Georgia has set June 23 as the date for Roy Blankenship’s execution. Doubts about his guilt persist. In February, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles did the responsible thing and granted a stay to allow for DNA testing that might exonerate Blankenship or implicate an alternative suspect.
Unfortunately, the available crime scene samples were too small and degraded and the testing was inconclusive. There is still some evidence that points to another suspect; without quality physical evidence that can be conclusively tested, questions about Roy Blankenship’s guilt will probably never be resolved.
Today, Republican Ohio Governor John Kasich granted clemency to Shawn Hawkins, based on doubts that Hawkins committed the crime for which he was sentenced to die. While pondering his decision, Kasich told the media that: “We are not going to go forward with an execution where we are not certain.” This was the right, and common-sense, course of action, as it was right for the Georgia Board to grant Roy Blankenship a stay for DNA tests. Given the continuing doubts about Blankenship’s guilt, the right course of action now would be to grant clemency and commute his sentence permanently.
~ OUR GREAT COUNTRY NEEDS GODLY & ENLIGHTENED GOVERNORS LIKE JOHN KASICH OF OHIO ~
IT WILL NOT TAKE A VILLAGE FOR THIS JUDEO~CHRISTIAN COUNTRY TO START FOLLOWING OUR RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS.
WITH INSPIRED LEADERS LIKE GOVERNOR KASICH TO HELP US LIGHT SATAN'S DEMONIC TUNNEL THAT HE HAS CONTINUED HAVING US TRAVEL DOWN CONCERNING U.S. EXECUTIONS WE WILL ALL SURELY MAKE IT TO GOD'S PROMISED LAND~
BRAVO TO OHIO & THEIR INSPIRED LEADERSHIP FOR INSPIRING OUR NEWLY ENLIGHTENED COUNTRY TO NOW FOLLOW A HIGHER PLATO THAT THE LORD GOD HAS ALWAYS INTENDED FOR US HIS SERVANTS TO TRAVEL DOWN !!!
~ OUR GREAT COUNTRY NEEDS GODLY & ENLIGHTENED GOVERNORS LIKE JOHN KASICH OF OHIO ~
IT WILL NOT TAKE A VILLAGE FOR THIS JUDEO~CHRISTIAN COUNTRY TO START FOLLOWING OUR RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS.
WITH INSPIRED LEADERS LIKE GOVERNOR KASICH TO HELP US LIGHT SATAN’S DEMONIC TUNNEL THAT HE HAS CONTINUED HAVING US TRAVEL DOWN CONCERNING U.S. EXECUTIONS WE WILL ALL SURELY MAKE IT TO GOD’S PROMISED LAND~
BRAVO TO OHIO & THEIR INSPIRED LEADERSHIP FOR INSPIRING OUR NEWLY ENLIGHTENED COUNTRY TO NOW FOLLOW A HIGHER PLATO THAT THE LORD GOD HAS ALWAYS INTENDED FOR US HIS SERVANTS TO TRAVEL DOWN !!!
What inconvenient truths you leave out.
You failed to mention two weeks after the murder Blankenship confessed. Only later did he change his story – claiming he broke into the apartment of the 78 year old woman (victim)… stating that he "only" attempted and failed to rape her – and fled.
The body was found and Matching Blood, Semen and bloody footprints all led to Blankenship.
Though this was enough for a jury and countless appeals courts – you want your readers to believe there is a chance Roy Blankenship is innocent.
The Georgia State Board allowed the defense to grasp at straws (33 years and counting) after the rape and murder of the 78 year old woman. Searching for DNA evidence of a third person THAT WAS NEVER THERE.
Once convicted it is the burden of the convicted murderer – not the State to re-convict OVER OVER and OVER again.
Sorry – guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Brian No-Last-Name, why are you still here on AIUSA? Just to insult us with your ridiculous claims about Roy again?! Go spread your claims and your self-righteous comments somewhere else, NOT here on AIUSA's blogs! 😡
Nothing I said above are "ridiculous claims" – everything I said is a matter of record. Don't believe me look it up for yourself – it is public record. There are transcripts available of his confession.
If you ever bothered to do research you would know the difference between a riduculous claim and fact.
Mr. Blankenship knew his victim. He broke into her home, savagely beat, raped, and left to die a 78 year old woman. Beyond any reasonable doubt.
What inconvenient truths you leave out.
You failed to mention two weeks after the murder Blankenship confessed. Only later did he change his story – claiming he broke into the apartment of the 78 year old woman (victim)… stating that he “only” attempted and failed to rape her – and fled.
The body was found and Matching Blood, Semen and bloody footprints all led to Blankenship.
Though this was enough for a jury and countless appeals courts – you want your readers to believe there is a chance Roy Blankenship is innocent.
The Georgia State Board allowed the defense to grasp at straws (33 years and counting) after the rape and murder of the 78 year old woman. Searching for DNA evidence of a third person THAT WAS NEVER THERE.
Once convicted it is the burden of the convicted murderer – not the State to re-convict OVER OVER and OVER again.
Sorry – guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Don't ignore me or AIUSA! I don't care if Roy is guilty or not! All I do know is that you stop insulting AIUSA with your comments and your trash-spewing hate! If you don't want to believe me and still persist in debasing AIUSA with your hate and death penalty supporting claims, then I'm ignoring you and not visiting this blog again! Good day! 😡
Oh, and here's proof that you may not like:
"Blankenship was tried three times – each resulting in a conviction and death sentence – for the Bowen slaying. The first two were reversed on appeal. The third trial in 1986 resulted in the current death sentence.
Mims died of a heart attack during the attack in her apartment. Her naked, bloodied body was found by friends and neighbors after the attack.
Blankenship admitted being in the victim’s apartment but blamed the crime on a third, unidentified person." – from the Savannah Morning News
Do you still want to deny this? Go ahead! I don't care at all. All I can say is, good day!
Brian No-Last-Name, why are you still here on AIUSA? Just to insult us with your ridiculous claims about Roy again?! Go spread your claims and your self-righteous comments somewhere else, NOT here on AIUSA’s blogs! 😡
Nothing I said above are “ridiculous claims” – everything I said is a matter of record. Don’t believe me look it up for yourself – it is public record. There are transcripts available of his confession.
If you ever bothered to do research you would know the difference between a riduculous claim and fact.
Mr. Blankenship knew his victim. He broke into her home, savagely beat, raped, and left to die a 78 year old woman. Beyond any reasonable doubt.
Don’t ignore me or AIUSA! I don’t care if Roy is guilty or not! All I do know is that you stop insulting AIUSA with your comments and your trash-spewing hate! If you don’t want to believe me and still persist in debasing AIUSA with your hate and death penalty supporting claims, then I’m ignoring you and not visiting this blog again! Good day! 😡
Oh, and here’s proof that you may not like:
”Blankenship was tried three times – each resulting in a conviction and death sentence – for the Bowen slaying. The first two were reversed on appeal. The third trial in 1986 resulted in the current death sentence.
Mims died of a heart attack during the attack in her apartment. Her naked, bloodied body was found by friends and neighbors after the attack.
Blankenship admitted being in the victim’s apartment but blamed the crime on a third, unidentified person.” – from the Savannah Morning News
Do you still want to deny this? Go ahead! I don’t care at all. All I can say is, good day!
Debbie Kearns gives a spirited fight when she chooses to.
Her most telling point ……… that, if this is such an open & shut case, then why did Blankenship have his death sentence twice overturned ?
Why was he sent up for resentencings ?
brian's weakest point ………. when he rather vividly describes how Roy "savagely beat" the victim .
Since he never witnessed the thing, how can he give this detail as fact when it's only his own imagined presumption, after all ?
Nor is brian accurate when he says the dna all pointed to Blankenship, when to the contrary the findings were inconclusive.
i feel the truth in this case is still exactly that … inconclusive.
Some essential pieces of the puzzle are still missing.
Why the rush by georgia, then, to rub out the man who might yet help piece together what actually did happen in that room that night ?
Isn't the truth, in every case, the foundation for healing, & worth looking for ?
Debbie Kearns gives a spirited fight when she chooses to.
Her most telling point ……… that, if this is such an open & shut case, then why did Blankenship have his death sentence twice overturned ?
Why was he sent up for resentencings ?
brian’s weakest point ………. when he rather vividly describes how Roy “savagely beat” the victim .
Since he never witnessed the thing, how can he give this detail as fact when it’s only his own imagined presumption, after all ?
Nor is brian accurate when he says the dna all pointed to Blankenship, when to the contrary the findings were inconclusive.
i feel the truth in this case is still exactly that … inconclusive.
Some essential pieces of the puzzle are still missing.
Why the rush by georgia, then, to rub out the man who might yet help piece together what actually did happen in that room that night ?
Isn’t the truth, in every case, the foundation for healing, & worth looking for ?
I never witnessed the murder – I just do something many of you blind followers fail to do.
It's called research.
Dr. Rodrick Guerry performed an autopsy. He determined Bowen had been severely beaten, suffering repeated blows to her face.
He used the word "severely" I used "savagely" OOOPS
Here is some homework for you… you tell me why the cases were overturned. I'll give you a hint – had nothing to do with guilt or innocence.
Ohh and here is a transcript of poor Mr. Blankenship's confession.
I went up on the iron rail on the side of the porch and climbed over the banister. I stood up there for a few minutes thinking, what the hell, I really didn't know what to think. I had to be drunk. Stoned. And I kicked the window in and I waited. When I kicked the window in to see if anybody heard it, I could've got shot or something. I guess I should have. It would have been better. I went in through the window, I think. I scraped my arm on the window. I don't think it cut it. I went into the next room, I saw no one. Just the bedroom. I looked around there and the door was opened into the next room. I went up to the door and started to go through when I saw a mirror straight ahead in the next room where the lady was. I seen her reflection through the mirror sitting in a chair so I stood beside the door for awhile watching her pray or something. Moaning. I don't know. Then I grabbed her. I think her mouth so she did not scream. [sic] I covered her mouth and her nose and then she slid down in the chair. She fell on the floor and I fell on top of her. After I fell over on top of her I didn't have to hold her mouth or anything. She was not screaming or kicking or anything. So this blood was coming out of her head, I think, on the right side. I think. I pushed this little stool back and I picked her up and I carried her and laid her on the bed. All right. I put her on the bed. She had some pajamas on, I think. I took them off. It's crazy. When I put her on the bed and took her clothes off, I was drunk, I guess. I said I may as well go ahead and get some pleasure. That's when I had the relationship with her. As far as I know, I thought I was in the right hole. After that I got up and was afraid that I might have hurt her. I thought I'd better get out of there. I left as soon as I did that shit. I left. I went the same way I came. I was wearing the same shoes that the police confiscated from my house today. I watched her about 10 minutes. After I grabbed her she fell to the floor and I put her on the bed. Right after that I shot off or got my pleasure or whatever you want to call it. I put back on my clothes and left. It probably was not long. I was in the house maybe 45 minutes or an hour all together. I don't know why I did it. I was drunk. I know I had to be drunk. That time in the morning I had to be just coming back from the Orential [sic] Lounge. I came by myself. I had been at the bar with Joe and Alex. They left the bar about 1:30 or 2:00. I know I stayed until closing, 3:00. I walked from the bar to the house. The Orential [sic] Lounge on Abercorn Street. I shoot pool all the time. It takes me about five to seven minutes to get to my house walking. I never did make it home. I stopped at her house and went upstairs before I went home. I know the witnesses in the bar—waitresses, sorry. I know the waitresses in the bar. I don't dance. I just shoot pool and get high and get drunk. I was drinking that night. I was drinking burbon and coke. I don't remember anything about the plastic bottle.
Case closed.
Oh and in addition to her face being beaten, she was bitten, stomped on suffered nasty scratches. Still my "weakest" point? I don't know how you define a savage beating – but that all sounds like one to me.
I never witnessed the murder – I just do something many of you blind followers fail to do.
It’s called research.
Dr. Rodrick Guerry performed an autopsy. He determined Bowen had been severely beaten, suffering repeated blows to her face.
He used the word “severely” I used “savagely” OOOPS
Here is some homework for you… you tell me why the cases were overturned. I’ll give you a hint – had nothing to do with guilt or innocence.
Ohh and here is a transcript of poor Mr. Blankenship’s confession.
I went up on the iron rail on the side of the porch and climbed over the banister. I stood up there for a few minutes thinking, what the hell, I really didn’t know what to think. I had to be drunk. Stoned. And I kicked the window in and I waited. When I kicked the window in to see if anybody heard it, I could’ve got shot or something. I guess I should have. It would have been better. I went in through the window, I think. I scraped my arm on the window. I don’t think it cut it. I went into the next room, I saw no one. Just the bedroom. I looked around there and the door was opened into the next room. I went up to the door and started to go through when I saw a mirror straight ahead in the next room where the lady was. I seen her reflection through the mirror sitting in a chair so I stood beside the door for awhile watching her pray or something. Moaning. I don’t know. Then I grabbed her. I think her mouth so she did not scream. [sic] I covered her mouth and her nose and then she slid down in the chair. She fell on the floor and I fell on top of her. After I fell over on top of her I didn’t have to hold her mouth or anything. She was not screaming or kicking or anything. So this blood was coming out of her head, I think, on the right side. I think. I pushed this little stool back and I picked her up and I carried her and laid her on the bed. All right. I put her on the bed. She had some pajamas on, I think. I took them off. It’s crazy. When I put her on the bed and took her clothes off, I was drunk, I guess. I said I may as well go ahead and get some pleasure. That’s when I had the relationship with her. As far as I know, I thought I was in the right hole. After that I got up and was afraid that I might have hurt her. I thought I’d better get out of there. I left as soon as I did that shit. I left. I went the same way I came. I was wearing the same shoes that the police confiscated from my house today. I watched her about 10 minutes. After I grabbed her she fell to the floor and I put her on the bed. Right after that I shot off or got my pleasure or whatever you want to call it. I put back on my clothes and left. It probably was not long. I was in the house maybe 45 minutes or an hour all together. I don’t know why I did it. I was drunk. I know I had to be drunk. That time in the morning I had to be just coming back from the Orential [sic] Lounge. I came by myself. I had been at the bar with Joe and Alex. They left the bar about 1:30 or 2:00. I know I stayed until closing, 3:00. I walked from the bar to the house. The Orential [sic] Lounge on Abercorn Street. I shoot pool all the time. It takes me about five to seven minutes to get to my house walking. I never did make it home. I stopped at her house and went upstairs before I went home. I know the witnesses in the bar—waitresses, sorry. I know the waitresses in the bar. I don’t dance. I just shoot pool and get high and get drunk. I was drinking that night. I was drinking burbon and coke. I don’t remember anything about the plastic bottle.
Case closed.
Oh and in addition to her face being beaten, she was bitten, stomped on suffered nasty scratches. Still my “weakest” point? I don’t know how you define a savage beating – but that all sounds like one to me.
Dear brian,
"Case closed" ?
Absolutely not.
Not by the "evidence" you have just presented.
Your "evidence", in fact, opens the first real BIG DOUBTS about this whole case in my mind.
The alleged piece of testimony you give above, refers ONLY to a man "climaxing" atop or in a woman.
Not a savage beating.
By anyone's definition.
Even by his own alleged account.
He even says, "I … was afraid I might have hurt her."
Where is him even saying he hits her or otherwise batters her ?
Surely you can distinguish between an account of an ejaculation & a "savage beating."
Let alone an act of homicide.
In fact, the alleged testimony you give here is confused, fumbling, incoherent as to details, & even self – contradictory.
He describes very incoherently how he climaxes.
"As far as I know, I thought I was in the right hole."
It's as he's only vaguely or partly aware of what he's doing, almost like a man trapped in a nightmare he can't shake off.
He says he shoots off ( somewhere ) in her & then leaves, but then repeats the description of the act again as if he had not left when he said he did.
Which account of the alleged "coming" is true ?
The first ?
The second ?
Both ?
Neither ?
He tells it as if he ….. finally …. doesn't give a damn what he says, even if it's self – contradictory …. or self – damning.
He doesn't sound like a man speaking with full knowledge of the penalty or peril he faces from his own evidence.
Nor as if he cares about the credibility of the version(s) he gives.
It is as if it's not his own considered evidence, but only what he is made or forced to say, so he doesn't care how it sounds or what it makes him look like.
No, brian.
Case definitely NOT closed.
Not at least by this "disclosure" YOU yourself present.
Dear brian,
“Case closed” ?
Absolutely not.
Not by the “evidence” you have just presented.
Your “evidence”, in fact, opens the first real BIG DOUBTS about this whole case in my mind.
The alleged piece of testimony you give above, refers ONLY to a man “climaxing” atop or in a woman.
Not a savage beating.
By anyone’s definition.
Even by his own alleged account.
He even says, “I … was afraid I might have hurt her.”
Where is him even saying he hits her or otherwise batters her ?
Surely you can distinguish between an account of an ejaculation & a “savage beating.”
Let alone an act of homicide.
In fact, the alleged testimony you give here is confused, fumbling, incoherent as to details, & even self – contradictory.
He describes very incoherently how he climaxes.
“As far as I know, I thought I was in the right hole.”
It’s as he’s only vaguely or partly aware of what he’s doing, almost like a man trapped in a nightmare he can’t shake off.
He says he shoots off ( somewhere ) in her & then leaves, but then repeats the description of the act again as if he had not left when he said he did.
Which account of the alleged “coming” is true ?
The first ?
The second ?
Both ?
Neither ?
He tells it as if he ….. finally …. doesn’t give a damn what he says, even if it’s self – contradictory …. or self – damning.
He doesn’t sound like a man speaking with full knowledge of the penalty or peril he faces from his own evidence.
Nor as if he cares about the credibility of the version(s) he gives.
It is as if it’s not his own considered evidence, but only what he is made or forced to say, so he doesn’t care how it sounds or what it makes him look like.
No, brian.
Case definitely NOT closed.
Not at least by this “disclosure” YOU yourself present.
That is only one small piece of the puzzle Mr. Savage.
I haven't the time or inclination to go over the entire Trial(S)! with you. I encourage you to remove your bias and research for yourself. The Trial(S) of three separate and independant juries that sentenced this "man trapped in a nightmare he can’t shake off" to death.
True the first two sentences were sent back due to specific rulings by the judge – and try as they might SINCE 1985 – the conviction and sentence has stood.
This man is guilty.
That is only one small piece of the puzzle Mr. Savage.
I haven’t the time or inclination to go over the entire Trial(S)! with you. I encourage you to remove your bias and research for yourself. The Trial(S) of three separate and independant juries that sentenced this “man trapped in a nightmare he can’t shake off” to death.
True the first two sentences were sent back due to specific rulings by the judge – and try as they might SINCE 1985 – the conviction and sentence has stood.
This man is guilty.
Dear brian,
i am indebted to you, sir.
For you really brought home to me what Amnesty had merely touched upon in its blog here.
You gave me a glimpse of the true nature of of the evidence in this case.
That the conviction has stood speaks to me of the System.
Not the man.
He sounds like exactly the sort, the unrepresented underclass type, who often end their lives on death row.
The upper class who kill millions & rob billions never land up there.
A whole structure of just-us & the law, you see, stands by such convictions.
It's like that part in "The Wild Bunch", where William Holden says that people in power, who always have their way, sure hate to admit they are mistaken.
So even if the conviction has stood, dear brian, i do not stand in awe of it.
That morsel is not enough to satisfy the hunger in me that's now sharpened about this case.
& for that i have to thank only you.
Dear brian,
i am indebted to you, sir.
For you really brought home to me what Amnesty had merely touched upon in its blog here.
You gave me a glimpse of the true nature of of the evidence in this case.
That the conviction has stood speaks to me of the System.
Not the man.
He sounds like exactly the sort, the unrepresented underclass type, who often end their lives on death row.
The upper class who kill millions & rob billions never land up there.
A whole structure of just-us & the law, you see, stands by such convictions.
It’s like that part in “The Wild Bunch”, where William Holden says that people in power, who always have their way, sure hate to admit they are mistaken.
So even if the conviction has stood, dear brian, i do not stand in awe of it.
That morsel is not enough to satisfy the hunger in me that’s now sharpened about this case.
& for that i have to thank only you.
Your welcome. Free your mind, dive in and learn something.
Save the unsubstatiated and vague comments/drible like "The upper class who kill millions & rob billions never land up there".
Concerning Mr. Blankenship, if you find something that the investigators, the defense, prosecution, numerous judges, dozens of jury members, appelate courts etc… etc… failed to find let me know. You are so much wiser than all those duly appointed people combined. If only you went to law school first, you could educate all these "ignoramuses" that clearly haven't a clue what they are doing. You could elevate yourself and be appointed THE Supreme Court Justice (who needs 9 members? all we need is you).
The unrepresented underclass type like poor Mr. Blankenship need you.
Your welcome. Free your mind, dive in and learn something.
Save the unsubstatiated and vague comments/drible like “The upper class who kill millions & rob billions never land up there”.
Concerning Mr. Blankenship, if you find something that the investigators, the defense, prosecution, numerous judges, dozens of jury members, appelate courts etc… etc… failed to find let me know. You are so much wiser than all those duly appointed people combined. If only you went to law school first, you could educate all these “ignoramuses” that clearly haven’t a clue what they are doing. You could elevate yourself and be appointed THE Supreme Court Justice (who needs 9 members? all we need is you).
The unrepresented underclass type like poor Mr. Blankenship need you.