State of Tennessee v. Latonya Taylor

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs March 14, 2006
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LATONYA TAYLOR
Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Rutherford County
No. 51621A Don R. Ash, Judge
No. M2005-00272-CCA-R3-CD - Filed August 25, 2006
The defendant, Latonya Taylor, was convicted by a jury of three counts of premeditated first degree
murder and three counts of felony first degree murder. The latter three counts were merged with the
premeditated first degree murders. The defendant was also convicted of especially aggravated
robbery (Class A felony) and two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping (Class A felony). An
effective sentence of life without parole plus twenty years was imposed. She appeals the
convictions. From our review of the record we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support
the verdicts, and there being no other reversible errors, the judgments of conviction are affirmed.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgments of the Circuit Court Affirmed
JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID G. HAYES and
ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , JJ., joined.
Hershell Koger, Pulaski, Tennessee, and Paul J. Bruno, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant,
Latonya Taylor.
Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter; Brent C. Cherry, Assistant Attorney General;
William C. Whitesell, Jr., District Attorney General; and Thomas F. Jackson and J. Paul Newman,
Assistant District Attorneys General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
OPINION
This case concerns the murder of three employees of the Captain D’s restaurant in Smyrna
in connection with an aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnappings. These incidents occurred on
July 11 or 12 of 2000. After a lengthy investigation, the defendant and her cousin, Percy Palmer,
were charged with the offenses. The co-defendants’ trials were severed, and this appeal deals only
with the defendant, Latonya Taylor. Based on the evidence adduced at trial, the defendant was
convicted of three counts of premeditated first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and
two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping. Our review of the evidence is not to re-weigh or
re-evaluate the evidence. State v. Evans, 108 S.W.3d 231, 237 (Tenn. 2003). The State’s theory
having prevailed is entitled to the strongest legitimate view of the evidence and all reasonable and
legitimate inferences that may be drawn therefrom. State v. Smith, 24 S.W.3d 274, 279 (Tenn.
2000); see also State v. Carruthers, 35 S.W.3d 516, 557-58 (Tenn. 2000).
Melanie Taylor, a cousin of the defendant, testified that the defendant requested her to come
to the Driftwood Motel in Lavergne. There the defendant introduced Ms. Taylor to Percy Palmer
and discussed a plan to rob an unnamed place where the defendant claimed she had an inside contact.
The defendant stated that she and Percy Palmer would be involved and that she had a gun. When
Ms. Taylor declined to participate in the scheme, the defendant requested to use her car. Ms. Taylor
stated that the conversation occurred during the week of July 13, 2000. She remembered that July
13 was the defendant’s birthday and that the defendant invited her to a gathering to celebrate the
occasion.
Wes Mitchell, the General Manager of Captain D’s in Smyrna, testified that he left the
restaurant at 2:30 p.m. on July 11, 2000. Employees who remained included: Brian Speight,
Assistant Manager; Scott Myers, Manager Trainee; and Troy Snell and Doug Wagner, cashiers. Mr.
Mitchell explained the physical location and layout of the restaurant. It is located at 402 N. Lowry
Street, flanked on the south side by a BP convenience store and service station and on the north by
a Shoney’s Restaurant. The Captain D’s restaurant was equipped with an alarm system with panic
buttons at the cash registers and the manager’s desk. No surveillance cameras were present. Of the
employees working, only Brian Speight had keys to the restaurant. His keys were never recovered.
Mr. Mitchell stated that closing time that evening was 10:00 p.m. His inspection of the premises
after the robbery indicated that the employees were about twenty minutes from finishing the cleanup.
He observed no signs of a struggle within the restaurant. Approximately $1600 was taken in the
robbery. A deposit bag and petty cash were still in the lower compartment of the safe. Time records
on the computer indicated that Doug Wagner clocked out at 11:51 p.m. on July 11, and Troy Snell
clocked out at 12:06 a.m. on July 12. Brian Speight did not clock out. Scott Myers had clocked out
at 8:09 p.m. on July 11, but had obviously returned.
On cross-examination, Mr. Mitchell stated that ordinarily the closing procedures could be
completed in one hour. He stated that the back door was locked magnetically at 5:00 p.m. and was
then on alarm mode. The alarm, if sounded, would be audible at adjacent buildings. No driving
entrances or exits from Captain D’s existed except from North Lowry Street.
A cashier at Captain D’s, Doug Wagner, checked out at 11:51 p.m. on July 11. He stated that
Scott Myers had returned to the restaurant at 11:00 p.m. to learn the close-out audit procedure.
Lori Ann Wagner, Doug’s mother, testified concerning picking up Doug on the evening of
July 11. When she first arrived, she saw a male walking by the Captain D’s building. She did not
see the man’s face but described him as medium build, dark or brown-skinned, with dark hair, and
dressed in jeans with a “Levi looking” shirt thrown over his shoulders. The man continued walking
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toward the mall. She saw Troy Snell and Brian Speight walking Doug to the door as he left. Ms.
Wagner had never seen the defendant before trial.
Jamie Johns testified that she worked at Shoney’s, adjacent to Captain D’s on the night of
July 11. She had known the defendant and Percy Palmer from their past work experiences at
Shoney’s. She stated that the defendant and Palmer came to Shoney’s just before closing at 11:00
p.m. The defendant asked to borrow $50.00 from her, and Ms. Johns refused.
Gina Williams, the Assistant Manager at Shoney’s, was the last employee to leave the
restaurant on July 11. She testified that while leaving, she saw a black male and a black female in
Captain D’s. She described the female as “thick” and as wearing her hair up. The woman had a
backpack or bag and was placing it on her shoulders. Ms. Williams did not see the black female’s
face and did not know the defendant or Percy Palmer. She stated that she set the alarm at Shoney’s
as she left at 12:01 a.m. on July 12. She recalled seeing five cars parked in Captain D’s parking lot.
A stipulation was entered into the record from Shoney’s security provider that the alarm at
the Smyrna Shoney’s was set at 12:01 a.m. on July 12.
Steven Heckler and his wife, Shannon, lived at Imperial Garden Apartments near the
defendant’s sister, Tiffany Taylor. Mr. Heckler testified that he and his wife socialized with Tiffany
and the defendant. He stated that he also knew Percy Palmer. Mr. Heckler saw the defendant and
Palmer walking away from the apartments at approximately 10:45 or 11:00 p.m. on July 11. He
stated that he saw them returning to the apartments about two hours later. Palmer was carrying a
sack, and the defendant carried the blue duffel bag that she had when they departed. He described
the duffel bag as having straps that could be used for a shoulder carry. He said the defendant
ordinarily carried a change of clothes and a .380 caliber pistol in the bag. On cross-examination, Mr.
Heckler said that the defendant and Palmer stated they were going to go to the BP station for beer.
The two were walking at a normal pace on their return.
John Pierce was a truck driver whose job was to empty the dumpsters on his designated route
in Smyrna. His route included Captain D’s and K-Mart. He stated that he emptied the dumpsters
at Captain D’s at approximately 2:00 a.m. on July 12. He noticed two cars parked there and noted
there were usually none. Later, while at the dumpsters behind K-Mart, he saw a car with the lights
on very dim. A boy was sitting in the car, apparently asleep, with the seat reclined. Mr. Pierce
attempted to wake the individual with unnecessary noise but noticed no reaction. Mr. Pierce then
left and notified his dispatcher to have the Smyrna Police investigate.
Wanda Jackson was the dispatcher whom Mr. Pierce notified concerning the car and its
occupant behind K-Mart. She testified that she relayed the information to the Smyrna Police.
Salom Alhasmawy was employed as a night clerk at the BP station adjacent to Captain D’s.
He identified the defendant as having been a regular customer at the BP station. Mr. Alhasmawy
stated there were four video surveillance cameras at the BP: one behind the first register, one facing
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the cigarette cabinet, one facing the front door, and one outside the building. The videotapes
displayed the date and the time of filming. The videotapes showed the defendant and Palmer in the
BP at 10:43 p.m. on July 11. The defendant was wearing blue shorts and a blue shirt. Mr.
Alhasmawy said that the Captain D’s was not visible from inside the BP station. He also stated that
he heard no shots fired that evening.
Detective James Scott with the Smyrna Police Department testified that part of his work
involved forensic video analysis. Detective Scott had slowed the time lapse videotapes to “real
time.” These modified tapes were shown to the jury in the segments in which the defendant and
Palmer appeared and those in which Troy Snell and Scott Myers appeared. On cross-examination,
Detective Scott stated the video showed the defendant and Palmer in the BP from 10:43 p.m. to
10:48 p.m.
Salom Alhasmawy was recalled and identified Troy Snell as appearing on the BP videotape
at 11:14 p.m. Another individual he did not identify entered at 11:06 p.m.
Gretchen Woodruff was a patrol officer for the Smyrna Police Department. She testified that
she was dispatched to K-Mart at 2:22 a.m. on July 12. Upon her arrival behind K-mart, she observed
a dark green, four-door vehicle. In the driver’s seat was a white male with his head turned slightly
toward the passenger side. She observed a small amount of blood on his neck and his tee shirt. The
vehicle was not running, and she stated that the lights did not appear to be on.
Michael Selley was the owner of Mike’s Pest control. He arrived at Captain D’s at 3:00 a.m.
on July 12 to perform the monthly pest service. Mr. Selley used his key to unlock the front door.
He observed that the alarm system had not been set. During his inspection, a police officer knocked
on the window. Mr. Selley went outside, and the officer inquired if there were any employees or
other people in the building. Mr. Selley told the officer there were none and resumed his duties. He
found a brown extension cord in the floor in front of the cook line. Mr. Selley opened the walk-in
cooler and saw a body on the floor. He immediately called 9-1-1.
Brian Rowland, the night dispatcher for the Smyrna Police Department, testified that he
received Wanda Jenkins’ call at 2:20 a.m. and Michael Selley’s call at 3:46 a.m., both on July 12.
Lieutenant Todd Spearman was supervisor of the Smyrna Police Detective Division. He
testified that he responded to a dispatch to K-Mart in the early hours of July 12. At the scene behind
K-Mart, he observed a person he later learned to be Troy Snell, dead in his car. After seeing a
Captain D’s shirt in the car, he sent an officer to the restaurant to check on other employees.
Subsequently he was alerted to the crime scene at Captain D’s. There he saw two bodies in the
cooler, later identified as Brian Speight and Scott Myers. Mr. Myers’ hands were bound by an
extension cord that was also wrapped around his upper body. Lieutenant Spearman said that
searches of the area between Captain D’s and behind K-Mart produced no significant evidence.
During the evening of July 12, Lieutenant Spearman and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent
Schlafly went to Tiffany Taylor’s apartment at Imperial Garden Apartments to talk with the
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defendant. The defendant told them she had been in the Shoney’s/Captain D’s area the night before
with a friend she called “Michael.” The two had gone to Shoney’s for Michael to speak with a lady
named Jamie in an effort to get money from her. The defendant said she went outside and waited
for Michael in the Captain D’s area. The defendant said she observed two white males working in
Captain D’s. When Michael rejoined her, they went to the BP station. The defendant’s interview
was interrupted by Percy Palmer knocking at the door. Palmer gave his name as Lee and left. The
defendant then told the interviewing officers that the individual who called himself Lee was Michael.
The defendant stated in her interview that she did not own a backpack.
During cross-examination, Lieutenant Spearman said there were no signs that the two victims
at Captain D’s had been moved to the cooler where they were found. No shell casings or expended
bullets were found in the cooler.
Shannon Heckler, wife of Steven Heckler, testified that she and her husband lived next door
to the defendant’s sister, Tiffany. She said the defendant stayed with Tiffany occasionally. Mrs.
Heckler also knew Percy Palmer. Early in the day of July 12, the defendant woke Mrs. Heckler and
requested she turn on the television news. The defendant said she would be questioned about the
crime because she was black and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The defendant then
asked to do a load of laundry because her niece had nothing to wear to school. The defendant placed
the laundry in the washer and left with Percy Palmer after he arrived. Later in the day, Mrs. Heckler
put the clothing in the dryer. She noted that almost all of the clothing belonged to the defendant.
Detective James Scott was sent to Imperial Garden Apartments on July 12 in search of an
individual whom he later learned was Percy Palmer. He located Palmer, who presented a California
identification for Billie Gene Palmer. He had distinctive tattoos on each arm, respectively reading
“Cali” and “Killa.”
Agent Dan Royse was a forensic scientist for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with an
expertise in firearms identification. He also served on the Violent Crime Response Team. In this
instance there were seven members on the team. In surveying the scene at K-Mart, he stated that
Troy Snell’s wallet was in his lap. The vehicle was in drive, and the victim’s foot was on the brake
pedal. The ignition key was in the “on” position. There was gas in the tank, but the car battery had
expired.
At the Captain D’s scene, Agent Royse first identified the two victims. He determined that
the two vehicles parked there belonged to Brian Speight and Scott Myers. Agent Royse made a
videotape of both crime scenes, which was played for the jury. By measurement, the closest foot
path between Captain D’s and the site where Troy Snell was found was 1100 feet. During the
inspection of the Captain D’s scene, two bags of money were found in the locked portion of the safe.
The bags were marked as containing $700 and $787.81, respectively. He did not observe any
obvious signs of a struggle within Captain D’s.
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Agent Royse examined three long rifle .22 caliber bullets that were removed from the victims
during autopsy. The bullets all shared the same class characteristics and similar individual
characteristics. However, due to their mutilation, it was impossible to conclude whether they were
fired from the same weapon. The gunshot residue test performed on Troy Snell’s hands proved
negative.
On cross-examination, Agent Royse admitted that no physical evidence examined, including
DNA, fingerprints, shoe prints, or other evidence, linked the defendant to the crimes. He stated that
a .22 caliber long rifle bullet cannot be fired by a .380 caliber weapon. He also stated that the
defendant and Palmer were arrested over a year after the offenses.
Linda Littlejohn was a forensic scientist at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime
Laboratory. Ms. Littlejohn performed shoe print comparisons on prints submitted to her. She was
never provided any shoes belonging to the defendant or Palmer, and no significant findings were
made.
Hoyt Phillips’ expertise as an employee of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Forensic
Service Division was in processing latent fingerprint evidence. In this case he made more than one
hundred comparisons. No latent fingerprints were found that matched those of the defendant or
Percy Palmer.
Detective Rick Hall was an employee of the Smyrna Police Department. He testified that the
television program, America’s Most Wanted, was solicited to publicize this unsolved case. A
segment was aired on May 19, 2001. A woman, Brooke Nason, and her boyfriend, Chris Hinds,
came forward with information. The individuals were hired as paid informants. As a result,
surveillance was begun by renting two adjacent rooms in motels and equipping one with audio and
visual recording devices which were connected to the other room. This was done first in the
Peachtree Inn in Nashville from July 5-8, 2001. Two other segments were recorded July 12-13, and
July 17-19, 2001, at Ramada Inn in Nashville. Excerpts from the three sessions were played for the
jury.
In one session, the defendant, after claiming her noninvolvement with the Captain D’s
incident, admits she had “something to do with it.” The defendant stated that she disposed of her
gun at a pawn shop. In the same conversation, she spoke of the event as something that “rides your
conscience.” The defendant stated she did not want to talk about it and said, “And it makes you feel
bad because there you are feeling guilty about three dead people.”
Later the defendant states, “ . . . it ain’t no big deal. Because I’ll get a lesser sentence than
the ones that really killed them.” The defendant relates that she told Palmer about an individual who
owed her money for drugs. She stated that she was with Palmer and that he had a gun but she did
not. The two of them went first to Shoney’s, then to Captain D’s where she said she “showed her
face” and they were admitted. The defendant said she went outside to wait on Palmer and heard gun
shots. She went back inside and saw two bodies bleeding and Palmer was talking to Troy Snell. She
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said that Palmer put the victims’ bodies in the freezer and robbed them and the restaurant safe. The
defendant said Troy ran out the back door with Palmer in pursuit. She went to the BP and heard a
shot. Palmer rejoined her as she was walking to Imperial Garden Apartments. The defendant said
that Palmer shared the robbery proceeds with her. The defendant expressed satisfaction that the
police were getting false leads in their investigation.
In another session, the defendant said that Troy Snell “got his brains f–king blew out” in his
car. She claimed to have already been over the railroad tracks at that time. After again discussing
the money she received, the defendant acknowledged that she was an accessory to triple murder.
Later, on the one-year anniversary date of the incident, the defendant stated that she might
be an accessory to some murders but did not kill anyone. She said she told Troy Snell to open the
door, and he did. The defendant said that Palmer had blood all over him and that he threw his
clothes in the dumpster at the Imperial Garden Apartments.
In a later recorded conversation, the defendant stated that she had gotten drugs for Troy Snell
and that he had owed her money. The defendant said, “It’s just like I got my money anyway and
three dead people, so that shit isn’t funny.” She said she did not know that Palmer had a gun or what
kind of gun it was. She stated she did not think he threw the gun in the dumpster with his clothing.
The defendant was arrested on July 19, 2001, and was placed in a squad car equipped with
an audio recording device. Ms. Nason was taken into custody with the defendant. The audiotape
of their conversation was played for the jury. Ms. Nason urged the defendant to “[j]ust tell them.
. . .” The defendant responded, “No, Are you crazy. You don’t realize how long I’m going to jail.
I could actually go to the penitentiary. I can’t go there.” The defendant expressed her concerns
about “somebody running their mouth” and wondered if Ms. Nason’s boyfriend, Chris, was the
source. The defendant said that if Chris was “running his mouth, he’s going to be one dead mother
f–ker.”
Detective Rick Hall stated that a hunt for Percy Palmer was initiated and that he was
eventually found and arrested in Aurora, Colorado on August 2, 2001. On cross-examination,
Detective Hall stated that Ms. Nason was paid $600 and Mr. Hinds was paid $300 as informants.
Additionally, they were paid $1500 in relocation expenses. Ms. Nason had expressed her
expectation of receiving $70,000 reward money in the event of a conviction.
Dr. Bruce Levy, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Tennessee and County Medical
Examiner for Davidson County, testified as an expert in anatomical, clinical, and forensic pathology.
He stated that his autopsy revealed the cause of Troy Snell’s death to be a single gunshot wound to
the head. The wound was between the victim’s right ear and eye. The fouling and stippling present
on the victim led Dr. Levy to conclude the weapon was fired approximately six inches from the
victim’s head. No defensive wounds were observed. He ruled the nature of death as homicide.
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The autopsy of Brian Speight revealed that he died of a single gunshot to the back of the
head. No stippling was present, which indicated that the weapon was fired at least two feet from the
victim. He ruled the manner of death as homicide.
Dr. Levy testified that Scott Myers’ hands were tied “fairly tightly” by electrical cord. The
cause of death was a gunshot wound to the back of the head which severed the spinal cord and
caused immediate death. No stippling was present, and he concluded the weapon was fired at least
two feet from the victim. The victim had superficial abrasions to the head which Dr. Levy opined
were a result of falling. The scrapes and tears found on the victim’s hands indicated a struggle either
with an attacker or with the binding ligature. The manner of Mr. Myers’ death was also ruled as
homicide.
Dr. Levy stated that one small caliber projectile was removed from each victim. He stated
that in the case of Mr. Myers and Mr. Speight, the location, direction, and distance of the wounds
were classified as “execution style shots,” intended to kill the victim with one shot. Dr. Levy could
not determine the sequence of the victims’ deaths.
At the conclusion of Dr. Levy’s testimony, the State rested and the defense began presenting
evidence.
Agent Tom Brown, a Criminal Investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation,
testified that he interviewed Gina Williams, the Shoney’s employee who saw a black woman inside
Captain D’s on the night of the murders. He stated that she described the person as in her early to
mid-twenties; approximately five feet, five inches; medium build; with her hair piled on top of her
head. On cross-examination, Agent Brown said that Ms. Williams did not sign the notes he took
during the interview.
The defense presented Darryl Lambert, an inmate in the penitentiary. He denied any
involvement in these crimes and denied that he had told one Sally Padgett of his involvement.
Sally Padget was then called and testified that in 2000, she was addicted to cocaine. Darryl
Lambert was a cocaine dealer who supplied her. Ms. Padgett testified as to what Lambert had
allegedly told her concerning his involvement in the murders. Ms. Padgett admitted that she had
been diagnosed as schizophrenic, had multiple personalities, and was currently on fifteen anti-
psychotic medications. Ms. Padget also said, “I have no idea what I did yesterday.”
The defense produced two witnesses who testified as to traffic they witnessed in the area of
the K-Mart Center. Their testimony was conflicting as to times of their observation and the cars
observed. Other witnesses described seeing a vehicle behind K-Mart at times ranging from 12:40
p.m. to 1:50 a.m. on July12.
Jill Lynch testified that she saw the defendant at Imperial Garden Apartments between 10:30
p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on July 11.
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Billy York, a resident of Imperial Garden Apartments, claimed to have seen the defendant
and Palmer at the apartments in the time frame of 10:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and again at 12:00 p.m.
on July 11. Mr. York also stated he took a medication, Trazadone, that “makes me whackier than
an old owl.”
The defendant presented other witnesses who testified that they saw certain unidentified
individuals in the area of the crime scene that evening. After voir dire of the defendant, she elected
to forego her testimony, and the defense rested.
Sufficiency
The defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the convictions. When
the sufficiency of the evidence is challenged on appeal, the relevant question of the reviewing court
is “whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational
trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense charged beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789 (1979); see also State v. Evans,
838 S.W.2d 185, 190-92 (Tenn.1992); State v. Anderson, 835 S.W.2d 600, 604 (Tenn. Crim. App.
1992); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(e). The same standard applies to findings of guilt based upon direct
evidence, circumstantial evidence, or a combination of direct and circumstantial evidence. See State
v. Dykes, 803 S.W.2d 250, 253 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1990). All questions involving the credibility of
witnesses, the weight and value to be given the evidence, and all factual issues are resolved by the
trier of fact. See State v. Pappas, 754 S.W.2d 620, 623 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). “A guilty verdict
by the jury, approved by the trial judge, accredits the testimony of the witnesses for the State and
resolves all conflicts in favor of the theory of the State.” State v. Grace, 493 S.W.2d 474, 476 (Tenn.
1973). A jury conviction removes the presumption of innocence with which a defendant is initially
cloaked and replaces it with one of guilt so, on appeal, a convicted defendant has the burden of
demonstrating that the evidence is insufficient. See State v. Tuggle, 639 S.W.2d 913, 914 (Tenn.
1982).
In order to prove the defendant’s guilt of the charged offenses, the State relied on the theory
of criminal responsibility. Under Tennessee law, a person may be charged with an offense if “he or
she is criminally responsible for the perpetration of the offense.” T.C.A. § 39-11-401 (1997),
Sentencing Commission Comments. A person is criminally responsible for the conduct of another
if, “[a]cting with intent to promote or assist the commission of the offense, or to benefit in the
proceeds or results of the offense, the person solicits, directs, aids, or attempts to aid another person
to commit the offense[.]” Id. § 39-11-402(2). Criminal responsibility is not a separate crime; rather,
it is “solely a theory by which the State may prove the defendant’s guilt of the alleged offense . . .
based upon the conduct of another person.” State v. Lemacks, 996 S.W.2d 166, 170 (Tenn. 1999).
Under the theory of criminal responsibility, an individual’s presence and companionship with
the perpetrator of a felony before and after the commission of an offense are circumstances from
which his or her participation in the crime may be inferred. See State v. Ball, 973 S.W.2d 288, 293
(Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). No particular act need be shown, and the defendant need not have taken
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a physical part in the crime in order to be held criminally responsible. See id. To be criminally
responsible for the acts of another, the defendant must “in some way associate himself with the
venture, act with knowledge that an offense is to be committed, and share in the criminal intent of
the principal in the first degree.” State v. Maxey, 898 S.W.2d 756, 757 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994)
(quoting Hembree v. State, 546 S.W.2d 235, 239 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1976)).
The defendant was convicted of three counts of premeditated first degree murder, three
counts of felony first degree murder, one count of especially aggravated robbery, and two counts of
especially aggravated kidnapping. To obtain a conviction for first degree premeditated murder, the
State had to show “[a] premeditated and intentional killing of another.” T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(1)
(1997). For the purposes of this crime, “premeditation” is an act done after the exercise of reflection
and judgment. “‘Premeditation’ means that the intent to kill must have been formed prior to the act
itself. It is not necessary that the purpose to kill pre-exist in the mind of the accused for any definite
period of time.” T.C.A. § 39-13-202(d) (1997). “‘Intentional’ refers to a person who acts
intentionally with respect to the nature of the conduct or to a result of the conduct when it is the
person’s conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.” T.C.A. § 39-11-
302(a) (1997).
The defendant was indicted of felony murder during the perpetration of or attempt to
perpetrate any robbery, burglary, theft, or kidnapping, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated
section 39-13-202. Premeditated murder and felony murder are not separate and distinct offenses
but, rather, are alternative means to attach criminal liability for first degree murder. State v. Ely, 48
S.W.3d 710, 721 (Tenn. 2000). The mental state required for the commission of felony murder is
intent to commit the alleged felony. T.C.A. § 39-13-202(b) (1998).
Especially aggravated robbery is the intentional or knowing theft of property from the person
of another by violence or putting the person in fear and is accomplished with a deadly weapon
wherein the victim suffers serious bodily injury. T.C.A. § 39-13-401 (1990) and -403 (1989).
Especially aggravated kidnapping is committed when one knowingly removes or confines
another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty and is accomplished with
a deadly weapon or where the victim suffers serious bodily injury. T.C.A. § 39-13-305 (1990).
The defendant, in challenging the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the convictions,
does not contend that the crimes were not committed but relies instead on the premise that the alibi
evidence for the defendant provides significant proof that the defendant was at the Imperial Garden
Apartments before the victims were slain.
The proof in this case was largely circumstantial but, in our view, extremely strong evidence
that, in its totality, pointed unerringly to the defendant’s guilt. The defendant’s cousin, Melanie
Taylor, testified that the defendant attempted to enlist her in a robbery scheme during the week
preceding these offenses. The defendant was unquestionably in the vicinity of Captain D’s on the
evening of the offenses. The videotape at the BP station placed her and Percy Palmer there at 10:43
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p.m. Jamie Johns testified that the defendant and Palmer were at Shoney’s just before 11:00 p.m.
Gina Williams closed Shoney’s at 12:01 a.m. and described seeing a black female with a backpack
in Captain D’s who generally matched the defendant’s description. Although the defendant’s
recorded account of events to the confidential informants contained some factual discrepancies, her
admissions of involvement were convincing. These recorded statements provided stark evidence of
her complicity in planning the robbery and that she shared in the proceeds.
The defendant contends that the testimony of Jill Lynch and Billy York established that the
defendant had returned to the Imperial Garden Apartments prior to the murders and robbery. Ms.
Lynch testified that she saw the defendant for an instant between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. at the
apartments. Unless her sighting was during the early part of the time frame, this would conflict with
the BP video and the testimony of Jamie Johns. Billy York also stated that the defendant and Palmer
were at the apartments by midnight but admitted that his medications impaired his memory. In any
event, we must presume that the jury resolved all conflicts in the testimony and drew all reasonable
inferences in favor of the State. State v. Sheffield, 676 S.W.2d 542, 547 (Tenn. 1984).
Under the theory of criminal responsibility, the evidence was sufficient to support the
defendant’s convictions for premeditated murder. The element of premeditation is a question of fact
to be determined by the jury. State v. Suttles, 30 S.W.3d 252, 261 (Tenn. 2000); State v. Bland, 958
S.W.2d 651, 660 (Tenn. 1997). Our supreme court has set forth non-exclusive factors which tend
to support the existence of premeditation, including the use of a deadly weapon upon an unarmed
victim, the particular cruelty of the killing, declarations by the defendant of an intent to kill, evidence
of procurement of a weapon, preparations before the killing for concealment of the crime, and
calmness immediately after the killing. Bland, 958 S.W.2d at 660. The defendant had announced
her intention to be armed during her planned robbery. All three victims were unarmed and were shot
“execution style” according to the forensic pathologist. Two victims were concealed from outside
eyes in the walk-in cooler where one was bound and the other was kneeling in a submissive position.
The other victim was left behind a shopping mall. Although witnesses differed, there was testimony
of the defendant’s calmness after the killings.
The evidence supporting felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, and especially
aggravated kidnapping is even stronger. The defendant assisted in the planning of a robbery, was
present at the scene, and shared in the proceeds taken. The crimes were accomplished with a deadly
weapon and deadly results. Removal of the two victims to the walk-in cooler was not a necessary
step in the robbery and qualified as especially aggravated kidnapping by the use of a deadly weapon.
In summary, the jury was entitled to disregard the alleged alibi evidence, and we conclude
that sufficient evidence existed that justified a rational jury in returning the guilty verdicts.
Testimony of Melanie Taylor
The defendant next contends that the trial judge erred in allowing Melanie Taylor’s testimony
that the defendant attempted to recruit her to participate in an “inside job” robbery. This
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conversation took place within a week prior to the offenses. The defendant argues that due to the
vagueness of the robbery plans as to a particular location or time, the evidence was irrelevant or
otherwise excludable as unduly prejudicial under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 403.
Evidence is relevant if it has “any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of
consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be
without the evidence.” Tenn. R. Evid. 401. Once the court concludes the evidence is relevant, the
court should exclude the evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by its prejudicial
effect. Tenn. R. Evid. 403; State v. James, 81 S.W.3d 751, 757 (Tenn. 2002). A trial court’s
decision as to the relevance of evidence under Rule 401 will be reversed only upon a showing of
abuse of discretion. State v. Powers, 101 S.W.3d 383, 395 (Tenn. 2003). An appellate court should
find an abuse of discretion when it appears that a trial court applied an incorrect legal standard or
reached a decision which is against logic or reasoning that caused an injustice to the complaining
party. Ballard v. Herzke, 924 S.W.2d 652, 661 (Tenn. 1996).
In the instant conversation, the defendant invited Ms. Taylor to join her and Percy Palmer
in a robbery that the defendant characterized as an “inside job.” The locale was not specified except
by an allusion to it being “up the street.” The defendant did state that she had a gun. The defendant
also asked to use Ms. Taylor’s car. While the plan was admittedly lacking in specifics, it was
broached within a week of the subject offenses. Due to the proximity in time, we conclude that it
was not an abuse of discretion to allow the testimony. Having affirmed the relevance of the
testimony at issue, we also conclude that it was not excludable by the balancing test of Tennessee
Rule of Evidence 403. The evidence of the defendant planning a robbery was undoubtedly
prejudicial but, in our view, was not unfairly prejudicial.
Surveillance Tapes
In her next issue, the defendant contends that the trial court erred in failing to suppress all
the video/audio tapes which were recorded on three occasions. The defendant argues that the
defendant’s statements were involuntary, prejudicial, inaccurate, misleading, confusing to the jury,
contextual, taken out of context, manipulated, non-responsive, inflammatory, and irrelevant. In
addition, the defendant maintains that the use of the excerpts violated Tennessee Rules of Evidence
401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 609, and 802, as well as the defendant’s rights under the 4th, 5th, 6th, and
14th Amendments to the U. S. Constitution and Article I, Sections 7, 8, 9, and 16 of the Tennessee
Constitution. The defendant does not address in argument the alleged evidentiary rules but
essentially contends that the confessions were involuntary as the product of manipulation by the
confidential informants who encouraged the defendant to become impaired.
The findings of fact made by the trial court on a motion to suppress are binding upon this
court unless the evidence preponderates against them. State v. Carter, 988 S.W.2d 145, 149 (Tenn.
1999). This court is not bound by the trial court’s conclusions of law. State v. Simpson, 968 S.W.2d
776, 779 (Tenn. 1998).
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Confessions that are involuntary, i.e., the product of coercion, whether it be physical or
psychological, are not admissible. Rogers v. Richmond, 365 U.S. 534, 540, 81 S. Ct. 735 (1961).
The test of voluntariness under the Tennessee Constitution is broader and more protective than the
test of voluntariness under the United States Constitution. State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 544
(Tenn. 1994). Coercive police activity is a necessary prerequisite to find a confession involuntary.
State v. Brimmer, 876 S.W.2d 75, 79 (Tenn. 1994). The crucial inquiry is whether the State agents’
behavior was “such as to overbear petitioner’s will to resist and bring about confessions not freely
self-determined.” State v. Kelly, 603 S.W.2d 726, 728 (Tenn. 1980) (quoting Rogers, 365 U.S. at
544, 81 S. Ct. at 741). The question must be answered with “complete disregard” of whether or not
the accused was truthful in the statement. Rogers, 375 U.S. at 544, 81 S. Ct. at 741.
The evidence at the suppression hearing established that the defendant was drinking alcohol
and on one occasion, smoking marijuana during the surveillance segments. After the suppression
hearing, the trial court issued a lengthy order which excluded some statements and allowed others.
None of the defendant’s statements were barred on the basis of involuntariness. The following
extract is from the trial court’s Order on the Motion to Suppress:
Having reviewed the motions and having heard the testimony, the Court cannot
conclude that the statements were the result of any improper or overbearing police
tactic as prohibited by prevailing law. Further, the Court finds no evidence, though
implied by defendant, that alcohol or other substance was provided by the State (or
its agents) to the defendant in an attempt to elicit incriminating statements.
Therefore, the Court finds no basis for legal suppression of any of the statements on
the basis of involuntariness. The use of alcohol or drugs will go to the weight of the
evidence rather than admissibility. As to each challenge below in which
involuntariness due to intoxication is raised, the Court finds no basis for such an
argument.
Our review of the record compels us to conclude that the defendant’s statements, which were
admitted, were directly relevant to her role in the offenses and not violative of other evidentiary
rules. Furthermore, we agree that the record lacks evidence that the State agents provided the
defendant with intoxicants. The defendant has not shown that her statements were the product of
her will being overborne by coercive State actions. Accordingly, we conclude that the statements
were properly admitted.
Mental Retardation
The defendant’s last issue alleges error in the trial judge’s failure to find the defendant
mentally retarded pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-203. As a companion issue,
the defendant argues that the standard enunciated in State v. Smith, 893 S.W.2d 908 (Tenn. 1994),
conflicts with prevailing mental retardation standards as utilized by the mental health community.
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The issue arose when the defendant filed a Motion to Strike the State’s Notice of Intent to
Seek the Death Penalty. A lengthy hearing was held, and the trial court issued a very detailed and
thorough order which found that the defendant had not proved her mental retardation by a
preponderance of the evidence. The trial court further found that the Smith standard was the
appropriate standard by which to measure the defendant’s mental retardation claim.
Ultimately the defendant, although eligible for the death penalty, received three concurrent
life sentences. This issue retains viability only in the event of a new trial. Our review has found no
reversible error. We conclude that the issue is moot and will not consider it on the merits.
Conclusion
From our review of the record in this cause, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to
support the judgments of conviction. Furthermore, the testimony of Melanie Taylor and the
video/audio tapes produced through the confidential informants were properly admitted. Due to
mootness, we have declined to review the mental retardation issues. Accordingly, the judgments of
conviction are affirmed.
___________________________________
JOHN EVERETT WILLIAMS, JUDGE
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