Frances Elaine Newton

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Frances Elaine Newton (born April 12, 1965 - September 14, 2005 in Huntsville , Texas ) was sentenced to death for triple homicides . The African American was the 11th woman to be executed in the United States since 1977 .

prehistory

In March 1987 , Frances Newton took out a very high level of life insurance for herself, her husband Adrian and their almost 2 year old daughter Farrah. Her 7 year old son Alton already had one. At that time, Frances Newton was already separated from her husband and had a boyfriend. On April 7, 1987, her husband and two children were shot dead at close range with a pistol . This pistol belonged to Frances Newton's friend. She was then arrested and charged with triple murder, as a motive was the insured amount of 100,000 US dollars .

process

Frances Newton protested her innocence for decades. Her public defender, Ron Mock, never interviewed witnesses, nor did he stand up for his client. Nitrate residue on her skirt, believed to be traces of gunfire , contributed to Newton's conviction . It was only after her conviction that it was discovered that the residue was actually from manure, since Newton had been gardening that day. There was also no trace of blood on her clothing, which is very unusual considering that the shots were fired from close range. Nevertheless, Newton was sentenced to death in 1988.

On death row

Frances Newton spent 17 years on Death Row in Huntsville Prison, Texas . She was initially scheduled to be executed on December 1, 2004, but here Governor Rick Perry granted her a 120-day suspension. People all over the world worked to save Frances Newton. She kept repeating that she did not kill her husband or children.

execution

On September 14, 2005, Frances Newton was executed by lethal injection . Her parents and three siblings came to her execution , as did two cousins ​​of her husband Adrian. Newton refused to have one final meal . She didn't say any last words either, just looked at her family in silence and formed the words "I love you" with her lips. At 6:09 p.m. local time, the drugs were introduced into her body and she was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m.

Film documentation

  • 2006, WDR, documentary "The Story - A Death in Texas: The Execution of Frances Newton".

swell


personal data
SURNAME Newton, Frances Elaine
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American woman for triple murder sentenced to death was
DATE OF BIRTH April 12, 1965
DATE OF DEATH September 14, 2005
Place of death Huntsville , Texas