Facts of the Crime:
On May 23, 2001, Elizabeth Byrd, an eight-year-old, headed to school from her mother's trailer at approximately 8:00 a.m. Steven Newell approached Elizabeth and began walking with her. Newell knew Elizabeth because he had dated Elizabeth's sister, Lori Stone, for several months. Elizabeth was late for school and told Newell that she didn't have time to talk to him. Newell persuaded Elizabeth to take a "short-cut" through a field with irrigation ditches.
After Elizabeth and Newell were isolated and out of sight from passers-by, Newell sexually assaulted Elizabeth. After the assault, Newell grabbed a strap from Elizabeth's backpack and strangled her to death with it. After Elizabeth was dead, Newell wrapped her body in a carpet and threw her into a water-filled drainage ditch. He was arrested approximately two weeks later.
In custody, Newell admitted that he had led Elizabeth into the isolated field and that he "sexually rubbed" up against her. He also admitted taking the strap from Elizabeth's purse and wrapping it around her neck, and that he threw her into the ditch. However, Newell denied murdering Elizabeth. Forensic testing proved that Newell was the source of semen found in the panties Elizabeth was wearing at the time of the murder.
Newell was sentenced to death on February 26, 2004.
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