Cecil Clayton executed for killing Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy
Clayton
March 18, 2015
Charlea Mills
Cecil Clayton, the Barry County man convicted of killing Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Castetter in 1996, was executed by lethal injection last night at 9:13 p.m. at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. His death was pronounced at 9:21 p.m.
Clayton, 74, was the state’s oldest death row inmate, and his attorneys argued up to the last-minute through appeals that the dementia and brain damage he suffered from a saw mill accident made him mentally unfit to be put to death. The case has drawn national attention.
However, both the U.S. Supreme Court and Missouri Supreme Court denied his stay of execution. Missouri decided on Saturday with a 4-3 vote and the U.S. Supreme Court vote was 5-4 late Tuesday. In a statement released by the Department of Corrections, “Justice Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan would grant the application for stay of execution.” On Tuesday, a representative for Governor Jay Nixon stated that Nixon had denied the request, as well.
Clayton was convicted of the crime in which he shot Deputy Castetter in the head before he could exit his patrol car while responding to a call of a violent argument that prompted Clayton to arrive at his former girlfriend’s parents’ house with a loaded gun. Castetter left behind a wife and three girls.
In a statement released by Governor Nixon’s office on Tuesday, he said, “My office has completed its review of the petition for clemency from convicted murderer Cecil L. Clayton, and after due consideration of the petition and of the facts in this case, I am denying his petition.
“In addition to considering the nature of the crime, I have given extensive consideration to Clayton’s competency. Clayton was found competent to stand trial in 1997 for the murder of Deputy Castetter and again in 2006 to bring his federal habeas action. In 2014, at the request of the Director of the Department of Corrections, Clayton was comprehensively examined by a certified forensic examiner with the Department of Mental Health and determined to be competent to be executed. I accept that finding.”
During the briefing for reporters, Castetter’s brother, James Castetter, read the following statement:
“I wish I knew all the names and agencies to personally say “thank-you” and give my family’s gratitude that is so well deserved for all the professional endless hours of work that was put into this case to convict Cecil Clayton for the senseless murder of our brother, Barry County Deputy Sheriff Christopher Lee Castetter. We know this execution isn’t going to bring Chris back, but it destroys an evil person that would otherwise be walking this earth.
“There has been so much talk about the mental capacity of Cecil, but just him going to Martin Cole and wanting him to say he was with him all evening, telling Martin that he just shot a cop and then, when seeing two police officers, asking if he should shoot them, too.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Cecil knew what he had done as he went to Mr. Cole for help. I know there is more that was said, but this, in my mind, is an easy determination of Cecil’s mental capacity/abilities to know that he had done something wrong and went for help to hopefully keep him out of trouble.
“The great State of Missouri did not kill an innocent man, Cecil Clayton’s actions are what put him to death.
“The entire Barry County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Cassville has been overwhelmingly supportive over the years since Chris was killed. Rep. David Sater, Cassville, was very instrumental in getting Hwy. 112 named in honor of Chris. Deputy Christopher Lee Castetter Memorial Highway.
“Chris has a niece that has his middle name, Kyra Lee Castetter, and yes, she has some of the same traits that Chris had. I look at my daughter and, at times, it is as though I’m talking to Chris, by the looks and answers I get, so much resemblance.
“I/we are leaving this with happy memories of my/our brother. Chris’s memory will always be kept alive. I know our parents feel the same. Chris loved being able to help and protect the community, he left a beach town to be with the friendly, hospitable country people of Cassville, Missouri. Chris left us being the proud, badge wearing, brother, son, uncle, friend and Deputy of the Barry County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are proud of you Chris, your family.
“Again, thank-you all and God bless you and your families.
“Best wishes, family of Deputy Christopher Lee Castetter
“Last note: I want to say thank-you to Carol Angelbeck, as she has helped me in so many ways during this process. Carol is a God-sent angel from above, and I now know why her last name is Angelbeck. God bless you and your family.”
Gov. Nixon also said, “This crime was brutal and there exists no question of Clayton’s guilt. My denial of clemency upholds the court’s decision to impose a sentence of death.”
Nixon concluded, “I ask that the people of Missouri remember Deputy Sheriff Christopher Castetter and keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.”
Charlea Mills
Cecil Clayton, the Barry County man convicted of killing Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Castetter in 1996, was executed by lethal injection last night at 9:13 p.m. at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre. His death was pronounced at 9:21 p.m.
Clayton, 74, was the state’s oldest death row inmate, and his attorneys argued up to the last-minute through appeals that the dementia and brain damage he suffered from a saw mill accident made him mentally unfit to be put to death. The case has drawn national attention.
However, both the U.S. Supreme Court and Missouri Supreme Court denied his stay of execution. Missouri decided on Saturday with a 4-3 vote and the U.S. Supreme Court vote was 5-4 late Tuesday. In a statement released by the Department of Corrections, “Justice Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan would grant the application for stay of execution.” On Tuesday, a representative for Governor Jay Nixon stated that Nixon had denied the request, as well.
Clayton was convicted of the crime in which he shot Deputy Castetter in the head before he could exit his patrol car while responding to a call of a violent argument that prompted Clayton to arrive at his former girlfriend’s parents’ house with a loaded gun. Castetter left behind a wife and three girls.
In a statement released by Governor Nixon’s office on Tuesday, he said, “My office has completed its review of the petition for clemency from convicted murderer Cecil L. Clayton, and after due consideration of the petition and of the facts in this case, I am denying his petition.
“In addition to considering the nature of the crime, I have given extensive consideration to Clayton’s competency. Clayton was found competent to stand trial in 1997 for the murder of Deputy Castetter and again in 2006 to bring his federal habeas action. In 2014, at the request of the Director of the Department of Corrections, Clayton was comprehensively examined by a certified forensic examiner with the Department of Mental Health and determined to be competent to be executed. I accept that finding.”
During the briefing for reporters, Castetter’s brother, James Castetter, read the following statement:
“I wish I knew all the names and agencies to personally say “thank-you” and give my family’s gratitude that is so well deserved for all the professional endless hours of work that was put into this case to convict Cecil Clayton for the senseless murder of our brother, Barry County Deputy Sheriff Christopher Lee Castetter. We know this execution isn’t going to bring Chris back, but it destroys an evil person that would otherwise be walking this earth.
“There has been so much talk about the mental capacity of Cecil, but just him going to Martin Cole and wanting him to say he was with him all evening, telling Martin that he just shot a cop and then, when seeing two police officers, asking if he should shoot them, too.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Cecil knew what he had done as he went to Mr. Cole for help. I know there is more that was said, but this, in my mind, is an easy determination of Cecil’s mental capacity/abilities to know that he had done something wrong and went for help to hopefully keep him out of trouble.
“The great State of Missouri did not kill an innocent man, Cecil Clayton’s actions are what put him to death.
“The entire Barry County Sheriff’s Department and the City of Cassville has been overwhelmingly supportive over the years since Chris was killed. Rep. David Sater, Cassville, was very instrumental in getting Hwy. 112 named in honor of Chris. Deputy Christopher Lee Castetter Memorial Highway.
“Chris has a niece that has his middle name, Kyra Lee Castetter, and yes, she has some of the same traits that Chris had. I look at my daughter and, at times, it is as though I’m talking to Chris, by the looks and answers I get, so much resemblance.
“I/we are leaving this with happy memories of my/our brother. Chris’s memory will always be kept alive. I know our parents feel the same. Chris loved being able to help and protect the community, he left a beach town to be with the friendly, hospitable country people of Cassville, Missouri. Chris left us being the proud, badge wearing, brother, son, uncle, friend and Deputy of the Barry County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are proud of you Chris, your family.
“Again, thank-you all and God bless you and your families.
“Best wishes, family of Deputy Christopher Lee Castetter
“Last note: I want to say thank-you to Carol Angelbeck, as she has helped me in so many ways during this process. Carol is a God-sent angel from above, and I now know why her last name is Angelbeck. God bless you and your family.”
Gov. Nixon also said, “This crime was brutal and there exists no question of Clayton’s guilt. My denial of clemency upholds the court’s decision to impose a sentence of death.”
Nixon concluded, “I ask that the people of Missouri remember Deputy Sheriff Christopher Castetter and keep his family in their thoughts and prayers.”
