender and blue, no cats, no dogs, no kids, $150 or offer. 624-2197....>MORE
KENNELL REDUCTION
Chihuahua’s and French Bulldog’s, AKC, pups to young adults, very nice, Chihuahua’s $100/up, Frenchis, $900/up. (417)394...>MORE
CHEAP PUPPIES
Border Terriers, Dachshunds, Italian Greyhound, Lhasas, Morkies, Norwich Terriers, Shih-Tzus, Standard Poodles (chocolat...>MORE
CHIHUAHUAS
Chorkies, WaPoos, Shih-Tzus, just in time for Christmas. $85 to $250. Registered and shots 417-438-6057...>MORE
2008 POLARIS TRAILBLAZER 330
2 wheel drive, like new, $2300. (918)961-8995....>MORE
1950S CAVALIER COKE MACHINE
in working order, $350. (417)782-2751....>MORE
YORKIE, POMERANIAN AND SILKY PUPPIES
wanting forever homes. Well socialized. Prices $75-$300. Early Christmas presents (417)652-7510, leave message. ...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|