Lake County Superior Court
Judge Richard
J. Conroy
Prosecutor: John J. Burke
Defense: Kevin B. Relphorde, Albert E. Marshall
Date of Murder: April 23, 1988
Victim(s): Leonard Fowler W/M/46 (Live-In boyfriend of Landress)
Method of Murder: stabbing with knives
Summary: Landress lived with her boyfriend, Leonard Fowler. They were joined one morning by Landress' friend, Julie Lewellen. All three sat around the kitchen table talking and drinking. Lewellen suddenly threatened Fowler with a knife and forced him to the floor. Landress retrieved an extension cord and Lewellen tied Fowler up and took his wallet, giving it to Landress. While they were removing the money, Landress told Lewellen that Fowler had escaped and was in the bedroom loading his shotgun. Lewellen ran to the bedroom and began stabbing Fowler. Landress got a knife from the kitchen and returned to the bedroom where she says she attempted only to break up the fight. Landress received a deep cut to her hand and dropped the knife. Landress then got the keys from Fowler's pocket and they fled in his car. They were apprehended in California two weeks later. The day before the murder, Landress had displayed a large buck knife and Lewellen had displayed a smaller butterfly knife. Both had expressed a desire to go "rolling." (knocking someone out and robbing them). Most all of the above details came from the testimony of Landress and Julie Lewellen.
Trial: Information filed/PC Hearing for Murder (05-04-88); Amended Information for DP filed (12-13-88); Voir Dire (05-15-89); Jury Trial (05-16-89, 05-17-89, 05-18-89, 05-19-89); Verdict (05-19-89); DP Trial (05-20-89); Deliberations 4 hours, 15 minutes; Verdict (05-20-89); Court Sentencing (06-26-89).
Conviction: Felony-Murder (Robbery)
Sentencing: June 26, 1989 (Death Sentence)
Aggravating Circumstances: B (1) Robbery
Mitigating Circumstances: None
Direct Appeal:
Landress v. State, 600 N.E.2d 938 (Ind. October 15, 1992)
Conviction Affirmed 5-0 DP Vacated 4-1
(Intent to kill of one Defendant cannot be imputed to accomplice)
Krahulik Opinion; Shepard, Debruler, Dickson concur; Givan dissents.
On Remand:
On March 18, 1993 Lake County Superior Court Judge Richard J. Conroy resentenced Landress to 60 years imprisonment for Murder in compliance with Indiana Supreme Court Opinion setting aside death sentence and remanding "for imposition of a new sentence.”
Landress v. State, 638 N.E.2d 787 (Ind. 1994)
(Direct appeal after resentencing and imposition of 60 years imprisonment - Affirmed)
As of July 1, 2006