In 2015, America had the lowest number of executions in 25 years. Of the 28 people executed, 68% were mentally impaired or disabled, or experienced extreme childhood trauma and abuse. An examination of the 2015 cases that resulted in execution reveal a disturbing pattern: It’s frequently not just one impairment, such as a low IQ score, that defines these cases, but rather multiple forms of disability and impairment. Below are examples of recent cases from the outlier death penalty counties.
Caddo Parish, LA
Corey Williams
Corey Williams
16: Age at the time of the crime
67: IQ Score
Lamondre Tucker
Lamondre Tucker
18: Age at the time of the crime
74: IQ Score
LaDerrick Campbell
LaDerrick Campbell
18: Age at the time of the crime
67: IQ Score
“Delusional”
Brandy Holmes
Brandy Holmes
Named after her mother’s favorite drink while pregnant. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Attempted suicide as a child after she was raped.
Has organic brain damage, PTSD, and major depression.
Harris County, TX
Executed in 2015:
Juan Garcia
Juan Garcia
18: Age at the time of the crime
75: IQ Score
Abused as a child
Expert testified at trial that because of his race he was more likely to be dangerous in prison
Derrick Charles
Derrick Charles
19: Age at the time of the crime
Suffered from severe mental illness since childhood
