Darla Kay Lathrem
Summary of Offense:
Dwight Eaglin was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Darla Lathrem and Charles Fuston. In June 2003, Eaglin was serving a life sentence at Charlotte Correctional Institution. Earlier that year, the institution had begun a renovation of the inmates’ dormitories. Dwight Eaglin, Michael Jones, and Stephen Smith were part of a group of inmates assigned to work on the renovation project. Two inmates, Kenneth Lykins and Jesse Baker, testified that they overheard Eaglin, Jones, and Smith planning an escape. The three inmates constructed an escape ladder and a metal tool that would hook onto the prison’s outer lights, but the tool was destroyed in May of 2003. Eaglin blamed two inmates, Charles Fuston and John Beaston, for destroying the tool.
On June 11, 2003, correctional officer Mary Polisco transported inmates Dwight Eaglin, Stephen Smith, Michael Jones, John Beaston, and Charles Fuston to A-dorm to work on the plumbing. The inmates were left under the supervision of correctional officer Darla Lathrem. At 8:30 p.m. the master roster count was conducted and correctional officer Lathrem accounted for all five inmates. At approximately 9:30 p.m., an alarm was triggered on the perimeter fence behind A-dorm. Correctional officers observed Eaglin attempting to climb on the fence. Eaglin was sprayed with chemical agents and subdued. Correctional officer Darla Lathrem’s body was discovered in a mop closet. Her body was in a fetal position and she had injuries to her head area. A sledgehammer was lying next to her body. Inmate Charles Fuston was discovered lying in a cell. He was unconscious, but breathing, and was bleeding from his head. Inmate John Beaston was found in a cell, conscious, with a large head wound. Beaston was the only survivor of the attacks.
Dr. Imami, the medical examiner, testified that brain and skull injuries caused Lathrem’s death. The cause of these injuries was blunt force trauma. Dr. Imami testified that she believed the recovered sledgehammer caused the injuries. Dr. Imami also examined Fuston’s body. Imami testified that Fuston’s death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Imami testified that the trauma was caused by a hammer. Lathrem’s DNA was found on the sledgehammer near her body. Both Lathrem’s and Fuston’s DNA were found on the pants Eaglin wore on the day of the murders. Lathrem’s DNA was also found on one of Eaglin’s boots and on one of Smith’s shoes.
Eaglin was sentenced to death in Charlotte County on March 31, 2006.
Co-defendant information:
Stephen Smith was convicted of first-degree murder on June 23, 2006 and sentenced to death on August 18, 2006. For more on Smith, see: http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...rida-Death-Row
Michael Jones pled guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence.
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