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James Lynn
STYERS
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: To
collect insurance money
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: December 2,
1989
Date of arrest:
Next day
Date of birth:
September 3,
1947
Victim profile: Christopher Milke, 4 (his
roommates's son)
Method of murder:
Shooting
Location: Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on December 14, 1990
United States Court of
Appeals For the Ninth Circuit
Date of Birth: September 3, 1947
Defendant: Caucasian
Victim: Caucasian
On December 2, 1989, James Lynn Styers
filed a missing child report, advising police that his roommate's son,
Christopher Milke (age 4), had disappeared during their visit to
Metrocenter mall. Roger Mark Scott was present with Styers.
On December 3, 1989, Scott
admitted during a police interview that he had
accompanied Styers the previous day to a desert
wash in the area of 99th Avenue and Jomax Road
where Styers shot and killed Christopher Milke.
Styers agreed to provide Scott with $250 to file a
social security claim. Styers believed he would receive some of
Christopher's $5,000 life insurance policy. At the conclusion of the
interview, Mr. Scott led police to the desert area where they found
Christopher Milke's body.
During a police interview, Debra Jean Milke,
Christopher Milke's mother, conceded that she had conspired with Styers
to have her son killed. She indicated that it would be better to have
her son die than grow up like her husband.
PROCEEDINGS
Presiding Judge: Peter T. D'Angelo
Prosecutor: Noel Levy
Start of Trial: October 15, 1990
Verdict: November 2, 1990
Sentencing: December 14, 1990
Aggravating
Circumstances:
Pecuniary gain
Especially heinous/cruel/depraved
Age of victim (4)
Mitigating
Circumstances:
None
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
State v. Styers, 177 Ariz. 104, 865 P.2d 765 (1993).
James Lynn Styers
Debra Jean Milke,
Christopher Milke's mother, conceded that she had conspired with Styers
to have her son killed.
