Arkansas Debates Death Penalty for Senior Murders

LITTLE ROCK – Murdering an older person would be added to the list of aggravating circumstances for which the death penalty could be imposed under a new bill.

The bill would provide that a defendant convicted of capital murder in the death of a victim aged 62 or older could be condemned to death with no other aggravating circumstances.

The bill was sponsored by Representative Russ Bennett of Lewisville, whose 87-year-old mother-in-law was gunned down in his hometown.

A Lafayette County jury convicted Justin Anderson of capital murder and sentenced him to death in the October 12th, 2000, slaying of Clara Creech.