Steven Brian Pennell
| Steven Brian Pennell | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 22, 1957 |
| Died |
(aged 34) James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware |
| Cause of death | Execution by Lethal injection |
| Other names | The Route 40 Killer, The Corridor Killer |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Killings | |
| Victims | 5 |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Delaware |
Date apprehended | November 29, 1988 |
Steven Brian Pennell (November 22, 1957 – March 14, 1992), aka The Route 40 Killer, was convicted of the murders of two New Castle County, Delaware women and suspected of three more.
Background
Pennell, an electrician by trade, picked up his victims in his van along U.S. 40 near Bear, Delaware.
Arrest
Pennell was arrested November 29, 1988 for the June 1988 murders of two Newark, Delaware women, Shirley A. Ellis, 23, in November 1987, and Catherine A. DiMauro, 32, in June 1988. Pennell was identified as the suspect by carpet fibers found on a victim's body; the fibers were from a carpet located on the floor of his van.
Prosecution
Prosecutors were preparing to try Pennell for the murders of Michele A. Gordon, 22, of New Castle County, and Kathleen Anne Meyer, 26, of Newark, in September 1988. Pennell suddenly pled no contest, on the condition that he receive the death penalty.[1] His plea of no contest to the murder of Kathleen Meyer in 1991 arose once DNA evidence linked him to the case. Pennell was also suspected of the August 1988 murder of Margaret Lynn Finner, 27, but the decomposition of the body hampered their ability to develop sufficient evidence.[1]
Trial
Pennell was the first condemned man to argue his own case before the Delaware Supreme Court.[1] Pennell argued to affirm the death penalty. Although he never admitted guilt, his rationale was "to spare his wife and two children the prolonged pain of his spending the rest of his life in prison." The court affirmed the sentence.[2]
Execution
Pennell was executed on 14 March 1992 by the State of Delaware by lethal injection. He became the first person to be executed in Delaware since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated, and the first person executed in Delaware since Forest Sturdivant, a murderer, was hanged in 1946.[3] He was the state's first and to date only confirmed serial killer.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Kanaley, Reid (12 February 1992). "Serial Killer Pleads - For Execution: The Grisly Delaware Killings Deserve A Swift Punishment, The Killer Calmly Told The Justices.". philly.com. The Inquirer.
- ↑ Pennell v. Delaware (Supreme Court of Delaware 18 February 1992).
- ↑ Thompson, William (15 March 1992). "Delaware killer gets last wish -- death". Baltimore Sun.