599:
outside in a car when Ortel was stabbed to death in a trailer, which Holman learned only after he woke up, went into the trailer, and saw Ortel with a knife in his chest. With respect to Cash and the attempted murder of a second person, James Ostman, Holman testified he drove Davis to an auto parts store because Davis said he needed to buy an auto part. Holman testified that while he was outside the store, he heard gunshots and drove away, leaving Davis at the store. Davis was later convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting Cash and Ostman, respectively.
472:
Cash, and Davis fatally shot the man as he pleaded for his life. Hearing the shots, a wounded Ostman grabbed his own pistol, confronted the two, and fired two shots at them, the first "with his eyes closed", and the second as the robbers fled. Davis suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was taken to the hospital. Davis was arrested on August 30, 1979, after medical personnel called the police. Holman was arrested a few weeks later.
595:
and carry out stuff that Davis had piled at the back door and load it into their car. Holman testified that he did not know until he was told by detectives when he was arrested two months later, on
September 5, 1979, that an 81-year-old woman, Esther Sepmeyer, had been shot inside the house on July 13, 1979. It was Sepmeyer's murder for which Holman was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
579:
states in relevant part: “All penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship.” In his petition, Holman argued that his sentence of life imprisonment without parole for offenses committed when he was 17 years old violated the
Proportionate Penalties Clause and entitled him to a new sentencing hearing.
236:
583:
testified for the first time about the murders committed in 1979 when he was 17 years old, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1981. The facts elicited at this hearing are contained in
Defendant's Post-Hearing Brief in Support of His Post-Conviction Petition (May 25, 2022), People v. Holman, No. 80 CF 5 (Madison Cty., Ill. Cir. Ct.) and summarized below.
31:
535:
deserve any mercy. Jean Biebel Moore described finding her father's body while delivering groceries three days before
Christmas. "I found him sitting in his wheelchair dead, with a bloody wound in his chest," she said. "For the past 16 years, I have tried to erase that image from my mind, but I have not succeeded."
598:
Holman also testified about the murders of John Ortel and Frank Cash, for which he was convicted in St. Clair County, Illinois before the
Sepmeyer trial. Holman admitted to being present when these murders occurred but explained his role. With respect to Ortel, Holman testified that he was sleeping
578:
After the
Illinois Supreme Court refused to vacate his life sentence under Miller, Holman brought a post-conviction petition challenging his sentence of life imprisonment without parole pursuant to the Proportionate Penalties Clause of Article I, Section 11 of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, which
499:
Holman was convicted of three counts of murder for killing Oertel, Cash, and
Sepmeyer, and the attempted murder of Ostman. He received a 75-year sentence for killing Oertel and Cash and a concurrent 25-year sentence for the shooting of Ostman. Holman was sentenced to life in prison without parole for
471:
Davis and Holman were arrested after a botched hold-up at an auto parts store. When the two entered the store, the two immediately shot the owner, James Ostman. The bullet struck him in the arm. As Ostman fell, his clerk, 21-year-old Frank Cash, ran to the back of the store. Davis and Holman followed
438:
In
February 2022, Holman testified for the first time about the murders that led to his life sentence in 1981. He did so at an evidentiary hearing on his post-conviction petition seeking a new sentencing hearing under the Proportionate Penalties Clause of the Illinois Constitution. As detailed more
602:
Holman testified that while he did not shoot Esther
Sepmeyer, he regrets driving Girvies Davis to her home on July 13, 1979, “very day of my life.” Holman further testified that he is not the same person today as he was when he was taken into custody in September 1979. When asked to tell the Court
586:
Based on the evidence presented at this post-conviction hearing, a psychological evaluation done in connection with Holman's sentencing found that he scored in the borderline range of retardation on the verbal I.Q. test with a score of 73 and in the mildly retarded range on the performance I.Q. test
482:
John
Crangle was an employee for Perdue, one of Davis's alleged victims. Crangle was shot four times and died of his injuries six years later, at the age of 52, having suffered three bullets to the abdomen and one to the throat. Crangle's daughter said he had identified Davis as the man who shot him
478:
The alleged and confirmed victims were: Frieda Miller, 78; Edward Campbell, 35; Mary Prestito, 39; Charles Biebel, 89; Marvin Fourt, 25; James Perdue, 63; John Oertel, 84; Esther Sepmeyer, 83; and Frank Cash, 21. Davis and Holman were never tried for all of the murders since both of them had already
447:
Davis, one of eight children, grew up in poverty in East St. Louis. His 4th grade teacher, Annie Quinley Petchulat, described him as "a poor pathetic boy who just sat there and said nothing." Before the murders, Davis was known by the police as a small-time thief, a re-seller of stolen goods, and an
594:
Holman testified that on July 13, 1979, he was driving around with Davis when they spotted what Holman thought was an abandoned house. Davis directed Holman to turn into the driveway and park, after which Davis broke into the house. Davis came back outside and directed Holman to go into the house
534:
At Davis's clemency hearing, numerous relatives of his victims asked the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to recommend clemency. Pam Cash, the widow of Frank Cash, who had given birth to her first child only 30 hours after her husband was murdered, said someone responsible for so many murders did not
486:
Davis was convicted of four counts of murder for killing Charles Biebel, John Oertel, Frank Cash, and Esther Sepmeyer. He was also convicted of attempted murder for the shooting of John Ostman. During his sentencing hearing, Davis's wife, Cindy, testified that he was not a violent man and she would
503:
Another man, Keith Harris, was wrongfully convicted of the attempted murder of Mark Resmann and sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1979. On December 4, 1978, Resmann, a gas station clerk, was shot seven times, but survived, after giving $ 200 to two robbers. Although Resmann identified Harris in a
456:
On December 8, 1978, Davis and Holman allegedly robbed and murdered 78-year-old Frieda Mueller. The two were alleged to have fatally shot her before stealing her television set, billfold, and checkbook. Davis and Holman were never tried for killing Frieda, but her murder was mentioned during their
526:
Although the confession of Holman, who never denied any of the murders, implicated Davis in additional murders in which he was alleged to be the triggerman, Davis argued that his own confession had been physically coerced by investigators, and alleged they had threatened to kill him if he did not
582:
Holman's post-conviction petition met with initial success. The court held that Holman's petition raised a potential constitutional violation and granted him an evidentiary hearing, which took place on February 22, 2022, in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Illinois. At this hearing, Holman
500:
killing Sepmeyer, avoiding a death sentence since he was barely a month shy of 18 at the time. The judge told Holman that he did not believe he could be rehabilitated since he had shown no remorse, and that the life term was necessary to protect the public. He was never tried for killing Biebel.
460:
On December 22, 1978, 89-year-old Charles Biebel, who used a wheelchair, was fatally shot inside his trailer home. His daughter, Jean Biebel Moore, discovered his body later that evening. Davis and Holman stole two watches, a billfold, "a number of guns," and a television set. Holman was the
467:
On July 13, 1979, Davis and Holman shot 83-year-old Esther Sepmeyer, a blind woman, execution-style as she was kneeling in front of her bed, praying for her life. Her grandson, Rodney Sepmeyer, found her body. A lawnmower, a replica antique radio, a stereo, a color TV, and a .22-caliber
427:
between 1978 and 1979. Davis, the older of the two, told an investigator that shooting witnesses was "easier" than wearing a mask. The two were nicknamed "The .22 Caliber Killers". Davis was executed in 1995, while Holman, too young to be executed, is serving a life sentence.
439:
fully in the “Aftermath” section below, Holman testified that he did not personally witness or participate in any of the murders, which were committed by Davis. Holman admitted that he had worked as a driver for the older Davis and expressed his remorse for having done so.
590:
Holman testified that after he dropped out of school, he worked at odd jobs. When Holman was 16 or 17 years old, Girvies Davis, Holman's girlfriend's older brother, started paying Holman “5, 10, 15 dollars” to drive him around.
530:
In response to protesters asking for Davis's death sentence to be commuted to life in prison, prosecutors said they were prepared to try him for the other murders they believed he had committed if he was taken off of death row.
758:
522:
Davis conceded his involvement in two robberies in which the victims were slain, but denied his guilt in the killing of Biebel, the crime which sent him to death row, and denied having personally committing any murders.
491:
for killing Biebel. He received another death sentence for killing Sepmeyer, but this was reduced to life without parole on appeal. Although Davis was not present for Biebel's murder, he was convicted under the
543:
While on death row, Davis learned to read and became an ordained minister, serving as a spiritual adviser to other inmates. After numerous failed appeals and a failed clemency petition to Governor
606:
Despite Holman's testimony, his post-conviction petition seeking a new sentencing hearing was denied. Holman's appeal from the denial of his post-conviction petition is pending.
461:
triggerman for this murder. Before they were arrested, Jean Moore offered a $ 5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her father's killers.
507:
Davis and Holman had confessed to the crime and ballistic evidence linked them to the shooting of Resmann, and police now believe they were responsible for the crime.
479:
received the maximum sentence allowed. Prosecutors later said the duo had committed so many murders that they thought prosecuting every case wasn't worth the effort.
487:
visit him in prison if he was spared execution. Davis received a 30-year sentence for the shooting of Ostman, an 80-year sentence for killing Oertel and Cash, and a
464:
On May 12, 1979, Davis and Holman robbed and murdered 84-year-old John Oertel in his trailer. Oertel was shot and stabbed. Davis was the triggerman for this murder.
807:
957:
575:
rulings, which limited life terms without parole for minors. However, Holman's efforts have been unsuccessful, and his life sentence stands as of 2024.
1141:
1219:
1003:
630:
620:
496:, on the grounds that after committing similar robbery-slayings with Holman, he should've been well aware that Holman would kill Biebel.
1199:
1194:
850:"Girvies L. Davis, Petitioner-appellant, v. Warden Jim Greer and Neil F. Hartigan, Respondents-appellees, 13 F.3d 1134 (7th Cir. 1994)"
1204:
873:
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625:
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how he had changed, Holman said: “Well, most importantly I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.”
615:
432:
141:
70:
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1038:
514:
granted him a full pardon in 2003. Harris received $ 154,153 in compensation for the time he spent in prison.
650:
86:
897:
849:
564:
400:
706:
510:
Harris was released from prison on May 1, 2001, after his sentence was reduced to 30 years. Governor
259:
51:
978:
572:
587:
with a score of 64. Holman dropped out of school in the tenth grade, when he was 15 years old.
1214:
1063:
567:. In recent years, he has tried to have his life sentence reduced to a term of years under the
1105:
555:
and his last words were "I wish Godspeed to all." He was pronounced dead at 12:28 a.m.
475:
Officials ultimately linked Davis to 10 robberies, with nine people dead and seven wounded.
74:
782:
8:
759:"Gauen: Case of long-ago killer instructive for potential Illinois dealth-penalty debate"
328:
730:
493:
488:
1080:
905:
568:
384:
299:
196:
112:
933:
824:
548:
431:
Davis and Holman committed their crimes at the same time and in the same region as
318:
131:
1136:
674:
420:
1188:
909:
281:
934:"PEOPLE v. HOLMAN | 2017 IL 120655 | By THEIS | 20180302235 | Leagle.com"
511:
468:
semi-automatic rifle were stolen. Holman was triggerman for this murder.
389:
201:
651:"State of Illinois | DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | Inmate Search Results"
307:
120:
435:. Consequently, all four men received extensive local media coverage.
563:
Holman remains in prison to this day, and is serving his sentence at
552:
544:
675:"Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois on March 28, 1995 · Page 15"
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372:
184:
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235:
108:
30:
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lineup, no physical evidence linked him to the crime.
538:
517:
423:
who killed at least four people during robberies in
527:talk. The police denied all of these allegations.
1186:
451:
874:"Davis Ill. set for controversial execution"
631:List of serial killers in the United States
621:List of people executed by lethal injection
234:
29:
1039:"WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT GIRVIES DAVIS"
1064:"Is the U.S. Executing Innocent People?"
1187:
1144:from the original on December 17, 2021
415:(January 20, 1958 – May 17, 1995) and
1129:
1025:The National Registry of Exonerations
927:
925:
756:
419:(born August 20, 1961) were American
1220:People from East St. Louis, Illinois
752:
750:
701:
699:
697:
695:
1164:"STATE RANKS 2ND IN '95 EXECUTIONS"
1132:"State Ranks 2nd In '95 Executions"
931:
626:List of people executed in Illinois
13:
922:
539:Davis's imprisonment and execution
518:Davis’s claim of partial innocence
14:
1236:
1200:1979 murders in the United States
1195:1978 murders in the United States
800:
747:
692:
1004:"Harris's petition for a pardon"
904:. Associated Press. 1995-05-17.
898:"Murderers Executed in 2 States"
1205:20th-century American criminals
1156:
1123:
1098:
1073:
1056:
1031:
1013:
996:
971:
950:
890:
866:
842:
817:
775:
757:Gauen, Pat (31 October 2015).
723:
667:
643:
616:Capital punishment in Illinois
433:Andre Jones and Freddie Tiller
71:Stateville Correctional Center
1:
1130:Hanna, Janan (May 18, 1995).
808:"Twenty Minutes to Innocence"
636:
442:
87:Execution by lethal injection
1225:Serial killers from Illinois
787:The Belleville News-Democrat
731:"John George Oertel, age 84"
558:
7:
609:
565:Pontiac Correctional Center
401:Pontiac Correctional Center
10:
1241:
551:in 1995. Davis declined a
452:Murders, arrest, and trial
965:Supreme Court of Illinois
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1087:. 1995-05-17. p. 27
831:. 1995-05-16. p. 32
789:. 1995-05-18. p. 11
260:East St. Louis, Illinois
52:East St. Louis, Illinois
1210:American male criminals
1112:. 1995-05-12. p. 9
1085:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
985:. 1980-11-14. p. 3
983:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
829:St. Louis Post-Dispatch
573:Montgomery v. Louisiana
271:The .22 Caliber Killers
96:The .22 Caliber Killers
16:American serial killers
979:"Esther Sepmeyer-1979"
417:Richard "Ricky" Holman
547:, he was executed by
655:www.idoc.state.il.us
75:Crest Hill, Illinois
1069:. October 26, 2000.
967:. December 6, 2016.
350:Span of crimes
329:Life without parole
300:Witness elimination
162:Span of crimes
113:Witness elimination
83:Cause of death
958:"People v. Holman"
902:The New York Times
494:felony murder rule
397:Imprisoned at
390:.22 caliber pistol
202:.22 caliber pistol
1110:Herald and Review
1106:"Girvies victims"
707:"People v. Davis"
569:Miller v. Alabama
410:
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385:.22 caliber rifle
222:
221:
197:.22 caliber rifle
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932:JUSTICE, THEIS.
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549:lethal injection
413:Girvies L. Davis
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325:Criminal penalty
319:Attempted murder
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268:Other names
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210:Date apprehended
193:
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138:Criminal penalty
132:Attempted murder
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93:Other names
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48:January 20, 1958
47:
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33:
23:Girvies L. Davis
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18:
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1168:Chicago Tribune
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1137:Chicago Tribune
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1043:Chicago Tribune
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783:"Cash Sepmeyer"
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735:gunmemorial.org
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681:. 28 March 1995
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278:Criminal status
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253:August 20, 1961
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214:August 30, 1979
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1021:"KEITH HARRIS"
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679:Newspapers.com
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489:death sentence
483:and his boss.
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421:serial killers
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67:(aged 37)
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22:
15:
9:
6:
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3:
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1215:Criminal duos
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1170:. 18 May 1995
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1045:. 21 May 2006
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308:Conviction(s)
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1172:. Retrieved
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1158:
1148:December 17,
1146:. Retrieved
1135:
1125:
1114:. Retrieved
1109:
1100:
1089:. Retrieved
1084:
1075:
1058:
1047:. Retrieved
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1033:
1024:
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998:
987:. Retrieved
982:
973:
964:
952:
941:. Retrieved
937:
913:. Retrieved
901:
892:
881:. Retrieved
877:
868:
857:. Retrieved
853:
844:
833:. Retrieved
828:
819:
802:
791:. Retrieved
786:
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282:Incarcerated
273:Ricky Holman
65:(1995-05-17)
63:May 17, 1995
512:George Ryan
448:alcoholic.
387:(confirmed)
199:(confirmed)
1189:Categories
1174:2021-12-19
1116:2022-03-18
1091:2022-03-18
1081:"Pam Cash"
1049:2021-12-19
989:2022-01-24
943:2022-01-24
915:2021-12-19
883:2021-12-17
859:2021-12-19
854:Justia Law
835:2022-04-15
793:2022-03-18
768:2021-12-17
740:2022-08-17
716:2022-03-18
711:Justia Law
685:2022-01-24
660:2022-01-24
637:References
443:Early life
316:(3 counts)
249:1961-08-20
129:(4 counts)
44:1958-01-20
910:0362-4331
825:"Crangle"
559:Aftermath
553:last meal
545:Jim Edgar
392:(alleged)
354:1978–1979
204:(alleged)
166:1978–1979
1142:Archived
610:See also
457:trials.
425:Illinois
373:Illinois
368:State(s)
185:Illinois
180:State(s)
359:Country
341:Victims
336:Details
296:Robbery
171:Country
153:Victims
148:Details
109:Robbery
938:Leagle
908:
380:Weapon
314:Murder
292:Motive
262:, U.S.
192:Weapon
127:Murder
105:Motive
77:, U.S.
54:, U.S.
1067:(PDF)
1007:(PDF)
961:(PDF)
811:(PDF)
142:Death
1150:2021
906:ISSN
571:and
344:4–9+
243:Born
156:4–9+
60:Died
38:Born
878:UPI
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