Indiana Death Row

JACKSON, DONALD LEE, JR. # 54

OFF DEATH ROW SINCE 08-19-92

DOB: 08-03-1956 DOC#: 881974 White Male

Franklin County Circuit Court
Judge Eugene A. Stewart

Venued from Dearborn County

Prosecutor: James D. Humphrey

Defense: Terrance W. Richmond, Ronald Richmer

Date of Murder: October 9, 1986

Victim(s): Michelle Seagraves W/F/22 (No relationship to Jackson)

Method of Murder: shooting .41 handgun; strangulation with a strap

Summary: Michelle Seagraves was kidnapped as she was getting into her car in an apartment complex parking lot in Columbus, Ohio. Witnesses identified Stuart Kennedy as driving Seagraves' Ford Grenada while holding a woman down in the seat. Other witnesses identified a Corvette following the Ford Grenada from Columbus to Moores Hill, Indiana. The license plate of the Corvette showed it registered to Jackson. On the same day, the Peoples National Bank in Moores Hill was robbed by 2 men matching the description of Jackson and Kennedy. The Ford Grenada was identified as the getaway car. Jackson was arrested at his home in Columbus, Ohio as he was getting into the Corvette. Officers recovered $5000 in cash, a .45 handgun, and a submachine gun from the car. Jackson gave a complete confession, directing Officers to the body of Seagraves. An autopsy showed she had been strangled with a strap still on her neck, and shot once in the back of the neck through her head. Jackson also directed Officers to the bloody clothing worn by Kennedy and Jackson discarded in a dumpster.

Trial: Information for Murder filed (12-04-86); Agreement for Change of Venue to Franklin County (04-06-87); Voir Dire/Jury Trial (04-25-88, 04-26-88, 04-27-88, 04-28-88, 04-29-88, 05-02-88, 05-04-88, 05-05-88, 05-06-88, 05-09-88, 05-10-88, 05-11-88, 05-12-88, 05-13-88, 05-16-88, 05-17-88); Verdict (05-17-88); DP Trial (05-18-88, 05-19-88); Verdict (05-19-88); Court Sentencing (06-07-88); Resentencing after Remand (01-25-93).

Conviction: Murder, Felony-Murder(Robbery), Felony-Murder(Kidnapping), Robbery (A Felony), Kidnapping (A Felony)

Sentencing: June 7, 1988 (Death Sentence, 50 years, 50 years consecutive)

Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Robbery, b (1) Kidnapping

Mitigating Circumstances: uncertainty as to triggerman

Direct Appeal:
Jackson v. State, 597 N.E.2d 950 (Ind. August 19, 1992)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0; DP Vacated 3-2 and remanded to impose term of years
(Judge findings overriding jury recommendation fails to meet Martinez test, due to uncertainty as to who was triggerman)
Shepard Opinion; Debruler, Krahulik concur; Givan, Dickson dissent.

Judge Overrides Jury Recommendation against DP
Companion Case to Kennedy

Jackson v. Indiana, 113 S. Ct. 1424 (1993) (Cert. denied)

On Remand:
On January 25, 1993 Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Eugene A. Stewart sentenced Jackson to 60 years imprisonment for Murder in compliance with Indiana Supreme Court Opinion setting aside death sentence and mandating a term of years; to run consecutively with 50 year sentence for Robbery (A Felony), and 50 year sentence for Kidnapping (A Felony), for a total sentence of 160 years imprisonment.

Direct Appeal: Jackson v. State, 625 N.E.2d 1219 (1993).
(Direct appeal after resentencing and imposition of 160 years imprisonment - Affirmed)

As of July 1, 2006


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