Ella Foy Riley, age 68, was stabbed to death in her home in 1990. Willie McNair had asked to come in for a glass of water, and she let him in. The facts from the Eleventh Circuit opinion in the case are quoted after the jump.
The just punishment for this crime was finally carried out today. The Supreme Court order denying a stay yesterday is here. No dissents are indicated. Nineteen years is way too long, particularly in a case of clear guilt.
The just punishment for this crime was finally carried out today. The Supreme Court order denying a stay yesterday is here. No dissents are indicated. Nineteen years is way too long, particularly in a case of clear guilt.
On the night of May 21, 1990, Willie McNair and another man went to the home of Ella Foy Riley, an elderly widow who lived alone and occasionally hired McNair to do yard work. When Riley came to the door, McNair asked her if he could borrow twenty dollars. Riley told him she had no money to lend him. McNair then asked if he could have a glass of water. Riley invited him in, and when she turned around McNair grabbed her by the neck and stabbed her in thethroat. When the blade of the knife broke off in Riley's neck, McNair's companion retrieved another knife from the kitchen and McNair stabbed Riley in the neck again. The wounds severed Riley's carotid artery and jugular vein. Evidence indicated that McNair also strangled Riley, who struggled for several minutes as she bled to death. After killing Riley, McNair took her purse from the kitchen counter and fled the scene with his companion. The pair drove several miles down a rural road, rummaged through Riley's purse, then dumped it. When an officer came to his house the next morning, McNair admitted killing Riley and was arrested. He subsequently directed officers to the place where he had dumped Riley's purse and gave detailed descriptions of the murder to investigators.
Leave a comment