Nebraska

Roy Ellis Jr. - Black, age 52

Sentenced in Douglas County, Nebraska

By: a three judge panel after a jury found aggravating circumstances

Date of crime: November 29, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Ellis kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered Amber Harris (age 12) from a bus stop. The cause of death was blunt force trauma. Jurors found two aggravating circumstances in the case: Ellis had a substantial history of violence, and the murder was particularly heinous. Defense argued that Ellis might be mentally retarded, or mentally ill.

Sources: AP Alert 04/28/08 - CO 23:38:31; Omaha World-Herald (NE) 06/05/08 (2008 WLNR 10599197), 11/08/08 (2008 WLNR 21360841), 02/06/09 (2009 WLNR 2408015).