Russell Ernest Boyd
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Clark County, Indiana, USA
- Date of birth
- February 13, 1958
- Age at first offence
- 24
- Characteristics
- burglary
- Victim profile
- Judith Falkenstein, 30
- Method of murder
- Strangulation with belt
- Date(s) of murder
- August 27, 1982
- Years active
- 1982
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on October 4, 1983
Overview
Russell Ernest Boyd was sentenced to death on October 4, 1983. He later received a new sentence of consecutive terms of 60 years and 20 years, for a total of 80 years imprisonment, after summary judgment vacated the death sentence.
Background
She went upstairs and found her mother nude and suspended from the bedroom dresser. A belt was pulled tightly around her neck, with the other end knotted and wedged inside the dresser. The body was bruised and cut. The Falkenstein home had been entered by burglars 4 days earlier through the same window, and coins and jewelry were stolen.
The offence
Burglars entered the Falkenstein home 4 days earlier through the same window and stole coins and jewelry. Boyd was identified by several neighbors in the area at the time of the murder. After the murder, property from the first burglary was found in a dumpster where Boyd was staying with a friend.
Investigation
Several neighbors identified Boyd in the area at the time of the murder. Friends testified he had suddenly come into a lot of money.
Arrest
After first denying any involvement, Boyd later confessed to committing the first burglary and to entering the house on the afternoon of the murder.
Trial
Boyd claimed to have entered the bedroom only to find Falkenstein already dead.
Sentencing
On October 4, 1983, Boyd was sentenced to death. The convictions included Murder, Felony-Murder, and Burglary, with Murder/Burglary merged into Felony-Murder.
Aggravating Circumstances: b(1) Burglary. Mitigating Circumstances: None.
Appeals
Direct Appeal: Boyd v. State, 494 N.E.2d 284 (Ind. June 24, 1986) Conviction Affirmed 5-0. DP Affirmed 5-0. Pivarnik Opinion; Givan, Debruler, Shepard, Dickson concur.
Boyd v. Indiana, 107 S. Ct. 910 (1987) (Cert. denied).
PCR: PCR Petition filed 01-04-88. Summary Judgment Vacating death sentence only granted by Special Judge Robert Bennett on 09-10-93.
Outcome
After summary judgment vacating the death sentence only, Boyd was resentenced to consecutive terms: 60 years (Murder) and 20 years (Burglary), for a total sentence of 80 years imprisonment.
Aftermath
Resentenced to consecutive terms of 60 years (Murder) and 20 years (Burglary), for a total sentence of 80 years imprisonment on 11-05-93.
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