2004 Executions - Frank Ray Chandler:
#58 murderer executed in U.S. in 2004.
Executed 11/12/2004 in North Carolina by Lethal Injection.
Summary of the Murder: Chandler murdered 90-year-old Doris Poore during his attempt to burglarize her home.
Statistical Data:
Murderer - Frank Ray Chandler
-
Date of Birth - 10/7/1972
-
Race - White
-
Sex - Male
-
Age when crime committed - 20
-
Age when executed - 32
-
Date of Sentence - 7/20/1993
Victim - Doris Poore
-
Date of Murder - 12/11/1992
-
Race - White
-
Sex - Female
-
Age when murdered - 90
-
Method of Murder - Beating
-
Relationship to Murderer - None
Details of the Crime:
Chandler broke into the home of 90-year-old Doris Poore because he believed there were drugs in the house he could steal. While in the house, Poore walked up on Chandler, startled him, and he turned around and struck her in the head. The next day her son-in-law was called by the housekeeper. When he arrived he found Doris Poore, dead, laying in a pool of blood, nude from the waste down. Palm and fingerprints linked Chandler to the crime. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Chandler's Testimony:
Chandler claimed that he broke into Poore's house because he believed he could find marijuana. He entered the house through the basement door and proceeded upstairs to the kitchen. He then saw something out of the corner of his eye and turned to leave when someone behind him screamed. He swung his left arm as he turned around, striking Poore, who fell against him. He then carried Poore to her bed and went into the bathroom to wash his hands.
Testimony in the Case:
At trial, Chandler was linked to the crime by circumstantial evidence. Chandler's palm and fingerprints were found on the door leading into Poore's kitchen. Chandler's cousin, with whom Chandler spent the night of December 10-11, testified that Chandler had left the house for a time late at night; subsequently, Chandler asked his cousin not to tell anyone he had left the house.
Jeffrey Kyle Wilson, Chandler's cellmate from January 1993 until April 1993, testified that Chandler asked him what he should do. Wilson told him to tell the truth so that he would not get the electric chair. Wilson said that defendant replied that "they" did not have the evidence to convict him. Then, Chandler described how he had committed the murder and that as a defense, he planned to "play crazy."
Sentencing:
Chandler was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Doris Poore under the felony murder rule, with first-degree burglary as the underlying felony. The jury also found him guilty of attempted larceny, but not guilty of attempted first-degree rape or first- degree sexual offense. After a separate capital sentencing proceeding, the jury recommended and the trial court imposed a sentence of death.
The Execution:
On the final hours before Chandler was put to death, he was visited by members of his immediate family including his parents, and brother and sisters.
Final Meal: A Pizza Hut thin-crust, medium pizza topped with extra cheese, pepperoni, ham, Canadian bacon, mushrooms and black olives served with iced milk.
Final Words: None
After being strapped on the execution gurney he raised his head several times, looking towards the witness chamber. He then layed his head down and closed his eyes. After the injection was administered, he took two deep breaths and then stopped breathing. He was pronounced dead at 2:13 a.m.
