Hasson Jalam Bacote - Black, age 19

Sentenced in Johnston County, North Carolina

By: a jury

Date of crime: February 2007

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Bacote fatally shot Anthony Surles (age 18) during an attempted home robbery. Bacote offered no defense during his trial.

Sources: The News & Observer (NC) 04/08/09 (2009 WLNR 6639318)

Michael Wayne Sherrill - White, age 28

Sentenced in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

By: a jury

Date of crime: February 1984

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Sherrill raped and stabbed Cynthia Dotson (age 23) and then burned her trailer. The case was solved using DNA evidence collected under Dotson’s nails. Defense argued that Sherrill was innocent, and that the DNA could have many other sources aside from during the murder.

Sources: Charlotte Observer (NC) 02/18/09 (2009 WLNR 3168634), 02/18/09 (2009 WLNR 3112195), 02/24/09 (2009 WLNR 3528390)