James B. Clark Jr.
James B. Clark Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 8, 1957 Seaford, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | April 19, 1996 (aged 39) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Convictions | First degree murder (2 counts) Abduction of a child under the age of 12 Assault with intent to commit murder Third degree assault Possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony (2 counts) Possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person (2 counts) |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
James B. Clark Jr. (February 8, 1957 – April 19, 1996) was an inmate executed in the State of Delaware for the murder of his adoptive parents.[1] Clark confessed to the crime. He was motivated by a desire for the couple's life insurance. The murders took place on May 22, 1994, one month after he had been released on parole for an earlier conviction.[2] Clark had served 21 years of a 30-year sentence for his attempted slaying of a 3-year-old girl in 1973, but in spite of his failure to participate in rehabilitation and repeated discipline by prison authorities for fighting, he was released for good behavior. His case inspired public outrage and proposed legislation to curtail unwarranted early release.
Execution
On September 9, 1994, Clark pleaded guilty to two counts of first degree murder. He was sentenced to death. After waiving his appeals, Clark was executed by lethal injection on April 19, 1996.[3][4]
See also
- Capital punishment in Delaware
- Capital punishment in the United States
- List of people executed in Delaware
- List of people executed in the United States in 1996
References
- ^ "Inmates Executed in Delaware since 1992". State of Delaware. Archived from the original on October 20, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- ^ "Delaware Executes Man Who Killed His Parents". New York Times. Associated Press. April 20, 1996. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
- ^ "Death Row Executions". Delaware Department of Correction. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ "Clark v. State". Justia Law. Retrieved 2022-04-13.