James Homer Elledge (December 9, 1942 – August 28, 2001) was an American murderer who was executed by lethal injection in Washington State Penitentiary for the murder of 47-year-old Eloise Jane Fitzner while on parole for another murder. The case raised questions before and after the execution about how the death penalty was applied in Washington state, especially in cases where a defendant refused to present a defense in the penalty phase and refused to allow the filing of any appeals.
In 1964, Elledge robbed a Western Union office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During this robbery, he also kidnapped a female attendant.[1] He was sentenced to prison in Santa Fe, New Mexico and, after his parole, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he killed motel manager Bertha Lush in 1974 by beating her to death with a ball-peen hammer in an argument over his bill.[2][3] While in prison for that crime, he was paroled three times, the last of which happened in August 1995.
On April 18, 1998, Elledge invited Eloise Fitzner and her friend, only referred to as "S.C.", into a Bible-study room of a church where he worked as a custodian. After closing the door, he pulled a knife and bound the two women's wrists and ankles. He put a sweatshirt over S.C.'s head and made her face the wall. When S.C. heard struggling behind her, she tried to see what was happening. Elledge noticed this and threatened to kill S.C. next if she did not remain faced to the wall. Elledge first strangled Ms. Fitzner with his hands and then, not sure if she was dead, he fatally stabbed her in the neck. After hiding the body, Elledge abducted S.C. and drove them home in Ms. Fitzner's car. At his home, he sexually assaulted S.C. and released her the following day. S.C. immediately went to police. Elledge was arrested two days later and confessed.
Trial and executionedit
On May 27, 1998, Elledge pleaded guilty to aggravated first degree murder. He forbade his lawyer from presenting any defense during the penalty phase.[4][5] When he testified himself he said: "that there is a very wicked part of me. And this wicked part of me needs to die."[6] On July 28, 1998, Elledge was sentenced to death. Waiving all his rights to appeal, was executed by lethal injection on August 28, 2001, at Washington State Penitentiary, becoming only the fourth person to be executed since the restoration of the death penalty in Washington state in 1981.[3] Elledge requested a last meal of eggs, bacon, waffles, sweet roll, cereal and orange juice, but declined to eat it. His actual last meal was a breakfast of apple juice, oatmeal, toast, hash browns, coffee and eggs.[7] He gave no last words.[2][8]
His confession, refusal to assist his own defense, and his successful efforts to prevent 3rd party groups from appealing on his behalf raised issues of state assisted suicide,[1] and public debate over how Washington state selected which prisoners would be executed.[2][8]
^ abRebekah Denn. Dispute embroils killer's request to die. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2001-07-07). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
^ abcRebekah Denn and David Fisher. Execution leaves a trail of unease. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2001-08-29).
^ abRebekah Denn, David Fisher, and Scott Sunde. Killer Elledge is executed. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2001-08-28). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
^Rule, Ann Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases (2003) pp. 391-394
^JAMES HOMER ELLEDGE: Catholic bishops seek clemency 2011-07-16 at the Wayback MachineKitsap Sun (2001-08-23)
^Rule, Ann Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases (2003) p. 394
^Warren Cornwall, Jim Haley and Scott North. Elledge's final day includes breakfast but no sunset. The Daily Herald (2001-08-27). Retrieved on 2020-02-02.
^ abMichael Hood. Witness to an execution 2007-09-14 at the Wayback Machine. Seattle Weekly (2001-09-05)
General referencesedit
Rule, Ann (2003). Last Dance, Last Chance and Other True Cases: Ann Rule's Crime Files Vol:8. Pocket Books. ISBN0-7434-2406-9.
James Homer Elledge. Clark County Prosecutor. Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
Rebekah Denn. Some killers more than ready to die. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2001-08-07). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
Rebekah Denn. Petition to spare Elledge rejected. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (2001-08-07). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
Matthew Preusch. National Briefing | Northwest: Washington: Execution Of Killer. The New York Times (2001-08-29). Retrieved on 2007-08-17.
james, homer, elledge, december, 1942, august, 2001, american, murderer, executed, lethal, injection, washington, state, penitentiary, murder, year, eloise, jane, fitzner, while, parole, another, murder, case, raised, questions, before, after, execution, about. James Homer Elledge December 9 1942 August 28 2001 was an American murderer who was executed by lethal injection in Washington State Penitentiary for the murder of 47 year old Eloise Jane Fitzner while on parole for another murder The case raised questions before and after the execution about how the death penalty was applied in Washington state especially in cases where a defendant refused to present a defense in the penalty phase and refused to allow the filing of any appeals James Homer ElledgeBorn 1942 12 09 December 9 1942United StatesDiedAugust 28 2001 2001 08 28 aged 58 Washington State Penitentiary Walla Walla Washington U S Cause of deathExecution by lethal injectionCriminal statusExecutedConviction s Aggravated first degree murderFirst degree murderCriminal penaltyDeathDetailsVictims2Date1974 April 18 1998CountryUnited StatesState s Washington Contents 1 Crimes 2 Trial and execution 3 See also 4 References 5 General referencesCrimes editIn 1964 Elledge robbed a Western Union office in Albuquerque New Mexico During this robbery he also kidnapped a female attendant 1 He was sentenced to prison in Santa Fe New Mexico and after his parole he moved to Seattle Washington where he killed motel manager Bertha Lush in 1974 by beating her to death with a ball peen hammer in an argument over his bill 2 3 While in prison for that crime he was paroled three times the last of which happened in August 1995 On April 18 1998 Elledge invited Eloise Fitzner and her friend only referred to as S C into a Bible study room of a church where he worked as a custodian After closing the door he pulled a knife and bound the two women s wrists and ankles He put a sweatshirt over S C s head and made her face the wall When S C heard struggling behind her she tried to see what was happening Elledge noticed this and threatened to kill S C next if she did not remain faced to the wall Elledge first strangled Ms Fitzner with his hands and then not sure if she was dead he fatally stabbed her in the neck After hiding the body Elledge abducted S C and drove them home in Ms Fitzner s car At his home he sexually assaulted S C and released her the following day S C immediately went to police Elledge was arrested two days later and confessed Trial and execution editOn May 27 1998 Elledge pleaded guilty to aggravated first degree murder He forbade his lawyer from presenting any defense during the penalty phase 4 5 When he testified himself he said that there is a very wicked part of me And this wicked part of me needs to die 6 On July 28 1998 Elledge was sentenced to death Waiving all his rights to appeal was executed by lethal injection on August 28 2001 at Washington State Penitentiary becoming only the fourth person to be executed since the restoration of the death penalty in Washington state in 1981 3 Elledge requested a last meal of eggs bacon waffles sweet roll cereal and orange juice but declined to eat it His actual last meal was a breakfast of apple juice oatmeal toast hash browns coffee and eggs 7 He gave no last words 2 8 His confession refusal to assist his own defense and his successful efforts to prevent 3rd party groups from appealing on his behalf raised issues of state assisted suicide 1 and public debate over how Washington state selected which prisoners would be executed 2 8 See also editCapital punishment in Washington state Capital punishment in the United States List of people executed in Washington List of people executed in the United States in 2001References edit a b Rebekah Denn Dispute embroils killer s request to die Seattle Post Intelligencer 2001 07 07 Retrieved on 2007 08 17 a b c Rebekah Denn and David Fisher Execution leaves a trail of unease Seattle Post Intelligencer 2001 08 29 a b Rebekah Denn David Fisher and Scott Sunde Killer Elledge is executed Seattle Post Intelligencer 2001 08 28 Retrieved on 2007 08 17 Rule Ann Last Dance Last Chance and Other True Cases 2003 pp 391 394 JAMES HOMER ELLEDGE Catholic bishops seek clemency Archived 2011 07 16 at the Wayback Machine Kitsap Sun 2001 08 23 Rule Ann Last Dance Last Chance and Other True Cases 2003 p 394 Warren Cornwall Jim Haley and Scott North Elledge s final day includes breakfast but no sunset The Daily Herald 2001 08 27 Retrieved on 2020 02 02 a b Michael Hood Witness to an execution Archived 2007 09 14 at the Wayback Machine Seattle Weekly 2001 09 05 General references editRule Ann 2003 Last Dance Last Chance and Other True Cases Ann Rule s Crime Files Vol 8 Pocket Books ISBN 0 7434 2406 9 James Homer Elledge Clark County Prosecutor Retrieved on 2007 08 17 Rebekah Denn Some killers more than ready to die Seattle Post Intelligencer 2001 08 07 Retrieved on 2007 08 17 Rebekah Denn Petition to spare Elledge rejected Seattle Post Intelligencer 2001 08 07 Retrieved on 2007 08 17 Matthew Preusch National Briefing Northwest Washington Execution Of Killer The New York Times 2001 08 29 Retrieved on 2007 08 17 Preceded byJeremy Vargas Sagastegui Executions carried out in Washington State Succeeded byCal Coburn Brown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Homer Elledge amp oldid 1209137186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
