Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 32

Thread: Alberto Julio Garcia - Mississippi Death Row

  1. #21
    Senior Member CnCP Legend Mike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    4,795
    Alberto Garcia sentenced to death for the murder of Janaya Thompson

    GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - Alberto Garcia will be put to death for killing 5-year-old Janaya Thompson.

    Judge Lisa Dodson ruled on Garcia’s sentence after two and a half days of graphic and emotional testimony about the 2014 sexual assault and murder of the Gulfport girl.

    The sentence was handed down one week after Garcia pleaded guilty to capital murder. His criminal trial was set to begin the next day.

    http://www.wdam.com/story/34345476/a...anaya-thompson
    "There is a point in the history of a society when it becomes so pathologically soft and tender that among other things it sides even with those who harm it, criminals, and does this quite seriously and honestly. Punishing somehow seems unfair to it, and it is certain that imagining ‘punishment’ and ‘being supposed to punish’ hurts it, arouses fear in it." Friedrich Nietzsche

  2. #22
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    20,875
    Update: ‘No mercy,’ judge tells Garcia in death for Ja’Naya Thompson

    By Robin Fitzgerald
    The Sun-Herald

    GULFPORT - Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson showed no mercy as she sentenced Alberto Garcia to death for the capital murder of 5-year-old Ja’Naya Thompson.

    Referring to the Bible, she told him, “‘Mercy is shown to those who show mercy.’ You showed no mercy.”

    Dodson deliberated less than two hours before giving her verdict Wednesday, the third day of Garcia’s sentencing trial.

    “It was brutal, cold and torturous,” Dodson said of Ja’Naya’s killing.

    Garcia, 31, had faced either life without parole or the death penalty. He waived his right to a jury sentencing and opted to have Dodson sentence him after he pleaded guilty Jan. 18 in Harrison County Circuit Court. The underlying crime to the hanging that suffocated her was sexual battery.

    When Dodson asked Garcia if he had anything to say before he was sentenced, he replied, “No, ma’am,” in a voice quieter than in his plea hearing had been last week, when he had calmly and matter-of-factly told the judge about the night he assaulted and killed Ja’Naya.

    The family’s statement


    After the sentencing, the family sent a statement to the media. It was written by a grandparent.

    “First of all, I want to thank God,” the family said. The family thanked friends and family members, as well as District Attorney Joel Smith and his staff, including Assistant District Attorney Crosby Parker, Gulfport Police Chief Leonard Papania and his staff. They also expressed gratitude to “everyone for prayers and support through all of our hard times.”

    “Now my granddaughter can rest in peace and we can have closure,” the statement said.

    Smith spoke to reporters after he met with the family.

    “A lot of times when we get to the end of a jury trial and you receive a guilty verdict against the defendant there is some sense of joy,” he said. “But today there is no joy, because a child was lost. Today is a day where we can no longer have to talk about this defendant, Alberto Garcia. And we can begin the healing process for Ja’Naya Thompson’s family.”

    “And hopefully, she can begin to rest in peace.”

    Family member Violet Willis told the Sun Herald, “Thank God that justice has been served. Now we all can be at peace and try to live our lives. It’s been real tough on us.” Prayers and the community’s support have helped, she said. “These couple of days have been kind of hard. Thank God we made it.”

    Many of Ja’Naya’s family and friends wept quietly during the sentencing. Ja’Naya’s mother, in tears, was escorted from the courtroom as Dodson recounted the facts of the case and Garcia’s lack of remorse. About one-third of the crowd was Gulfport police officials and investigators.

    No one showed up at court to support Garcia.

    ‘Pure evil’


    Police Chief Leonard Papania said Garcia is society’s worst nightmare.

    “He is truly repugnant in character and actions,” the chief said. “He is what we as a society fear and detest — pure evil.”

    The Gulfport girl was sexually assaulted and hanged in an unoccupied mobile home not far from her home at The Palms apartments off Klein and Three Rivers Roads.

    She had been reported missing by her mother about 7:40 p.m. July 16, 2014, from just outside the sliding-glass door of their apartment. A rescue team found her, hanged by two socks, in a trailer off nearby Whitney Drive about 8:15 a.m. the next day. A trail and makeshift bridge lead from The Palms into woods behind Whitney Drive.

    Alive when hanged


    Dodson said state Medical Examiner Mark LeVaughn testified a period of time passed between two assaults on the child. She was tied to a couch in the roach-infested trailer and her head was pushed into the cushion of a chair, Dodson said. LeVaughn said she would have experienced significant pain and terror.

    Marks on her face indicate she scratched herself trying to loosen the socks Garcia had tied around her neck, he said.

    Ja’Naya, who was 4 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 50 pounds, was unable to get away from Garcia, a large man, Dodson said.

    Dodson disagreed with the defense attorneys’ arguments that Garcia committed the acts because he suffers from an anxiety disorder, was under stress and came from a bad home environment. A psychiatric examination requested by Garcia’s attorneys showed he had a “horrible” mother and had received psychiatric treatment as a child when he showed violent tendencies, Dodson said.

    Garcia could have received treatment for his anxiety as an adult, Dodson said.

    Dodson also said Garcia has “an obsession with sex.”

    ‘He never told the whole story’


    Evidence showed Garcia’s Xbox was used to download information on child sex, child abduction, and child bindings and torture a few days before Ja’Naya disappeared. He had binoculars near his bedroom window, which overlooked a playground at The Palms, where he also lived.

    But Dodson said she found Garcia’s anxiety disorder and childhood had nothing to do with his actions.

    She said she considered the facts of the case, arguments and evidence and found although Garcia admitted he sexually assaulted and hanged the girl, he gave conflicting statements and tried to blame what happened on his neighbor Julian “Casper” Gray. The DA’s office included information about to the grand jury that reviewed the capital murder case, but Gray was not indicted, Smith said.

    Dodson said she also considered Ja’Naya’s age and Garcia’s conflicting statements.

    “He never told the whole story” and he expressed no remorse, she said.

    Ja’Naya’s disappearance and the announcement of her death shocked the community. Even people who didn’t know her had helped search for her. Many attended the visitation before her funeral.

    She was ‘everybody’s child’


    After Ja’Naya’s death, Gulfport Mayor Billy Hewes had referred to her as “everybody’s child.”

    “I believe Judge Dodson made the right ruling,” Hewes said Wednesday. “But this will never be over for Ja’Naya’s family. It’s the worst thing most of us have ever seen. It hurt the entire community.”

    A death sentence in Mississippi carries with it an automatic appeal.

    Before Dodson had deputies take Garcia out of the courtroom, she told him, “I’m sure I will be seeing you in court again, Mr. Garcia,” referring to the appeal.

    The district attorney, who prosecuted the case with ADA Parker, said he is proud of the efforts of the Gulfport Police Department to bring Garcia to justice.

    “But what stands out the most to me is the strength and grace of the victim’s family,” Smith said. “I am so appreciative of the support and love they have shown to all of us throughout the process. I have no doubt Ja’Naya is smiling down from heaven on each of them today.”

    Joining death row


    With Garcia’s sentencing, there are now 48 people on death row in Mississippi. The last person sentenced to death in the state was Rahim Ambrose, in 2015, in the 2013 killing of Robert Trosclair of Pass Christian.

    The last person executed in the state was Gary Carl Simmons Jr., on June 20, 2012. He had been sentenced in the death of Jeffrey Wolfe.

    http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/...128699644.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  3. #23
    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    33,217
    Justice for Janaya: Neighbors react to death sentence

    When Janaya Thompson's body was found inside a Gulfport trailer in 2014, it left the neighborhood saddened and stunned. Now, those neighbors believe justice for Janaya is achieved.

    "Justice. It was served right today, and he deserved to die," Ora Braziel said.

    It's a crime that has haunted Whitney Dr. residents like Teresita King for more than two years.

    "If you were here at that time when they were getting her body there, you would have cried," said King.

    The memory is still there for King, who is a grandmother. From her home, you can see where the 5-year-old's body was found. Today, the memory is a little less painful.

    "It's not really gladness, because it's killing somebody else, but it is a relief that that guy won't be in the public anymore," King said.

    Braziel said she's known Janaya's family most of her life. Although she believes the judge's decision to impose the death penalty was the right one, it doesn't take away from the horrors her community has gone through.

    "What would have happened if this would have happened to one of my grandkids," Braziel said. "I feel so sorry for that baby. I really do. She had no chance to make it and live her life."

    In the days right after Janaya's body was found, neighbors showed their support by setting up a memorial. Mother of two Renee Cuevas helped search for Janaya. She's hopeful the death sentence will bring some comfort to the family.

    "I'm glad that he got the death penalty and the parents have a little bit of peace," Cuevas said. "I know that it's still going to be hard for them, and it's a long road, but at least they know that they got him behind bars and he's getting the death penalty."

    Even though Alberto Garcia has learned his fate, that doesn't mean life will ever be the same again for people like Braziel.

    "Everyday I walk out my door, I think about that baby," Braziel said. "I have grandkids that we sit and watch play every day. I won't even let the kids go outside. I even have a 16-year-old I have to watch, because who can we trust now?"

    Janaya's family also wrote a note, thanking the police department and district attorney for their work:

    First of all, I want to thank God. I want to thank the District Attorney Joel and Crosby and their staff, the chief of police and his staff, my friends and family. And everyone for prayers and support through all of our hard times. Now my granddaughter can rest in peace and we have closure.

    - The Janaya Thompson family

    http://www.wlox.com/story/34349125/j...death-sentence
    An uninformed opponent is a dangerous opponent.

    "Y'all be makin shit up" ~ Markeith Loyd

  4. #24
    Moderator Ryan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Newport, United Kingdom
    Posts
    2,454
    Garcia entered Mississippi's death row on August 3, 2017.

    https://www.ms.gov/mdoc/inmate/Search/GetDetails/207797

  5. #25
    Administrator Helen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    20,875
    Death sentence upheld for man convicted of a 5-year-old’s death in Gulfport

    JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The Mississippi State Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence and verdict of a Gulfport man convicted in the death of a 5-year-old girl.

    WLOX-TV reports the Supreme Court affirmed the sentence Thursday against Alberto Garcia, saying “the sentence imposed – death – is proportionate compared to other similar cases..”

    Garcia pleaded guilty to the 2014 death of Janaya Thompson.

    Search teams found her body in an abandoned trailer a day after her disappearance and death.

    https://www.wkrg.com/top-stories/dea...h-in-gulfport/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

  6. #26
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7,316
    Motion for rehearing denied by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

    https://law.justia.com/cases/mississ...me-court/2020/
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  7. #27
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7,316
    Distributed for conference May 27, 2021.

    https://www.supremecourt.gov/search....c/20-7238.html
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  8. #28
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7,316
    Petition for certiorari denied.

    Lower Ct: Supreme Court of Mississippi
    Case Numbers: (2017-DP-00504-SCT)
    Decision Date: May 14, 2020
    Rehearing Denied: September 10, 2020

    https://www.supremecourt.gov/search....c/20-7238.html
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  9. #29
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7,316
    Post-conviction relief denied by the Mississippi Supreme Court 2/16/2023.

    https://law.justia.com/cases/mississ...01224-sct.html
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

  10. #30
    Moderator Bobsicles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7,316
    Supreme Court denies second appeal in Gulfport child rape/murder case

    JACKSON, Miss. (WLOX) - For the second time, the State Supreme Court has denied post-conviction relief to Alberto Garcia, the Gulfport man convicted of raping and murdering 5-year-old Ja’Naya Thompson.

    The child’s brutal death in 2014 rocked the Orange Grove neighborhood where it happened, and the entire coast community. On the eve of his 2017 capital murder trial, Garcia changed his plea to guilty, and admitted sexually assaulting and killing the girl.

    Garcia was sentenced to death by Judge Lisa Dodson on Jan. 25, 2017. That decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2020, and now again in 2023.

    Garcia has claimed ineffective counsel, and contended his mental-health issues, like anxiety and previously undiagnosed autism, rendered him incompetent to stand trial and unable to plead guilty voluntarily.

    After review, the state Supreme Court upheld trial court’s conclusion that Garcia was competent, his guilty plea was voluntary, his trial expert was competent and qualified, and his trial counsel’s performance was constitutionally effective.

    “We therefore affirm the trial court’s denial of Garcia’s PCR petition seeking to set aside his guilty plea,” the court concluded.

    https://www.wlox.com/2023/06/01/supr...outputType=amp
    Thank you for the adventure - Axol

    Tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn’t even matter - Linkin Park

    Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever. - Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt

    I’m going to the ghost McDonalds - Garcello

Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •