MO DA Seeks DP Against Darren Winans In Murder Of Elderly Couple

[heidi salazar]

Death penalty to be sought in Sheldon murders

The Jasper County prosecutor has filed a notice that he will seek the death penalty against Darren J. Winans and Matthew D. Laurin, the accused killers of Robert and Ellen Sheldon, as Missouri appears poised to resume executions under its death-penalty statute.

Winans, 22, of Jasper, and Laurin, 20, of Springfield, are accused of stabbing the Sheldons to death inside their home near Carthage the night of Oct. 11, 2008. Investigators believe they broke into the elderly couple’s home intending to rob them.

Missouri’s capital-murder law prohibits the death penalty unless at least one of 14 aggravating circumstances is found to be part of the offense. The notice of aggravating circumstances filed in Jasper County Circuit Court by Prosecutor Dean Dankelson cites four alleged elements of the crime that meet the requirements:

Commission of first-degree murder while committing another homicide.

Commission of first-degree murder for the purpose of receiving money or other objects of monetary value from the victims.

That each murder was “outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, or depravity of mind.”

That each murder was committed in the act of perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate another felony offense, namely burglary or robbery.

The two defendants’ cases have been severed by order of Circuit Judge Gayle Crane, and each has a hearing on motions scheduled for Jan. 25. The judge has yet to assign the cases to other counties on changes of venue for selection of jurors, and no trial dates have been set.

Winans and Laurin become the second and third defendants currently facing a possible death penalty in Jasper County cases, and the fourth and fifth in the Globe’s coverage area in Southwest Missouri.

Gary Black, 54, twice convicted and sentenced to die in the 1998 slaying of college student Jason Johnson in downtown Joplin, is awaiting a third trial in his capital-murder case. Both of Black’s convictions were overturned, with the Missouri Supreme Court most recently deciding that he should have been allowed to act as his own attorney at his second trial.

Black since has relinquished the idea of representing himself at his next trial. The local court is awaiting completion of a mental health examination of Black that was requested by his attorney before setting a new trial date.

David W. Spears, 27, of Stella, and Chris L. Collings, 34, of Wheaton, face the possibility of death sentences if they are convicted in the Rowan Ford murder case. The 9-year-old girl was abducted Nov. 3, 2007, from her home in Stella. She is believed to have been raped and murdered in Barry County. Her body was found in a sinkhole in McDonald County.

The trial of Spears, Rowan’s stepfather, has been shifted to Pulaski County, and Collings’ case is pending in Phelps County on changes of venue.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_019223906.html?keyword=secondarystory

[heidi salazar]

Laurin pleads guilty to Sheldon murders

Matthew D. Laurin pleaded guilty today to the murders of Robert and Ellen Sheldon in a plea bargain that allows him to escape the death penalty.

Laurin, 20, of Springfield, changed his plea to guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a single count of burglary and will spend the rest of his life in prison without any chance of parole.

The Sheldons were stabbed to death the night of Oct. 11, 2008, inside their home just west of Carthage city limits. Ellen Sheldon, 71, was stabbed six times and her 70-year-old husband 26 times by intruders. Investigators believe the motive was robbery.

Laurin and Darren J. Winans, 22, of Jasper, were arrested nine months later and charged with the burglary and murders. Winans’ case remains pending, but Laurin took a plea offer made by the Jasper County prosecutor’s office with the approval of the murdered couple’s family.

Laurin waived his right to a sentencing-assessment report as part of the agreement and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Gayle Crane to two life terms without parole for the murder convictions, two 20-years terms for convictions for armed criminal action and 15 years for the burglary. The judge ordered the sentences to run consecutive.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x972390313/Laurin-pleads-guilty-to-Sheldon-murders

[Michael]

I´m not sure if I ´m satisfied with this sentence... 

BTW - These are the two POS



Michael

[heidi salazar]

Man hangs self in jail in Carthage, 2 days after pleading guilty to avoid death penalty

A man from Springfield killed himself two days after pleading guilty for killing an elderly couple in their home near Carthage in 2008. Jasper County jailers found the body of Matthew Laurin, 20, on Wednesday. It was hanging by a bedsheet in his cell.

Laurin was one of two men charged for the stabbing deaths of Robert Sheldon, 70, and his wife, Ellen, 71, in October 2008. Detectives said the motive was robbery.

Laurin faced the death penalty but received two life prison sentences after pleading guilty on Monday. He was awaiting transfer to the Missouri Department of Corrections. Sheriff Archie Dunn says counselors saw Laurin on Wednesday morning.

The case against Laurin's co-defendant is pending.

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/Man-kills-self-in-jail-2-days-after-pleading-guilty-to-avoid-death-penalty-99509199.html

[Michael]

I think he realized a bit to late that LWOP is not a holiday trip.

As a DR inmate Laurin would have got much more attention and support. As a LWOP he would have been forgotten and addicted to the support from friends and family (if there are some of them outside).

Michael

[JeffcoCitizen]

Winans pleads guilty in Sheldon murders
Deal leaves open length of sentence, possibility of parole

February 28, 2011

JOPLIN, MO — Darren J. Winans pleaded guilty today in the Sheldon murders case in a deal with the prosecutor that would relieve the defendant of any chance of a death sentence.

The 23-year-old man pleaded guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a single count of burglary in the 2008 slayings of Robert and Ellen Sheldon in their home near Carthage.

He will be sentenced May 4 following completion of a sentencing-assessment report by the local office of state probation and parole services.

Winans, of Jasper, faces from 10 to 30 years, or up to life in prison, for each of the murder convictions. He had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and could have faced the death penalty if the case had gone to trial.

The defendant entered open pleas to all five counts, meaning Circuit Judge Gayle Crane will be free to assess him whatever length of sentence she sees fit, with a minimum of 10 years on each of the murders. The deal leaves open the possibility of parole once Winans has served 85 percent of whatever sentence he receives.

Prosecutor Dean Dankelson said at the plea hearing that Winans accompanied Matthew D. Laurin, 20, of Springfield, to the Sheldons’ home the night of the murders with a plan to rob the elderly couple. Dankelson indicated that investigators believe Laurin stabbed the Sheldons and their dog to death prior to Winans entering the home and assisting in the burglary.

Laurin pleaded guilty last year to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and burglary in a deal that took the death penalty off the table. He then committed suicide two days later at the Jasper County Jail.

http://www.joplinglobe.com/archive/x1709535319/Winans-pleads-guilty-in-Sheldon-murders

[JTiscool]

Damn it. They both got off easy 

EDIT: Also forgot. 1000th post