Thinking he was dying, man confesses murder

[HURAKAN]

'Deathbed confession' man charged

A US man who thought he was dying and confessed to having killed a neighbour in 1977 has been charged with murder after making a recovery, US media say.

James Brewer could now face the death penalty over the unsolved killing in Tennessee 32 years ago, reports say.

Convinced he was dying after a stroke, Mr Brewer reportedly admitted to police he shot dead 20-year-old Jimmy Carroll.

The 58-year-old, who had fled Tennessee after the killing, was arrested after his condition improved, reports say.

"He wanted to cleanse his soul, because he thought he was going to the great beyond," said police detective Tony Grasso, who interviewed Mr Brewer in an Oklahoma hospital, The Oklahoman website reported.

Mr Brewer had reportedly moved to Oklahoma from Tennessee after jumping bail after he was originally arrested and charged with Mr Carroll's murder in 1977.

The former factory worker changed his name to Michael Anderson and settled down with his wife, Dorothy, in the town of Shawnee.

The couple became active members of the local church, where Mrs Brewer established a Bible study group, reports say.

After suffering a stroke, Mr Brewer called police to his hospital bedside earlier this month, where he reportedly made the confession.

Detectives said Mr Brewer had admitted killing Mr Carroll, who he believed had been trying to seduce his wife.

However, Mr Brewer survived the illness and surrendered to authorities in his former home town of Hohenwald, Tennessee, after they were notified by the Oklahoma police.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/w ... 959155.stm

[DESTRUCTION5]

FAIL!!

[Derek Ortt]

why did they treat him if they are just going to execute him?

WHAT A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY!

[GalvestonDuck]

why did they treat him if they are just going to execute him?

WHAT A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY!

The "they" who treated him are not the same "they" who are going to kill him.

The crime happened in Tennessee. He was being treated in an Oklahoma hospital. It would be a waste of Oklahoma taxpayer's money to execute a man who didn't commit the crime in their state.

[Ed Mahmoud]

Decades of subsequent good behavior will go a long way toward convincing a jury he is no longer a threat to society.


I believe that is one of the criteria set forth in Texas capital cases.

[Squarethecircle]

If he continues to get strokes then he may not last out a murder sentence even with parole. Also, it's standard operating procedure to get someone to health before imprisoning them.

[Category 5]

[Hurricaneman]

Epic fail