Below are KUOW special reports on the Darold Stenson and Cal Coburn Brown cases, plus a three–part series which examines the death penalty in Washington. Parts one and two cover capital cases' affect on victims' family members and their impact on the legal system. Part three examines the process of an execution and discusses the ethics and particulars around the event.
Reported by Patricia Murphy.
Photos: On the left, Darold Stenson – Clallam County – Convicted 8/11/94 for the shooting deaths of his wife, Denise Stenson and his business partner, Frank Hoerner. On the right, Cal Coburn Brown. Photos provided by Washington State Penitentiary.
Supreme Court Orders New Trial For Death Row Inmate
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Washington state Supreme Court threw out the conviction and death sentence of a man accused of killing his wife and business partner. In an 8–1 decision, the high court ruled Thursday that Darold Stenson should be granted a new trial. Stenson has been on death row for the last 18 years. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Witness View Of Brown Execution
Friday, September 10, 2010
Convicted murderer Cal Coburn Brown was pronounced dead at 12:56 a.m., executed by the state of Washington. The family of his victim, Holly Washa, traveled from Nebraska and South Dakota to be there. Four of them chose to watch the man who brutally raped, tortured and murdered her die by lethal injection. KUOW's Patricia Murphy was one of seven media witnesses allowed into the execution chamber at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla and filed this report.
Walla Walla's Citizens Respond To Upcoming Execution
Thursday, September 09, 2010
On most days the town of Walla Walla, Washington, would rather be known for its wine, its colleges, even its onions. But the fact remains that the town is also home to some of the most violent criminals in the state. And if all goes as planned, convicted murder Cal Coburn Brown will die by lethal injection at the penitentiary shortly after midnight tonight. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Monfort's Attorney Says Guilty Plea Rejected
Thursday, September 02, 2010
King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg says he'll seek the death penalty for Christopher Monfort. Monfort is charged in the shooting death of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton on Halloween. But Monfort has offered to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Coburn Brown Loses Stay Request
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
A federal judge has denied an appeal by death row inmate Cal Coburn Brown. He's scheduled to be executed September 10 for the 1991 murder of Holly Washa. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Coburn Brown Execution Date Set, Stay Lifted
Friday, July 30, 2010
The state Attorney General's office has set a September execution date for convicted murder Cal Coburn Brown. Brown was found guilty of killing Holly Washa in March 1994. The execution date comes on the heels of a State Supreme Court ruling; the challenge brought by death–row inmates. Attorneys argued among other things that the states three–drug method of execution constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
State Switches To One Drug Method Of Execution
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Washington state is in the process of changing its method of execution from a three–drug protocol to a one–drug system. The decision could affect the sentence of death row inmate Darold Stenson. His execution is currently stayed. His legal team is challenging the states three–drug method of execution in the state supreme court.
Lethal Injection Court Challenge
Thursday, May 21, 2009
A Thurston County Superior Court Judge will hear opening arguments today in a civil lawsuit that challenges the state's guidelines for administering a lethal injection.
Washington State's Execution Team Resigns
Thursday, April 02, 2009
The members of Washington state's execution team have resigned. The members stepped down because they feared their anonymity was at risk.
Cal Coburn Brown Remains Alive After Stay
Friday, March 13, 2009
Friends and family of murder victim Holly Washa are still hoping Cal Coburn Brown will die. Thursday (yesterday) they were despondent after the Washington state Supreme Court spared his life. The ruling came down just hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection.
Cal Coburn Brown Stay of Execution Denied
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Thurston County Superior Court judge has denied an appeal by attorneys for Cal Coburn Brown. Brown is set to be executed tomorrow (Friday) morning.
Investigating the Source of Lethal Injection Drug in Stayed Stenson Case
Friday, January 09, 2009
The State Department of Health is investigating the way the State Department of Corrections obtained the lethal injection drugs for the currently stayed execution of double murderer Darold Stenson. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Washington Execution: The Mechanics of an Execution
Friday, December 05, 2008
Prisoners sentenced to death in Washington state have a choice of lethal injection or hanging. We'll tour the execution chamber at Walla Walla State Penitentiary, examine the process of lethal injection and hear from a former prison chaplin.
Washington Execution: Capital Cases and the Law
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Death penalty cases are extremely complex and costly to pursue. We'll examine Washington state's narrow death penalty statute, "volunteer" executions and the intricate legal process surrounding capital cases.
Washington Execution: Victims' Families
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Surviving family members in capital murder cases often endure years of legal appeals. For many, reliving the crime through the legal system is excruciating. Two family members share the affects of their capital trials and the final executions.
Judges Stay Execution of Washington Inmate, Prosecutors Will Appeal
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
State and county prosecutors say they will file the necessary appeals to lift the legal stays blocking the execution of convicted double murderer Darold Stenson. He was convicted in the 1993 shooting deaths of his wife and business partner. KUOW's Patricia Murphy reports.
Washington State's First Execution in Seven Years Temporarily Derailed
Monday, November 24, 2008
Washington state's first execution in seven years was temporarily derailed by two court ordered stays. KUOW was first to report on the startling new developments in the case.
