’WPC  " ś…YŁ4Ļ=CŠÓ4Ķ=j¾ø€õŪB7z_Ų£(į¤n”„qcÅ«• vŹõyŽKpĮäP‰?=U©ĆøŻEĘg†©ń†ł«<ōĻ:GŻ“½CŽ.ĮćZĘļ°•AG“cIå4¤sXy~š’‡Y‘ē ˆ”`²K¢Ÿk~¦­¾ā^ö‘«£bŠõlĀ0xŒ 3š‚oW›ÕŹŠķĪRÅų¢£’a•W"ŪFŚ`ūŌVN0t}ŒGJ“TĻŸSZHŠ«S© ƒB¾ōV£æ=š‚'3YP‚ā)Æ}4į™)Æę‘ ų¦»×¹§¶Ø”;7õd%@Œō 5ŲŽŪWVäżFüÓć4¾æą.&J/Ÿ®Wk”Ē€3uĀh1™Õs¤ūį`µ½D*™óūuŲŹĶqM¦PešW#ÉĀUN‹ %Ł 0:ß ß t ^  w™ 4 ± Ą mĀ NŁ Ł bŪ Ū Ū Ū Ū Ū Ū Eć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć ć Bå ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL6ŅV,,,,ŅV0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō RickyluminolSmrynaCowartFoxenHarpethš“/Ļ lk.ź:i¢×+003|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ- ł- dŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ‡īŅ‡īXXŌŃ8€bĘXXdédČ8ŃŃ  ŃŃ  Ńą@hhģąIN€THE€COURT€OF€CRIMINAL€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆŠ ° Šą@gg$ģąAT€NASHVILLEŌ#†XbĘXīīŅ‡=#ŌŌ‡»<š»XXbĘŌˆŠ Ó# Šą@ńń ģąJuly€16,€2003€SessionˆŠ öF ŠĢą@ŒŒģąņ ņSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE€v.€RICKY€RAYMOND€BRYANó óˆŠ  f ŠĢŌ#†XbĘX»»<šC#Ōą@ø ø ģąņ ņDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyˆŠ 7 ‡ Šą@) ) ģąNo.€F„32368€€€€€€James€K.€Clayton,€JudgeˆŠ ! q ŠĢą@ģģ*ģąßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ō ` A߈Š õ E  ŠĢą@J J ģąNo.€M2002„03015„CCA„R3„CD€„€Filed€December€29,€Ō_Ō2003Ō_ŌˆŠ ī>  ŠĢßA€V) °°` dE<Į` Aßó óŠ Ā  ŠĢÓ  ÓDefendant,€Ricky€Raymond€Bryan,€was€first€tried€and€convicted€of€the€first€degree€murder€ofŠ ŗ  ŠCharlotte€Scott€in€1995.€€At€the€conclusion€of€Defendantššs€first€trial,€the€trial€judge,€acting€in€hisŠ £ó  Šcapacity€as€thirteenth€juror,€granted€Defendantššs€motion€for€a€new€trial.€€Defendantššs€second€trialŠ ŒÜ Šwas€held€in€April€1996,€and€the€jury€once€again€found€Defendant€guilty€of€first€degree€murder€andŠ uÅ Šsentenced€him€to€life€imprisonment.€€On€appeal,€this€Court€remanded€for€a€new€trial€because€theŠ ^® Šintroduction€of€Defendantššs€statement€of€November€15,€1994,€violated€Defendantššs€FifthŠ G— ŠAmendment€right€against€self„incrimination.€€At€the€same€time,€this€Court€held€that€the€evidence€wasŠ 0€ Šsufficient€to€sustain€the€conviction.€€ņņState€v.€Bryanóó,€990€S.W.2d€231,€241€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1998).€Š i ŠFollowing€a€third€jury€trial,€Defendant€was€again€convicted€of€first€degree€murder€and€sentenced€byŠ R Šthe€jury€to€life€imprisonment€without€the€possibility€of€parole.€Defendant€now€appeals€his€convictionŠ ė; Šarguing€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€show€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€Defendant€wasŠ Ō$ Šthe€person€who€killed€the€victim,€Charlotte€Scott.€€Alternatively,€Defendant€argues€that€the€evidenceŠ ½  Šwas€insufficient€to€establish€that€Defendant€acted€with€premeditation€and€deliberation€as€requiredŠ ¦ö Šat€the€time€of€the€offense€in€order€to€sustain€a€conviction€of€first€degree€murder.€€Defendant€alsoŠ ß Šcontends€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€support€the€juryššs€finding€that€the€murder€wasŠ xČ Šespecially€heinous,€atrocious,€or€cruel€in€that€it€involved€torture€or€serious€bodily€injury€beyond€aŠ a± Šreasonable€doubt.€€After€a€thorough€review€of€the€record,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Š J š ŠĢą@ģąņ ņTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€Affirmedó óˆŠ "l! ŠĢņņThomas€T.€Woodall,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€ņņJoe€G.€Riley€óóand€ņņAlan€E.Š ļ#?# ŠGlenn,€óóJJ.,€joined.Š Ų$( $ ŠĢGerald€L.€Ō_ŌMeltonŌ_Ō,€District€Public€Defender,€at€trial€and€on€appeal,€and€Sean€G.€Williams,€AssistantŠ Ŗ&ś!& ŠPublic€Defender,€at€trial,€for€the€appellant,€Ricky€Raymond€Bryan.Š “'ć"' ŠĢPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Elizabeth€T.€Ryan,€Assistant€Attorney€General;Š e)µ$) ŠWilliam€C.€Ō_ŌWhitesellŌ_Ō,€Jr.,€District€Attorney€General;€Paul€A.€Ō_ŌHolcombeŌ_Ō,€III,€Assistant€DistrictŠ N*ž%* ŠAttorney;€and€John€W.€Price,€Assistant€District€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellee,€State€ofŠ 7+‡&+ ŠTennessee.Š  ,p', ŠĢą@55'ģąņ ņOPINIONó óˆŠ ņ-B).ƒ Šņ ņĢI.€€The€Trialó óŠ šź ŠĢą  ąThe€victimššs€family€filed€a€missing€person€report€with€the€Metro€Nashville€PoliceŠ m½ ŠDepartment€on€Tuesday,€October€18,€1994.€€The€report€indicated€that€the€seventy„two€year€oldŠ V¦ Švictim€disappeared€from€her€apartment€some€time€between€October€15€and€October€16.€€DavidŠ ?  ŠMiller,€a€homicide€detective€with€the€police€department€at€the€time€of€the€offense,€conducted€theŠ ( x Šinitial€search€of€the€victimššs€apartment.€€The€apartment€was€neat€and€orderly€and€showed€no€signsŠ  a Šof€a€struggle.€€The€coffee€pot€was€filled€with€water€and€coffee,€a€routine€the€victim€generallyŠ ś J Šperformed€prior€to€retiring€for€the€evening.€€The€victimššs€car€was€parked€in€front€of€the€apartmentŠ ć 3  Šbuilding€and€showed€no€sign€of€tampering.€€A€luminol€test€did€not€detect€the€presence€of€any€bloodŠ Ģ   Šin€either€the€apartment€or€the€victimššs€car.€€Detective€Miller€found€a€drug€store€receipt€in€a€trash€canŠ µ  Šshowing€that€a€prescription€for€the€victim€was€filled€at€3:48€p.m.€on€Saturday,€October€15.€Š žī  ŠĢą  ą€Detective€Miller€then€investigated€whether€the€victimššs€bank€account€reflected€any€recentŠ pĄ  Šactivity.€€An€initial€discussion€with€First€American€National€Bank,€the€victimššs€bank,€revealed€thatŠ Y©  Šthe€victimššs€bank€card€had€been€used€to€withdraw€$40.00€from€a€First€American€Bank€automatedŠ B’ Šteller€machine€(ATM)€sometime€after€3:00€p.m.€on€Friday,€October€14€and€before€Monday€morning,Š +{ ŠOctober€17.€€Three€other€inquiries€between€October€14€and€October€17€were€made€with€the€victimššsŠ d Šbank€card€after€the€$40.00€cash€withdrawal€at€a€First€Tennessee€Bank€ATM€located€at€NipperššsŠ żM ŠCorner.Š ę6 ŠĢą  ąThe€victimššs€family€told€Detective€Miller€that€Ms.€Scott€had€been€dating€Defendant€for€aŠ ø Šperiod€of€time€but€had€recently€broken€off€the€relationship.€€Detective€Miller€interviewed€DefendantŠ ”ń Šat€his€workplace€on€October€28,€and€Defendant€said€that€he€did€not€know€where€the€victim€was.€Š ŠŚ ŠDefendant€told€Detective€Miller€that€he€first€met€the€victim€in€1988€when€he€was€thirty„two€yearsŠ sĆ Šold.€€The€victim€told€Defendant€she€was€fifty€years€old.€€After€their€initial€meeting,€the€couple€datedŠ \¬ Šuntil€August€1994€when€the€victim€became€angry€with€Defendant€because€he€fixed€a€bicycle€for€aŠ E• Šgirl€who€lived€in€the€victimššs€neighborhood.€€When€Defendant€tried€to€call€the€victim€the€next€day,Š .~ Šshe€hung€up€the€telephone.€€Defendant€called€the€victim€on€September€23€to€tell€her€that€his€son€hadŠ g Šrun€away.€€After€that€date,€the€victim€called€Defendant€a€couple€of€times€to€see€how€he€was€doing.€Š  P ŠOn€Friday,€October€14,€the€victim€called€Defendant€and€they€talked€for€fifteen€or€twenty€minutes.€Š é 9 ŠDefendant€said€that€he€worked€on€Saturday,€October€15,€and€did€not€see€the€victim.€€The€next€day,Š Ņ!"  ŠDefendant€and€his€daughter,€Kimberly€Bryan€Cowart,€stopped€by€the€victimššs€apartment€afterŠ »" ! Šchurch.€€Although€the€victimššs€car€was€parked€outside€the€building,€she€did€not€answer€DefendantššsŠ ¤#ō" Šknock,€and€Defendant€and€his€daughter€left.€€During€the€interview,€Detective€Miller€noticed€a€longŠ $Ż# Šscratch€along€the€left€side€of€Defendantššs€face€but€no€other€bruises,€scrapes€or€scratches.Š v%Ę $ ŠĢą  ąAt€the€time€of€the€offense,€Ms.€Cowart€was€ten€years€old.€€Detective€Miller€interviewed€Ms.Š H'˜"& ŠCowart€on€November€3.€€Ms.€Cowart€said€that€the€victim€called€Defendant€on€Saturday€night,Š 1(#' ŠOctober€15,€and€she€and€Defendant€talked€fifteen€or€twenty€minutes.€€When€Ms.€Cowart€went€to€bed,Š )j$( ŠDefendant€was€still€talking€with€the€victim.€€Ms.€Cowart€and€Defendant€stopped€by€the€victimššsŠ *S%) Šapartment€on€October€16€after€church,€but€the€victim€was€not€home.€€Ms.€Cowart€said€that€she€andŠ ģ*<&* ŠDefendant€then€went€to€Nipperššs€Corner,€and€Defendant€attempted€to€retrieve€some€money€from€anŠ Õ+%'+ ŠATM€with€a€bank€card.€€At€trial,€Ms.€Cowart€added€that€before€she€and€her€father€went€to€churchŠ ° Šon€October€16,€Defendant€paced€back€and€forth€in€their€apartment€repeating,€š šI€donššt€want€to€go€toŠ ™é Šjail.ššŠ ‚Ņ ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Ms.€Cowart€said€that€she€told€her€mother€about€Defendantššs€remarksŠ T¤ Šš šprobably€about€three€years€ago.šš€€Ms.€Cowart€did€not€think€it€was€necessary€to€tell€the€policeŠ =  Šbecause€Defendant€had€already€been€sentenced€for€the€offense.€€She€first€told€the€prosecutors€aboutŠ & v Šthe€statement€the€day€before€the€third€trial.€€Ms.€Cowart€confirmed€on€redirect€that€she€had€notŠ  _ Štestified€in€the€first€two€trials.Š ų H ŠĢą  ąDefendant€consented€to€a€search€of€his€house€and€car€on€November€3,€but€no€evidence€wasŠ Ź   Šfound€to€connect€Defendant€to€the€victimššs€disappearance.€€A€luminol€test€performed€on€DefendantššsŠ ³  Šcar€did€not€reveal€any€particles€of€blood.Š œģ  ŠĢą  ąDetective€Miller€interviewed€Defendant€again€on€November€4€after€his€conversation€withŠ n¾  ŠMs.€Cowart.€€At€this€time,€Defendant€gave€a€second€statement€in€which€he€admitted€that€he€tried€toŠ W§  Šwithdraw€some€money€with€the€victimššs€bank€card€at€a€First€Tennessee€ATM€located€at€NipperššsŠ @ ŠCorner€š šon€the€day€[the€victim]€could€not€be€found.ššŠ )y ŠĢą  ąThe€prior€trial€testimony€of€Fran€Foxen,€the€custodian€of€the€records€of€First€AmericanŠ ūK ŠNational€Bank,€and€Sandy€Kelly,€a€loss€prevention€officer€with€First€Tennessee€Bank,€was€read€intoŠ ä4 Šthe€record.€€Ms.€Foxen€testified€that€the€victim€had€opened€a€checking€account€with€First€AmericanŠ Ķ ŠNational€Bank€on€April€1,€1991,€and€had€been€issued€only€one€bank€card.€€The€victimššs€bank€cardŠ ¶ Šhad€been€used€to€make€a€cash€withdrawal€in€the€amount€of€$40.00€at€3:28€p.m.€on€Saturday,€OctoberŠ Ÿļ Š15,€from€a€First€American€ATM€located€in€Hickory€Plaza.€€The€balance€of€the€victimššs€account€afterŠ ˆŲ Šthe€cash€transaction€was€$21.88.€€On€October€16,€three€inquiries€were€made€with€the€victimššs€bankŠ qĮ Šcard€at€a€First€Tennessee€ATM€located€in€Nipperššs€Corner.€€The€first€transaction€was€an€attempt€toŠ ZŖ Šwithdraw€$200,€the€second€was€an€attempt€to€withdraw€$100,€and€the€third€transaction€was€anŠ C“ Šinquiry€as€to€the€accountššs€balance.€€Ms.€Foxen€testified€that€between€September€13€and€October€15Š ,| Šthe€victim€had€only€used€her€bank€card€at€the€First€American€ATM€at€Hickory€Plaza.Š e ŠĢą  ąMs.€Kelly€testified€that€Defendant€had€previously€held€an€account€with€First€Tennessee€BankŠ ē 7 Šand€had€closed€the€account€on€July€21,€1993.€€Defendant€had€been€issued€a€bank€card€for€theŠ Š!   Šaccount.€€On€October€16,€the€victimššs€bank€card€was€actually€used€to€make€a€total€of€eight€inquiriesŠ ¹" ! Šat€the€First€Tennessee€ATM€located€at€Nipperššs€Corner.€€Five€of€the€transactions€failed€and,Š ¢#ņ" Štherefore,€had€not€been€submitted€to€the€host€bank,€First€American.€€All€eight€transactions€occurredŠ ‹$Ū# Šwithin€approximately€two€minutes.€€The€three€completed€transactions€included€a€request€for€$200,Š t%Ä $ Šfollowed€by€a€request€for€$100,€and,€lastly,€an€inquiry€as€to€the€balance€of€the€victimššs€account.Š ]&­!% ŠĢą  ąDanny€Bryan,€Defendantššs€brother,€testified€that€Defendant€had€dated€the€victim€about€sevenŠ /(#' Šyears.€€On€November€6,€after€dinner€at€a€local€steakhouse,€Defendant€told€Mr.€Bryan€that€he€wantedŠ )h$( Što€speak€with€him€in€private.€€Later€that€evening,€the€two€men€walked€to€a€set€of€railroad€tracksŠ *Q%) Šwhich€ran€between€an€apartment€complex€and€a€shopping€center€near€Defendantššs€house.€€DefendantŠ ź*:&* Štold€Mr.€Bryan€that€he€knew€where€the€victim€was€because€he€had€buried€her€in€a€rock€quarry€nearŠ Ó+#'+ ŠSam€Ridley€Parkway.€€Defendant€told€Mr.€Bryan€that€the€victim€asked€him€to€come€to€her€house€onŠ ° ŠOctober€15€when€she€telephoned€that€night.€€Defendant€waited€until€his€daughter€was€asleep€and€thenŠ ™é Šdrove€to€the€victimššs€house€around€midnight.€€The€victim€suggested€that€they€go€to€the€rock€quarryŠ ‚Ņ Šso€they€could€talk.€€After€they€arrived,€the€victim€told€Defendant€that€she€wanted€something€to€eat,Š k» Šand€Defendant€left€the€victim€sitting€alone€on€a€blanket€while€he€went€back€into€town€to€get€someŠ T¤ Šfood.€€When€he€returned,€Defendant€could€not€find€the€victim.€€Defendant€told€Mr.€Bryan€he€spottedŠ =  Ša€vehicle€down€the€road€and€heard€three€or€four€male€voices.€€After€the€men€left,€Defendant€exploredŠ & v Šthe€area€where€the€men€had€been€and€found€the€victim€dead.€€Defendant€said€that€he€pulled€theŠ  _ Švictim€into€the€woods€by€her€legs€and€buried€her.€€When€Mr.€Bryan€asked€why€he€buried€the€victim,Š ų H ŠDefendant€responded€that€he€did€so€because€he€was€scared.€€Defendant€denied€that€he€had€anythingŠ į 1  Što€do€with€the€victimššs€death.Š Ź   ŠĢą  ąMr.€Bryan€said€that€he€did€not€know€what€to€do€with€the€information.€€After€droppingŠ œģ  ŠDefendant€off€at€his€house,€Mr.€Bryan€and€his€wife,€Rosa,€started€to€drive€back€to€their€home€inŠ …Õ  ŠSparta.€€Along€the€way,€they€stopped€and€attempted€to€call€Detective€E.€J.€Bernard,€an€investigatorŠ n¾  Šassigned€to€the€victimššs€case,€and€Crime€Stoppers,€but€no€one€answered€the€calls.€€Mr.€Bryan€couldŠ W§  Šnot€sleep€that€night€and€went€to€the€White€County€Sheriffššs€Office€around€1:00€a.m.€on€NovemberŠ @ Š7€to€report€his€conversation€with€Defendant.€€Sheriff€James€OššConnor€immediately€contacted€€theŠ )y ŠMetro€Nashville€Police€Department.Š b ŠĢą  ąAt€this€point,€Defendantššs€prior€testimony€at€a€hearing€to€set€bail€on€December€12,€1994€wasŠ ä4 Šread€into€evidence.€€In€his€testimony,€Defendant€said€that€he€had€a€relationship€with€the€victim.€Š Ķ ŠDefendant€confirmed€that€he€told€Danny€Bryan€that€he€had€taken€the€victim€to€the€rock€quarry,€leftŠ ¶ Šher€alone€while€he€went€to€town,€and€found€her€dead€when€he€returned.€€Defendant€denied€that€heŠ Ÿļ Štook€his€son,€Shannon€Bryan,€to€the€rock€quarry€to€search€for€the€victim€on€November€14,€andŠ ˆŲ Šdenied€that€he€had€talked€with€his€step„nephew,€Michael€Thompson,€about€the€victim.Š qĮ ŠĢą  ąClayton€Thomas,€an€investigator€with€the€Ō_ŌSmyrnaŌ_Ō€police€department€at€the€time€of€theŠ C“ Šoffense,€testified€that€the€police€initiated€a€search€of€the€area€surrounding€the€rock€quarry€near€SamŠ ,| ŠRidley€Parkway€on€November€7€based€on€the€general€information€provided€by€Danny€Bryan.€€TheŠ e Šterritory€was€divided€into€four€quadrants,€and€a€dozen€or€more€people€joined€in€the€search.€€TheŠ žN Šrocky€and€woody€terrain€was€difficult€to€negotiate,€and€eventually€this€search€was€unproductive.Š ē 7 ŠĢą  ąA€search€warrant€for€Defendantššs€residence€was€issued€on€November€7.€€In€addition€toŠ ¹" ! Šsearching€Defendantššs€house,€the€police€dug€up€the€in„ground€swimming€pool€that€had€been€installedŠ ¢#ņ" Šabout€two€weeks€earlier.€€The€police€did€not€find€any€evidence€linking€Defendant€to€the€victimššsŠ ‹$Ū# Šdisappearance.€€A€few€days€after€his€conversation€with€Danny€Bryan€on€November€7,€Defendant€wasŠ t%Ä $ Šinterviewed€by€a€local€television€station.€€Defendant€told€the€reporter€that€he€did€not€know€where€theŠ ]&­!% Švictim€was€and€asked€the€publicššs€assistance€in€finding€the€victim.Š F'–"& ŠĢą  ąOfficer€Thomas€said€that€he€talked€with€Defendantššs€son,€Shannon,€who€agreed€to€approachŠ )h$( Šhis€father.€€On€November€11,€the€police€officers€equipped€Shannon€with€a€body€transmitter€in€orderŠ *Q%) Što€tape€his€conversation€with€Defendant.€€During€this€conversation,€however,€Defendant€refused€toŠ ź*:&* Šgo€along€with€Shannonššs€suggestion€that€they€search€for€the€victimššs€body€and€denied€knowingŠ Ó+#'+ Šwhere€the€victim€was€buried.€€Instead,€Defendant€said€that€he€believed€the€victim€had€simply€leftŠ ° Štown€and€was€still€alive.€€Defendant€admitted€that€he€had€one€of€the€victimššs€bank€cards€and€hadŠ ™é Šaccidently€burned€it€in€his€wood€stove€along€with€some€other€papers.Š ‚Ņ ŠĢą  ąShannon€was€once€again€equipped€with€a€body€transmitter€on€November€14.€€AlthoughŠ T¤ ŠDefendant€still€denied€knowing€where€the€victim€was€buried,€he€told€Shannon€that€another€body€wasŠ =  Šburied€at€the€rock€quarry.€€Defendant€said€he€had€been€looking€around€the€quarry€area€for€a€placeŠ & v Što€camp€when€he€heard€male€voices€in€the€woods.€€He€heard€a€gunshot€and€then€saw€the€menŠ  _ Šcarrying€a€manššs€body€into€the€woods.€€Defendant€said€that€he€was€scared€the€police€would€try€toŠ ų H Šaccuse€him€of€killing€the€man€if€they€discovered€the€body.€€Defendant€told€Shannon€that€they€shouldŠ į 1  Šmove€the€body,€so€Defendant€and€his€son€loaded€a€piece€of€black€plastic€and€a€blanket€intoŠ Ź   ŠShannonššs€car.€€Defendant€warned€Shannon€to€wear€different€shoes€so€the€police€could€not€matchŠ ³  Šhis€footprints.€€The€two€men€drove€to€a€cleared€area€behind€Ō_ŌLaVergneŌ_Ō€High€School€and€parked€atŠ œģ  Šthe€edge€of€the€woods.Š …Õ  ŠĢą  ąAround€3:30€a.m.,€the€police€officers€lost€the€signal€from€Shannonššs€transmitter€and€calledŠ W§  Šfor€helicopter€assistance€because€they€were€concerned€for€Shannonššs€safety.€€When€they€saw€theŠ @ Šhelicopter,€Defendant€and€Shannon€ran€in€different€directions€and€were€apprehended€a€short€whileŠ )y Šlater.€€The€police€subsequently€found€the€plastic€and€blanket€under€some€rocks€in€a€rock€pile€locatedŠ b Šalong€the€edge€of€the€woods.Š ūK ŠĢą  ąThe€police€officers€now€focused€their€search€for€the€victim€in€the€area€where€Shannon€hadŠ Ķ Šparked€his€car€on€November€14,€but€this€search,€too,€proved€unsuccessful.€€On€November€15,Š ¶ ŠDefendantššs€step„nephew,€Michael€Thompson,€talked€with€the€victimššs€son€as€they€watched€theŠ Ÿļ Šprogress€of€the€search.€€Mr.€Thompson€decided€to€approach€Defendant€about€the€victim€and€wentŠ ˆŲ Što€Defendantššs€house€on€the€evening€of€November€15.€€When€he€arrived,€Mr.€Thompson€askedŠ qĮ ŠDefendant€if€he€had€killed€the€victim,€and€Defendant€said€š šno,€no.šš€€Defendant€motioned€to€Mr.Š ZŖ ŠThompson€that€the€house€was€bugged€and€indicated€that€he€wanted€Mr.€Thompson€to€lift€his€shirtŠ C“ Šand€remove€his€pants€to€show€that€he€was€not€wired€with€a€transmitter.€€After€Mr.€ThompsonŠ ,| Šcomplied€with€Defendantššs€request,€the€two€men€conversed€by€writing€back€and€forth€in€a€notebook.€Š e ŠAs€each€page€was€filled,€Defendant€tore€the€page€out€of€the€notebook€and€burned€it€in€his€woodŠ žN Šstove.Š ē 7 ŠĢą  ąMr.€Thompson€asked€Defendant€if€there€was€anything€he€could€do€to€help€him.€€DefendantŠ ¹" ! Štold€Mr.€Thompson€that€when€he€went€to€the€rock€quarry€to€search€for€the€victim,€he€had€left€behindŠ ¢#ņ" Ša€rake€and€shovel.€€Defendant€drew€a€map€in€the€notebook€to€show€Mr.€Thompson€where€to€find€theŠ ‹$Ū# Štools.€€Defendant€noted€the€location€of€€Sam€Ridley€Parkway,€Ō_ŌLaVergneŌ_Ō€High€School,€and€an€accessŠ t%Ä $ Šroad€leading€to€the€rock€quarry€on€the€map.€€Defendant€indicated€that€the€rake€and€shovel€wereŠ ]&­!% Šlocated€about€fifteen€feet€from€the€access€road.€€He€said€that€the€pit€located€in€this€area€was€filledŠ F'–"& Šwith€debris€and€old€mattresses€which€Defendant€used€to€hide€the€tools.€€Defendant€then€burned€theŠ /(#' Šmap.€€Mr.€Thompson,€however,€described€the€location€of€the€tools€based€on€the€information€providedŠ )h$( Šby€Defendant€to€Officer€Thomas.€€Police€officers€searched€the€area€indicated€on€Defendantššs€mapŠ *Q%) Šand€within€minutes€found€the€victimššs€body€in€a€debris„filled€pit.Š ź*:&* ŠŠ Ó+#'+ Šą  ąRosa€Bryan€discovered€the€notebook€in€December€while€she€and€her€husband€were€stayingŠ ° Šin€Defendantššs€house€after€his€arrest€and€gave€it€to€Officer€Thomas.€€At€trial,€Grant€Sperry€wasŠ ™é Šqualified€as€an€expert€in€forensic€document€examination.€€Based€on€the€decipherable€impressionsŠ ‚Ņ Šand€indented€writings€found€in€the€notebook,€Mr.€Sperry€was€able€to€make€out€some€of€the€wordsŠ k» Šon€a€drawing€that€appeared€to€be€a€map€including,€among€others,€€š šSam€Ridley,šš€š šschool,šš€š šshovelŠ T¤ Šand€rake,šš€and€š šwhere€dozer€has€cleared.šš€€Mr.€Sperry€compared€the€features€and€characteristics€ofŠ =  Šthe€indented€writings€on€the€notebookššs€remaining€pages€with€known€samples€of€DefendantššsŠ & v Šhandwriting.€€Based€on€this€comparison,€Mr.€Sperry€testified€that€the€indented€writings€in€theŠ  _ Šnotebook€had€been€made€by€Defendant.Š ų H ŠĢą  ąKeith€Lowery,€a€police€officer€with€the€Ō_ŌSmyrnaŌ_Ō€police€department,€participated€in€the€searchŠ Ź   Šconducted€on€November€16.€€He€said€that€the€pit€in€the€area€reflected€on€Defendantššs€map€had€beenŠ ³  Šsearched€earlier€by€a€cadaver€dog€without€any€indication€of€a€body.€€A€closer€inspection€of€the€pit,Š œģ  Šhowever,€indicated€that€fresh€soil€had€been€spread€over€the€leaves€that€littered€the€top€of€the€pit.€€TheŠ …Õ  Šrocks€surrounding€the€pit€were€lying€with€the€darker,€wet€side€facing€up€indicating€that€the€rocks€hadŠ n¾  Šbeen€moved€from€their€original€location.€€Based€on€these€discoveries,€Officer€Lowery€and€otherŠ W§  Šofficers€began€removing€the€debris€that€filled€the€pit.€€When€they€reached€the€bottom€of€the€pit,€theyŠ @ Šdiscovered€a€mound€of€fresh€dirt€covering€the€victimššs€body.€€The€body€was€buried€eight€to€ten€feetŠ )y Šbelow€ground€level€with€six€to€nine€inches€of€dirt€on€top€of€the€body.Š b ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Officer€Lowery€said€that€a€car€could€be€driven€into€the€cleared€areaŠ ä4 Šnear€the€pit€but€not€into€the€pit€itself.€€On€recall,€Officer€Thomas€testified€that€the€pit€was€within€aŠ Ķ Šfifteen€to€twenty„minute€drive€from€the€victimššs€apartment.Š ¶ ŠĢą  ąPolice€officers€searched€Defendantššs€residence€again€on€November€17€for€body€tissue,€andŠ ˆŲ Šhis€car€was€searched€on€December€14.€€Neither€search€revealed€any€physical€evidence€tyingŠ qĮ ŠDefendant€to€the€victimššs€death.Š ZŖ ŠĢą  ąDoctor€Charles€Harlan€performed€the€autopsy€on€the€victim€and€testified€that€the€victim€hadŠ ,| Šsuffered€numerous€injuries€both€before€and€after€death.€€The€victim€had€two€lacerations€on€the€frontŠ e Šof€her€head€and€two€lacerations€on€the€back€of€the€head.€€The€lacerations€were€not€stab€wounds€butŠ žN Šwere€caused€by€a€blow€from€a€hard€object,€such€as€a€lead€pipe€or€baseball€bat,€with€enough€force€toŠ ē 7 Šrender€the€victim€unconscious.€€Both€of€the€victimššs€arms€were€broken€one€inch€below€the€wrist.€Š Š!   ŠThe€victimššs€death,€however,€resulted€from€a€blunt€force€trauma€to€the€chest€which€fractured€theŠ ¹" ! Švictimššs€ribs€in€forty„four€places.€€The€fractures€impeded€the€victimššs€ability€to€breathe€and€causedŠ ¢#ņ" Šinternal€hemorrhaging€resulting€in€death€within€five€to€ten€minutes.€€Dr.€Harlan€testified€that€theŠ ‹$Ū# Švictimššs€chest€injuries€were€consistent€with€injuries€that€would€be€sustained€if€the€victim€had€beenŠ t%Ä $ Šrun€over€or€struck€by€an€automobile.€After€the€victim€had€died,€she€was€stabbed€several€times€in€theŠ ]&­!% Šabdomen€and€on€the€thighs€and€both€of€her€breasts€were€amputated.€Š F'–"& ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Dr.€Harlan€said€that€it€was€possible,€but€not€probable,€that€the€victimŠ )h$( Šhad€suffered€the€head€injuries€and€broken€arms€when€she€was€run€over€or€struck€by€the€automobileŠ *Q%) Šas€opposed€to€before.€€The€lacerations€and€wrist€injuries,€however,€were€on€areas€which€would€notŠ ź*:&* Šnormally€be€impacted€by€the€type€of€compression€injury€that€caused€the€victimššs€broken€ribs.€€Dr.Š Ó+#'+ ŠHarlan€said€that€the€victimššs€head€showed€no€sign€of€crushing€and€noted€that€it€was€possible€for€anŠ ° Šobject€to€crush€the€victimššs€rib€cage€without€crushing€her€head.€€Dr.€Harlan€stated€that€the€type€ofŠ ™é Šchest€injuries€suffered€by€the€victim€could€also€have€been€incurred€if€the€victim€fell€from€a€heightŠ ‚Ņ Šof€three€hundred€or€more€feet€onto€a€hard€surface,€or€fell€out€of€an€airplane€without€a€parachute.Š k» ŠĢą  ąAlthough€he€had€not€done€so€in€the€prior€trials,€Defendant€elected€to€testify€at€his€third€trial.€Š =  ŠDefendant€said€that€he€met€the€victim€at€the€Starlight€Club€in€1988€or€1989.€€They€began€dating€afterŠ & v Šthat€initial€meeting,€but€Defendant€denied€that€their€relationship€was€sexual.€€Defendant€said€that€heŠ  _ Šmerely€looked€after€the€victim€because€she€was€older€and€single.Š ų H ŠĢą  ąDefendant€confirmed€that€he€spoke€with€his€brother€on€November€6€but€denied€that€he€toldŠ Ź   ŠDanny€he€had€buried€the€victim€at€the€rock€quarry.€€Defendant€explained€that€he€and€Danny€wentŠ ³  Što€the€railroad€tracks€to€look€for€Shannon.€€Defendant€said€that€he€had€been€suggesting€all€weekendŠ œģ  Šthat€Danny€help€him€find€the€victimššs€body€because€the€police€had€told€Defendant€that€if€he€foundŠ …Õ  Šthe€body€alone,€he€would€be€accused€of€killing€her.€Defendant€told€Danny€that€he€had€been€at€theŠ n¾  Šrock€quarry€with€the€victim€on€Wednesday,€October€12,€and€had€returned€on€Thursday€or€Friday€toŠ W§  Šlook€for€a€place€to€camp.€€Defendant€said€some€men€had€been€at€the€quarry€then,€and€he€thoughtŠ @ Šperhaps€the€victim€was€also€there.€€Defendant€said€he€could€not€recall€telling€Danny€that€he€hadŠ )y Šburied€the€victim.Š b ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€the€police€told€him€that€his€son,€Shannon,€was€a€suspect€in€theŠ ä4 Šinvestigation.€€Defendant€said€that€Shannon€asked€him€on€three€different€occasions€to€go€with€himŠ Ķ Što€search€for€the€body.€€Defendant€explained€that€he€discussed€the€victimššs€disappearance€withŠ ¶ ŠShannon€because€€he€was€trying€to€find€out€š šfirsthandšš€what€Shannon€knew.€€On€November€14,€theyŠ Ÿļ Šwere€discussing€the€victim€when€Shannon€suddenly€grabbed€a€blanket€and€some€plastic€and€left€theŠ ˆŲ Šhouse.€€Defendant€was€caught€off€guard€and€followed€Shannon€š šwithout€thinking.šš€€Defendant€didŠ qĮ Šnot€expect€to€find€the€victimššs€body€and€thought€they€were€going€to€look€for€a€manššs€body€at€theŠ ZŖ Šrock€quarry.€€Defendant€said€he€told€Shannon€that€they€would€have€to€contact€the€police€if€theyŠ C“ Šfound€a€body.€€When€the€police€surrounded€their€search€area,€Defendant€told€Shannon€to€return€toŠ ,| Šhis€car,€and€then€he€ran€in€a€different€direction€to€deflect€the€policeššs€attention€from€Shannon.Š e ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€Mike€Thompson€came€to€see€him€around€8:00€p.m.€on€November€15.€Š ē 7 ŠAccording€to€Defendant,€Mr.€Thompson€rushed€into€Defendantššs€house,€stripped€off€his€clothes,€andŠ Š!   Šsaid€that€he€was€not€wearing€a€wire.€Defendant€said€that€he€just€laughed€at€Mr.€Thompson€becauseŠ ¹" ! Šhe€already€knew€that€his€house€was€bugged€and€that€Shannon€had€been€wired€with€a€body€transmitterŠ ¢#ņ" Šon€November€14.€€Defendant€explained€that€Shannon€told€him€that€he€had€left€some€tools€at€the€rockŠ ‹$Ū# Šquarry,€and€Mr.€Thompson€asked€Defendant€to€draw€a€map€showing€him€where€the€tools€wereŠ t%Ä $ Šlocated€based€on€Shannonššs€directions.€€Mr.€Thompson€then€described€a€different€location€andŠ ]&­!% Šconfused€Defendant.€€Mr.€Thompson€asked€Defendant€to€burn€the€pages€from€the€notebook,€andŠ F'–"& ŠDefendant€did€so€in€order€to€protect€him.€€Š /(#' ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Defendant€denied€that€he€drew€the€map€that€was€reconstructed€fromŠ *Q%) Šthe€indented€writings€in€his€notebook€and€insisted€that€Mr.€Thompson€took€the€map€Defendant€drewŠ ź*:&* Šwith€him.€€Defendant,€however,€said€that€he€may€have€written€the€words€š šSam€Ridleyšš€on€the€map.€Š Ó+#'+ ŠHe€did€not€write€the€words€š šshovel€and€rakešš€because€he€did€not€know€what€kind€of€tools€ShannonŠ ° Šhad€left€at€the€rock€quarry,€and€Defendant€did€not€own€a€shovel.€€Defendant€said€the€handwritingŠ ™é Šmay€have€been€Shannonššs€because€Shannon€often€š šŌ_Ōuse[dŌ_Ō]€his€handwriting,šš€and€Shannonššs€writingŠ ‚Ņ Šdisplayed€the€same€writing€characteristics€as€Defendantššs€writing.Š k» ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€his€first€statement€on€November€4€simply€said,€€š šI€used€Lottieššs€bank€card.šš€Š =  ŠOfficer€Miller€tore€up€the€statement€and€told€Defendant€to€rewrite€it€adding€the€words€š šSunday€toŠ & v Štake€out€money€at€Nipperššs€Corner€the€day€she€could€not€be€found.šš€€Defendant€said€that€he€oftenŠ  _ Šused€the€victimššs€bank€card€but€denied€using€the€card€on€October€16.€€Defendant€explained€that€heŠ ų H Šonly€told€Shannon€that€he€had€burned€the€victimššs€bank€card€because€Defendant€thought€ShannonŠ į 1  Štook€the€card€and€wanted€to€see€how€he€would€respond.€Š Ź   ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€he€last€saw€the€victim€on€Wednesday,€October€12,€at€the€rock€quarryŠ œģ  Šwhich€was€located€in€the€southwest€quadrant€of€the€search€area.€€They€sat€on€the€hood€of€the€car,Š …Õ  Štalking€and€looking€at€the€stars.€€The€couple€had€been€to€the€quarry€on€three€previous€occasionsŠ n¾  Šduring€their€relationship.€Š W§  ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€although€he€had€left€the€victim€alone€at€the€quarry€on€October€12€whileŠ )y Šhe€went€to€get€some€food,€she€was€alive€when€he€returned.€€He€saw€some€men€in€the€woods€onŠ b ŠThursday€or€Friday,€not€Wednesday€night.€€Defendant€said€that€any€inconsistencies€with€his€priorŠ ūK Štestimony€concerning€the€events€of€October€12€was€because€he€was€in€a€trance€at€the€earlier€hearing.Š ä4 ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€the€victim€telephoned€him€on€October€15€around€10:45€p.m.€€ShannonššsŠ ¶ Šex„girlfriend,€Dorothy,€was€visiting€and€left€Defendantššs€house€around€11:00€p.m.€€Defendant€saidŠ Ÿļ Šthat€he€fell€asleep€while€talking€to€the€victim€and€was€awakened€by€his€brother€at€about€12:50€a.m.€Š ˆŲ ŠMr.€Bryan€had€fought€with€his€wife€and€needed€a€place€to€stay.€€Defendant€fell€asleep€again€andŠ qĮ Šwoke€up€about€4:00€a.m.€when€his€brother€left.€€Defendant€denied€leaving€his€house€at€any€point€thatŠ ZŖ Šnight€and€said€his€car€was€blocked€by€Mr.€Bryanššs.€€He€denied€that€he€told€his€daughter€that€he€didŠ C“ Šnot€want€to€go€to€jail.Š ,| ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Defendant€insisted€that€the€victim€had€at€least€two€bank€cards€fromŠ žN ŠFirst€American€and€that€he€still€had€an€account€at€First€Tennessee€Bank€at€the€time€of€his€arrest.€Š ē 7 ŠDefendant€said€that€the€victim€often€asked€him€to€use€her€bank€card€when€she€needed€cash.Š Š!   ŠĢą  ąDanny€Bryan€was€recalled€to€the€stand€and€testified€that€he€did€not€go€to€the€DefendantššsŠ ¢#ņ" Šhouse€at€1:00€a.m.€on€October€16€although€he€may€have€been€over€there€at€some€point€during€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šweekend.€€He€also€reiterated€that€Defendant€told€him€he€had€buried€the€victim€at€the€rock€quarry,€andŠ t%Ä $ ŠMr.€Bryan€believed€Defendant€had€done€so.Š ]&­!% ŠĢą  ąOn€the€basis€of€this€evidence,€the€jury€found€Defendant€guilty€of€first€degree€murder.€Š /(#' ŠĢņ ņII.€€The€Sentencing€Hearingó óŠ *Q%) Šā āŠ ė*;&* Šą  ąRosa€Lee€Ō_ŌKelseyŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌKristaŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌBrumfieldŌ_Ō,€the€victimššs€daughters,€testified€about€the€effect€theŠ ° Šā āvictimššs€death€had€on€them€individually€and€on€the€family€as€a€whole.€€Ms.€Ō_ŌKelseyŌ_Ō€said€that€theŠ ™é Šfamily€was€torn€apart€for€awhile€because€they€could€not€talk€about€their€mother€without€becomingŠ ‚Ņ Šupset.€€Both€Ms.€Ō_ŌKelseyŌ_Ō€and€Ms.€Ō_ŌBrumfieldŌ_Ō€had€been€through€counseling€to€help€them€cope€withŠ k» Štheir€motherššs€death.€Š T¤ ŠĢą  ąDefendant€next€testified.€€He€said€that€prior€to€his€arrest€he€had€been€employed€for€aboutŠ & v Šthirteen€years€by€Ō_ŌAllvanŌ_Ō€Corporation€in€Ō_ŌLaVergneŌ_Ō,€Tennessee,€and€had€purchased€his€home€in€1981.€Š  _ ŠUntil€his€arrest€for€the€victimššs€murder,€Defendant€said€that€he€had€never€encountered€any€legalŠ ų H Šdifficulties€other€than€a€speeding€ticket.€€Defendant€said€that€he€led€a€secret€life€devoted€to€helpingŠ į 1  Špeople.€€At€night,€he€would€load€his€car€with€gasoline,€oil,€water,€antifreeze,€hubcaps€and€otherŠ Ź   Šautomotive€parts.€€Defendant€said€he€would€then€drive€around€the€area€looking€for€people€who€hadŠ ³  Šcar€trouble€or€who€needed€a€ride,€particularly€hitchhikers.€€Defendant€said€that€he€graduated€fromŠ œģ  ŠFranklin€High€School.€Although€he€did€not€find€out€until€years€later,€Defendant€said€he€was€votedŠ …Õ  Šš šmost€likely€to€succeed.šš€€Defendant€still€maintained€he€did€not€commit€the€offense€but€extendedŠ n¾  Šhis€condolences€to€the€Scott€family€and€said€that€he€missed€the€victim,€too.Š W§  ŠĢą  ąOn€cross„examination,€Defendant€denied€that€he€used€the€victimššs€bank€card€at€NipperššsŠ )y ŠCorner€on€Sunday,€October€16.€€Defendant€explained€that€the€card€suddenly€appeared€in€his€car€thatŠ b ŠSunday€morning€but€said€that€he€used€the€bank€card€at€a€bank€in€Brentwood,€not€Nipperššs€Corner.€Š ūK ŠDefendant€insisted€that€the€victim€had€more€than€one€bank€card.Š ä4 ŠĢą  ąHarding€Scott,€an€officer€with€the€Spring€Hill€Police€Department,€testified€that€he€was€calledŠ ¶ Što€a€parking€lot€about€a€year€before€the€trial€when€a€locksmith€had€unlocked€a€car€and€found€a€letterŠ Ÿļ Šwritten€by€Defendant€to€Danny€Bryan.€€After€reading€a€portion€of€the€letter,€Officer€Scott€turned€itŠ ˆŲ Šover€to€the€authorities€because€the€contents€had€relevance€to€Defendantššs€case.Š qĮ ŠĢą  ą€In€the€first€part€of€the€letter,€Defendant€wrote€that€a€few€days€before€she€disappeared,Š C“ Šsomeone€went€into€the€victimššs€apartment€while€she€was€out€and€cut€out€the€crotches€from€theŠ ,| Švictimššs€panties€and€the€part€of€her€bras€that€covered€the€nipples.€€Defendant€included€a€drawing€ofŠ e Ša€pair€of€panties€and€a€bra€illustrating€how€the€cuts€were€made.€€The€perpetrator€then€spread€theŠ žN Šunderwear€over€the€victimššs€bed€so€she€would€find€the€garments€when€she€returned€home.€Š ē 7 ŠDefendant€said€that€the€victim€told€him€about€the€incident€on€Tuesday,€October€11.€€Defendant€wroteŠ Š!   Šthat€he€received€a€letter€from€Shannon€saying€that€his€wifeššs€underwear€had€been€cut€in€the€sameŠ ¹" ! Šway.€€Š ¢#ņ" ŠĢą  ąIn€the€second€part€of€the€letter,€Defendant€wrote€that€he€had€sent€Shannon€a€code€to€use€whenŠ t%Ä $ Šcorresponding€with€him.€€Instead,€Defendant€said€that€he€received€a€letter€from€a€stranger€writtenŠ ]&­!% Šin€the€same€code.€€Defendant€translated€the€coded€letter€for€Danny.€Š F'–"& ŠĢą  ąThe€stranger€thanked€Defendant€for€the€code€and€wrote,€š šI€cannot€tell€you€who€I€am€but€I€canŠ )h$( Štell€you€I€killed€the€old€bitch€Lottie,€sorry€you€got€arrested.šš€€The€stranger€said€that€he€struck€theŠ *Q%) Švictim€on€the€head€and€threw€her€from€the€third€floor€breeze€way€in€front€of€her€apartment.€€TheŠ ź*:&* Šletter€continues,€š š[Ō_Ōs]heŌ_Ō€made€a€loud€pop€when€she€hit.€€It€was€beautiful.€.€.€.€She€stayed€alive€forŠ Ó+#'+ Šawhile,€she€reached€up€[and]€called€Rick€a€few€times.€€I€finally€jumped€on€her€chest€a€few€times.€Š ° ŠThere€was€blood€everywhere,€it€was€pretty.€€German€titty€cake€is€good.€.€.€.€Would€you€believe,€I€ranŠ ™é Šover€her€a€few€times€in€the€parking€lot€as€a€woman€about€35€„€40€sat€on€the€steps€[and]€watched€.€.Š ‚Ņ Š.€.ššŠ k» ŠĢą  ąDefendant€said€that€he€wrote€the€letter€about€a€year€prior€to€his€third€trial€because€his€brotherŠ =  Šwas€investigating€his€case€and€he€wanted€Danny€to€know€the€truth.€€Defendant€agreed€that€itŠ & v Šappeared€from€the€letter€that€the€writer€enjoyed€committing€the€offense€against€the€victim.Š  _ ŠĢą  ąGladys€Ō_ŌTalleyŌ_Ō,€Defendantššs€grandmother,€testified€that€Defendant€had€been€a€good€child€andŠ į 1  Šwas€well„liked.€€She€said€that€Defendant€always€took€care€of€Shannon€and€Kimberly€and€was€a€goodŠ Ź   Šworker.€€Ms.€Ō_ŌTalleyŌ_Ō€said€that€she€knew€the€victim€and€had€accompanied€Defendant€and€the€victimŠ ³  Šon€outings.€€She€stated€that€Defendant€could€not€have€been€the€one€who€killed€the€victim.Š œģ  ŠĢą  ąBased€on€the€evidence€presented€at€the€sentencing€hearing,€the€jury€found€that€the€state€hadŠ n¾  Šproven€one€statutory€aggravating€circumstance€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt;€that€is,€the€offense€wasŠ W§  Šespecially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€in€that€it€involved€torture€or€serious€physical€abuse€beyond€thatŠ @ Šnecessary€to€produce€death.€€The€jury€found€that€the€aggravating€circumstance€outweighed€anyŠ )y Šmitigating€circumstances€and€sentenced€Defendant€to€life€imprisonment€without€the€possibility€ofŠ b Šparole.Š ūK ŠĢņ ņIII.€€Sufficiency€of€the€Evidenceó óŠ Ķ ŠĢą  ąDefendant€argues€first€that€his€conviction€rests€solely€upon€circumstantial€evidence,€and€thatŠ  š Ševidence€is€insufficient€to€support€a€finding€that€Defendant€was€the€perpetrator€of€this€offense.Š ‰Ł ŠĢą  ąWhen€a€defendant€challenges€the€sufficiency€of€the€convicting€evidence,€we€must€review€theŠ [« Ševidence€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€the€prosecution€in€determining€whether€a€rational€trier€of€factŠ D” Šcould€have€found€all€the€essential€elements€of€the€crime€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€ņņJackson€v.Š -} ŠVirginiaóó,€443€U.S.€307,€319,€99€S.€Ct.€2781,€2789,€61€L.€Ed.€2d€560€(1979).€€Once€a€jury€finds€aŠ f Šdefendant€guilty,€his€or€her€presumption€of€innocence€is€removed€and€replaced€with€a€presumptionŠ ’O Šof€guilt.€€ņņState€v.€Blackóó,€815€S.W.2d€166,€175€(Tenn.€1991).€€The€defendant€has€the€burden€ofŠ č 8 Šovercoming€this€presumption,€and€the€State€is€entitled€to€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€theŠ Ń!!  Ševidence€along€with€all€reasonable€inferences€which€may€be€drawn€from€that€evidence.€€ņņId.;€StateŠ ŗ" ! Šv.€Ō_ŌTuggleŌ_Ōóó,€639€S.W.2d€913,€914€(Tenn.€1982).€€The€jury€is€presumed€to€have€resolved€all€conflictsŠ £#ó" Šand€drawn€any€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€the€State.€€ņņState€v.€Sheffield,óó€676€S.W.2d€542,€547Š Œ$Ü# Š(Tenn.€1984).€Questions€concerning€the€credibility€of€witnesses,€the€weight€and€value€to€be€givenŠ u%Å $ Šthe€evidence,€and€all€factual€issues€raised€by€the€evidence€are€resolved€by€the€trier€of€fact€and€notŠ ^&®!% Šthis€court.€€ņņState€v.€Blandóó,€958€S.W.2d€651,€659€(Tenn.€1997).€€These€rules€are€applicable€to€findingsŠ G'—"& Šof€guilt€predicated€upon€direct€evidence,€circumstantial€evidence,€or€a€combination€of€both€directŠ 0(€#' Šand€circumstantial€evidence.€€ņņState€v.€Matthewsóó,€805€S.W.2d€776,€779€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1990).€Š )i$( ŠĢą  ąAlthough€the€evidence€of€Defendantššs€guilt€is€circumstantial€in€nature,€circumstantialŠ ė*;&* Ševidence€alone€may€be€sufficient€to€support€a€conviction.€€ņņState€v.€Ō_ŌTharpeŌ_Ōóó,€726€S.W.2d€896,€899„900Š Ō+$'+ Š(Tenn.€1987);€ņņState€v.€Gregoryóó,€862€S.W.2d€574,€577€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993).€€The€circumstantialŠ ° Ševidence,€however,€must€be€not€only€consistent€with€the€guilt€of€the€accused€but€it€must€also€beŠ ™é Šinconsistent€with€innocence€and€must€exclude€every€other€reasonable€theory€or€hypotheses€exceptŠ ‚Ņ Šthat€of€guilt.€€ņņŌ_ŌTharpeŌ_Ōóó,€726€S.W.2d€at€900.€€In€addition,€š šššit€must€establish€such€a€certainty€of€guiltŠ k» Šof€the€accused€as€to€convince€the€mind€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€[the€defendant]€is€the€oneŠ T¤ Šwho€committed€the€crime.šššš€€ņņId.óó€(quoting€ņņŌ_ŌPruittŌ_Ō€v.€Stateóó,€460€S.W.2d€385,€390€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Š =  Š1970)).Š & v ŠĢą  ąAs€Defendant€points€out,€there€was€no€physical€evidence€connecting€him€to€the€victimššsŠ ų H Šdeath€despite€the€fact€that€Defendantššs€home€and€automobile€were€searched€a€number€of€times.€Š į 1  ŠDefendant,€however,€admitted€that€he€was€with€the€victim€on€Wednesday,€October€12,€and€talkedŠ Ź   Što€the€victim€by€telephone€on€Saturday,€October€15.€€Defendant€also€admitted€in€his€secondŠ ³  Šstatement€to€the€police€that€he€used€the€victimššs€bank€card€on€Sunday,€October€16.€€AlthoughŠ œģ  ŠDefendant€later€testified€that€Detective€Miller€made€him€write€that€part€of€his€statement,€hisŠ …Õ  Šdaughter,€Kimberly,€said€that€she€and€Defendant€stopped€at€the€ATM€at€Nipperššs€Corner€on€Sunday,Š n¾  Šand€Defendant€attempted€to€withdraw€some€money.€€Bank€records€indicate€that€a€total€of€eightŠ W§  Šinquiries€were€made€within€a€two„minute€period€at€the€Nipperššs€Corner€ATM€on€October€16.€€TheŠ @ Štwo€requests€for€cash€were€denied€because€of€insufficient€funds€in€the€victimššs€account,€and€the€lastŠ )y Štransaction€was€an€inquiry€as€to€the€accountššs€balance.Š b ŠĢą  ąIt€was€Defendant€who€initially€focused€the€policeššs€attention€to€the€rock€quarry€locatedŠ ä4 Šbetween€Sam€Ridley€Parkway€and€Interstate€24€where€the€victimššs€body€was€eventually€found.€€OnŠ Ķ ŠNovember€6,€he€told€his€brother,€Danny,€that€he€had€buried€the€victim€in€that€location.€€He€and€theŠ ¶ Švictim€had€been€to€the€quarry€one€evening.€€Defendant€left€the€victim€alone€for€awhile,€and€whenŠ Ÿļ Šhe€returned€the€victim€was€dead.€€Defendant€later€testified€that€he€was€at€the€rock€quarry€with€theŠ ˆŲ Švictim€on€Wednesday,€October€12,€and€that€he€and€the€victim€had€visited€that€spot€three€other€timesŠ qĮ Šduring€their€relationship.€€Defendant€also€said€that€he€returned€to€the€quarry€on€Thursday€or€FridayŠ ZŖ Šlooking€for€a€place€to€camp.Š C“ ŠĢą  ąOn€November€14,€Defendant€and€his€son,€Shannon,€drove€to€the€cleared€area€behindŠ e ŠŌ_ŌLaVergneŌ_Ō€High€School€near€the€rock€quarry€with€a€blanket€and€a€piece€of€plastic€to€look€for€theŠ žN Švictim€although€Defendant€later€said€that€he€did€not€expect€to€find€her.€€He€explained€that€he€andŠ ē 7 ŠShannon€were€looking€for€the€body€of€a€man€that€night€who€was€buried€at€the€rock€quarry.Š Š!   ŠĢą  ąOn€November€15,€Mr.€Thompson€testified€that€Defendant€drew€a€map€showing€the€locationŠ ¢#ņ" Šof€a€shovel€and€a€rake€which€he€had€left€behind€after€searching€for€the€victim.€€The€map€noted€theŠ ‹$Ū# Šlocation€of€Sam€Ridley€Parkway€and€Ō_ŌLaVergneŌ_Ō€High€School€with€the€location€of€the€shovel€and€rakeŠ t%Ä $ Šmarked€approximately€fifteen€feet€from€the€access€road€leading€to€the€rock€quarry.€€Defendant€alsoŠ ]&­!% Šdescribed€the€site€as€littered€with€debris€and€old€mattresses.€€Mr.€Thompson€immediately€describedŠ F'–"& Šthe€spot€to€the€police,€and€the€victimššs€body€was€shortly€found€in€a€debris„filled€pit.Š /(#' ŠĢą  ąDefendant€contends€that€the€evidence€tying€him€to€the€victimššs€disappearance€is,€at€best,Š *Q%) Šweak€and€does€not€exclusively€point€to€Defendant€as€the€perpetrator€of€the€offense.€€He€argues€thatŠ ź*:&* Šin€order€to€find€the€circumstances€conclusive€as€to€Defendantššs€guilt,€the€jury€had€to€ignoreŠ Ó+#'+ ŠDefendantššs€own€testimony€wherein€he€denied€using€the€victimššs€bank€card€on€the€weekend€of€herŠ ° Šdisappearance€and€denied€that€he€killed€the€victim.€€Defendantššs€argument,€however,€goes€to€theŠ ™é Šcredibility€of€the€testimony.€€The€jury€decides€the€weight€to€be€given€circumstantial€evidence,€andŠ ‚Ņ Šš š[Ō_Ōt]heŌ_Ō€inferences€to€be€drawn€from€such€evidence,€and€the€extent€to€which€the€circumstances€areŠ k» Šconsistent€with€guilt€and€inconsistent€with€innocence€are€questions€primarily€for€the€jury.šš€€ņņŌ_ŌMarableŌ_ŌŠ T¤ Šv.€Stateóó,€313€S.W.2d€451,€457€(Tenn.€1958);€ņņsee€also€Gregoryóó,€862€S.W.2d€at€577;€ņņState€v.€Ō_ŌCouryŌ_Ōóó,Š =  Š697€S.W.2d€373,€377€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1985);€ņņŌ_ŌPruittŌ_Ōóó,€460€S.W.2d€at€391.Š & v ŠĢą  ąWhen€viewing€the€totality€of€this€evidence€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€a€rationalŠ ų H Šjury,€based€on€the€evidence€presented,€could€have€found€that€Defendant€was€responsible€for€theŠ į 1  Šdeath€of€the€victim€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.Š Ź   ŠĢą  ąDefendant€next€argues€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€show€that€he€acted€withŠ œģ  Špremeditation€and€deliberation€in€the€commission€of€the€offense,€and€the€evidence,€therefore,€onlyŠ …Õ  Šsupports€a€conviction€of€second€degree€murder.€€Defendant€points€out€that€there€were€no€witnessesŠ n¾  Što€the€killing€or€the€events€leading€up€to€and€following€the€commission€of€the€crime.€Relying€on€ourŠ W§  Šsupreme€courtššs€decision€in€ņņState€v.€Westóó,€844€S.W.2d€144€(Tenn.€1992),€Defendant€contends€thatŠ @ Šwhile€the€Stateššs€depiction€of€the€manner€in€which€the€victim€died€may€well€be€true,€it€is€just€aŠ )y Štheory€without€any€supporting€evidence.€€ņņId.óó€at€148.€Š b ŠĢą  ąAt€the€time€of€the€offense,€first€degree€murder€was€defined€as€the€š šintentional,€premeditatedŠ ä4 Šand€deliberate€killing€of€another.šš€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€39„13„202(a)(1)€(1991).€€The€termsŠ Ķ Šš špremeditatedšš€and€š šdeliberatešš€are€not€synonymous.€€ņņState€v.€Brownóó,€836€S.W.2d€530,€539€(Tenn.Š ¶ Š1992).€€A€š šdeliberate€actšš€is€one€performed€€š šwith€a€cool€purpose.šš€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€39„13„Š Ÿļ Š201(b)(1).€€A€š špremeditated€act,šš€on€the€other€hand,€is€performed€€š šafter€the€exercise€of€reflectionŠ ˆŲ Šand€judgment.šš€€ņņIdóó.€„201(b)(2).€€š š[Ō_ŌP]remeditationŌ_Ō€requires€proof€of€a€previous€intent€to€kill,€whileŠ qĮ Šdeliberation€requires€proof€of€a€ššcool€purposešš€that€includes€some€period€of€reflection€during€whichŠ ZŖ Šthe€mind€is€free€from€passion€and€excitement.šš€ņņState€v.€Bushóó,€942€S.W.2d€489,€501€(Tenn.€1997),Š C“ Šciting€ņņBrownóó,€836€S.W.2d€at€539.Š ,| ŠĢą  ąWhether€the€defendant€acted€with€premeditation€and€deliberation€may€be€established€byŠ žN Šcircumstantial€evidence.€€ņņBrownóó,€836€S.W.2d€at€541.€€If€there€is€no€direct€evidence€as€to€theŠ ē 7 Šdefendantššs€state€of€mind€before,€during€and€after€the€killing,€the€elements€of€premeditation€andŠ Š!   Šdeliberation€may€be€inferred€from€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€offense.€€ņņState€Ō_Ōv.Ō_Ō€Ō_ŌSchaferŌ_Ōóó,€973Š ¹" ! ŠS.W.2d€269,€273€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997).€€As€with€direct€evidence,€the€weight€accordedŠ ¢#ņ" Šcircumstantial€evidence€and€the€inferences€drawn€from€such€evidence€are€factors€left€primarily€toŠ ‹$Ū# Šthe€jury.€€ņņŌ_ŌMarableŌ_Ōóó,€313€S.W.2d€at€457.€€š šHowever,€circumstantial€evidence€of€a€defendantššs€stateŠ t%Ä $ Šof€mind€will€not€support€a€jury€verdict€of€premeditated€murder€unless€the€proof€of€premeditation€andŠ ]&­!% Šdeliberation€is€ššso€strong€and€cogent€as€to€exclude€every€other€reasonable€hypothesis€save€the€guiltŠ F'–"& Šof€the€defendant,€and€that€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.šššš€€ņņŌ_ŌSchaferŌ_Ōóó,€973€S.W.2d€at€273,€quoting€ņņStateŠ /(#' Šv.€Crawfordóó,€225€Tenn.€478,€470€S.W.2d€610,€612€(1971).Š )h$( ŠĢą  ąFactors€which€may€support€the€existence€of€a€premeditated€and€deliberate€killing€include€theŠ ź*:&* Šdefendantššs€prior€relationship€with€the€victim,€the€nature€or€particular€cruelty€of€the€killing,€the€useŠ Ó+#'+ Šof€a€deadly€weapon€on€an€unarmed€victim,€the€infliction€of€multiple€wounds,€the€destruction€orŠ ° Šsecretion€of€evidence,€and€the€defendantššs€calmness€immediately€after€the€killing.€€ņņState€v.€Ō_ŌNicholsŌ_Ōóó,Š ™é Š24€S.W.3d€297,€302€(Tenn.€2000);€ņņBlandóó,€958€S.W.2d€at€660;€ņņState€v.€Gentryóó,€881€S.W.2d€1,€4„5Š ‚Ņ Š(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993);€ņņsee€alsoóó€ņņBushóó,€942€S.W.2d€at€502€(Evidence€that€the€defendant€first€hitŠ k» Šthe€victim€with€a€board€and€then€retrieved€a€second€weapon€with€which€he€continued€the€attack€isŠ T¤ Šprobative€of€premeditation.)Š =  ŠĢą  ąIn€ņņWestóó,€the€victim€and€the€defendant€encountered€each€other€on€their€tractors.€€TheŠ  _ Šdefendant€testified€that€the€victim€insulted€and€threatened€him.€€The€defendant€went€home€briefly,Š ų H Šand€when€he€came€back,€the€victim€attacked€him€with€an€iron€bar.€€The€defendant€then€shot€theŠ į 1  Švictim.€€ņņWestóó,€844€S.W.2d€at€146„47.€€As€proof€of€premeditation,€the€State€offered€its€theory€that€theŠ Ź   Šdefendant€had€returned€home€for€the€express€purpose€of€retrieving€his€gun€so€that€he€could€kill€theŠ ³  Švictim.€€ņņId.óó€at€148.€€The€defendant,€on€the€other€hand,€contended€that€he€had€his€gun€with€him€allŠ œģ  Šmorning.€€ņņId.óó€€The€supreme€court€concluded€that€š š[Ō_Ōw]hileŌ_Ō€the€stateššs€theory€may€be€true,€it€remainsŠ …Õ  Šonly€a€theory,€because€the€prosecution€has€no€evidence€to€support€it.šš€€ņņId.ó󀀹 šAlthough€the€jury€isŠ n¾  Špermitted€to€disbelieve€the€defendantššs€testimony,€it€may€not€construct€a€theory€based€on€noŠ W§  Ševidence€at€all.šš€€ņņId.Š @ ŠóóĢą  ąUnlike€the€lack€of€evidence€in€ņņWestóó,€however,€the€evidence€presented€in€the€case€ņņsub€judiceóóŠ b Šwas€consistent€with€the€Stateššs€argument€concerning€the€manner€in€which€the€victim€was€killed.Š ūK ŠDefendant€testified€that€he€and€the€victim€had€a€long„standing€relationship€of€several€years€but€thatŠ ä4 Šthe€relationship€had€cooled€in€the€months€immediately€preceding€the€victimššs€death.€€Defendant€saidŠ Ķ Šthat€he€met€the€victim€at€the€rock€quarry€shortly€before€she€disappeared€in€an€area€near€the€placeŠ ¶ Šwhere€the€body€was€eventually€found.€€This€spot€was€familiar€to€the€victim€because€she€andŠ Ÿļ ŠDefendant€had€visited€the€quarry€three€previous€times.€Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąNo€blood,€tissue€or€other€physical€evidence€was€discovered€in€the€victimššs€apartment,Š ZŖ ŠDefendantššs€residence,€or€his€car€indicating€that€the€victim€was€killed€at€or€near€the€rock€quarryŠ C“ Šwhere€she€was€buried.€€Medical€testimony€showed€that€the€victim€first€suffered€four€blows€to€theŠ ,| Šhead€of€sufficient€force€to€render€her€unconscious,€and€both€arms€were€broken.€€There€were€noŠ e Šdefense€wounds,€indicating€that€the€victim€was€either€surprised€or€unable€to€defend€herself.€€TheŠ žN Švictimššs€death,€however,€was€caused€by€a€massive€blunt€force€trauma€to€her€chest€which€fracturedŠ ē 7 Šher€ribs€in€forty„four€places.€€The€medical€evidence€was€consistent€with€the€Stateššs€theory€thatŠ Š!   ŠDefendant€knocked€the€victim€unconscious,€got€into€his€vehicle€and€ran€over€the€victim.€€TheseŠ ¹" ! Šcircumstances€indicate€that€Defendant€acted€with€cool€purpose€and€with€ample€time€for€reflection.€Š ¢#ņ" ŠMoreover,€after€the€victim€died,€she€was€stabbed€multiple€times€and€both€breasts€were€completelyŠ ‹$Ū# Šamputated.€€Finally,€the€victim€was€buried€in€a€remote€area€in€a€pit€eight€to€ten€feet€below€groundŠ t%Ä $ Šlevel€and€the€body€covered€with€six€to€nine€inches€of€dirt€as€well€as€various€kinds€of€debris.Š ]&­!% ŠĢą  ąConsidering€the€proof€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€state,€a€rational€jury€could€haveŠ /(#' Šconcluded,€based€on€the€facts€presented€to€it,€that€Defendant,€acting€with€cool€purpose€and€withoutŠ )h$( Špassion€or€provocation,€consciously€engaged€in€conduct€that€led€to€the€victimššs€death.€€Therefore,Š *Q%) Šwe€conclude€that€the€evidence€in€this€record€is€sufficient€to€establish€premeditation€and€deliberation.€Š ź*:&* ŠMoreover,€this€Court€has€previously€concluded€that€the€jury€could€have€found€that€Defendant€actedŠ Ó+#'+ Šwith€premeditation€and€deliberation€in€the€killing€of€the€victim€based€on€essentially€the€sameŠ ° Ševidence.€€ņņSee€State€v.€Bryanóó,€990€S.W.2d€231,€241€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1998).Š ™é ŠĢņ ņIV.€€Aggravating€Circumstancesó óŠ k» ŠĢą  ąAt€the€conclusion€of€Defendantššs€sentencing€hearing,€the€jury€found€that€the€State€had€provenŠ > Ž Šbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€š š[Ō_Ōt]heŌ_Ō€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious,€or€cruel€in€that€itŠ ' w Šinvolved€torture€or€serious€physical€abuse€beyond€that€necessary€to€produce€death.šš€€Tenn.€CodeŠ  ` ŠAnn.€šš€39„13„204(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)(5).€€The€jury€further€found€that€the€aggravating€circumstance€outweighed€anyŠ ł I Šmitigating€circumstances€and€sentenced€Defendant€to€life€imprisonment€without€parole.Š ā 2  ŠĢą  ąAs€he€points€out€in€his€brief,€Defendant€failed€to€raise€this€sentencing€issue€in€his€motion€forŠ “  Šnew€trial€as€required€by€Rule€3(e)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.€€Ordinarily,Š ķ  ŠDefendantššs€failure€to€do€so€would€constitute€a€waiver€of€the€issue.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€3(e).€Š †Ö  ŠNonetheless,€we€find€the€record€sufficient€to€address€the€merits€of€Defendantššs€issue.Š oæ  ŠĢą  ąDefendant€argues€that€the€evidence€is€insufficient€to€support€a€finding€that€the€victim€wasŠ A‘ Šeither€tortured€or€suffered€serious€physical€abuse€prior€to€her€death.€€Defendant€contends€that€theŠ *z Švictim€was€either€unconscious€at€the€time€she€was€run€over€or€she€suffered€the€lacerations€andŠ c Šbroken€arms€at€the€same€time€as€the€fatal€chest€injuries.€€As€a€result,€Defendant€submits€that€the€juryŠ üL Šcould€not€reasonably€conclude€that€the€victim€was€tortured€prior€to€her€death.€€Defendant€also€arguesŠ å5 Šthat€the€evidence€does€not€support€a€finding€that€the€victim€suffered€serious€physical€abuse€becauseŠ Ī Šhe€contends€that€postmortem€injuries€may€not€be€considered€in€determining€whether€there€wasŠ · Šš šserious€physical€abuse€beyond€that€necessary€to€produce€death.šš€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€39„13„Š  š Š204(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō)(5).Š ‰Ł ŠĢą  ąThe€State€has€the€burden€of€proving€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€a€statutory€aggravatingŠ [« Šcircumstance€exists.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€39„13„204(Ō_ŌiŌ_Ō).€€In€determining€whether€the€evidenceŠ D” Šsupporting€the€existence€of€an€aggravating€circumstance€is€sufficient,€š šthe€proper€inquiry€for€theŠ -} Šappellate€court€is€whether,€after€reviewing€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€aŠ f Šrational€trier€of€fact€could€have€found€the€existence€of€the€aggravating€circumstance€beyond€aŠ ’O Šreasonable€doubt.šš€€ņņState€v.€Carpenteróó,€69€S.W.3d€568,€574€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€2001),€citing€ņņStateŠ č 8 Šv.€Ō_ŌSuttlesŌ_Ōóó,€30€S.W.3d€252,€262€(Tenn.€2000).Š Ń!!  ŠĢą  ąIn€establishing€that€a€killing€is€especially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel,€the€State€may€proveŠ £#ó" Šeither€torture€or€serious€physical€abuse.€€ņņState€v.€Keenóó,€31€S.W.3d€196,€206€(Tenn.€2000),€citing€ņņStateŠ Œ$Ü# Šv.€Hallóó,€8€S.W.3d€593,€601€(Tenn.€2000).€€š šTorturešš€contemplates€š šthe€infliction€of€severe€physicalŠ u%Å $ Šor€mental€pain€upon€the€victim€while€he€or€she€remains€alive€and€conscious.šš€€ņņKeenóó,€31€S.W.3d€atŠ ^&®!% Š206,€quoting€ņņState€v.€Morrisóó,€24€S.W.3d€788,€797€(Tenn.€2000).Š G'—"& ŠĢą  ąA€review€of€Dr.€Harlanššs€testimony€reveals€that€while€the€initial€blows€to€the€victimššs€headŠ )i$( Šcould€have€rendered€her€unconscious,€the€evidence€is€inconclusive€as€to€the€victimššs€state€ofŠ *R%) Šā āconsciousness€when€she€was€run€over€by€Defendantššs€car.€€Regardless€of€whether€the€proof€supportsŠ ė*;&* Šthe€existence€of€torture,€however,€the€evidence€is€sufficient€to€find€that€the€murder€involved€š šseriousŠ ° Šphysical€abuse€beyond€that€necessary€to€produce€death.šš€Š ™é Šā ā€Ģą  ąš šSerious€physical€abusešš€is€distinguishable€from€torture.€€ņņState€v.€Ō_ŌOdomŌ_Ōóó,€928€S.W.2d€18,€26Š k» Š(Tenn.€1996).Š T¤ ŠĢą8  ąThe€word€š šseriousšš€alludes€to€a€matter€of€degree.€€The€abuse€must€be€physical,€asŠ & v Šopposed€to€mental,€and€it€must€be€š šbeyond€thatšš€or€more€than€what€is€š šnecessary€toŠ  _ Šproduce€death.šš€€š šAbusešš€is€defined€as€an€act€that€is€š šexcessivešš€or€which€makesŠ ų H Šš šimproper€use€of€a€thing,šš€or€which€uses€a€thing€š šin€a€manner€contrary€to€the€naturalŠ į 1  Šor€legal€rules€for€its€use.ŠŹ  Š Š  ŠņņId.óóŠ ³  ŠĢą  ąIn€his€contention€that€the€victim€did€not€suffer€serious€physical€abuse,€Defendant€apparentlyŠ ƒÓ  Šignores€the€injuries€inflicted€upon€the€victim€prior€to€her€death.€€We€conclude,€however,€that€the€actŠ l¼  Šof€running€over€a€seventy„two€year€old€woman,€who€has€been€immobilized€by€four€blows€to€theŠ U„  Šhead,€with€an€automobile€supports€a€finding€that€the€victim€suffered€excessive€abuse€beyond€thatŠ >Ž Šwhich€was€necessary€to€cause€her€death.€€ņņSee€State€v.€Howellóó,€34€S.W.3d€484,€511€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.Š 'w Š2000)€(Running€victim€over€with€a€car€when€she€was€most€likely€alive€supports€a€finding€that€theŠ ` Šmurder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious,€and€cruel).Š łI ŠĢą  ąIn€addition,€the€victim€was€stabbed€multiple€times€in€the€abdomen€and€thighs€and€bothŠ Ė Šbreasts€were€amputated€after€her€death.€€This€Court€has€previously€rejected€Defendantššs€argumentŠ “ Šthat€post„death€injuries€cannot€be€considered€in€determining€whether€the€killing€was€especiallyŠ ķ Šheinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€because€it€involved€serious€physical€abuse.€€ņņState€v.€Cedric€Ō_ŌDickersonŌ_Ōóó,Š †Ö ŠNo.02C01„9802„CR„00051,€1999€WL€74213,€*4€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€Jackson,€Feb.€17,€1999),€ņņperm.Š oæ Što€appeal€deniedóó€(Tenn.€2001).€€Although€the€legislature€added€the€mutilation€of€a€body€after€deathŠ XØ Šas€an€aggravating€circumstance€in€1995,€the€ņņŌ_ŌOdomŌ_Ō€óócourt€specifically€declined€to€limit€š šseriousŠ A‘ Šphysical€abusešš€to€abuse€inflicted€before€death.€€ņņId.óó,€citing€ņņŌ_ŌOdomŌ_Ōóó,€928€S.W.2d€at€25,€n.€5.Š *z ŠĢą  ąBased€on€the€proof€in€this€case,€including€both€the€pre„death€and€post„death€injuries,€andŠ üL Šviewed€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€State,€we€find€the€evidence€sufficient€to€support€the€juryššsŠ å 5 Šfinding€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€murder€was€heinous,€atrocious,€or€cruel€in€that€it€involvedŠ Ī!  Šserious€physical€abuse€beyond€that€necessary€to€produce€death,€and€the€sentence€of€lifeŠ ·"! Šimprisonment€without€the€possibility€of€parole€was€not€otherwise€imposed€arbitrarily.Š  #š" ŠĢą@GG%ģąņ ņCONCLUSIONó óˆŠ r%Ā $ ŠĢą  ąFor€the€reasons€set€forth€above,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€Š E'•"& ŠĢĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą___________________________________€Š *P%) Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąTHOMAS€T.€WOODALL,€JUDGE