Dearman will be executed on Thursday for murdering his girlfriend’s family in August 2016. While he claims he deserves death, his lawyers argue he suffers from severe mental health issues.
On Thursday, Alabama plans to execute Derrick Dearman for the mass murder of five family members linked to his girlfriend, including a pregnant woman.
Dearman, 36, is scheduled to die by lethal injection, nearly eight years after he brutally murdered Laneta Lester’s relatives using an ax and a gun while they were asleep on August 20, 2016. The victims included her brother Joseph Turner, his wife Shannon Randall, Randall’s brother Robert Brown, and Randall’s niece Chelsea Reed, along with Reed’s husband Justin and their unborn child.
The shocking incident took place in the family home in Citronelle, a suburb of Mobile. Ashley Rich, a former prosecutor, recounted the community’s astonishment, stating, “Nothing like this has ever happened in Citronelle.”
If the execution occurs as planned, Dearman will become the fifth inmate executed in Alabama in 2024 and may be the 20th or 21st nationally, depending on whether his execution occurs before or after Robert Leslie Roberson, who is also set for execution in Texas on the same day despite strong claims of his innocence.
In letters he has written, Dearman has admitted his guilt and stated he feels he deserves death for justice to be served to the victims’ families.
Here’s what to know about the execution of Derrick Dearman.
Who is Derrick Dearman?
According to a detailed statement from the Equal Justice Initiative, Dearman has faced significant mental health struggles and substance abuse issues throughout his life.
He exhibited signs of severe depression as a child, reportedly expressing suicidal thoughts to his mother at just four years old. By the age of 12, he was on antidepressants and started using crack cocaine at 14. That same year, he survived a serious car accident, feeling as though he “should have died.” He began using methamphetamine at 16, and by 19, attempted to take his own life by driving off the road.
Before his criminal actions, Dearman spent time in a psychiatric hospital in his early 20s.
The Equal Justice Initiative reports that on the day of the murders, Dearman was not mentally stable. He had been hearing voices, thought others were trying to harm him, had used a large amount of methamphetamine, and had not slept for six days.
He later reflected on the crime, stating: “It was like someone else had the steering wheel.” After the incident, he expressed deep regret and horror about his actions at the police station. His feelings of remorse continued even after he was charged.
His lawyers pointed out that Dearman’s decision to stop appealing for his case stemmed from letters he wrote to officials requesting the enforcement of his death penalty. They argue that Alabama courts have consistently overlooked his serious mental illness.
“Derrick Dearman ceased his appeals after enduring a lifetime of severe mental health issues and suicidal tendencies that have been ignored by Alabama’s court system,” they stated. “The state now plans to execute him while significant doubts remain about the legitimacy of his conviction and death sentence.”
What was Derrick Dearman convicted of?
In 2018, a jury in Alabama found Dearman guilty and unanimously recommended the death penalty for the murder of all five family members.
On a drug-fueled spree, he went through their home with an ax and two guns, killing each victim one by one, even after being asked to leave multiple times.
Following the murders, Dearman kidnapped Lester and Randall’s infant, making several stops before arriving at his father’s home in Mississippi. He eventually surrendered to authorities.
In April, Dearman chose to drop his appeals and terminated his relationship with his appellate attorneys, sending letters to four state officials requesting his execution to occur. Six months later, Governor Kay Ivey established his execution date.
According to a statement obtained by YSL News, Dearman has shown remorse for his actions.
“I am willingly giving all that I can possibly give to try and repay a small portion of my debt to society for the terrible things that I have done,” he stated. “From this point forward, I hope that the focus will not be on me, but rather on the healing of all the people that I have hurt.”
Who were the five victims?
Joseph Turner and Shannon Randall were among two couples present that night. They had an infant son who was taken by Dearman following the murders.
Justin Reed and his wife, Chelsea, made up the other couple; they were high school sweethearts and were expecting their first child, whom they intended to name Aiden.
According to Justin Reed’s cousin, Wes Risher, the Reeds were described as “outgoing, spontaneous, and enjoyable,” during a 2016 interview with AL.com.
“Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, she always supported him. He showed a devotion to Chelsea that I’ve never encountered in my 32 years,” Risher recalled. “It was profoundly heartwarming. I just enjoyed being around them.”
Also staying with the family were Robert Brown, Shannon’s brother, and Lester.
What is Derrick Dearman’s last meal?
The Alabama Department of Corrections will share details of Dearman’s last meal on the day of his execution.
When and where will Derrick Dearman be executed?
Dearman is scheduled to be executed at approximately 6 p.m. CT on Thursday at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility located in Atmore, a city about 130 miles south of Montgomery.
Who will be present during Derrick Dearman’s execution?
It is currently unclear who among Dearman’s relatives will attend the event. However, many family members of the victims are expected to be there, according to Rich.
Robert Brown’s father, Robert F. Brown Sr., stated to WPMI-TV that he intends to witness the execution.
“I had so much left to offer my son,” he expressed. “And it was all taken from me.”
Media representatives will also be in attendance at the execution, including:
- The Montgomery Advertiser, part of the YSL News Network
- The Associated Press
When is the next execution in the U.S.?
Following Dearman’s and Roberson’s simultaneous executions on Thursday, the next execution in the nation is planned for November 1 in South Carolina, where Richard Moore is scheduled to be executed for the 1999 lethal shooting of a convenience store clerk.
