Linda Lou Charbonneau – white, age 53

Sentenced to death in Sussex County, Delaware

By: A judge, after a 10-2 jury recommendation of death

Date of crime: Sept. and Oct. 2001

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Charbonneau planned the beating deaths by her son-in-law of her husband, for greed; and of her ex-husband because he had become suspicious that she had killed her husband. As to her husband, she and her son-in-law and daughter buried his body—and the autopsy discovered dirt in her husband’s lungs, indicating he was still breathing when he was buried. Charbonneau became the first woman to face execution in Delaware since 1935.

Prosecutor(s): James Adkins

Defense lawyer(s): Thomas Pedersen

Sources: The News Journal 6/5/04; State of Delaware Department of Correction: http://www.state.de.us/correct/information/deathrow.shtml

Chauncy Starling – black, age 26

Sentenced to death in New Castle County, Delaware

By: A judge, after an unanimous jury recommendation of a death sentence

Date of crime: 3/9/2001

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Starling, Richard Frink, and Alfred Gaines went into a barbershop to kill Darnell Evans and shot him four times, but also accidentally shot 5-year-old, Damon Gist Jr. Ultimately, Gaines testified against Starling. After Starling was charged in the Gist and Evans murders, he attempted to murder Gaines to prevent him from testifying, but Starling argued he shot Gaines in self-defense. During sentencing, Starling expressed his innocence.

Prosecutor(s): Paul R. Wallace

Defense lawyer(s): John S. Malik

Sources: The News Journal 11/5/03, 6/11/04