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Thread: Travis Clinton Hittson - Georgia Execution - February 17, 2016

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    Travis Clinton Hittson - Georgia Execution - February 17, 2016


    Conway Utterbeck


    Edward Vollmer




    Summary of Offense:

    Was sentenced to death in Houston County in March 1993 for killing 20-year-old Conway Utterbeck, a fellow sailor. On April 3, 1993, Mr. Hittson, Edward Vollmer and the victim left Pensacola, Florida, where they were stationed, and drove to Vollmer's parents' home in Warner Robins. Vollmer wanted to kill Utterbeck and gave Hittson a baseball bat to use on April 5, 1992. Hittson hit the victim in the head several times with the bat and then shot him. They cut up Utterbeck's body, buried the torso in Houston County and the rest in Pensacola. Vollmer was sentenced to life in prison. Hittson had never been convicted of a felony before the killing.

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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    In today's United States Supreme Court orders, Hittson's petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis DENIED.

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    Was this his final appeal or was it a separate issue? I didn't even realise the 11th Circuit had denied him (if it's the final appeal).

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    I'm almost positive this was an appeal arising out of the denial of PCR from the Superior Court

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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Judge vacates sentence for sailor on death row for decades

    A federal judge has vacated the death sentence of a Navy sailor in the slaying and dismemberment of a shipmate two decades ago in central Georgia.

    Travis Clinton Hittson was sentenced to death in 1993 after the killing of Conway Utterbeck, who was beaten with a baseball bat and shot. His body parts were then hidden in Georgia and Florida.

    The two were on leave from their ship and staying in Warner Robins, the Telegraph of Macon, Ga., reported.

    Another shipmate, Edward Vollmer of Warner Robins, was also charged with murder but reached a plea bargain and was sentenced to life in prison.

    U.S. Middle District Court Judge Marc Treadwell ruled that Vollmer was more culpable in the crime, and persuaded Hittson to participate in it.

    The state must hold a new sentencing hearing or agree to a lesser sentence for Hittson, who is from Fremont, Neb., the judge ruled.

    Houston County District Attorney George Hartwig could not be reached for comment, the Telegraph reported.

    Vollmer had told Hittson he wanted to kill Utterbeck because Utterbeck was planning to kill them, according to the judge's ruling.

    After the slaying, they dismembered the body, cleaned up the crime scene and buried the body parts in several states, prosecutors said.

    http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/jud...ecades/1262887
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    Administrator Moh's Avatar
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    On November 29, 2012, the State of Georgia filed an appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit over the granting of Hittson's habeas petition in Federal District Court.

    http://dockets.justia.com/docket/cir...ca11/12-16103/

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    On July 9, 2014, the 11th Circuit reversed the district court's decision and denied relief on all grounds.

    http://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opini.../201216103.pdf

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    Moderator MRBAM's Avatar
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    154 pages?? YIKES !

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    I didn't read the appeal but if Vollmer played the biggest role in this murder Hittson's sentence will likely be commuted.

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    Moderator MRBAM's Avatar
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    I read the first 25+ pages, then moved on to more interesting posts. Glad they reversed, but agree - seeing as what just happened to Waldrip, this guy will prob get the same freebie.

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