ÿWPCƒ. Ÿ`U‘ºfO <òæèÍf ØMê\o Vÿ>1>¿ø²ƒhO‡g’{ðŒPR "I<-§Oö… °4R„Ù6 zÍò+¨oxñ=?‚ßš¯ÑsÅq“ö*Âäe&×¢IÉ|ñ°[ ^Jl\ÖÕ\×Lv:‹È" $Îâÿz× ®4§œvÉ ULuz«ä¿dî ¨ñ°ÿ Gî€tUÉI½muÀ2N[–«¹þƒŸ)[þL$É"óàpHXÄ#f!@—k[w¸li`[ ö-„)ÔèDR÷ÇÞÑU8¿EùàɱsJåu´:l–„7lè”Erª“—øæy›‹ôž.˜¤ß¢NJYÒ®Fž*†}é8>9•N#J™yÖ4xÇÕyß2Ñïå…QÜS×9Æ2ç_xÚ¸^¤ pÀ üu¤ƒ=s‡{"—c8Ïú‡¼Ê~…# F U:Q %‹ 0ˆ‘ w” 4­ Á YÐ Æ) 0 %ï 0 DRXÿªU:©zã]Qe—¶bM?Ue”¡ù#š%°%¿'U:Ð( D3 ) )U:=)=)=) Bw)w)w)w)w)w)w)w)w)w)w)w)w) 0¤”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”)”) AQ8+Ɖ+ 0¤O, 0Dó- D/7. Bf.˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MSÈðððÈð0nLlÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX(`zZ$¡¡ÑTRY,3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø'ÿ Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  Ô/3D03132333D4353D6373D8393:3D;3D<3=3Õ?3t@3«A3B3DC3D3{E3F3Ó€P3Ö…#%xÔüÔô3|xP3 OÝ ƒ Òò$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ôÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô°íôXXÔThese€aggravating€circumstances€are€now€codified€at€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð39„13„Ð  Ð204(i)(2);and€(5)„(8)€(1997€Repl.).€€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(Õ(2Òò$¤¤Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRY3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø' 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÓ=€ôÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó HÝ ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔIn€òòState€v.€Bushóó,€942€S.W.2d€489€(Tenn.€1997),€this€Court€again€refused€to€narrowÐ  Ðapplication€of€(i)(6)€"to€only€those€killings€which€are€solely€motivated€or€predominately€motived€by€aÏdesire€to€avoid€arrest€or€prosecution."€€òòIdóó.€at€504€(citing€òòState€v.€Carteróó,€714€S.W.2d€241,€250Ð „| Ð(Tenn.€1986)).€€Instead€we€reaffirmed€our€prior€holdings€that€application€of€(i)(6)€is€appropriateÏwhen€proof€shows€that€avoidance€of€prosecution€or€arrest€was€one€of€the€purposes€motivating€theÏkilling.€€òòIdóó.€(citing€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€868€S.W.2d€561,€581€(Tenn.€1993)).Ð ¾ ¶ ÐÌ õÝ ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔBobby€Sherman,€Leo€Sperling›,€and€Floyd€Cook.€, øð AZ"Arial Regular pÝ ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔThe€truck€was€located€seventeen€months€after€the€escape€in€a€wooded€area€of€StewartÐ  ÐCounty,€Tennessee.€€It€had€been€completely€covered€with€branches. GÝ ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡X‡DXXXÔÔ‡ô˜– ôXX‡DÔ"Whenever€the€death€penalty€is€imposed€for€first€degree€murder€and€when€the€judgmentÐ  Ðhas€become€final€in€the€trial€court,€the€defendant€shall€have€the€right€of€direct€appeal€from€the€trialÏcourt€to€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals.€€The€affirmance€of€the€conviction€and€the€sentence€ofÏdeath€shall€be€automatically€reviewed€by€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€€Upon€the€affirmance€byÏthe€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€the€clerk€shall€docket€the€case€in€the€Supreme€Court€and€the€caseÏshall€proceed€in€accordance€with€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.ððÔ#†X‡DX ôô˜–Ç#Ô Ý ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔThese€paperweights€were€found€seventeen€months€later€in€the€bed€of€the€1966€ChevroletÐ  Ðtruck€which€the€escapees€had€stolen€near€Eddyville€and€driven€to€the€Leatherwood€community.€- ù- 5Ý ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔBlanton›€was€separately€tried€and€convicted€of€first€degree€murder€and€sentenced€toÐ  Ðdeath. [Ý ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€X‡DXXXÔÔ‡ô˜– ôXX‡DÔApparently€the€dissent€fails€to€recognize€that€our€holding€in€òòOdomóó€was€based€upon€ourÐ  Ðdetermination€that€the€evidence€in€the€record€on€appeal€was€òòlegallyóó€insufficient€to€supportÐ ÐÈ Ðapplication€of€the€aggravating€circumstance.€€We€did€not€weigh€the€evidence;€therefore,€contraryÏto€the€dissentððs€assertion,€this€Court€did€not€supplant€the€juryððs€finding€on€this€issue.€€Moreover,Ïthe€dissentððs€assertion€that€the€State€had€no€opportunity€to€develop€or€argue€the€facts€relevant€toÏapplication€of€the€aggravating€circumstance€again€fails€to€recognize€that€in€reviewing€the€legalÏsufficiency€of€the€evidence€in€òòOdomóó,€this€Court€considered€the€evidence€in€the€record€on€appeal€inÐ ¸ ° Ðthe€light€most€favorable€to€the€State.€€Finally,€our€holding€in€òòOdomóó€did€not€prevent€the€State€fromÐ € x Ðfurther€developing€the€facts€at€the€resentencing€hearing€to€establish€that€Odom€committed€theÏmurder€to€further€his€escape€from€custody€and€to€support€application€of€the€(i)(8)€aggravatingÏcircumstance.€€òòState€v.€Harrisóó,€919€S.W.2d€323,€331€(Tenn.€1996)€(At€resentencing€the€State€isÐ ØÐ  Ðnot€limited€to€proof€presented€in€the€initial€sentencing€hearing€,€ð ðbut€is€free€to€strengthen€its€case€inÏany€way€it€can€by€the€introduction€of€new€evidence.ðð)€Ô#†X‡DX ôô˜–È#Ô —Ý ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô ÉôXXÔWe€affirm€the€finding€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€that€the€juryððs€erroneous€relianceÐ  Ðupon€the€invalid€felony€murder€aggravating€circumstance€was€harmless€beyond€a€reasonableÏdoubt. Ñ   Ñ Ý ƒ Ó$ÝÔ  ÔÓ=€ßÐXdÐd=ÓÒ4°ÒÒ„°Òà Œ àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡ô ÉôXXÔThis€aggravating€circumstance€applies€if€ð ðthe€murder€was€committed€by€the€defendantÐ  Ðwhile€the€defendant€was€in€lawful€custody€or€in€a€place€of€lawful€confinement€or€during€theÏdefendantððs€escape€from€lawful€custody€or€from€a€place€of€lawful€confinement.ððÔ#†XßXôô É¨#Ô Ý ƒ'("ÝÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÔ€XôXXXÔÔ€bhXXôÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XôXbhÔÐ  ÐÌSeptember€21,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAtÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular 'ÿÿdxd, øð AZ"Arial Regular d(|3'($££Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRY3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø' 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3'($¢¢Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRY3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø' 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒzZ!ÝÑTRY3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø' 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  ÝñP3ñ›ñP3ññ@3ñÓ=€ôÐXdÐd=Óñ@3ñšÑ°ÑÒ4°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[  AØ' LegalY3Ø'ÿ Letter AØ'ÿ Legal 3Ø' LetterTÑÑ  ÑÑ7€ôXXdæXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ"*US ú\ú\ú (ú:!ú&ú)*Ôò òÑ€Ññ@3ñÓ=€ωXÐXdÐd=Óñ@3ññP3ññP3ññP3ññF3ñœñF3ñßr€<,(j 8` `€€@Eô ` 8ttxP,ð  rßñP3ññF3ññF3ñ›à@  DàÔ‡¼¦a¼XXÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÔ#†XôX¼¼¦aÙ#ԈР Ðà@)DàÔ‡¼¦a¼XXôÔAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†XôX¼¼¦ad#ԈР ÐÌÌÌó óÓ=€ôXÐXdÐXd=Óà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àœÌÌñP3ññP3ñà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àò òFOR€PUBLICATIONó óÐ À ¸ ÐSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à@##/Dà)ˆÐ ¬¤ Ðà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àò òFiledó ó:€ò òñD3ññA3ñSeptemberñA3ññD3ññD3ñSeptemberñD3ññB3ñAugust€3ñB3ññC3ñ€ñC3ññE3ñ2ñE3ñ1,€1998ó óÐ ’Š  Ðà Œ àAPPELLEE,à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àÐ ~v  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àHUMPHREYS›€COUNTYÐ d\  Ðv.à@##/Dà)ˆÐ JB  Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)à œ àHon.€Allen€W.€WallaceÐ 0(  ÐWILLIAM€E.€HALL€ANDà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àÐ   ÐDERRICK€D.€QUINTERO,à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àNo.€œ01S01›„9703„CC„00068Ð üô  ÐñP3ññP3ñà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àAPPELLANT.à@##/Dà)ˆÐ ÈÀ ÐñP3ñœßt€>.*jx° ` `€€@E¤¸` 8ttxPܮРtß›ñP3ñÌÌÌòòò òFOR€APPELLANT€HALLóó:à ” àà ì àà D àòòFOR€APPELLEE:óóó óÐ `X ÐÌJennifer€Davis€Robertsà ” àà ì àà D àJohn€Knox€WalkupÐ 2* МDickson›,€Tennesseeà ” àà ì àà D àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÐ  ÐÌandà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àMichael€E.€MooreÐ äÜ Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àSolicitor€GeneralÌReese€œBagwell›ÌœClarksville›,€Tennesseeà ” àà ì àà D àœDarian›€B.€TaylorÐ –!Ž Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àAssistant€Attorney€Generalà ü! àÐ |"t Ðòòò òFOR€APPELLANT€œQUINTERO›:ó óóóà ì àà D àNashville,€TennesseeÐ b#Z Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àÌœShipp›€R.€œWeems›à < àà ” àà ì àà D àDan€M.€œAlsobrooks›Ð 4%,! ÐDistrict€Public€Defenderà ” àà ì àà D àDistrict€Attorney€GeneralÐ &" ÐCharlotte,€Tennesseeà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àà ô àà L àà ¤ àà ü! àÐ 'ø# Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àJ.€Kenneth€AtkinsÌandà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àSpecial€ProsecutorÐ Ì(Ä!% Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àCharlotte,€TennesseeÌSteve€StackÌAssistant€Public€Defenderà ” àà ì àà D àJames€W.€œKirby›Ð ~+v$( ÐCharlotte,€Tennesseeà ” àà ì àà D àAssistant€District€Attorney€GeneralÐ d,\%) Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àCharlotte,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ss)Dàò òÔ‡èõièXXôÔO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óÔ#†XôXèèõi#ԈРz4r-2 ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED.à€((BT$àœDROWOTA›,€J.ˆÐ  b;Z49 ÐÓӜрÏÑ›à Œ àIn€this€capital€case,€the€defendants,€William€Eugene€Hall,€Jr.,€and€DerrickÏDesmond€Quintero,€were€convicted€by€a€jury€of€two€counts€of€murder€during€theÏperpetration€of€first€degree€burglary,€three€counts€of€grand€larceny,€one€count€ofÏpetit€larceny€and€three€counts€of€first€degree€burglary.€€For€their€convictions€ofÏlarceny€and€burglary,€the€defendants€each€were€sentenced€to€eighty€yearsÏincarceration,€which€sentences€were€ordered€to€run€consecutively€to€the€lifeÏsentences€imposed€for€their€conviction€of€the€first€degree€murder€of€BufordÏVester.€€With€respect€to€the€first€degree€murder€of€Myrtle€Vester,€the€jury€foundÏthe€proof€established€the€following€five€aggravating€circumstances:€€(1)€€theÏdefendants€were€previously€convicted€of€one€or€more€felonies€involving€the€useÏor€threat€of€violence,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(2)€(1982);€(2)€€the€murderÏwas€especially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€in€that€it€involved€torture€or€depravityÏof€mind,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(5)€(1982);€(3)€œthe›€murder€was€committedÏfor€the€purpose€of€avoiding,€interfering€with,€or€preventing€a€lawful€arrest€orÏprosecution€of€themselves€or€others,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(6)€(1982);Ï(4)€€the€murder€was€committed€while€the€defendant€was€engaged€in€committingÏor€was€an€accomplice€in€the€commission€of,€or€was€attempting€to€commit,€orÏfleeing€after€committing€or€attempting€to€commit,€any€first„degree€murder,€arson,Ïrape,€robbery,€burglary,€larceny,€kidnaping,€aircraft€piracy,€or€unlawful€throwing,Ïplacing€or€discharging€of€a€destructive€device€or€bomb,€Tenn€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„¼203(i)(7)€(1982);€and€(5)€€the€murder€was€committed€by€the€appellants€while€theyÏwere€in€lawful€custody€or€in€a€place€of€lawful€confinement€or€during€their€escapeÏfrom€lawful€custody€or€from€a€place€of€lawful€confinement,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ39„2„203(i)(8)€(1982).׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Finding€that€there€were€no€mitigating€circumstancesÐ \0T). Ðsufficiently€substantial€to€outweigh€the€aggravating€circumstances,€the€juryÏsentenced€the€defendants€to€death€by€electrocution€for€the€murder€of€MyrtleÏVester.€Ð À5¸.4 Їà Œ àOn€direct€appeal€to€the€Tennessee€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€theÏdefendants€challenged€both€their€convictions€and€their€sentences.€€The€appellateÏcourt€found€that€the€evidence€did€not€support€dual€larceny€convictions€andÏordered€that€the€petit€larceny€convictions€be€merged€with€the€grand€larceny.€Ïconvictions.€€The€intermediate€appellate€court€affirmed€the€defendantsððÏconvictions€of€first€degree€murder€and€sentences€of€life€imprisonment€and€deathÏby€electrocution,€finding€the€juryððs€erroneous€reliance€upon€two€inapplicableÏaggravating€circumstances,€(i)(6)€and€œ(i)(7),€harmless€beyond€a€reasonableÏdoubt.ÌÌà Œ àPursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„206(a)(1)€(1997€Repl.),׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€the€caseÐ ø Ðwas€docketed€in€this€Court.€€The€defendants€have€raised€numerous€issues€in€thisÏCourt.€€After€carefully€examining€the€law,€the€record,€and€the€thorough€opinion€ofÏthe€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€we€have€determined€that€none€of€the€assignmentsÏof€error€require€reversal.€€We€have€also€concluded€that€the€Court€of€CriminalÏAppeals€erred€in€finding€the€evidence€insufficient€to€support€the€(i)(6)€aggravatingÏcircumstance,€and€accordingly€reinstate€the€juryððs€finding€of€that€circumstance.€ÏThe€evidence€is€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€findings€as€to€the€remainingÏaggravating€circumstances€and€the€mitigating€circumstances.€€Finally€we€holdÏthat€the€sentences€of€death€are€not€arbitrary€or€disproportionate€to€the€sentencesÏimposed€in€similar€cases,€considering€the€nature€of€the€crime€and€the€defendant.€ÏAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€upholding€theÏdefendants'€convictions€and€sentences€of€death€by€electrocution€is€affirmed€asÏmodified.ÌÌÐ ô3ì,2 ÐÓ  Óòòò òBACKGROUNDó óóóÐ  ÐÓ_!Óà Œ àThe€proof€introduced€by€the€State€during€the€guilt€phase€of€the€trialÏdemonstrated€that€Myrtle€and€Buford€Vester€were€murdered€in€their€home€in€theÏLeatherwood€community€of€Stewart€County,€which€is€situated€on€Kentucky€LakeÏand€in€close€proximity€to€the€Tennessee„Kentucky€border.€€The€Vesters€wereÏmurdered€sometime€after€their€son€left€their€home€at€6:00€p.m.€on€Sunday,€JuneÏ19,€1988€and€sometime€before€their€bodies€were€discovered€by€their€neighborÏaround€10:00€a.m.€on€Wednesday,€June€22,€1988.ÌÌà Œ àAlong€with€six€other€men,€the€defendants€in€this€appeal,€Derrick€QuinteroÏand€William€Hall,€escaped€from€the€Kentucky€State€Penitentiary€at€EddyvilleÏduring€the€early€morning€hours€of€June€16,€1988.€€Three€of€the€escapees׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€were€Ð ØÐ Ðapprehended€in€the€vicinity€of€the€prison€on€or€before€June€18,€1988.€€€However,Ïthe€other€five€escapees,€including€Quintero,€Hall,€James€Blanton,€JosephÏMontgomery,€and€Ronnie€Hudson€left€the€area€in€a€1966€Chevrolet€pick„up€truck׃N×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð < 4 Ðwhich€they€stole€from€Curtis€Rogers€who€lived€about€one„half€of€a€mile€from€theÏprison€facility.ÌÌà Œ àThe€Stewart€County€Sheriffððs€department€was€notified€at€2:30€a.m.€onÏJune€16€that€inmates€had€escaped€from€the€penitentiary€at€Eddyville.€€After€newsÏof€the€escape€had€been€broadcast€to€the€public,€the€Sheriffððs€departmentÏreceived€a€telephone€call€from€Zachery›€œPallay›,€a€resident€of€the€LeatherwoodÏcommunity,€warning€that€Quintero€was€familiar€with€the€area€and€would€probablyÏseek€refuge€there.€€The€Sheriffððs€departmentððs€also€received€several€reports€ofÏsuspicious€individuals€in€the€Leatherwood€area€including€a€report€of€three€menÏattempting€to€flag€down€a€car.€€However,€when€a€rash€of€burglaries€broke€out€inÐ 4ø,2 Ðthe€Leatherwood€community,€the€Sheriffððs€department€became€convinced€thatÏthe€escapees€were€in€the€area.€€The€burglarized€residences€in€Stewart€CountyÏwere€owned€by€Jim€McMinn,€Neal€Foster,€€Essie€Settles,€Alfred€Cherry,€ThomasÏHarris,€and€John€and€Virginia€Crawford.ÌÌà Œ àThough€it€is€not€possible€to€determine€from€the€record€the€precise€order€inÏwhich€the€burglaries€occurred,€the€proof€demonstrates€that€five€of€the€sixÏburglaries€occurred€before€1:00€p.m.€on€Sunday,€June€19,€1988.ÌÌà Œ àThe€first€burglary€was€reported€and€occurred€on€June€18,€1988.€€That€day,ÏJim€McMinn€of€Clarksville,€Tennessee,€arrived€at€his€cabin€in€the€LeatherwoodÏarea€at€approximately€noon.€€He€left€the€cabin€to€go€fishing€in€his€boat€at€aroundÏ1:00€p.m.€€Upon€returning€to€the€cabin€at€2:30€or€3:00€p.m.,€McMinn€noticed€aÏbox€of€shotgun€shells€lying€on€the€floor€and€discovered€that€his€loaded€.22€caliberÏpistol€was€missing€from€the€bedroom.€€The€telephone€in€his€cabin€had€beenÏremoved€from€the€wall,€and€the€outside€portion€of€the€phone€line€also€had€beenÏsevered.€€€McMinn€went€to€his€truck€and€discovered€that€the€windows€had€beenÏrolled€up€and€the€ignition€destroyed€with€his€ax.€€The€telephone€from€McMinnððsÏcabin€was€in€the€bed€of€the€truck.ÌÌà Œ àFollowing€the€report€of€the€McMinn€burglary€on€June€18,€the€SheriffððsÏDepartment€initiated€an€intensive€search€of€the€area,€utilizing€helicopters,€four„¼wheel€drive€vehicles,€and€tracking€dogs.€€At€one€point€law€enforcement€officersÏchased€some€individuals€on€foot€through€the€woods,€but€they€were€not€able€toÏovertake€the€persons€suspected€to€be€the€escapees.ÌÌà Œ àAt€some€point,€perhaps€during€that€chase,€Hudson€and€MontgomeryÏbecame€separated€from€the€defendants€and€Blanton.€€Hudson€and€MontgomeryÏleft€the€Leatherwood€community€and€drove€to€Lebanon,€Kentucky€in€a€1982Ð X9P28 ÐWhite€Ford€Fairmont€they€stole€from€Essie€Settles,€a€resident€of€the€StandingÏRock€Community,€which€is€approximately€six€highway€miles€from€theÏLeatherwood€community.€€Montgomeryððs€fingerprint€was€found€on€SettlesððÏgarage€door.€€Hudsonððs€fingerprint€was€found€inside€the€car€when€it€was€laterÏrecovered.€€Settles€had€seen€the€car€in€her€garage€around€10:00€a.m.€onÏSaturday€morning€and€discovered€that€it€was€missing€at€approximately€1:30€p.m.Ïon€Sunday€afternoon.€€The€proof€demonstrated€that€the€car€was€stolen€sometimeÏSaturday€night€or€before€daylight€on€Sunday€morning.€€Burned€matches€wereÏfound€inside€the€garage€indicating€that€it€had€been€dark€when€the€theft€occurred.€€ÏIn€addition,€when€she€watered€her€flowers€around€8:00€a.m.€on€Sunday€morning,ÏSettles€noticed€that€someone€had€removed€the€hose€from€the€outside€faucetÏduring€the€night.€€Settles€stated€œthat€the›€hose€had€been€connected€when€she€hadÏused€it€on€Saturday€evening€around€6:00€p.m.Ìà Œ àÌà Œ àHudson€and€Montgomery€arrived€at€Hudsonððs€brotherððs€apartment€inÏLebanon,€Kentucky€on€Sunday,€June€19,€at€approximately€1:00€p.m.€€They€wereÏdriving€a€white€car€with€Tennessee€license€plates,€which€witnesses€identified€atÏtrial€as€the€vehicle€which€had€been€stolen€from€Settles.€€Hudsonððs€brother€and€aÏfriend€accompanied€the€two€escapees€to€a€secluded€area€on€the€river€whereÏHudson€and€Montgomery€hid€the€stolen€car€œamong›€the€weeds.€€Around€6:00€orÏ6:30€p.m.,€Hudsonððs€brother€left€the€two€escapees€in€the€company€of€HudsonððsÏmother€and€sister.€€The€next€day,€Hudsonððs€sister,€her€two€children,€and€MarthaÏGrover€picked€up€the€two€escapees€and€transported€them€to€Groverððs€apartmentÏwhere€they€stayed€until€early€evening€on€Tuesday,€June€21.€€The€following€day,ÏWednesday,€June€22,€Kentucky€authorities€apprehended€both€Hudson€andÏMontgomery€near€the€location€where€Settles'€car€had€been€hidden.€€Shots€wereÏexchanged€prior€to€the€convicts'€apprehension.€€Hudson€and€Montgomery€had€inÏtheir€possession€McMinn's€.22€caliber€pistol€and€a€.22€caliber€pistol€which€hadÏbeen€stolen€from€another€resident€of€the€Leatherwood€community,€Neal€Foster.€Ð X9P28 ÐTwo€live€rounds€were€recovered€from€Foster's€pistol,€and€four€spent€shells€wereÏrecovered€in€the€area.€€While€this€proof€demonstrated€that€Hudson€andÏMontgomery€were€some€two€hundred€miles€away€in€Lebanon,€Kentucky€whenÏthe€Vesters€were€murdered€in€Stewart€County,€Tennessee,€it€also€showed€thatÏthe€McMinn€and€Foster€burglaries€occurred€before€1:00€p.m.€on€June€19.ÌÌà Œ àThe€Cherry€and€Harris€burglaries€were€discovered€around€3:00€or€4:00Ïp.m.€on€June€19,€1988€by€Alfred€Cherry.€€Cherryððs€trailer€was€locatedÏapproximately€one„half€of€a€mile€from€the€murder€victims'€residence.€€The€insideÏof€the€trailer€was€in€disarray.€€A€bed€was€unmade€and€wet€towels€were€in€theÏbathroom.€€The€refrigerator€light€switch€had€been€taped€down€to€prohibit€the€lightÏfrom€operating€when€the€refrigerator€door€was€opened.€€The€hot€water€tank€hadÏbeen€set€on€high.ÌÌà Œ àMissing€from€the€trailer€were€two€bedspreads,€a€green€thermal€blanket,€aÏsleeping€bag,€a€portable€radio,€approximately€fifteen€cassette€tapes,€aÏrechargeable€flashlight,€a€small€handsaw,€six€knives,€coffee€mugs,€variousÏcanned€goods,€a€gallon€of€homemade€wine,€two€bottles€of€bourbon,€a€six„pack€ofÏbeer,€a€toothbrush,€underwear,€and€two€paperweights€bearing€the€CumberlandÏElectric€logo.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ,)$"& ÐÌà Œ àCherry€did€not€have€a€telephone€in€his€trailer.€€Upon€discovering€theÏburglary,€he€went€next€door€to€call€the€police€on€the€telephone€in€the€trailerÏowned€by€his€brother„in„law,€Thomas€Harris.€€Cherry€discovered€that€HarrisððÏtrailer€had€also€been€burglarized.€The€trailer€had€been€ransacked.€€TheÏrefrigerator€light€had€been€removed.€€The€sink€was€full€of€dirty€dishes,€and€foodÏwas€in€a€skillet€on€the€stove.€€Wet€towels€and€sheets€were€strewn€about€andÐ À5¸.4 Ðcigarette€burns€were€all€over€the€floors.€€Stolen€from€the€trailer€were€all€theÏcanned€food€items,€two€quilts,€silverware,€butcher€knives,€towels,€toilet€articles,Ïand€a€fishing€tackle.ÌÌà Œ àWhen€Harris€later€received€his€telephone€bill,€he€realized€that€severalÏunauthorized€long€distance€telephone€calls€had€been€placed€from€his€trailer.€ÏThree€of€the€unauthorized€calls€had€been€placed€to€a€number€in€œSpringtown›,ÏTexas.€€These€calls€occurred€on€Sunday,€June€19,€at€3:51€a.m.,€8:55€a.m.€andÏ9:19€a.m.€€Two€additional€unauthorized€calls€were€placed€to€a€telephone€numberÏin€Hopewell,€Pennsylvania,€at€4:00€a.m.€and€9:19€a.m.€€The€telephone€numberÏcalled€in€œSpringtown›,€Texas,€was€listed€to€Bryan€œQuintero›,€who€is€a€brother€ofÏDerrick€œQuintero›.€€The€telephone€number€called€in€Hopewell,€Pennsylvania,€wasÏlisted€to€a€Barbara€œVasser›,€William€Hall's€girlfriend.ÌÌà Œ àAt€trial,€œVasser›€testified€that€Hall€told€her€during€their€first€telephoneÏconversation€after€the€escape€that€his€parole€had€been€denied.€€Hall€would€notÏreveal€to€œVasser›€his€and€Quinteroððs€location,€but€told€Vasser€that€there€wereÏhelicopters€in€the€area€searching€for€the€escapees€and€that€he€and€Quintero€hadÏbeen€separated€from€Hudson€and€Montgomery.ÌÌà Œ àTwo€knives€taken€from€the€Cherry€trailer€were€found€at€Neal€FosterððsÏresidence€indicating€that€it€was€burglarized€sometime€after€the€Cherry€and€HarrisÏtrailers.€€Again,€however,€the€burglary€occurred€sometime€before€1:00€p.m€onÏJune€19,€because€Montgomery€and€Hudson€had€in€their€possession€a€gun€whichÏhad€been€stolen€from€the€Foster€residence€when€they€were€apprehended.ÌÌà Œ àHowever,€œFoster›€œdid€not›€œdiscover€the€burglary›€until€Tuesday,€June€21.€ÏThe€residence€had€been€ransacked.€€Food€was€on€a€kitchen€counter,€deerÏsteaks€were€in€the€microwave,€and€his€binoculars€were€sitting€on€a€kitchenÐ X9P28 Ðcounter.€€A€green€ammunition€box,€a€plastic€bag€full€of€old€coins,€a€flashlight,€andÏthe€holster€for€his€.22€caliber€RG€pistol€were€on€the€floor€of€the€living€room.€€TheÏhallway€floor€was€littered€with€a€Diet€Pepsi€can,€a€tin€can€of€old€coins,€a€notebookÏthat€once€had€old€coins€in€it,€some€socks,€a€laundry€basket€with€clothes€that€didÏnot€belong€to€him,€and€a€pair€of€white€tennis€shoes€that€did€not€belong€to€him.€ÏTowels€were€strewn€around€the€house.€€He€found€in€his€bathroom€a€pocket€knife,Ïtowels,€a€pair€of€socks,€a€.22€caliber€shell€box,€and€a€20€gauge€shotgun€shell.€ÏThe€beds€were€unmade€and€had€items€spread€on€top€of€them.€€€The€masterÏbedroom€dresser€drawers€were€open,€and€items€were€scattered€all€around€theÏbedroom,€including€two€walkie„talkies,€a€hacksaw,€and€a€12€gauge€shotgunÏbarrel.€€In€the€front€bedroom,€he€found€several€hats,€matchbooks,€a€jar€ofÏmarshmallow€cream,€a€box€of€graham€crackers,€and€a€small€drinking€glass.ÌÌà Œ àIn€a€walk„in€closet€in€the€residence€Foster€had€kept€a€œ.22›€caliber€pistol,€aÏGlenfield€œ.22›€caliber€rifle,€a€Marlin€œ.30„30›€caliber€lever€action€rifle,€a€20€gaugeÏshotgun,€a€single€shot€shotgun,€and€a€Remington€Model€1100,€12€gaugeÏshotgun.€€Following€the€burglary,€he€found€the€12€gauge€shotgun€lying€on€hisÏbed.€€Someone€had€attempted€to€saw€off€the€barrel€and€had€rendered€the€gunÏinoperable.€€The€20€gauge€shotgun€was€missing€from€his€house,€but€a€portion€ofÏthe€gunððs€barrel€had€been€sawed€off€and€left€in€Foster's€bedroom.€€Also€missingÏafter€the€burglary€were€his€œ.30„30›€lever€action€rifle€and€ammunition€for€variousÏweapons,€including€œ.30„30›€accelerator€rifle€bullets,€œ.30„30›€caliber€rifle€shells,€20Ïgauge€shotgun€shells,€and€12€gauge€shotgun€shells.€€In€addition€to€theÏammunition,€several€coins€which€Foster€had€collected,€including€silver€dollars,Ïwere€taken€in€the€burglary.ÌÌà Œ àThe€authorities€found€several€latent€prints€at€the€Foster€residence,€andÏidentified€some€of€them€as€belonging€to€the€escapees.€€A€latent€left€thumb€printÏmatching€that€of€Quintero€was€found€on€a€full€box€of€Federal€12€gauge€shotgunÐ X9P28 Ðshells.€€A€latent€right€ring€fingerprint€matching€that€of€Quintero€was€found€onÏanother€Federal€12€gauge€shotgun€shell€box.€€A€right€middle€finger€and€a€rightÏindex€fingerprint€matching€Blanton's€print€was€found€on€a€Federal€field€load€12Ïgauge€shotgun€shell€box.€€A€right€palm€print€matching€that€of€Quintero€was€liftedÏfrom€one€of€the€gun€barrels.€€A€latent€right€ring€fingerprint€matching€that€of€HallÏwas€lifted€from€a€Diet€Pepsi€can.à ì àÐ ü  ÐÌà Œ àThough€the€Crawford€burglary€was€not€discovered€until€after€the€VestersððÏbodies€had€been€discovered,€a€glove€taken€from€the€Crawford€residence€wasÏfound€at€the€home€of€the€murder€victims,€indicating€that€the€burglary€actuallyÏoccurred€before€the€murder.€€The€Crawford€residence€was€less€than€a€quarter€ofÏa€mile€from€the€Vestersðð€home.€€John€and€Virginia€Crawford€had€left€their€trailer,€Ïclean€and€orderly,€around€2:00€p.m.€on€Sunday,€June,€19.€€Following€theÏburglary,€they€found€their€kitchen€ransacked.€€Canned€foods,€crackers,€andÏcandy€bars€from€the€cabinet€and€refrigerator€had€been€eaten.€€Prints€were€liftedÏfrom€several€items€in€the€trailer.€€A€latent€left€thumb€print€matching€that€of€HallÏwas€found€on€the€bottom€of€a€can€of€ham.€€A€latent€right€index€fingerprint€left€byÏBlanton€was€lifted€from€a€Butterfinger€candy€wrapper€found€inside€theÏrefrigerator.€€The€Crawfords€identified€two€gloves€found€at€the€trailer,€one€whiteÏjersey€and€one€brown€jersey,€as€belonging€to€Mrs.€Crawford.€€A€patch€on€one€ofÏthe€gloves€had€been€sewn€on€by€Mrs.€Crawford.€€Mr.€Crawford€testified€that€aÏflashlight€had€also€been€taken€from€the€trailer.€€One€of€the€gloves€found€at€theÏCrawfords'€trailer€matched€a€glove€found€outside€the€Vesters'€front€bedroomÏwindow.€€A€fiber€analysis€of€the€two€gloves€indicated€that€they€were€likelyÏoriginally€sold€together€as€a€pair.€€ÌÌà Œ àWith€respect€to€the€timing€of€the€murder,€the€proof€showed€that€late€onÏMonday€evening,€June€20,€John€Corlew€and€Arthur€Jenkins€arrived€at€theÏLeatherwood€boat€dock,€launched€their€boat,€and€night€fished€in€theÐ X9P28 ÐLeatherwood€Bay.€€Between€11:00€p.m.€and€12:00€a.m.€they€heard€five€gunshotsÏemanating€from€the€direction€of€the€Vestersðð€residence.€€Corlew€testified€that€heÏfirst€heard€two€gunshots€that€were€fairly€clear,€and€after€a€pause,€he€heard€twoÏadditional€shots,€another€pause,€and€one€final€shot.€€Corlew€testified€that€the€firstÏtwo€shots€and€the€second€two€shots€sounded€as€if€they€were€from€differentÏweapons.€€Mr.€Jenkins€testified€that€the€two€initial€shots€sounded€likeÏrepercussions€from€a€pistol.€€Both€Jenkins€and€Corlew€heard€a€total€of€fiveÏgunshots.ÌÌà Œ àThe€victims,€œBuford›€and€Myrtle€Vester,€were€last€seen€alive€around€6:00Ïp.m.€on€Sunday€June€19€by€their€son€Wayne.€€He,€along€with€his€twelve„year„oldÏson,€had€arrived€at€his€parents'€home€for€a€weekend€visit€on€the€evening€ofÏFriday,€June€17.€€He€had€picked€up€groceries€for€his€parents€including€PepsiÏcolas,€lunch€meat,€bread,€and€milk.€€€Wayne€Vester€left€his€parents€home€on€ÏSunday,€June€œ19,›€at€approximately€6:00€p.m.€€At€that€time,€the€Vesters€were€aliveÏand€well.€€Wayne€attempted,€unsuccessfully,€to€reach€his€parents€by€telephoneÏonce€on€Monday,€June€20,€and€twice€on€Tuesday,€June€21.€€€Concerned,€WayneÏcalled€their€neighbor,€Howard€Allor,€who€lived€approximately€one€quarter€of€aÏmile€from€the€Vesters,€but€Allor€had€not€seen€them€since€the€preceding€FridayÏmorning.€€When€Wayne€was€still€unable€to€reach€his€parents€on€June€22,€heÏagain€called€Allor€and€asked€him€to€check€on€them.€€Allor€drove€to€the€VestersððÏresidence€and€discovered€their€dead€bodies.€€He€attempted€to€telephone€theÏSheriff€from€their€residence,€but€the€telephone€was€not€functioning,€so€heÏreturned€home€and€reported€the€murders€to€the€authorities.ÌÌà Œ àDavid€Hicks,€€Sheriff€of€Stewart€County,€was€notified€of€the€VesterÏmurders€at€approximately€1:00€or€1:30€p.m.€on€Wednesday,€June€22.€€TheÏTennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation€("T.B.I.")€conducted€the€primary€investigationÏof€the€crime€scene.€€The€only€entrance€to€the€Vester€residence€was€a€screenÐ X9P28 Ðdoor€located€at€the€side€of€the€house€opposite€to€the€victims'€bedrooms.€€TheÏscreen€door€had€not€been€damaged.€€However,€the€front€window€was€open,€andÏthe€screen€from€the€front€window€was€lying€on€the€ground€near€Myrtle€Vester'sÏbedroom€window€which€was€located€at€the€back€of€the€house.€€Underneath€theÏfront€window€was€a€concrete€block€which€apparently€had€been€taken€from€theÏfront€of€a€shed€located€at€the€back€of€the€house.€€A€cloth€glove€which€matched€aÏglove€found€at€the€Crawfordsðð€residence€was€found€on€the€ground€beside€theÏconcrete€block.€€An€unopened€Pepsi€cola€can€lay€next€to€the€walkway€to€theÏscreen€door€of€the€house.€€The€packages€of€Pepsi€cola€that€Wayne€Vester€hadÏbrought€his€parents€were€missing€from€the€porch.€€The€Vesters'€maroon€1985ÏPontiac€Bonneville€also€was€missing.€€The€wires€to€the€telephone€connection€boxÏoutside€the€Vestersðð€residence€had€been€damaged€and€the€line€was€dead.€€A€liveÏ20€gauge€Federal€shotgun€shell€with€number€6€bird€shot€was€found€lying€near€theÏelectrical€box.€€A€spent€20€gauge€number€4€shot€Federal€shotgun€shell€casingÏwas€found€near€the€shed€approximately€18€feet€from€Mr.€Vester's€back€bedroomÏwindow.ÌÌà Œ àThe€windows€to€the€victimsðð€bedrooms€were€located€along€the€back€of€theÏhouse.€€œBuford›€Vesterððs€bedroom€window€frame€was€visibly€bent.€€The€screenÏcovering€the€window€had€a€hole€in€it€which€indicated€that€Mr.€Vester€was€shot€atÏleast€once€from€outside€the€house.€€Some€the€glass€louvers€were€broken,€andÏshards€of€glass€were€found€lying€on€the€bed.€€Mr.€Vester's€body€was€found€on€theÏfloor€next€to€his€bed.€€The€covers€were€drawn€back,€and€blood€was€on€both€theÏpillow€and€the€bed.€€Number€4€and€5€bird€shot€pellets€were€retrieved€from€Mr.ÏVester's€room.€€Two€shot€shell€filler€wads€were€found€beside€Mr.€Vester's€body,Ïand€a€20€gauge€plastic€shot€wad€was€recovered€from€beside€his€head.€€A€plasticÏshot€sleeve,€one€shot€shell,€a€plastic€shot€wad,€and€several€shot€pellets,€all€eitherÏnumber€4€or€5€bird€shot,€were€recovered€from€Mr.€Vester's€body.ÌÐ X9P28 Ðà Œ àThe€victims€were€in€separate€bedrooms€joined€by€a€bathroom.€€MyrtleÏVesterððs€body€was€found€lying€in€a€pool€of€dried€blood€on€the€floor€of€herÏbedroom€next€to€the€bathroom.€€Mrs.€Vester€had€been€shot€three€times,€once€Ïwith€a€20€gauge€shotgun,€once€with€a€high„powered€rifle,€and€once€again€withÏeither€a€shotgun€or€a€high„powered€rifle.€€She€also€had€been€stabbed€thirteenÏtimes.€€€A€copper„jacketed€bullet€was€recovered€from€her€body.€€€Blood€wasÏfound€on€Mrs.€œVester›'s€bed,€and€a€considerable€amount€of€blood€was€found€onÏthe€bathroom€floor.€€Blood€was€splattered€on€both€the€bathtub€and€the€commode,Ïand€the€bottoms€of€Mrs.€œVester›'s€feet€also€were€covered€in€blood.€€The€screenÏcovering€Mrs.€œVester›'s€bedroom€window€also€had€a€hole€in€it,€indicating€that€atÏleast€one€shot€had€been€fired€from€outside.€€The€open€and€unbroken€condition€ofÏthe€glass€louvers€indicated€that€the€high„powered€rifle€or€shotgun€had€been€nearÏthe€window€when€it€was€fired.€€Shot€was€sprayed€all€over€the€house,€especiallyÏthe€kitchen.€€All€of€the€shot€pellets€found€in€the€house€were€either€number€4€or€5.€€ÌÌà Œ à€On€the€victimsðð€sofa€authorities€found€a€portion€of€òòThe€Tennesseanóó,€datedÐ ü!ô ÐMonday,€June€20,€1988.€€The€local€mail€carrier€testified€that€the€victims€did€notÏreceive€òòThe€Tennessean€óóby€mail.€€A€live€20€gauge€shotgun€shell€with€number€7.5Ð ˜%" Ðshot€was€found€lying€on€the€floor€in€the€front€bedroom€next€to€a€ransackedÏjewelry€box.ÌÌà Œ àDr.€Charles€Harlan,€the€medical€examiner,€performed€an€autopsy€on€eachÏvictim€and€testified€that€the€œVesters›€had€died€within€two€hours€of€consumingÏdinner.€€He€stated€that€the€victims€had€been€shot€a€total€of€five€times,€and€aÏminimum€of€three€different€weapons€had€been€used€to€murder€them.ÌÌà Œ àMrs.€œVester›€had€sustained€three€gunshot€wounds.€€Gunshot€wound€A,Ïlocated€at€the€right€portion€of€Mrs.€œVester›ððs€chest€just€below€her€collarbone,Ïmeasured€approximately€a€quarter€of€an€inch€and€was€basically€round€in€shape.€Ð `9X28 ÐThis€wound€resulted€when€a€copper€jacketed€bullet€entered€Mrs.€Vesterððs€bodyÏand€lodged€in€her€left€arm.€€€Wound€B€resulted€from€a€shotgun€blast€and€wasÏlocated€in€the€upper€arm.€€This€wound€measured€3.4€inches€by€1.8€inches,€wasÏjagged,€with€an€irregular€edge,€and€had€multiple€associated€tangential€abrasions.€ÏWound€C€resulted€from€either€a€high„velocity€rifle€or€shotgun.€€This€gunshot€blastÏhad€severed€the€two€bones€in€Mrs.€Vester's€right€forearm,€leaving€her€hand€andÏwrist€attached€to€her€body€by€a€piece€of€tissue,€consisting€of€only€skin,€muscle,Ïand€fat.€€Dr.€Harlan€could€not€determine€the€order€in€which€these€three€gunshotÏwounds€were€inflicted.ÌÌà Œ àMrs.€Vester€also€had€sustained€thirteen€stab€wounds,€one€to€the€middle€ofÏher€back€and€twelve€to€her€head,€neck,€and€shoulder€region.€€A€majority€of€theÏstab€wounds€were€inflicted€to€the€left€side€of€her€head€and€neck.€€Dr.€HarlanÏsurmised€that€the€puncture€wounds€were€made€by€a€squared€object€with€a€sharpÏedge,€such€as€a€kitchen€or€hunting€knife.€€Two€of€the€stab€wounds€severed€herÏright€and€left€common€carotid€arteries.€€The€right€carotid€artery€was€90€percentÏsevered,€and€the€left€was€10€percent€severed.€€Dr.€Harlan€testified€that€either€theÏinjuries€to€her€carotid€arteries€or€the€gunshot€injury€to€her€right€forearm€wouldÏhave€been€fatal.€€Dr.€Harlan€determined€that€Mrs.€Vester€could€have€survived€theÏbrutal€attack€for€up€to€15€minutes.ÌÌà Œ àMr.€Vester€had€sustained€two€gunshot€wounds.€€Shotgun€wound€A€wasÏlocated€at€the€head€and€neck€juncture.€€The€total€dispersal€pattern€of€shotgunÏpellets€was€13€inches.€€Wound€A€caused€significant€injury€to€his€left€lung,€aorta,Ïand€pulmonary€artery.€€Shotgun€wound€B€was€to€Mr.€Vester's€right€breast€andÏcaused€trauma€to€his€right€lung€and€to€his€liver.€€Dr.€Harlan€recovered€shotgunÏpellets€and€a€shot€column€from€Mr.€Vester's€chest€and€abdomen.€€Dr.€HarlanÏopined€that€Mr.€Vester€could€have€survived€from€four€to€twelve€minutes€afterÏsustaining€the€gunshot€injuries.Ð X9P28 Їà Œ àOn€June€21,€1988,€around€8€a.m.,€employees€of€the€Memphis€FuneralÏHome€observed€three€men,€in€a€maroon€Pontiac€which€was€later€identified€as€theÏvictims'€car,€enter€the€funeral€home€parking€lot€and€park€the€car€approximatelyÏ250€feet€from€the€building.€€Two€employees€of€the€funeral€home€testified€that€oneÏman€got€out€of€the€front€seat,€took€his€tank€top€off,€and€put€on€three€additionalÏshirts.€€The€two€other€men€also€exited€the€car.€€None€of€the€œwitnesses›€couldÏmake€a€positive€identification€of€the€three€men.€€The€witnesses€testified€that€allÏthree€men€were€white€and€about€the€same€height,€but€two€of€the€men€wereÏapproximately€180€pounds€and€had€darker€hair.€€They€stated€that€all€three€menÏhad€facial€hair.€€One€funeral€home€employee€described€the€three€men€as€havingÏbeards€and€stated€that€one€had€long€hair.ÌÌà Œ àThe€three€men€remained€in€the€parking€lot€for€approximately€five€to€eightÏminutes.€€Then,€after€one€of€them€took€something€out€of€the€trunk,€the€three€menÏwalked€towards€a€hospital€across€the€street€from€the€funeral€home.€€One€of€theÏmen€turned,€walked€back€to€the€car,€and€appeared€to€have€placed€an€item€backÏinto€the€car.€€He€then€joined€the€two€other€men,€and€then€all€three€walked€away.€ÏThe€funeral€home€œemployees›€assumed€that€the€three€men€were€working€on€aÏconstruction€project€at€the€hospital.€€However,€when€the€car€had€not€beenÏremoved€by€Thursday,€the€funeral€home€employees€contacted€the€MemphisÏPolice€Department.ÌÌà Œ àOn€the€morning€of€Thursday,€June€23,€the€Memphis€Police€Crime€SceneÏSquad€responded€to€the€call€from€the€Memphis€Funeral€Home.€€The€police€foundÏa€1985€maroon€Pontiac€Bonneville€in€the€funeral€home's€parking€lot.€€The€vehicleÏmatched€the€description€of€the€victims'€vehicle.€€The€keys€were€in€the€car'sÏignition.€€The€officers€found€a€sawed„off€20€gauge€shotgun€containing€one€liveÏround€under€the€floor€mat€behind€the€driver's€œseat€which€was€later€identified€asÏthe€weapon€stolen€from€the€Foster€residence,€and€as€the€weapon€from€which€aÐ X9P28 Ðspent€shell€found€outside€the€Vesters›ðð€residence€had€been€fired.€€Foster€was€ableÏto€identify€the€weapon€by€its€serial€number;€however,€the€gun€also€had€FosterððsÏfull€name€carved€into€it.€€The€police€also€discovered€under€a€floor€mat€a€œ.30„30›Ïcaliber€cartridge€which€matched€ammunition€that€had€been€taken€from€the€FosterÏresidence.€€From€a€crumpled€Budweiser€beer€can€which€also€was€found€underÏthe€back€seat€police€were€able€to€lift€three€latent€prints€belonging€to€œBlanton›.€€NoÏother€prints€were€found€in€the€car.€€The€officer€noted€that€the€extremely€hotÏtemperatures€in€Memphis€at€the€time€the€car€was€found€made€it€difficult€to€œlift›Ïintact€prints.€€Other€items€retrieved€from€the€vehicle€included€a€Ray„O„VacÏflashlight,€similar€to€one€taken€from€the€œCrawford›€residence,€electrical€tape,Ïthirteen€20€gauge€shotgun€shells,€three€12„ounce€Pepsi€colas,€one€12„pack€ofÏPepsi€colas,€a€portable€electric€air€compressor,€a€Black€&€Decker€car€vacuum,Ïand€a€brown€umbrella.ÌÌà Œ àCurtis€Jones,€who€was€a€security€guard€at€the€Memphis€Greyhound€busÏstation,€testified€that€he€worked€Tuesdays€and€Wednesdays€at€the€bus€station€inÏJune€of€1988.€€The€bus€station,€located€in€downtown€œMemphis›€wasÏapproximately€one€mile€from€the€Memphis€Funeral€Home.€€His€job€was€to€preventÏloitering€at€the€bus€station.€€Mr.€Jones€sat€in€a€booth€and€observed€people€whoÏcame€inside€to€determine€whether€they€purchased€tickets.€€Periodically,€he€wouldÏwalk€around€and€ask€people€whether€they€had€tickets€or€if€they€were€waiting€forÏsomeone€to€arrive.ÌÌà Œ àMr.€Jones€recalled€three€men€entering€the€bus€station€either€Tuesday,ÏJune€21,€or€Wednesday,€June€22,€between€11€a.m.€and€1€p.m.€€Two€of€the€menÏsat€down€and€watched€television.€€One€of€the€two€seated€men€spoke€to€a€manÏseated€nearby.€€The€third€man,€who€had€darker€skin€and€appeared€Hispanic,Ïused€a€telephone.€€Mr.€Jones€approached€the€two€seated€men€and€asked€themÏwhether€they€had€tickets.€€A€man,€whom€he€identified€as€œBlanton›,€told€him€thatÐ X9P28 Ðthey€would€leave€as€soon€as€their€friend€finished€using€the€telephone.€€The€threeÏmen€remained€in€the€station€five€to€ten€minutes.€€Later€that€same€day,€theÏMemphis€police€stopped€by€the€bus€station€with€a€photographic€line„up€of€theÏeight€escapees.€€Jones€responded€that€œBlanton›€and€Hall€had€previously€been€atÏthe€station.€€Later€in€the€week,€Jones€spoke€with€œT.B.I.›€Agent€Stout.€€JonesÏidentified€œBlanton›€and€Hall€from€a€photographic€line„up€and€made€an€in„courtÏidentification€of€Hall€as€one€of€the€men€at€the€bus€station.ÌÌà Œ àThe€Blue€Movies€West€adult€bookstore€and€entertainment€center€wasÏlocated€across€the€street€from€the€bus€station.€€Shirley€Denise€Morrow€testifiedÏthat€she€worked€as€a€cashier€in€the€bookstore€in€June€of€1988.€€On€Tuesday,ÏJune€21,€the€day€before€her€birthday,€three€men€entered€the€bookstore€aroundÏ9:00€or€10:00€a.m.€€Two€of€the€men€were€white,€and€one€appeared€Mexican.€ÏThe€men€traded€a€few€silver€dollars€and€half€dollars€for€tokens.€€Morrow€alsoÏpurchased€some€of€the€silver€dollars€and€half€dollars€for€herself.ÌÌà Œ àThe€men€went€to€the€back€of€the€establishment€to€watch€movies.€€DarleneÏœChristof›,€a€dancer€at€the€establishment,€testified€that€three€ð ðscruffyðð€men€enteredÏher€booth€on€June€21.€€Two€of€the€men€were€white,€and€the€other€appearedÏeither€Hispanic€or€Mexican.€€Ms.€Christof€informed€the€men€that€only€one€wasÏallowed€to€remain€in€the€booth.€€Two€of€the€men€left.€€From€a€photographic€line„¼up,€she€identified€the€man€who€remained€in€her€booth€as€Quintero.€€QuinteroÏlater€gave€her€several€silver€dollars€and€tried€to€sell€her€a€class€ring€and€a€man'sÏwedding€band.ÌÌà Œ àThe€men€then€returned€to€the€front€of€the€establishment€approximatelyÏfifteen€to€twenty€minutes€later.€€They€attempted€to€sell€Morrow€what€appeared€toÏbe€a€class€ring€and€a€wedding€band.€€Morrow€declined€and€suggested€they€try€aÏpawn€shop.€€One€of€the€men€indicated€that€they€did€not€have€any€identificationÐ X9P28 Ðand€offered€Morrow€fifty€dollars€if€she€would€allow€them€to€stay€in€the€movieÏhouse€until€their€transportation€arrived.€€Morrow€declined€their€offer.€€€ChristofÏthen€came€out€from€the€back€of€the€establishment€and€pretended€to€use€theÏtelephone.€€When€Christof€commented€that€the€three€men€resembled€theÏescapees€from€the€Kentucky€prison,€they€left.€€Morrow€then€contacted€the€police.ÌÌà Œ àWhen€shown€a€pre„trial€photographic€array€of€the€eight€escapees,€MorrowÏidentified€Blanton,€Quintero,€and€Hall€as€the€three€men€who€had€visited€theÏbookstore.€€Morrow€turned€over€to€the€authorities€the€six€silver€dollars€she€hadÏpurchased€from€the€œmen,›€and€later,€Foster€identified€the€coins€as€those€stolenÏfrom€his€residence.€€Morrow€also€made€an€in„court€identification€of€both€QuinteroÏand€Hall.ÌÌà Œ àLt.€Thomas€Pryor,€an€employee€at€the€Eddyville€penitentiary,€testified€thatÏQuintero€had€long€hair,€a€moustache,€long€side€burns€and€a€goatee€prior€to€theÏescape.€€Lt.€Pryor€stated€that€he€had€never€seen€Hall€with€a€beard.ÌÌà Œ àHall€was€eventually€captured€in€El€Paso,€Texas.€€Both€Blanton€andÏQuintero€were€captured€in€Mexico€near€El€Paso.€€Barbara€Vasser,€Hall's€girlfriendÏat€the€time,€testified€that€her€mother€called€the€Pennsylvania€State€Police€afterÏHall€called€her€for€a€third€time€following€the€escape.€€Afraid€for€Hallððs€safety,ÏVasser€notified€the€authorities€that€she€had€agreed€to€wire€money€to€him€at€€theÏWestern€Union€on€North€Stanton€Street€in€El€Paso,€Texas.€€Hall€wasÏapprehended€by€agents€of€the€Federal€Bureau€of€Investigation€("F.B.I.")€when€heÏentered€the€Western€Union€in€El€Paso€at€approximately€2:20€p.m.€on€July€6,Ï1988.ÌÌà Œ àOn€July€10,€1988,€Quintero€and€Blanton€were€apprehended€by€MexicanÏofficials€at€the€Santa€Fe€Hotel€in€Juarez,€located€just€across€the€border€from€ElÐ X9P28 ÐPaso,€Texas,€and€transported€across€the€international€bridge.€€F.B.I.€agents€tookÏcustody€of€both€Quintero€and€Blanton€from€Mexican€officials€at€a€borderÏcheckpoint.€€Found€in€Quinteroððs€possession€when€he€was€taken€into€custodyÏwas€an€old€wallet€bearing€an€imprint€of€Neal€Foster's€driver's€license.ÌÌà Œ àBased€upon€the€proof€summarized€above,€the€jury€convicted€both€Hall€andÏQuintero€of€two€counts€of€murder€during€the€perpetration€of€first€degree€burglary,Ïthree€counts€of€grand€larceny,€one€count€of€petit€larceny€and€three€counts€of€firstÏdegree€burglary.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð h` ÐÌà Œ àDuring€the€sentencing€phase,€the€State€introduced€proof€that€bothÏQuintero€and€Hall€had€previous€convictions€for€crimes€involving€the€use€or€threatÏof€violence.€€The€State€showed€that€Quintero€had€been€previously€convicted€ofÏtwo€charges€of€escape€in€the€first€degree€and€one€charge€of€first€degree€robbery.€ÏThe€State€also€presented€proof€that€Hall€had€previous€convictions€for€twoÏseparate€assaults,€wanton€endangerment€in€the€first€degree,€and€aiding€andÏabetting€in€threatening€the€life€of€the€President€and€Vice€President€of€the€UnitedÏStates€of€America.ÌÌà Œ àFinally,€the€State€introduced€additional€photographs€and€testimonyÏconcerning€Mrs.€Vester's€body.€€Mrs.€Vester€was€found€lying€in€her€bedroom€justÏoutside€the€bathroom.€€The€State€introduced€photographs€depicting€the€amountÏof€blood€on€the€bathroom€floor€and€depicting€the€blood€on€the€bottoms€of€Mrs.ÏVester's€feet.€€The€State€also€introduced€a€photograph€of€the€front€of€Mrs.ÏœVester›'s€body€to€demonstrate€to€the€jury€the€severity€of€her€injuries€and€theÏbrutality€of€the€attack.ÌÐ À5¸.4 Ðà Œ àIn€mitigation,€Quintero€presented€the€testimony€of€his€uncle€and€aunt,€PaulÏand€Josey€Quintero,€who€said€that€Quinteroððs€parents€drank€constantly.€ÏQuinteroððs€father€would€stay€away€from€home€for€long€periods€of€time,€and€hisÏmother€had€extramarital€affairs.€€Quintero€was€hungry€for€love€and€affection€whenÏhe€œvisited€his›€uncle€and€auntððs€home.€€Paul€œQuintero›€testified€that€œQuintero›€wasÏalways€eager€to€seek€his€approval€and€never€gave€him€any€trouble.€€œQuintero›ððsÏparents€did€not€discipline€their€children€unless€they€were€angry€or€drunk,€at€whichÏtime€they€would€beat€the€children.€€Testimony€also€indicated€that€œQuintero›€neverÏhad€clothes€which€properly€fit€him,€and€as€a€result,€he€was€ridiculed€by€the€otherÏchildren€at€school.ÌÌà Œ àPaul€and€œJosey›€œQuintero›€testified€that€they€had€attempted€to€remain€inÏcontact€with€œQuintero›€since€learning€of€the€criminal€charges.€€They€related€thatÏœQuintero›€had€obtained€his€GED€in€prison€and€was€also€enrolled€in€refrigerationÏand€air€conditioning€classes.€€They€believed€that€œQuintero›€had€improved€himselfÏand€would€make€something€productive€of€his€life.ÌÌà Œ àœQuintero›ððs€cousin,€Angela€œAlva›,€testified€that€she€and€œQuintero›€were€atÏone€time€very€close.€€She€also€related€how€œQuintero›ððs€parents€had€abusedÏalcohol,€and€testified€that€œQuintero›€had€kept€company€with€his€older€brother,ÏRoderick,€who€was€a€bad€influence€and€not€a€good€role€model.€€According€toÏœAlva›,€œQuintero›€was€a€follower,€and€Roderick€was€aggressive.ÌÌà Œ àA€video€deposition€was€shown€of€Helen€œMimms›€Johnson,€œQuintero›ððs€firstÏgrade€teacher.€€Johnson€testified€that€œQuintero›€was€mischievous€but€neverÏmean.€€He€was€held€back€a€year€and€had€trouble€being€attentive€in€class.€ÏQuintero€was€never€very€clean€and€always€seemed€exhausted€when€he€came€toÏschool.€€Johnson€never€met€Quinteroððs€parents€because€they€never€attended€anyÏparent„teacher€meetings.Ð X9P28 Їà Œ àAngela€Holland€and€her€15„year„old€son,€Roderick€Kent€Quintero€II,Ïtestified.€€Holland€had€been€married€to€Quinteroððs€brother€for€approximately€threeÏyears.€€Holland€and€her€son€had€maintained€contact€with€Quintero€and€said€thatÏhe€had€been€influential€in€helping€his€nephew€stay€out€of€trouble.ÌÌà Œ àIn€mitigation,€William€Hall€presented€the€testimony€of€his€older€brother,€ÏRobert€Hall,€a€prison€minister.€€Robert€said€that€defendant€Hall€was€born€inÏPaducah,€Kentucky.€€Their€parents€divorced€when€defendant€Hall€was€two€yearsÏold.€€Their€father€worked€on€a€barge€and€was€gone€for€extended€periods€of€time.€ÏTheir€mother€died€of€throat€cancer€when€defendant€Hall€was€four,€and€at€thatÏpoint,€Hall€went€to€live€with€his€father€and€stepmother.€€Hallððs€stepmother€was€atÏone€time€addicted€to€codeine.ÌÌà Œ àAccording€to€Robert,€the€Hall€children€were€not€disciplined€nor€taught€rightÏfrom€wrong€but€were€sometimes€beaten.€€Defendant€Hall€began€getting€intoÏtrouble€in€grade€school.€€He€began€drinking€alcohol€in€his€pre„teens,€and€by€hisÏearly€twenties,€he€had€begun€abusing€drugs.€€Robert€testified€that€William€HallÏwas€a€follower,€not€a€leader.ÌÌà Œ àFor€a€time€following€his€parole€in€1982,€defendant€Hall€had€lived€withÏRobert€and€his€wife€Ester€in€Pennsylvania.€€He€worked€with€Robert€at€a€tire€shopÏand€attended€church€with€Robert€and€Ester.€€Robert€testified€that€œHall›€had€turnedÏto€God€and€changed€his€life.€€Hall€lived€with€Robert€and€Ester€for€eight€months.€ÏHall,€however,€later€moved€into€a€trailer€near€his€place€of€œemployment›€and€beganÏdrinking.€€Eventually,€he€returned€to€Kentucky.€€The€last€time€Robert€and€EsterÏhad€seen€Hall€was€at€his€stepmotherððs€funeral€in€1987.€€They€speak€with€himÏweekly€by€telephone,€however.Ìâ âÐ Œ7„06 Ðà Œ àBarbara€Vasser€also€testified.€€She€had€met€Hall€when€he€œhad€lived›€withÏâ âhis€brother€in€Pennsylvania.€€Vasser€said€that€Hall's€life€had€changed€after€heÏaccepted€Christ.€€She€and€Hall€were€engaged€but€never€set€a€date€becauseÏVasser€was€only€seventeen€years€old€at€the€time.€€Vasser€testified€that€she€andÏHall€were€friends€off€and€on€between€1982€and€1988.€€Vasser€said€she€hadÏassisted€the€authorities€because€she€had€been€afraid€for€Hallððs€safety.€€VasserÏhad€not€remained€in€contact€with€Hall€after€his€apprehension.ÌÌà Œ àDr.€Kenneth€Anchor,€an€associate€professor€of€psychology€at€VanderbiltÏand€a€clinical€psychologist,€testified€that€he€prepared€a€psychological€evaluationÏof€Hall€in€1991.€€He€testified€as€to€the€background€information€conveyed€by€HallÏduring€the€interview.€€Hall€grew€up€in€Paducah,€and€his€formal€education€endedÏafter€the€ninth€grade.€€He€later€earned€his€GED€while€incarcerated.€€Hall€beganÏusing€drugs€and€alcohol€at€age€eleven€and€was€addicted€to€Valium€by€ageÏfourteen.€€He€was€placed€in€juvenile€detention€several€times€and€was€sent€to€aÏyouth€development€center.€€Hall€worked€at€different€jobs€while€a€young€adult,€butÏhe€had€mostly€been€in€and€out€of€prison€since€age€seventeen.€€Hall€informed€Dr.ÏAnchor€that€he€had€experienced€two€head€injuries.€€He€fell€off€a€porch€as€a€babyÏand€was€struck€in€the€head€with€a€baseball€bat€when€he€was€fourteen.ÌÌà Œ àDr.€Anchor€testified€that€Hall€was€cooperative€and€responsive€during€theÏinterview.€€Hall€did€not€offer€any€excuses€or€attempt€to€blame€others.€€There€wasÏno€indication€of€malingering.€€Moreover,€Hall€was€enthusiastic€about€his€plans€toÏpursue€college€courses€in€computers€and€data€processing€while€incarcerated.ÌÌà Œ àHall€scored€a€99€on€his€I.Q.€test€which€placed€him€in€the€48th€percentile.€ÏDr.€Anchor€testified€that€although€Hall€has€a€reasonable€amount€of€intelligence,Ïhe€has€some€difficulty€utilizing€it.€€Hall€experiences€cognitive€interference€which€isÏfrequently€seen€in€people€who€have€habitually€abused€drugs€and€alcohol.€€Dr.Ð X9P28 ÐAnchor€found€Hallððs€judgment,€reasoning,€and€problem„solving€skills€to€beÏ"unstable."€€According€to€Dr.€Anchor,€that€finding€is€consistent€with€a€historyÏœcomposed›€of€œhead›€œinjuries›€and€substance€or€polysubstance€abuse.ÌÌà Œ àDr.€Anchor€concluded€that€Hall€is€seriously€maladjusted€and€suffers€fromÏorganic€personality€syndrome.€€Dr.€Anchor€stated€that€persons€with€test€profilesÏsimilar€to€Hall's€usually€have€a€œstrong›€sense€of€worthlessness€and€inferiority.€ÏHall€feels€a€deep€sense€of€shame,€embarrassment,€and€humiliation€for€many€ofÏhis€past€actions.€€Dr.€Anchor€opined€that€Hallððs€psychological€maladjustment€œcan›Ïbe€treated€effectively€with€counseling€or€psychotherapy.€€At€the€time€of€trial,€Dr.ÏAnchor€stated€that€Hall€did€not€present€a€danger€either€to€himself€or€to€others€in€aÏprison€setting.€€Dr.€Anchor€opined€that€Hall's€prognosis€was€good€assuming€heÏabstained€from€future€substance€abuse.€€Dr.€Anchor€concluded€that€theÏprospects€for€social,€œeducational,›€and€vocational€functioning€were€satisfactory.ÌÌà Œ àIn€rebuttal,€the€State€presented€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Samuel€Craddock,€aÏclinical€psychologist€at€Middle€Tennessee€Mental€Heath€Institute.€€Dr.€CraddockÏinterviewed€Hall€and€disagreed€with€Dr.€Anchor€as€to€the€degree€of€danger€HallÏposes.€€Dr.€Craddock€further€testified€that€he€had€not€seen€any€data€to€support€aÏfinding€that€Hall€suffered€from€an€organic€personality€syndrome.ÌÌà Œ àBased€upon€this€proof,€the€jury€found€five€aggravating€circumstancesÏwhich€were€not€outweighed€by€the€mitigating€circumstances€and,€therefore,Ïsentenced€the€defendants€to€death€for€the€murder€of€Myrtle€Vester€and€to€lifeÏimprisonment€for€the€murder€of€Buford€Vester.ÌÌœÌÌÐ X9P28 Ðò ò›Ó  ÓòòMURDER€TO€PREVENT€ARRESTóóÐ  ÐòòAGGRAVATING€CIRCUMSTANCE€(i)(6)ó óóóÐ àØ ÐÓ¼Óà Œ àThe€defendants€argue€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(6)€"isÏunconstitutionally€vague€as€applied€to€the€facts€in€this€case."€€The€defendantsÏcontend€and€the€appellate€court€found€that€there€was€no€proof€that€theÏdefendants€killed€the€victims€to€prevent€arrest€or€prosecution.€€The€intermediateÏappellate€court€determined€that€(i)(6)€was€inapplicable€because€"there€was€noÏproof€that€Mrs.€Vester€knew€the€appellants€or€would€have€been€able€to€identifyÏthem€to€law€enforcement€officers."ÌÌà Œ àWe€reject€the€narrow€construction€argued€for€by€the€defendants€andÏadopted€by€the€appellate€court€„„€that€(i)(6)€applies€only€when€a€victim€knows€orÏcan€identify€a€defendant.׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Aggravating€circumstance€(i)(6)€provides€forÐ °¨ Ðimposition€of€the€death€penalty€when:ÌÓÓà8 Œ à[œt]he›€murder€was€committed€for€the€purpose€of€avoiding,€interferingÏwith,€or€preventing€a€lawful€arrest€or€prosecution€of€the€defendantÏor€another;ÓÀÓÐ Œ ü!Œ ü! ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(6)€(1982).€€By€its€terms,€the€statute€does€not€limitÏthe€aggravating€circumstance€only€to€those€instances€in€which€a€defendant€kills€aÏvictim€because€the€victim€knows€or€can€identify€the€defendant.€€For€example,€aÏwitness€to€a€robbery€may€be€killed€while€attempting€to€restrain€a€maskedÏperpetrator.€€The€mask€may€effectively€prevent€the€witness€from€ever€identifyingÏthe€perpetrator;€but€if€the€evidence€established€that€the€perpetrator€killed€theÏwitness€to€flee€the€crime€scene€and€avoid€arrest,€application€of€(i)(6)€would€beÏappropriate.€€While€the€victim's€ability€to€identify€the€murderer€may€be€evidenceÏsupporting€a€finding€of€(i)(6),€a€victimððs€inability€to€identify€the€murderer€does€notÐ @28+0 Ðpreclude€its€application€if€the€evidence€introduced€establishes€that€one€of€theÏpurposes€motivating€the€murder€was€a€desire€to€avoid,€interfere€with,€or€preventÏa€lawful€arrest€or€prosecution€of€him€or€herself€or€another.€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòState€v.Ð   ˜ ÐSmithóó,€868€S.W.2d€561,€580€(Tenn.€1993)€(emphasizing€that€it€is€the€motive€ofÐ l d Ðthe€killing€that€is€the€critical€factor).€ÌÌà Œ àThe€proof€in€this€case€amply€supports€this€aggravating€circumstance.€€TheÏState€theorized€that€the€defendants€murdered€the€victims€to€prevent€the€theftsÏfrom€being€reported.€€The€proof€supports€this€theory.€€The€evidence€showed€thatÏthe€defendants€burglarized€several€residences€in€the€area€where€the€murdersÏwere€committed.€€At€the€Cherry€and€Harris€residences,€the€defendants€tamperedÏwith€the€refrigerator€lights,€thereby€preventing€the€lights€from€illuminating€andÏalerting€others€to€the€defendants'€presence.€€€At€the€McMinn€residence,€as€wellÏas€at€the€Vester€home,€the€defendants€severed€the€telephone€lines,€therebyÏpreventing€help€from€being€summoned.€€The€defendants€stole€the€Vesters'Ïautomobile€and€used€it€to€travel€to€Memphis.€€Taken€together,€this€proof€stronglyÏindicates€that€the€defendants€were€attempting€to€avoid€being€discovered€andÏarrested€for€the€numerous€thefts€they€had€committed€in€the€Leatherwood€area.ÌÌà Œ àThe€jury's€application€of€the€(i)(6)€aggravator€is€strengthened€in€this€caseÏby€the€fact€that€the€defendants€had€escaped€from€prison.€€The€evidenceÏrecounted€above€also€establishes€that€the€defendants€were€concerned€withÏavoiding€apprehension€and€arrest€for€escape€at€the€time€of€the€murders.€€TheÏjury€could€have€found€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€the€defendants€murderedÏthe€victims€so€that€they€could€steal€their€car€to€leave€the€area€and€avoid€beingÏcaptured.€€We€find€that€the€evidence€is€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€finding€ofÏthe€(i)(6)€aggravating€circumstance.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€the€judgment€of€theÏâ âCourt€of€Criminal€Appeals€as€to€this€issue.€€Because€the€Court€of€CriminalÐ Œ7„06 ÐAppeals€had€found€the€error€harmless€our€holding€in€this€respect€does€notÏchange€the€result.ñ=3ñœ×ƒ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›ñ=3ñÐ ÔÌ Ðâ âœÌò ò›à@ºº DàòòMURDER€COMMITTED€DURING€ESCAPEˆÐ l d Ðóóà@(( DàòòAGGRAVATING€CIRCUMSTANCE€(i)(8)ó óóóˆÐ D< Ðà Œ àThe€defendants€next€argue€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(8)œ×ƒÊ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€"isÐ   Ðunconstitutionally€vague€as€applied€to€the€facts€of€this€case."€€The€defendantsÏfurther€maintain€that€aggravating€circumstance€(i)(8)€"was€intended€to€protect€lawÏenforcement€officers."€€The€State€counters€that€the€circumstance€was€properlyÏapplied€as€the€victims€were€killed€while€the€defendants€were€in€the€process€ofÏescaping€to€Mexico.€€While€all€members€of€the€Court€agree€that€the€evidence€inÏthis€case€is€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€finding€of€this€aggravatingÏcircumstance,€Justice€Holder€dissents€from€the€rationale€of€the€majority€andÏwould€hold€that€the€(i)(8)€aggravating€circumstance€may€be€applied€any€time€theÏproof€establishes€that€a€murder€was€committed€by€a€person€on€escape€status.ÌÌÔ‡X‡DXXXßÔà Œ àThis€broad€interpretation€of€the€statutory€aggravating€circumstance€wasÐ à#Ø  Ðrecently€rejected€by€this€Court€in€òòState€v.€Odomóó,€928€S.W.2d€18,€27€(Tenn.€œ1996)Ð À%¸" Ð(Anderson,€C.J.€and€Drowota,€J.,€dissenting).€€In›€òòOdomóó€the€murder€occurredÐ  '˜ $ Ðalmost€six€weeks€after€the€defendant€had€escaped€from€a€Mississippi€jail€whereÏhe€was€serving€a€life€sentence€for€another€murder.€€The€murder€for€which€OdomÏwas€sentenced€to€death€in€Tennessee€was€unconnected€with€and€did€not,€in€anyÏway,€further€his€escape.€€Concluding€that€the€aggravating€circumstance€did€notÏâ âapply€based€upon€the€facts€in€Odomððs€case,€this€Court€stated:Ð 1ø). ÐÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑñE3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑñE3ññ@3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ@3ññ?3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ?3ññ=3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ=3ñÓÓà0 Œ àOur€rationale€is€simple„„ððduringðð€as€used€in€the€statute€means€ð ðthroughoutÏâ âthe€continuance€of.ðð€€The€end€of€the€escape€marks€the€beginning€of€oneððsÏñ=3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ=3ñstatus€as€an€ð ðescapee.ðð€€Although€Odom€was,€assuredly,€an€ð ðescapee,ðð€byÏñ=3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  ÑÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ=3ñno€stretch€can€we€say€that€the€murder€occurred€during€the€defendantððsÏñ=3ñÑÏÑÑ  XÑÑ  Ññ=3ñescape€from€lawful€confinement€or€during€the€defendantððs€escape€fromÏlawful€custody€or€from€a€place€of€lawful€confinement.€€When€he€committedÏthe€murder,€Odomððs€escape€was€an€accomplished€fact„„òòaóó€òòfait€accomplióó.Ш  Œ T$Œ T$ ÐÓïÔÓÌòòIdóó.€at€27.Ð xp  Ðà Œ àUnlike€the€murder€in€òòOdomóó,€the€murders€in€this€case€were€committed€byÐ XP  Ðthe€defendants€ð ðduring€[their]€escape€from€lawful€custody€or€from€a€place€ofÏlawful€confinement.ðð€€Indeed,€these€murders€were€committed€only€four€days€afterÏthe€defendants€fled€confinement€in€Kentucky€and€while€the€defendants€were€inÏthe€process€of€obtaining€the€Vestersðð€automobile€„„€a€means€of€transportation€toÏfurther€their€escape.€€Indeed,€the€proof€shows€that€the€escapees€had€remained€inÏan€area€approximately€two€miles€in€diameter€until€they€were€able€to€stealÏautomobiles€to€further€their€escape.€€Moreover,€law€enforcement€officers€wereÏactively€canvassing€this€small€area€for€the€defendants,€searching€withÏhelicopters,€tracking€dogs,€and€four„wheel€drive€vehicles€in€an€attempt€to€locateÏthe€escapees€in€the€Leatherwood€community.€€The€plain€language€of€the€statuteÏdoes€not€support€the€dissentððs€position€that€evidence€of€a€defendantððs€escapeeÏstatus,€without€more,€is€sufficient€to€support€this€aggravating€circumstance.€€HadÏthe€General€Assembly€intended€for€the€aggravating€circumstance€to€apply€underÏthose€circumstances,€clear€language€dictating€such€a€result€could€have€beenÏemployed.€€It€was€not.€€Instead,€the€statute€permits€the€aggravating€circumstanceÏto€be€applied€if€the€proof€demonstrates€that€a€murder€was€committed€by€aÏdefendant€ð ðduring€[the€defendantððs]€escape€from€lawful€custody€or€from€a€placeÏof€lawful€confinement.ððÔ#†XßXXX‡D Ñ#ÔÔ‡X‡DXXXßÔ€€Clearly,€the€defendants€were€still€in€the€process€ofÐ 3,/ Ðescaping€from€Kentucky€to€Mexico.€€These€murders€were€simply€a€step€towardÏaccomplishing€this€end.€€Accordingly,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€in€this€caseÏis€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€finding€of€this€aggravating€factor.€€Contrary€to€theÐ ¸8°15 Ðposition€of€the€dissent,€this€Courtððs€decision€in€òòOdomóó€does€not€precludeÐ  Ðapplication€of€this€factor.Ô#†XßXXX‡Dß#Ԝ׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  כРèà ÐÔ  ÔÌÔ  Ôò òÓ  ÓòòCOMPARATIVE€PROPORTIONALITY€REVIEWó óóóÐ ” Œ ÐÓ³áÓà Œ àIn€conducting€a€comparative€proportionality€review,€we€begin€with€theÏpresumption€that€the€sentence€of€death€is€proportional€with€the€crime€of€firstÏdegree€murder.€€òòState€v.€Hallóó,€958€S.W.2d€679€(Tenn.€1997).€€A€sentence€ofÐ ü  Ðdeath€may€be€found€disproportionate€if€the€case€being€reviewed€is€"plainlyÏlacking€in€circumstances€consistent€with€those€in€similar€cases€in€which€the€deathÏpenalty€has€previously€been€imposed."€€òòIdóó.€òòcitingóó€òòState€v.€Ramseyóó,€684€S.W.2dÐ h` Ð320,€328€(Mo.€1993).€€A€sentence€of€death€is€not€disproportionate€merelyÏbecause€the€circumstances€of€the€offense€are€similar€to€those€of€another€offenseÏfor€which€a€defendant€has€received€a€life€sentence.€€òòState€v.€Blandóó,€958€S.W.2dÐ ÌÄ Ð651€(Tenn.€1997)€(citing€òòState€v.€Carteróó,€714€S.W.2d€241,€251€(Tenn.€1986)).€Ð ˜ ÐOur€inquiry,€therefore,€does€not€require€a€finding€that€a€sentence€"less€than€deathÏwas€never€imposed€in€a€case€with€similar€characteristics."€€òòBlandóó,€958€S.W.2d€atÐ 0"( Ð665.€€Our€duty€"is€to€assure€that€no€aberrant€death€sentence€is€affirmed."€€òòIdóó.Ð ü#ô  Ð(citing€òòState€v.€Webbóó,€680€A.2d€147,€203€(Conn.€1996)).Ð È%À" ÐÌà Œ àOur€proportionality€review€is€neither€a€rigid€nor€an€objective€test.€€òòHallóó,€958Ð `)X"& ÐS.W.2d€at€699.€€There€is€no€"mathematical€formula€or€scientific€grid,"€and€we€areÏnot€bound€to€consider€only€cases€in€which€the€same€aggravating€circumstancesÐ ø,ð%* Ðwere€found€applicable€by€a€jury.€€òòIdóó.;€òòState€v.€Brimmeróó,€876€S.W.2d€75,€84€(Tenn.Ð  Ð1994).€€This€Court€considers€many€variables€when€choosing€and€comparingÏcases.€€òòBlandóó,€œ958›€S.W.2d€at€667.€€€Among€these€variables€are:€€(1)€€the€meansÐ   ˜ Ðof€death;€(2)€€the€manner€of€death€(e.g.,€violent,€torturous,€etc.);€(3)€€theÏmotivation€for€the€killing;€(4)€€the€place€of€death;€(5)€€the€similarity€of€the€victimsððÏcircumstances€including€age,€physical€and€mental€conditions,€and€the€victimsððÏtreatment€during€the€killing;€(6)€€the€absence€or€presence€of€premeditation;€(7)€Ïthe€absence€or€presence€of€provocation;€(8)€€the€absence€or€presence€ofÏjustification;€and€(9)€€the€injury€to€and€effects€on€non„decedent€victims.€€òòIdóó.;€òòHallóó,Ð h` М958›€S.W.2d€at€699.€€Factors€considered€when€comparing€characteristics€ofÏdefendants€include:€€(1)€€the€defendants'€prior€criminal€record€or€prior€criminalÏactivity;€(2)€€the€defendants'€age,€race,€and€gender;€(3)€€the€defendants'€mental,Ïemotional€or€physical€condition;€(4)€€the€defendants'€involvement€or€role€in€theÏmurder;€(5)€€the€defendants'€cooperation€with€authorities;€(6)€€the€defendants'Ïremorse;€(7)€€the€defendants'€knowledge€of€helplessness€of€victim(s);€and€(8)€€theÏdefendants'€capacity€for€rehabilitation.€€òòIdóó.Ð ü!ô ÐÌà Œ àConsidering€the€nature€of€the€crime€and€the€defendants,€we€find€thatÏimposition€of€the€death€penalty€upon€these€defendants€is€not€disproportionate€toÏthe€penalty€imposed€in€similar€cases.€€Mrs.€Vester€was€sixty„nine„years€old€at€theÏtime€the€defendants€murdered€her.€€She€was€shot€at€least€once€from€outside€herÏhouse€while€she€lay€in€bed.€€Her€husband€was€shot€and€murdered€in€an€adjacentÏroom.€€He€died€of€multiple€shotgun€wounds€to€the€head,€neck€and€chest.€€TheÏevidence€indicates€that€Mrs.€Vester€struggled€to€evade€the€brutal€attack€thatÏsevered€her€forearm€and€left€her€wrist€and€hand€attached€only€by€a€small€pieceÏof€soft€tissue,€consisting€of€skin,€muscle,€and€fat.€€The€record€indicates€that€sheÏwas€shot€once€with€a€shotgun,€once€with€a€high„powered€rifle,€and€once€moreÏwith€either€a€shotgun€or€a€high„powered€rifle.€€She€was€then€stabbed€thirteenÏtimes.€€The€stab€wounds€were€to€her€face,€head,€neck,€shoulder,€back€and€upperÐ X9P28 Ðchest.€€The€bottoms€of€her€feet€were€covered€in€blood€indicating€that€sheÏattempted€to€flee€the€attack€by€walking€through€a€pool€of€her€own€blood.€€MedicalÏtestimony€indicates€that€she€survived€for€as€long€as€fifteen€minutes€following€theÏinfliction€of€her€wounds.ÌÌà Œ àThe€defendants€had€escaped€from€prison€and€were€fleeing€authoritiesÏwhen€they€murdered€the€victims.€€They€had€committed€several€burglaries€in€theÏarea,€obtaining€food€and€supplies.€€Law€enforcement€officials€had€focused€theirÏsearch€to€the€two€mile€area€encompassing€the€burglaries,€and€the€defendantsÏwere€desperate€for€a€mode€of€transportation€out€of€the€area.€€They€obtained€theÏvehicle€they€needed€by€murdering€the€Vesters€in€their€own€home,€traditionally€theÏplace€of€greatest€safety€and€security.€€They€committed€the€crime€around€œmidnight›Ïwhen€the€Vesters€were€asleep€and€most€vulnerable€to€attack.ÌÌà Œ àBoth€defendants€had€extensive€criminal€records.€€Quintero€had€beenÏpreviously€convicted€of€two€charges€of€escape€in€the€first€degree€and€one€chargeÏof€first€degree€robbery.€€Hall€had€previous€convictions€for€two€separate€assaults,Ïwanton€endangerment€in€the€first€degree,€and€aiding€and€abetting€in€threateningÏthe€life€of€the€President€and€Vice€President€of€the€United€States€of€America.€ÏNeither€defendant€has€shown€remorse€nor€does€either€appear€to€be€a€candidateÏfor€rehabilitation.€€The€defendants€committed€these€brutal€crimes€only€three€daysÏafter€escaping€from€lawful€confinement€which€had€been€imposed€as€a€result€ofÏother€criminal€activity.€€There€is€no€evidence€that€the€defendants€wereÏintellectually€impaired,€and€the€psychological€testimony€did€not€indicate€that€theÏdefendants€were€insane€at€the€time€of€the€killings.€€Although€there€was€someÏtestimony€regarding€past€drug€and€alcohol€abuse,€there€was€no€proof€offered€toÏestablish€that€the€defendants€were€under€the€influence€of€drugs€or€alcohol€whenÏthese€murders€were€committed.€€The€jury€found€five€statutory€aggravatingÏcircumstances,€four€of€which€were€supported€by€the€proof€and€otherwiseÐ X9P28 Ðappropriately€applied.€€The€mitigation€proof€related€primarily€to€the€defendantsððÏchildhoods.€€Finally,€by€two€separate€juries,€all€three€participants€in€theseÏmurders,€Hall,€Quintero,€and€Blanton,€have€been€convicted€of€first€degree€murderÏand€sentenced€to€death.€€Accordingly,€we€conclude€that€the€nature€of€theÏdefendants'€crimes,€their€criminal€backgrounds,€their€infliction€of€unnecessaryÏand€gratuitous€violence,€and€their€complete€disregard€for€human€life€places€themÏinto€that€class€of€criminal€defendants€for€whom€a€sentence€of€death€isÏappropriate.ÌÌà Œ àHall€argues€that€his€sentence€of€death€is€disproportionate€because€theÏevidence€placing€him€at€the€murder€scene€was€circumstantial€in€nature.€€ThisÏargument,€however,€is€better€addressed€by€a€sufficiency€of€the€evidence€review.€ÏThe€jury€found€Hall€guilty€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€of€two€counts€of€murder€inÏthe€perpetration€of€a€felony.€€The€appellate€court€found€that€the€evidence€wasÏsufficient€to€support€the€convictions.€€The€medical€proof€established€that€aÏminimum€of€three€weapons€were€used€to€murder€Myrtle€Vester.€Moreover,€printsÏfrom€the€defendants€and€Blanton€were€found€at€the€various€burglaries€in€theÏLeatherwood€community.€€Items€from€these€burglaries€were€found€either€near€theÏvictimsðð€residence€or€in€their€car,€which€was€abandoned€in€Memphis€by€threeÏindividuals€matching€the€general€description€of€these€two€defendants€andÏBlanton.€€In€addition,€these€two€defendants€and€Blanton€were€seen€together€inÏMemphis€the€day€after€the€murder€by€several€individuals.€€Upon€exhaustiveÏreview€of€both€the€record€and€the€arguments€advanced€by€counsel,€we€find€thatÏthe€evidence€supports€the€jury's€verdict€finding€the€defendants€guilty€of€firstÏdegree€murder€during€the€perpetration€of€felony.€€òòJackson€v.€Virginiaóó,€443€U.S.Ð (2 +0 Ð307€(1979);€òòState€v.€Williamsóó,€657€S.W.2d€405,€410€(Tenn.€1983),€òòcert.€deniedóó,Ð ô3ì,2 Ð465€U.S.€1073€(1984);€òòState€v.€Cabbageóó,€571€S.W.2d€832€(Tenn.€1978);€Tenn.Ð À5¸.4 ÐR.€App.€P.,€Rule€13(e).€€The€evidence€also€establishes€that€both€Hall€andÏQuintero€actively€participated€in€the€killing€of€the€Vesters.€€Accordingly,€ourÐ X9P28 Ðreview€will€now€focus€on€the€circumstances€of€the€defendants'€killings€inÏcomparison€to€other€killings€for€which€murderers€have€received€a€sentence€ofÏdeath.€€This€review€includes€a€thorough€examination€of€Rule€12€reports€from€trialÏjudges€submitted€over€the€past€œtwenty›€years€in€all€criminal€trials€for€first€degreeÏmurder€in€which€either€life€imprisonment€or€a€sentence€of€death€has€beenÏimposed.€€Based€upon€our€review,€we€conclude€that€the€following€cases€in€whichÏthe€death€penalty€has€been€imposed€have€many€similarities€with€this€case.ÌÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Henleyóó,€774€S.W.2d€908€(Tenn.€1989),€the€jury€imposed€theÐ h` Ðdeath€penalty€upon€finding€a€single€aggravating€circumstance,€which€was€alsoÏfound€in€this€case,€the€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious,€or€cruel€in€thatÏit€involved€torture€or€depravity€of€mind.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(5).€ÏUnlike€the€defendants€in€this€case,€Henley€had€no€prior€criminal€record,€and€heÏhad€been€drinking€the€day€that€he€forced€the€victims,€a€married€couple€withÏwhom€he€was€acquainted,€from€the€road€to€their€house€demanding€money€atÏgunpoint.€€As€in€this€case,€Henley€shot€the€husband€and€then€the€wife€in€theirÏown€home.€€When€the€wife€began€moaning,€Henley€shot€her€two€times€more,Ïpoured€gasoline€on€her€body,€and€set€the€house€on€fire.€€She€suffered€before€sheÏeventually€died€from€burns€and€smoke€inhalation.€€ÌÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€McNishóó,€727€S.W.2d€490€(Tenn.€1987),€the€œtwenty„nine„yearñE3ñ›ñE3ñ„Ð ø*ð#( Ðold›€defendant€murdered€the€œseventy„year„old›€widow€in€her€own€home€by€strikingÏher€in€the€head€and€face€repeatedly€with€a€glass€vase.€€The€victim€was€consciousÏduring€the€attack€for€a€short€time,€and€was€alive€when€she€was€found,€but€laterÏdied€from€hemorrhaging€of€the€brain.€€Unlike€the€defendants€in€this€case,€McNishÏhad€no€prior€criminal€record,€and€he€had€been€using€drugs€when€the€murder€wasÏcommitted.€€Nevertheless,€the€jury€imposed€the€death€sentence€upon€finding€aÏâ âsingle€aggravating€circumstance,€one€which€was€also€found€in€this€case,€that€theÐ Œ7„06 Ðmurder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious,€or€cruel€in€that€it€involved€torture€orÏdepravity€of€mind.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(5).Ìâ âÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Barberóó,€753€S.W.2d€659€(Tenn.€1988),€the€œtwenty„nine„year„old›Ð l d Ðdefendant€killed€the€helpless€and€unresisting€œseventy„fiveñE3ñ›ñE3ñ„year„old›€victim€in€herÏown€home€by€striking€her€in€the€head€five€times€with€a€crescent€wrench.€As€in€thisÏcase,€the€victim€in€òòBarberóó€remained€alive€during€at€least€a€portion€of€the€assault,Ð ÐÈ  Ðand€attempted€to€avoid€the€assault€and€protect€herself,€which€was€evidenced€byÏdefensive€wounds€on€her€hands.€€Though€Barber€offered€mitigation€proof€that€heÏwas€capable€of€rehabilitation,€the€jury€nevertheless€imposed€the€death€penaltyÏupon€finding€two€aggravating€circumstances,€both€of€which€were€also€found€byÏthe€jury€in€this€case.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(5)€&€(7).€€òòSeeóó€òòBarber€v.Ð ÌÄ ÐStateóó,€889€S.W.2d€185,€189„90€(Tenn.€1994)€(concluding,€as€in€this€case,€thatÐ ˜ Ðthe€juryððs€consideration€of€the€felony€murder€aggravating€circumstance€wasÏharmless€error).€ÌÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Thompsonóó,€768€S.W.2d€239€(Tenn.€1989),€the€œtwenty„two„Ð È#À  Ðyear„old›€defendant€abducted€his€female€victim€at€gunpoint€and€took€her€to€aÏremote€location.€€As€in€this€case,€the€victim€was€repeatedly€stabbed,€with€twoÏfatal€wounds€inflicted€upon€her€right€lung.€€Also€like€this€case,€the€victimÏremained€alive€and€conscious€for€perhaps€five€to€ten€minutes.€€The€jury€imposedÏthe€death€sentence€upon€finding€three€aggravating€circumstances.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(5),€(6)€&€(7).ÌÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Payneóó,€791€S.W.2d€10€(Tenn.€1990),€the€œtwentyñE3ñ›ñE3ñ„year„old›Ð (2 +0 Ðdefendant€entered€the€home€of€the€victims€and€stabbed€one€victim€approximatelyÏforty„two€times€and€the€other€victim€approximately€nine€times.€The€jury€imposedÏâ âthe€death€penalty€upon€finding€two€aggravating€circumstances,€including,€as€inÐ Œ7„06 Ðthis€case,€that€the€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€in€that€itÏinvolved€torture€or€depravity€of€mind.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„203(i)(3)€&€(5).Ìâ âÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Smithóó,€893€S.W.2d€908€(Tenn.€1994),€a€œforty„oneñE3ñ›ñE3ñ„year„old›Ð l d Ðdefendant€broke€into€the€home€of€the€œeighty„eight„year„old›€female€victim.€€HeÏrobbed€her,€raped€her,€cut€her€throat€and€placed€her€into€a€bathtub€full€of€water.€ÏThe€victim€was€alive€when€water€entered€her€lungs.€€Though€the€defendantÏsuffered€from€diminished€intellectual€capacity€and€was€classified€as€"mentallyÏretarded,"€the€jury€imposed€the€death€penalty€upon€finding€two€aggravatingÏcircumstances,€both€of€which€were€also€found€in€this€case,€that€the€defendantÏhad€been€previously€convicted€of€a€felony€offense€involving€violence€to€theÏperson€and€that€the€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious€or€cruel€in€that€itÏinvolved€torture€or€depravity€of€mind.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„203(i)(2)€&€(5).€ÌÌà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Van€Tranóó,€864€S.W.2d€465€(Tenn.€1993),€œthe€nineteen›Ð 0 ( Ðdefendant€killed€the€victim,€a€seventy„four€year€old€woman€during€the€course€of€aÏrobbery€by€shooting€her€once€in€the€lower€jaw€or€neck€region€and€once€in€theÏback€of€the€head.€€The€victim€was€lying€on€the€floor€helpless€when€she€was€killed,Ïmuch€like€the€Vesters€who€were€assaulted€while€they€lay€in€their€beds.€€TheÏvictim€was€a€member€of€the€family€which€owned€the€Chinese€restaurant€that€theÏdefendants€were€robbing.€€The€family€lived€in€the€area€behind€the€restaurant,€soÏas€in€this€case,€the€victim€was€murdered€in€her€own€home.€€The€jury€imposed€theÏdeath€sentence€upon€finding€two€aggravating€circumstances,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ39„2„203(i)(5)€&€œ(12).Ì›Ìà Œ àIn€òòState€v.€Dicksóó,€615€S.W.2d€126€(Tenn.€1981),€a€œtwenty„oneñE3ñ›ñE3ñ„year„old›Ð ô3ì,2 Ðdefendant€was€convicted€of€felony€murder€and€sentenced€to€death.€€In€òòDicksóó,€theÐ À5¸.4 Ðdefendant€and€his€co„defendant,€œStrouth›,€robbed€a€store€and€during€the€courseÏof€the€robbery,€slit€the€throat€of€the€œseventy„year„old›€male€store€clerk€who€bled€toÐ X9P28 Ðdeath.€€As€in€this€case,€the€proof€did€not€absolutely€establish€which€individualÏinflicted€the€fatal€throat€wound,€although€it€was€apparently€inflicted€by€Strouth.€ÏThe€jury€imposed€the€death€penalty€upon€finding€two€aggravating€circumstances,Ïincluding,€as€in€this€case,€that€the€murder€was€especially€heinous,€atrocious€orÏcruel€in€that€it€involved€torture€or€depravity€of€mind.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð39-2„¼203(i)(5)€&€(7).€€The€jury€also€imposed€a€sentence€of€death€upon€the€co„¼defendant€Strouth,€finding€the€same€two€aggravating€circumstances.€€òòState€v.Ð ÐÈ  ÐStrouthóó,€620€S.W.2d€467€(Tenn.€1981).Ð œ”  ÐÌà Œ àTwo€other€co„defendants€also€received€the€death€penalty€though€the€proofÏdid€not€absolutely€identify€which€individual€was€the€shooter.€€In€òòState€v.€Sampleóó,Ð ø Ð680€S.W.2d€447€(Tenn.€1985)€and€òòState€v.€McKayóó,€680€S.W.2d€447€(Tenn.Ð ÌÄ Ð1985),€the€œtwenty„fiveñ/3ñ€ñ/3ññE3ñ›ñE3ññ03ñ„ñ03ññ03ñ›ñ03ñyearñ-3ñ€ñ-3ññ.3ñ„ñ.3ñold›€defendants,€in€separate€œtrials,€were€convicted›€ofÏfelony€murder€and€sentenced€to€death€for€shooting€two€store€clerks€to€deathÏduring€the€course€of€a€robbery.€€Though€Sample€appeared€to€be€the€leader€in€theÏcommission€of€the€crime,€the€evidence€did€not€absolutely€establish€the€identity€ofÏthe€shooter.€€The€jury€imposed€the€death€sentence€in€each€case€finding€threeÏaggravating€circumstances€with€respect€to€Sample,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð39„2„¼203(i)(3),(6)€&€(7),€and€four€aggravating€circumstances,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„2„¼203(i)(2),€(3),€(6)€&€(7),€with€respect€to€œMcKay.›ÌÌà Œ àWe€also€note€that€there€are€several€cases€with€comparable€violence€inÏwhich€defendants€have€received€life€sentences.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Jack€Jay€Northóó,Ð .ˆ', ÐNo.€02C01„CC„00369€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€at€Jackson,€Dec.€12,€1996),€app.Ïdenied€(Tenn.€1997)€(sentencing€to€life€where€victim€shot€multiple€times€withÏsawed„off€shotgun);€òòState€v.€James€Morning€Craft,€Jr.€and€Lewis€Moorletóó,€C.C.A.Ð ô3ì,2 ÐNo.€31€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.,€at€Jackson,€Mar.€8,€1989),€app.€denied€(Tenn.€1989)Ï(sentencing€to€life€where€victim€shot€three€times).€€In€both€òòNorthóó€and€òòCraftóó,€theÐ Œ7„06 Ðdefendants€either€admitted€to€being€at€the€scene€or€showed€remorse.€€AlthoughÐ X9P28 Ðthese€cases€are€similar€to€some€extent,€the€similarities€do€not€render€these€deathÏsentences€disproportionate.€€As€we€have€previously€stated,€our€role€inÏconducting€comparative€proportionality€review€is€to€assure€that€no€aberrant€deathÏsentence€is€affirmed.€ÌÌà Œ àWe€have€reviewed€numerous€cases€in€which€either€the€death€penalty€or€aÏlesser€sentence€has€been€imposed.€€While€no€two€cases€are€identical,€a€greatÏmajority€of€the€cases€cited€involved,€as€does€this€appeal,€murders€of€unresisting,€Ïdefenseless,€and€elderly€victims€who€were€beaten,€tortured,€and€assaulted€inÏtheir€own€homes€or€businesses.€€In€most€of€the€cases€cited,€the€killings€wereÏcommitted€to€accomplish€a€robbery€or€burglary.€€Unlike€the€defendants€in€thisÏcase,€in€several€of€the€cases€discussed,€the€defendants€offered€mitigation€proofÏto€show€that€they€had€no€prior€criminal€record€and€were€under€the€influence€ofÏdrugs€or€alcohol€when€the€crimes€were€committed.€€Unlike€these€defendants,€inÏat€least€one€case,€the€defendant€had€a€potential€for€rehabilitation.€€AfterÏreviewing€the€cases€discussed€above,€and€many€other€cases€not€hereinÏdescribed,€we€are€of€the€opinion€that€the€penalty€imposed€by€the€jury€in€this€caseÏis€not€disproportionate€to€the€penalty€imposed€for€similar€crimes.ÌÌò òÓ  ÓòòCONCLUSIONó óóóÐ ,)$"& ÐÓ[)Óà Œ àIn€accordance€with€the€mandate€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„206(c)(1)Ïand€the€principles€adopted€in€prior€decisions€of€this€Court,€we€have€consideredÏthe€entire€record€in€this€case€and€find€that€the€sentence€of€death€was€notÏimposed€in€an€arbitrary€fashion.€€The€evidence€clearly€supports€the€jury's€findingÏof€œtheñ13ñ€fourñ13ñ›€aggravating€circumstances€and€that€no€mitigating€circumstances€wereÏsufficiently€substantial€to€outweigh€the€aggravating€circumstances.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð39-13„206(c)(1)(A)€„€(C).€€We€have€carefully€reviewed€the€defendants'Ïassignments€of€error€and€have€found€that€they€are€either€devoid€of€merit€or€doÏnot€require€reversal.€€With€respect€to€issues€not€specifically€addressed€herein,€weÐ d9\28 Ðaffirm€the€decision€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals,€authored€by€Judge€WilliamÏM.€Barker,€joined€in€by€Judge€Paul€G.€Summers€and€Judge€David€H.€Welles.€ÏThe€œñ23ñdefendñ23ññ33ññ23ñnñ23ññ33ññ23ñañ23ññ43ñnñ43ññ53ññ43ñððñ43ññ53ññ23ñtñ23ñsñ63ñðð€sñ63ñentences›€of€death€by€electrocution€are€affirmed€and€will€beÏcarried€out€as€provided€by€law€on€the€œñ73ñ_____ñ73ññ83ñ29thñ83ñ›€day€of€œñ93ñJanauaryñ93ññ:3ñ_______________ñ:3ñ,ñ;3ñ›€_______ñ;3ññ<3ñ€1999ñ<3ñ,›€unlessÏotherwise€ordered€by€this€Court€or€other€proper€authorities.ÌÌÌÓÓà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àòòà€T$T$MT$àóóˆÐ œ”  Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àFRANK€F.€DROWOTA,€III,Ìà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àJUSTICEÌÌÌÌò òConcur:ó óÐ ø ÐÌAnderson,€C.J.ÌœÌHolder,€J.€„€Separate€Concurring/Dissenting€Opinion.ÌÌBirch,€J.€„€Separate›€Concurring/Dissenting€œOpinion.ñ13ñ›ñ13ñÌñ13ñ›ñ13ñÌñ13ñ›ñ13ñReid,€Sp.J.€„€Not€Participating.›Ìœ