John Roscoe Garland

Case details

John Roscoe Garland (DOB 7-22-42) was sentenced to death on February 15, 1999 in McCreary County for triple murder.

Timeline

• March 9, 1997 — Kentucky State Police discovered the bodies of Willa Jean Ferrier, Crystal Conaster and Chris Boswell in the rear bedroom of a mobile home in Whitley City, Kentucky.
• February 15, 1999 — Garland was sentenced to death in McCreary County.

Background

On the night of Saturday, March 9, 1997, 26-year-old Jean Ferrier, 22-year-old Crystal Conaster and 16-year-old April Sexton left McCreary County and went to a country music dance hall in Somerset as they did almost every Friday and Saturday night.

Jean had been in a relationship with the then 54-year-old Appellant, and was currently dating Gary Roberts. Appellant’s voice on an audiotape discovered after the murders stated his belief that Jean was pregnant, and that Roberts was the father.

The offence

The friends at the dance circled the parking lot because Jean was afraid Appellant would be there. While there, they met Chris Boswell, who danced with Crystal and rode home with the women after the dance.

On the way home, the friends dropped off April at about 12:30 or 1:00 a.m., then drove to Gary Roberts' driveway and honked, then drove to Jean's trailer. On Sunday afternoon, the bodies of Jean, Crystal, and Chris were found in a bedroom of Jean's trailer. They had been shot to death.

Jean had also been choked prior to her death.

Investigation

Kentucky State Police discovered the bodies of Willa Jean Ferrier, Crystal Conaster and Chris Boswell in the rear bedroom of a mobile home shot to death in Whitley City, Kentucky.

Garland’s son, Roscoe Garland, gave a statement to the officers explaining that his father was very jealous of Willa Jean Ferrier, and that she had been messing around with other men. Roscoe stated that his dad, John Garland, said he was going to kill her.

At trial, Roscoe was the star witness against his father.

Trial

Roscoe Garland testified that about a month before the murders, his father had said he was going to kill Jean.

Roscoe testified that on the night of the murders, he and his father were going to the London Auto Auction. Due to a traffic jam, they changed plans and instead followed Jean's vehicle to her trailer.

Roscoe testified that Appellant went inside, and Roscoe heard arguing. Roscoe testified that he went inside, where both Jean and his father and the interior of the dwelling appeared to be disheveled from a fight. Roscoe testified that Chris came out of the bedroom, and Appellant shot him. Roscoe testified that Appellant then shot Crystal, then shot Chris again, and then shot Crystal again. Roscoe testified that he then shot Jean. Roscoe testified that Appellant instructed Roscoe to put the gun in a bag and hide it.

Roscoe testified that the next day, Appellant told Roscoe to procure a similar gun, as everyone knew Appellant carried a gun.

Roscoe testified that Appellant gave Roscoe’s girlfriend money, with which she purchased another .357 magnum from Clayton Stephens.

Appellant denied committing the murders, and claimed that Roscoe was lying. Appellant claimed that the murder weapon did not belong to him, but to Roscoe.

Appellant informed officers that he had spent the fateful night with Roscoe, yet later maintained that he had gone to London to visit his ex-wife, Eula Isgrigg.

Eula’s first story was that she had not seen Appellant for some time before the murders, but that he had come to her home the Monday afterwards. Later, she changed her story and said that he had come to her home at about 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Eula claimed that she had first lied because she was scared.

Outcome

Garland was convicted of murdering two women and a man by shooting them while they were in the bedrooms of their mobile home in McCreary County in 1997.

Garland was sentenced to death on February 15, 1999.

Other details

Victims listed: Willa Jean Ferrier; Crystal Conaster; Chris Boswell.