|
Glenn Holladay
Alabama
Mental Retardation
Stay of execution issued: May 26, 2003
Overview
Glenn Holladay was sentenced to death on July 27, 1987 for the murder of his ex-wife Rebecca Ledbetter Holladay; her boyfriend David Robinson and Larry Thomas Jr, a sixteen year old neighbour on August 24, 1986.
Mrs. Holladay was living in a mobile home in Gasden, Alabama. On the night of the 24 August, 1986 David Robinson, her boyfriend, her son, Shea Ledbetter, her son’s friend Larry Thomas Jr., and her sister Katrina Ledbetter were at the mobile home. Thomas left to get something to eat at his own home. As he walked outside, he was shot and his body was later discovered outside of the trailer. Immediately after Thomas was shot, Glenn Holladay burst into the trailer, pushing aside Katrina Ledbetter as she yelled a warning to her sister, who was back in the bedroom. Holladay proceeded down the hallway, stopping at Shea's bedroom and attempting to turn on the light. After Holladay left Shea's bedroom, Shea and Katrina left the trailer and ran to Thomas's parents' home. Holladay found his ex-wife and her boyfriend in the back bedroom; he shot Robinson in the arm and chest and shot Rebecca in the back of the head.
On October 9, 1986, Holladay was apprehended in Gainesville, Florida. At trial Holladay testified that he was in Nashville at the time of the killings and denied killing any of the victims. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on July 27, 1987.
Evidence of Mr. Holladay’s Mental Retardation.
Mr. Holladay has been consistently assessed since the age of nine as having mental retardation. As a child, he was tested by mental health experts on three separate occasions, resulting in I.Q. scores of forty-nine, fifty-six, and fifty-four respectively. Six further IQ tests have confirmed this diagnosis with Mr. Holladay possessing an average IQ score of 69.
Mr. Holladay further has a strong social history indicating mental deficits and retardation. He is unable to read or write and failed to complete his education beyond the sixth grade; the equivalent of an 11 year olds’ primary schooling. Extensive documentation by state agencies, schools and physicians further delineates Mr. Holladay’s mental retardation. Indeed, at the time of Mr. Holladay’s arrest it is reported that during attempts to capture him, Mr.Holladay with a pistol in his hand was screaming "I want my mommy."
The extent and persuasiveness of this evidence is exemplified by the sentencing judge’s conclusion, at trial, that Mr. Holladay was mentally retarded. Despite this however, Mr. Holladay was sentenced to death.
The United States Supreme Court has recently ruled unconstitutional the execution of offenders with mental retardation. The Court recognized that no valid penological purpose is served in executing persons whose disabilities in areas of reasoning, judgment and impulse control mean they do not act with the level of moral culpability that characterizes the most serious adult criminal conduct ( Atkins v. Virginia, 122 S.Ct. 2242, 2244 (2002)).
Letters for Clemency
|
