Alabama Executes Derrick Dearman on October 17, 2024
Derrick Dearman, Alabama
Updated: Thursday, October 17, 2024
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Derrick Dearman was executed by the state of Alabama. He was pronounced dead at 6:14 pm local time, inside the execution chamber at the Holeman Correctional Facility near Atmore, Alabama. Thirty-six-year-old Derrick was convicted of murdering 26-year-old Joseph Adam Turner, 35-year-old Shannon Melissa Randall, 26-year-old Robert Lee Brown, 23-year-old Justin Kaleb Reed, and 22-year-old Chelsea Marie Reed, on August 20, 2016, in Citronelle, Alabama. Derrick spent the last six years of his life on Alabama’s death row.
Derrick Dearman was born in Mississippi. As a child, he often had disciplinary problems and temper tantrums. He also had a difficult home life. Derrick had previously been married and had two children with his wife. In Mississippi, Derrick had an extensive criminal record.
After splitting from his wife, Derrick Dearman began dating Laneta Lester. Their relationship was often volatile. On August 19, 2016, Laneta went to stay at the home of her brother, Joseph Adam Turner, who was married to Shannon Randall. Joseph had told Dearman he was not allowed to stay the night.
During the early morning hours of August 20, 2016, Dearman broke into Joseph’s home through the locked sliding glass doors. He was armed with an axe he found in the front yard. Dearman first found Robert Lee Brown sleeping in a recliner in the living room. Dearman struck him in the head multiple times with the axe. Laneta was sleeping on an air mattress in the living room. Dearman did not attack her and instead proceeded to the bedrooms.
In the first bedroom, Dearman found Joseph and Shannon, along with their three-month-old son. Dearman first attacked Joseph and then attacked Shannon when she was awakened by the attack on her husband. In the next bedroom, Dearman found Justin Reed and his five-month-pregnant wife, Chelsea. Dearman first attacked Chelsea and then attacked Justin. Justin and Dearman fought to gain control over a gun Justin posted. Eventually, Dearman gained control of the weapon.
Dearman took the gun and shot Chelsea, Justin, and Joseph. He then shot Shannon in the back of the head as she lay on the bed with her child. Finally, Dearman returned to the living room and shot Robert. Dearman did not attack or harm Laneta.
After the murders, Dearman kidnapped Laneta and the three-month-old child. He stole Joseph’s vehicle and fled with Laneta and the child to his hometown of Leakesville, Mississippi. Laneta and the child were soon released, and Laneta immediately went to the police. The next day, Dearman’s father convinced him to turn himself in to the police. He was quickly extradited to Alabama, where he was charged with six counts of capital murder and two counts of kidnapping.
In the days after his arrest, Dearman claimed that he was high on methamphetamines during the murders. He also said he only committed the murders due to the influence of the drug. Dearman also pled not guilty to the charges against him.
Two years later, in September 2018, Dearman pled guilty to capital murder and kidnapping, however, under Alabama law, he was still entitled to a jury trial. A jury eventually convicted him and sentenced him to death.
In April 2024, Dearman requested that his appeals be halted, allowing his execution date to be scheduled.
Pray for the families of Joseph Adam Turner, Shannon Melissa Randall, Robert Lee Brown, Justin Kaleb Reed, and Chelsea Marie Reed. Pray for strength for the family of Derrick Dearman.
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