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Stuart S.
KENNEDY
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Rape - Robbery
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: October 9,
1986
Date of birth:
December 20,
1960
Victim profile: Michelle Seagraves
(female, 22)
Method of murder:
Shooting
(.41
handgun) - Strangulation with a strap
Location: Decator County, Indiana, USA
Status: Sentenced to death March 21, 1988. Commuted to life
September 16, 1993
KENNEDY, STUART S.
# 53 & # 72
OFF DEATH ROW SINCE 09-16-93
DOB: 12-20-1960
DOC#: 881972 White Male
Decatur County Circuit Court Judge John A. Westhafer
Venued from Dearborn County
Prosecutor: James D. Humphrey,
Mike Miller
Defense: J. Richard Kiefer,
Kevin P. McGoff
Date of Murder: October 9, 1986
Victim(s): Michelle Seagraves
W/F/22 (No relationship to Kennedy)
Method of Murder: shooting .41
handgun; strangulation with a strap
Summary: Michelle Seagraves was
kidnapped as she was getting into her car in an apartment complex
parking lot in Columbus, Ohio.
Witnesses identified Stuart Kennedy as driving
Seagraves' Ford Grenada while holding a woman down in the seat.
Other witnesses identified a Corvette following
the Ford Grenada from Columbus to Moores Hill, Indiana. The license
plate of the Corvette showed it registered to Jackson.
On the same day, the Peoples National Bank in
Moores Hill was robbed by 2 men matching the description of Jackson
and Kennedy. The Ford Grenada was identified as the getaway car.
Jackson was arrested at his home in Columbus,
Ohio as he was getting into the Corvette. Officers recovered $5000
in cash, a .45 handgun, and a submachine gun from the car. Jackson
gave a complete confession, directing Officers to the body of
Seagraves.
An autopsy showed she had been strangled with a
strap still on her neck, and shot once in the back of the neck
through her head. Jackson also directed Officers to the bloody
clothing worn by Kennedy and Jackson discarded in a dumpster.
Conviction: Murder, Felony-Murder,
Kidnapping (A Felony), Robbery (C Felony)
Sentencing: March 21, 1988 (Death
Sentence, 50 years, 8 years)
Aggravating Circumstances: b (1)
Kidnapping, Robbery
Mitigating Circumstances: None
On 04-28-92 Decatur County Circuit Court Judge
John A. Westhafer again sentenced Kennedy to death, again overriding
the jury recommendation against death, without a hearing in
compliance with Indiana Supreme Court Opinion setting aside death
sentence and mandating a “new sentencing determination.
On 04-20-95 Decatur County Circuit Court Judge
John A. Westhafer resentenced Kennedy to 60 years imprisonment for
Murder in compliance with Indiana Supreme Court Opinion setting
aside death sentence and mandating a “new sentencing determination”;
to run consecutively with 8 year sentence for Robbery (C Felony),
and 50 year sentence for Kidnapping (A Felony), for a total sentence
of 118 years imprisonment.
Stuart S. Kennedy --
sentence overturned
Date of birth: 12/20/1960
White male
West Chester, Ohio
Convicted: February 1988 (specific date unknown)
Murder of: Michelle Seagraves, 22, Columbus, Ohio
Murder occurred: Oct. 9, 1986 Kennedy and Donald Lee Jackson (also
sentenced to death but his sentence was later overturned) kidnapped
Seagraves from her Columbus home and drove her to Dearborn County,
near Moores Hill, Ind., where they shot and killed her. They then
used her car to rob the People's National Bank at Moores Hill.
Sentenced: March 21, 1988
Sentencing court: Decatur Circuit Court
Sentencing judge: John A. Westhafer
Conviction affirmed but death penalty overturned: Sept. 19, 1991
Resentenced to death: Apr. 28, 1992
Death penalty overturned by the Indiana Supreme Court: Sept. 16,
1993
Resentenced to a total of 118 years: Apr. 20, 1995
