Terry Jess Dennis

Background

Terry Jess Dennis was a male white/Caucasian death row inmate named DENNIS, TERRY J (NDOC ID: 62144). His alias names included HOWARD CANN and TERRY DENNIE. He was 52 years old at the time of the killing described in court proceedings.

Dennis was described as an Air Force veteran. He was raised in Washington state and had been in and out of prison before moving to Reno in 1995.

Court and medical information described a history involving alcoholism, drug use, mental illness, and suicide attempts. A psychiatrist’s report stated that depression and self-hatred prompted Dennis to refuse any more appeals. Dennis also had mental illness, and psychiatric materials and hearings addressed bipolar disorder and other diagnoses.

The offence

Dennis pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. The killing involved Ilona Strumanis.

Dennis admitted he strangled Ilona Strumanis, 51 (also described as 51-year-old and as a Russian immigrant) in a motel room in Reno during a vodka-and-beer binge. Dennis told police he put a belt around her neck, began tightening it, and strangled her. He continued the incident as described in his statements, including statements about sex with her while she was dying, and he later called police reporting that he had a dead body in his room. Dennis reported his memory was unclear on certain details because he consumed about a fifth of vodka a day for the past week; the interview followed Miranda rights and included a blood alcohol test described as .112 and descending.

A death sentence was sought and imposed in connection with a conviction for murder of Ilona Strumanis. Evidence and findings in appellate review included the manner of death as asphyxia due to neck compression, most likely by strangulation, with a rectangular-shaped injury on the neck and additional injuries determined to have occurred within the few days prior to death. Testing revealed Ilona Strumanis had a blood alcohol content of 0.37.

A prosecutor’s description recounted that three weeks before the killing Dennis had fantasies of killing a woman, and during the drinking binge Strumanis questioned whether Dennis was able to kill anybody and made fun of him for being unable to perform sexually.

Investigation

On the afternoon described in court proceedings as March 9, 1999, Dennis telephoned the Reno Police Department dispatch and told a dispatcher that he had killed a woman and her body was in his room at a local motel. He told dispatchers to send a coroner, stating that “[t]he bitch ha[d] been dead for three or four days.”

An RPD detective responded to Dennis’s motel room, contacted Dennis, and asked whether he had any weapons. Dennis stated he had used his hands to kill the victim and did not have any weapons. Dennis agreed to be interviewed and was transported to the police department.

At the police department, detectives advised Dennis of his Miranda rights. Dennis waived his rights and agreed to be interviewed. During the interview, Dennis reported that he had been staying at the motel since March 3, 1999. He left the room to go to a local saloon, where he met the victim later identified as Ilona Strumanis. Dennis stated the two remained intoxicated, staying in his room except for a shared meal out and Dennis’s outings to get more alcohol. Dennis described the conversation about whether he had ever killed anyone and that Strumanis accused him of being too kind to be capable of killing. Dennis stated he killed Strumanis as they were “sort of” “making love,” that he began strangling her with a belt, took the belt off and used his hands to choke her, and suffocated her by covering her nose and mouth and making sure she was not breathing. Dennis stated it took five or ten minutes to kill her and that he checked her pulse afterward.

After the killing, Dennis stated he covered Strumanis’s body and slept in the other bed. Before contacting police, Dennis left the room at times to go to a local casino or the store for more liquor.

The investigation included a search warrant for Dennis’s motel room. A nude dead body was found underneath a blanket on one of the two beds, and a leather belt was found on the floor. Numerous empty beer and vodka containers and other debris were discovered.

Arrest

Dennis was formally placed under arrest at the conclusion of the police interview.

Trial

Dennis was charged by information with one count of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon for the March 1999 willful, deliberate and premeditated strangulation murder of Ilona Straumanis.

The state filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. The notice alleged aggravating circumstances including nonconsensual sexual penetration immediately before, during, or immediately after the commission of the murder, and prior convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person of another. The prior convictions described included a 1979 conviction for second-degree assault and 1984 convictions for second-degree assault and second-degree arson.

Counsel were appointed to represent Dennis. A psychiatrist conducted a competency evaluation. The psychiatrist concluded Dennis was competent to stand trial and assist in his defense.

On April 16, 1999, Dennis entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon pursuant to a written plea agreement.

A penalty hearing was conducted before a three-judge panel. The panel found that three alleged aggravators (three prior felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the person of another) were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The panel also found two mitigating circumstances: Dennis was under the influence of alcohol when he killed Strumanis, and Dennis suffers from mental illness. The panel concluded the mitigating circumstances did not outweigh the aggravating circumstances and returned a verdict of death.

Dennis participated in the penalty phase and expressed that he did not want to live in prison for the rest of his life. He declined to present additional evidence in mitigation and did not make any further statement in allocution. The State stipulated to admission of mitigation documents offered by the defense.

The decision in Dennis v. State affirmed the judgment of conviction and sentence of death. The court addressed arguments about excessiveness of the death sentence and concluded the sentence was not excessive and that no evidence indicated passion, prejudice, or arbitrary factors.

Sentencing

A three-judge panel sentenced Dennis to death after a penalty hearing. The panel found prior felony convictions as aggravators and found mitigating circumstances including alcohol influence and mental illness.

Appeals

Dennis appealed. The Nevada Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of conviction and sentence in Dennis v. State, 13 P.3d 434 (Nev. 2000) (Direct Appeal).

The record described multiple attempts and proceedings relating to waiving appeals. A next-friend habeas petition was filed in federal court by Karla Butko. The federal appeals court held that Butko lacked standing as Dennis’s “next friend” and affirmed dismissal. It also held that, lacking standing, it lacked jurisdiction to stay the execution.

A psychiatrist’s report and additional medical information were discussed in the appeals and habeas proceedings, including findings concerning bipolar disorder and other conditions.

In the federal habeas proceedings, the court described an evidentiary hearing and a colloquy with Dennis. Dennis stated he wanted his appeal withdrawn and execution to proceed. He said: “Well, I'm not sure what the process is step by step, but in the end without, without getting into a biblical standard of an eye for an eye or anything like that, basically, I took a life and I'm ready to pay for that with mine.”

Dennis also stated: “death is preferable to another 15 or 20 years in prison.”

In the same proceedings, Dennis also said: “I would rather not live than to continue to live and be a doddering old man in prison.” He also stated earlier in a hearing: “Death is preferable to another 15 to 20 years in prison.”

In support of sentencing arguments and competency issues, psychiatric testimony and findings were discussed. A later report by Dr. Thomas E. Bittker included numbered opinions about Dennis’s rational and factual understanding of the proceedings and medications. The report also described suicidal ideation and self-destructive behavior as connected to the offense and legal strategy.

A warrant of execution had been issued with an initial scheduled time and date described as being rescheduled for August 12, 2004.

Outcome

Dennis was executed by lethal injection in Nevada on August 12, 2004.

At the execution, Dennis did not provide final words. He was escorted into the execution chamber and was secured to a table in the former gas chamber. Shades were drawn across a window, an intravenous needle was inserted, and drugs were administered at stated times. A doctor checked Dennis after the drugs were administered and pronounced him dead when no pulse was found.

The execution was described as the 11th execution in Nevada since the Legislature reimposed the death penalty in 1977. The execution was described as the second execution in Nevada for that year.

Dennis’s last meal was described as two cheeseburgers and a Coke with ice. The record also described that Dennis was offered and took Valium at 4 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

Aftermath

Dennis declined to pursue appeals and volunteered for execution. In witness accounts and related reporting, Dennis met with his brother Gary Dennis before the execution and was asked about contact with his estranged wife Bonnie Dennis by telephone; he said he did not want to speak with her at that time.

Gary Dennis described a final meeting where Dennis said he was sorry he “screwed up his life” but was not remorseful about the murder. Gary Dennis also described Dennis stating that lethal injection was “an easy way to go, relatively painless,” and described other statements attributed to Dennis about feeling good to kill somebody and not remembering much about it.

Bonnie Dennis left a message that stated: “My heart is with him and my prayers, and I love him although I don't love the choices he made. Farewell.”

A psychiatrist’s report had supported findings that depression and self-hatred prompted Dennis to refuse any more appeals.

Protest activity was described outside Nevada State Prison during the execution period, including demonstrations against the death penalty.

Timeline

• March 3, 1999 — Dennis stayed at the motel where the murder occurred.
• March 9, 1999 — Dennis telephoned the Reno Police Department dispatcher and told dispatchers he had killed a woman and her body was in his room; Dennis reported the victim had been dead for three or four days.
• March 10, 1999 — An autopsy of Ilona Strumanis was performed.
• April 14, 1999 — The State of Nevada filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty.
• April 16, 1999 — Dennis entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon.
• July 19 and 20, 1999 — A penalty hearing was conducted before a three-judge panel.
• 2000 — Nevada Supreme Court affirmed in Dennis v. State, 13 P.3d 434 (Nev. 2000) (Direct Appeal).
• July 26, 2004 — The Ninth Circuit case was argued (by telephone).
• July 30, 2004 — The Ninth Circuit decided the appeal and request for stay (request denied).
• August 12, 2004 — Dennis was executed by lethal injection in Nevada at 9:08 p.m.

Other details

Dennis had prior felony convictions involving violence described in appellate review as aggravators, including a 1979 felony assault conviction and 1984 felony assault and arson convictions. The appellate review described details of the 1979 and 1984 incidents, including an altercation involving a knife and probation and later convictions with sentences described as ten years on counts to be served concurrently and consecutively as described.

The appellate review described mitigating circumstances found by the sentencing panel, including that Dennis was under the influence of alcohol and that he suffers from mental illness. The sentencing panel concluded the mitigating circumstances did not outweigh aggravators.

A record described Dennis as unemployed and homeless at the time described in appellate review. The record also described blood alcohol levels and evidence collected at the motel room, including numerous empty beer and vodka containers and debris, and described injuries and decomposition-related effects on determining sexual assault.

In federal proceedings, Dennis expressed that he had stopped seeking further legal remedies and that he wanted his execution to proceed rather than remain in prison for an extended period.