205:
The murder was committed for the purpose of interfering with the victim's free exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, or immunity protected by the First
Amendment to the United States Constitution, or because the victim has exercised or enjoyed said rights, or because of the victim's race,
197:
At the time of the killing, the victim was, or had been, a non-governmental informant, or had otherwise provided any investigative, law enforcement, or police agency with information concerning criminal activity, and the killing was in retaliation for the victim's activities as a non-governmental
147:
The murder was committed against a person who was a witness to a crime, and who was killed for the purpose of preventing the witness's appearance or testimony in any grand jury, criminal, or civil proceeding involving such crime, or in retaliation for the witness's appearance or testimony in any
133:
The murder was committed against a judicial officer, a former judicial officer, Attorney
General, former Attorney General, Assistant or Deputy Attorney General, or former Assistant or Deputy Attorney General, State Detective or former State Detective, Special Investigator or former Special
157:
The murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of, or attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit any degree of rape, unlawful sexual intercourse, arson, kidnapping, robbery, sodomy, burglary, or home
293:
to reinstate the state death penalty by limiting the number of aggravating factors warranting the death penalty, and limiting a judge's authority on the decision. The proposal gained some support after the murders of police officer
598:
164:
The murder was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman in that it involved torture, depravity of mind, use of an explosive device or poison, or the defendant used such means on the victim prior to murdering the
257:
There were 13 inmates on death row when the state
Supreme Court invalidated the capital scheme in 2016. All of their sentences were modified, and the last two inmates were re-sentenced to life in prison in March 2018.
201:
The murder was premeditated and the result of substantial planning. Such planning must be as to the commission of the murder itself, and not simply as to the commission or attempted commission of any underlying
309:
In June 2024, the
Delaware House of Representatives passed a bill to abolish the death penalty in Delaware's statute by a vote of 33 to 8, which would effectively make the Supreme Court's ruling irrelevant.
223:
was an alternative for those whose offense occurred prior to that date, but in July 2003, no remaining death row inmates were eligible to choose this alternative, and
Delaware dismantled its gallows.
306:, though the man who killed Ballard was later killed by law enforcement in a shootout. However, the bill failed to get a committee hearing in the Senate. In May 2019, Smyk introduced a similar bill.
94:. The statute was struck down in 2016 because the judge decided not only the sentence itself, but also some factual findings necessary to make the defendant eligible for capital punishment.
606:
1556:
151:
The defendant paid or was paid by another person, or had agreed to pay or be paid by another person, or had conspired to pay or be paid by another person for the killing of the victim.
130:, corrections employee, firefighter, paramedic, emergency medical technician, fire marshal, or fire police officer, while such victim was engaged in the performance of official duties.
1057:
1503:
37:. Despite this, the capital statute for first-degree murder under Title 11, Chapter 42, Section 09, of the Delaware Code has yet to be repealed, though it is unenforceable.
1513:
1447:
573:
760:
705:
1602:
154:
The defendant was previously convicted of another murder or manslaughter or of a felony involving the use of, or threat of, force or violence upon another person.
1483:
1561:
1546:
1493:
1062:
548:
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1397:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1322:
108:
on
January 17, 2012. It was the first time the board had recommended a death sentence be commuted since the re-instatement of capital punishment in 1974.
1304:
348:
100:
was allowed to grant a commutation of the death sentence, but only after receiving a recommendation of clemency from a board or advisory Group. The only
1267:
1314:
161:
The defendant's course of conduct resulted in the deaths of 2 or more persons where the deaths are a probable consequence of the defendant's conduct.
1508:
765:
1566:
1551:
1112:
1536:
1473:
1035:
1106:
1045:
445:
522:
266:
As of 2015, 64 percent of
Delawareans oppose the death penalty with an alternative of life in prison, compared with 30 percent who support.
171:
The defendant was under a sentence of life imprisonment, whether for natural life or otherwise, at the time of the commission of the murder.
1597:
1488:
681:
226:
The last judicial execution by hanging in the United States was carried out in
Delaware, on January 25, 1996, against convicted murderer
815:
1247:
1212:
123:
The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest, or for the purpose of effecting an escape from custody.
1592:
1294:
1192:
1157:
1000:
120:
The murder was committed by a person in, or who has escaped from, the custody of a law enforcement officer or place of confinement.
1087:
629:
1587:
1252:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1217:
746:
1167:
1092:
925:
655:
1289:
1202:
1197:
1082:
1257:
1147:
1020:
965:
930:
198:
informant or in providing information concerning criminal activity to an investigative, law enforcement, or police agency.
1478:
1284:
1227:
1207:
1182:
1172:
1162:
1152:
1142:
1122:
1097:
1077:
1005:
910:
870:
737:
319:
299:
243:
168:
The defendant caused or directed another to commit murder or committed murder as an agent or employee of another person.
1299:
1279:
1177:
1127:
1102:
1072:
1067:
970:
960:
955:
935:
1262:
1187:
1137:
1030:
885:
800:
1541:
1117:
920:
915:
790:
295:
1274:
1222:
1132:
1010:
975:
880:
855:
995:
945:
900:
890:
875:
865:
850:
830:
795:
785:
269:
With regards to demographics, opposition stands at 69 percent with women, 57 percent with men, 72 percent with
45:
470:
1015:
990:
895:
835:
810:
780:
770:
87:
83:
79:
29:
on August 2, 2016. The ruling retroactively applies to earlier death sentences, and remaining
Delaware
950:
905:
845:
820:
775:
431:
980:
860:
825:
144:
The murder was committed against a person who was held or detained by the defendant for ransom or reward.
49:
404:
65:
As of 2015, 64 percent of
Delawareans oppose capital punishment, compared to 30 percent who support it.
1463:
1025:
985:
940:
840:
59:
250:. Female death row prisoners were housed at the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in
1520:
270:
184:
The victim was particularly vulnerable due to a severe intellectual, mental, or physical disability.
116:
Murder was punishable by death when it involved at least one of the following aggravating factors:
449:
730:
526:
127:
659:
26:
194:, and the murder was committed by an individual who is at least 4 years older than the victim.
386:
137:
The murder was committed against a person who was held or otherwise detained as a shield or
1468:
251:
97:
715:
8:
723:
504:
17:
324:
278:
274:
101:
91:
34:
633:
303:
247:
216:
54:
1581:
372:
298:
and of corrections officer Steven Floyd Sr., in a February 2017 riot at the
227:
191:
105:
58:
decision of 1976. The last person executed in the state was 28-year-old
290:
41:
373:"Delaware Supreme Court Decision Paves Way to Clear State's Death Row"
134:
Investigator, during, or because of, the exercise of an official duty.
1498:
239:
178:
30:
22:
220:
138:
656:"Delaware returns to death penalty debate after prison uprising"
148:
grand jury, criminal, or civil proceeding involving such crime.
40:
Delaware has the third highest number of executions since 1976
682:"New legislation proposes to revive death penalty in Delaware"
599:"Delaware House postpones vote on reinstating death penalty"
745:
25:
was abolished after being declared unconstitutional by the
706:"House passes bill to eliminate death penalty in Delaware"
349:"Top court: Delaware's death penalty law unconstitutional"
206:
religion, color, disability, national origin, or ancestry.
284:
52:. Sixteen people were executed in the state after the
1514:
White defendants executed for killing a black victim
630:"Delaware death penalty supporters pass first test"
621:
590:
1603:Capital punishment in the United States by state
1579:
219:as the default method of execution in Delaware.
78:Delaware was one of the four states, along with
1552:National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
574:"Delaware's last death row inmates resentenced"
647:
432:"Delaware voters support death penalty repeal"
1557:Supreme Court decisions on capital punishment
731:
174:The murder was committed for pecuniary gain.
738:
724:
342:
340:
187:The victim was 62 years of age, or older.
627:
33:inmates had their sentences commuted to
747:Capital punishment in the United States
337:
1580:
1504:Participation of medical professionals
679:
653:
426:
424:
387:"State Execution Rates (through 2023)"
285:Legislation after Supreme Court ruling
62:, who was executed on April 20, 2012.
719:
596:
571:
347:Reyes, Jessica Masulli (2016-08-12).
346:
289:In 2017, a bill was proposed by Rep.
126:The murder was committed against any
546:
215:On June 13, 1986, the state adopted
421:
320:List of people executed in Delaware
300:James T. Vaughn Correctional Center
244:James T. Vaughn Correctional Center
13:
1598:2016 disestablishments in Delaware
14:
1614:
261:
192:child 14 years of age, or younger
111:
1542:Death Penalty Information Center
628:Albright, Matthew (3 May 2017).
391:Death Penalty Information Center
73:
68:
1593:1974 establishments in Delaware
1547:Most recent executions by state
698:
673:
565:
540:
515:
1588:Capital punishment in Delaware
497:
488:
463:
438:
405:"Executions by State and Year"
397:
379:
365:
1:
654:Kelkar, Kamala (5 May 2017).
597:Chase, Randall (4 May 2017).
572:Parra, Esteban (2018-03-13).
549:"An Execution In The Old Way"
471:"A Death Penalty Commutation"
330:
242:for males was located at the
233:
7:
1509:Race and capital punishment
680:Bittle, Matt (2019-05-15).
313:
104:pardon was granted by Gov.
10:
1619:
1562:Women executed since 1976
1529:
1479:Dual sovereignty doctrine
1456:
1313:
1044:
753:
547:Vick, Karl (1996-01-26).
210:
92:override a jury decision
1484:Execution drug shortage
128:law enforcement officer
660:San Francisco Bay View
523:"Methods of Execution"
505:"Delaware Code Online"
277:, and 70 percent with
90:, where the judge may
27:Delaware Supreme Court
1469:Death-qualified jury
1448:Scheduled executions
509:delcode.delaware.gov
494:Delaware Code § 4209
409:deathpenaltyinfo.org
1521:Wrongful executions
686:Delaware State News
553:The Washington Post
1567:Women on death row
1464:Botched executions
1058:Federal government
761:Federal government
475:The New York Times
273:, 58 percent with
18:Capital punishment
1575:
1574:
1537:Death row inmates
1457:Issues and ethics
325:Crime in Delaware
279:African Americans
190:The victim was a
35:life imprisonment
1610:
1305:Washington, D.C.
1036:Washington, D.C.
740:
733:
726:
717:
716:
710:
709:
702:
696:
695:
693:
692:
677:
671:
670:
668:
666:
651:
645:
644:
642:
640:
634:The News Journal
625:
619:
618:
616:
614:
605:. Archived from
594:
588:
587:
585:
584:
569:
563:
562:
560:
559:
544:
538:
537:
535:
534:
525:. Archived from
519:
513:
512:
501:
495:
492:
486:
485:
483:
482:
467:
461:
460:
458:
457:
448:. Archived from
442:
436:
435:
428:
419:
418:
416:
415:
401:
395:
394:
383:
377:
376:
369:
363:
362:
360:
359:
344:
304:Smyrna, Delaware
217:lethal injection
55:Gregg v. Georgia
1618:
1617:
1613:
1612:
1611:
1609:
1608:
1607:
1578:
1577:
1576:
1571:
1525:
1452:
1309:
1049:
1047:
1040:
749:
744:
714:
713:
704:
703:
699:
690:
688:
678:
674:
664:
662:
652:
648:
638:
636:
626:
622:
612:
610:
603:Washington Post
595:
591:
582:
580:
578:Delaware online
570:
566:
557:
555:
545:
541:
532:
530:
521:
520:
516:
503:
502:
498:
493:
489:
480:
478:
469:
468:
464:
455:
453:
444:
443:
439:
430:
429:
422:
413:
411:
403:
402:
398:
385:
384:
380:
371:
370:
366:
357:
355:
353:Delaware Online
345:
338:
333:
316:
296:Stephen Ballard
287:
264:
236:
213:
177:The victim was
114:
76:
71:
60:Shannon Johnson
12:
11:
5:
1616:
1606:
1605:
1600:
1595:
1590:
1573:
1572:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1533:
1531:
1527:
1526:
1524:
1523:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1319:
1317:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1307:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1271:
1270:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1248:South Carolina
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1213:North Carolina
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1054:
1052:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1021:American Samoa
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
966:South Carolina
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
938:
933:
931:North Carolina
928:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
783:
778:
773:
768:
763:
757:
755:
751:
750:
743:
742:
735:
728:
720:
712:
711:
697:
672:
646:
620:
589:
564:
539:
514:
496:
487:
462:
437:
420:
396:
378:
364:
335:
334:
332:
329:
328:
327:
322:
315:
312:
286:
283:
263:
262:Public opinion
260:
235:
232:
212:
209:
208:
207:
203:
199:
195:
188:
185:
182:
175:
172:
169:
166:
162:
159:
155:
152:
149:
145:
142:
135:
131:
124:
121:
113:
112:Capital crimes
110:
75:
72:
70:
67:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1615:
1604:
1601:
1599:
1596:
1594:
1591:
1589:
1586:
1585:
1583:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1534:
1532:
1528:
1522:
1519:
1515:
1512:
1511:
1510:
1507:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1461:
1459:
1455:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1316:
1312:
1306:
1303:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1295:West Virginia
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1269:
1266:
1265:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1193:New Hampshire
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1158:Massachusetts
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1108:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1051:
1043:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1006:West Virginia
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
937:
934:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
917:
914:
912:
911:New Hampshire
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
871:Massachusetts
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
777:
774:
772:
769:
767:
764:
762:
759:
758:
756:
754:Jurisdictions
752:
748:
741:
736:
734:
729:
727:
722:
721:
718:
707:
701:
687:
683:
676:
661:
657:
650:
635:
631:
624:
609:on 4 May 2017
608:
604:
600:
593:
579:
575:
568:
554:
550:
543:
529:on 2008-07-03
528:
524:
518:
510:
506:
500:
491:
476:
472:
466:
452:on 2008-06-18
451:
447:
441:
433:
427:
425:
410:
406:
400:
392:
388:
382:
374:
368:
354:
350:
343:
341:
336:
326:
323:
321:
318:
317:
311:
307:
305:
301:
297:
292:
282:
280:
276:
272:
267:
259:
255:
253:
249:
245:
241:
231:
229:
224:
222:
218:
204:
200:
196:
193:
189:
186:
183:
180:
176:
173:
170:
167:
163:
160:
156:
153:
150:
146:
143:
140:
136:
132:
129:
125:
122:
119:
118:
117:
109:
107:
103:
99:
95:
93:
89:
85:
81:
74:Legal process
69:Former status
66:
63:
61:
57:
56:
51:
47:
43:
38:
36:
32:
28:
24:
20:
19:
1489:Exonerations
1268:2020–present
1253:South Dakota
1243:Rhode Island
1238:Pennsylvania
1218:North Dakota
971:South Dakota
961:Rhode Island
956:Pennsylvania
936:North Dakota
805:
700:
689:. Retrieved
685:
675:
663:. Retrieved
649:
637:. Retrieved
623:
611:. Retrieved
607:the original
602:
592:
581:. Retrieved
577:
567:
556:. Retrieved
552:
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527:the original
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477:. 2012-01-17
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450:the original
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275:independents
268:
265:
256:
237:
228:Billy Bailey
225:
214:
115:
106:Jack Markell
98:The Governor
96:
77:
64:
53:
39:
16:
15:
1168:Mississippi
1093:Connecticut
1031:Puerto Rico
886:Mississippi
801:Connecticut
238:Delaware's
102:post-Furman
1582:Categories
1290:Washington
1203:New Mexico
1198:New Jersey
1083:California
1001:Washington
921:New Mexico
916:New Jersey
791:California
691:2019-12-24
583:2020-01-05
558:2022-06-13
533:2015-07-09
481:2019-12-22
456:2015-07-09
446:"Clemency"
414:2017-11-24
358:2016-08-03
331:References
291:Steve Smyk
252:New Castle
42:per capita
1499:Last meal
1494:Juveniles
1258:Tennessee
1148:Louisiana
1011:Wisconsin
976:Tennessee
881:Minnesota
856:Louisiana
271:Democrats
240:death row
234:Death row
158:invasion.
44:, behind
31:death row
1285:Virginia
1228:Oklahoma
1208:New York
1183:Nebraska
1173:Missouri
1163:Michigan
1153:Maryland
1143:Kentucky
1123:Illinois
1107:pre-1972
1098:Delaware
1088:Colorado
1078:Arkansas
1063:Military
1050:executed
1046:Lists of
996:Virginia
946:Oklahoma
926:New York
901:Nebraska
891:Missouri
876:Michigan
866:Maryland
851:Kentucky
831:Illinois
806:Delaware
796:Colorado
786:Arkansas
766:Military
314:See also
179:pregnant
46:Oklahoma
23:Delaware
1315:By year
1300:Wyoming
1280:Vermont
1178:Montana
1128:Indiana
1113:Georgia
1103:Florida
1073:Arizona
1068:Alabama
1016:Wyoming
991:Vermont
896:Montana
836:Indiana
816:Georgia
811:Florida
781:Arizona
771:Alabama
221:Hanging
202:felony.
165:victim.
139:hostage
88:Indiana
84:Florida
80:Alabama
1474:Debate
1233:Oregon
1188:Nevada
1138:Kansas
1048:people
951:Oregon
906:Nevada
846:Kansas
821:Hawaii
776:Alaska
248:Smyrna
211:Method
86:, and
1530:Other
1263:Texas
1118:Idaho
981:Texas
861:Maine
826:Idaho
665:8 May
639:8 May
613:8 May
246:near
50:Texas
1443:2024
1438:2023
1433:2022
1428:2021
1423:2020
1418:2019
1413:2018
1408:2017
1403:2016
1398:2015
1393:2014
1388:2013
1383:2012
1378:2011
1373:2010
1368:2009
1363:2008
1358:2007
1353:2006
1348:2005
1343:2004
1338:2003
1333:2002
1328:2001
1323:2000
1275:Utah
1223:Ohio
1133:Iowa
1026:Guam
986:Utah
941:Ohio
841:Iowa
667:2017
641:2017
615:2017
48:and
302:in
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