Michael Tisius gets a stay of execution

Michael Tisius was to be executed on Friday in Missouri but has received a stay of execution to allow more time for appeals.

As in most cases it is difficult to find information available on the victims of violent crimes. If any friends or family of the victim would like to send us photos, stories or any information, we will gladly post it. Similarly, if you would like to comment on Mr. Tisius, his crime or his stay of execution, please let us know.

Drew Peterson Trial: Day 1 – Opening arguments, and first witness

Alleged crime scene photo of Kathleen Savio – courtesy Justice Cafe

For die hard Drew Peterson watchers looking for some details about the crime and insight into the life of Peterson and his ex-wife, the first day of his trial didn’t disappoint. Today both the prosecution and defense made their opening arguments, and the prosecution called their first witness.

Opening Arguments

The day started off with the prosecution’s opening arguments in which they outlined a sinister plot in which Drew Peterson would scheme, lie and murder to keep a greedy, soon-to-be ex-wife from getting his money. Peterson had a $300,000 pension, two houses and a tavern which added up to around $800,000. Lead prosecutor James Glasgow explained to the jury that only weeks before her death Peterson had told Savio that he was going to kill her.

Glasgow also pointed out that the original investigation into Savio’s death was

The defendant’s attorney’s tried to explain it all away, claiming that Peterson was the victim of trial by media, he claimed that Savio’s death was nothing but a tragic accident and that Peterson was the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time – the 24-hour-news machine needed something feed on and Stacy Peterson’s disappearance was the appetizer.

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Druery gets a stay of execution

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has granted a stay of execution to Marcus Druery based on the fact that he does not understand the reason he is being executed.

Druery was convicted of robbery and murder of Skyyler “Rome” Browne in 2002, in Brazos County, Texas.

Several medical officials have examined Druery and have determined that he is severely psychotic and therefore too incompetent to be executed based on the 8th Amendment which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”. Druery will enjoy a stay while his lawyers try to get a full competency hearing which they hope will commute his death sentence completely.

Introducing the Drew Peterson jurors

After just two days the jury in the Drew Peterson trial has been selected. The panel of 12 jurors and 4 alternates will decide whether or not Peterson is responsible for the drowning death of his third wife Kathleen Savio in 2004.

The jury selection process spanned two days, finishing Tuesday afternoon as defense lawyers and prosecutors reviewed a field of 212 potential jurors.

Here is a profile of some of the jurors:

1. A radio broadcasting student from Columbia College

2. A man from Lockport, married 15 years

3. A plant manager for a printing company

4. A man from Plainfield, he used to own a construction company

5. A divorced woman who likes true crime stories

6. A woman from Lockport who is a crossing guard

7. A man from Joliet who drives a bus and lives with his parents

8. A woman from New Lenox who reads the National Enquirer

9. A divorced man who dropped out of law school

Opening statements begin today.

Next execution August 1st in Texas

Druery is scheduled for execution on August 1st in Texas.

Marcus Druery, a Texas inmate, is the next execution scheduled in the United States.

Druery was sentenced to death for the 2002 robbery and murder of Skyler Browne, a 20-year-old student at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas.

Druery’s lawyers have been trying to get a stay as they believe their client is mentally disabled, and therefore ineligible for the death penalty according to a  U.S. Supreme Court ruling which states that it is unconstitutional to execute someone who is mentally disabled to the point where they don’t understand the punishment and why they are receiving it.

A State District court has rejected his latest request and as a next step, Druery’s attorney’s will appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal appeals.

Druery will be the second inmate in Texas executed using the single lethal injection drug Pentobarbital.