David Lance Bruce

Background

David Lance Bruce was convicted in the death of a Fairfield County woman. He was also indicted in connection with two other murders in Delaware County.

The offence

A Fairfield County woman, Robin Brown, was found dead in a home under construction. She was 35 years old. Prosecutors alleged that Bruce would have been familiar with the home because he worked on it, including putting up and taking down scaffolding for stucco work. Prosecutors alleged that Robin Brown was a prostitute.

In Delaware County, a grand jury indicted Bruce on 13 counts, including murder and rape, in connection with the deaths of Melonie M. Carr and Tawana L. Beane, as well as the assault and rape of a third victim. Investigators called Bruce, 42, a serial killer. Prosecutors said all three women were known prostitutes and they were either strangled or smothered.

Melonie M. Carr was 33 when her partially clothed body was found on Africa Road. Tawana L. Beane was 40 when her partially clothed body was found near Africa Road, and she was described as a mother and grandmother.

Investigation

Authorities said there was growing evidence that two women whose bodies were found just four miles apart in southern Delaware County could have been murdered by the same person. Investigators said that toxicology reports originally showed that the women died of drug overdoses, but further investigation showed that Melonie Carr, 33, and Tawana Beane, 40, were killed. Sheriff Al Myers said Carr had cocaine in her system but her actual cause of death was manual strangulation. Myers said Beane might have been suffocated.

Two painters discovered Carr’s body while driving through Alum Creek State Park and spotted something near the road. Beane’s body was identified through fingerprints.

Investigators said scientific evidence linked Bruce to the Delaware County slayings. Toxicology reports originally showed that the women died of drug overdoses, but further investigation showed that Carr, 33, and Beane, 40, were killed. The two slayings in Delaware County were described as occurring four miles apart.

Prosecutors said the three women were known prostitutes. Officials said there were similarities between the two deaths, including that the women’s bodies likely were dumped in the same week and they were from the same neighborhood on Columbus’ east side, and both women were convicted of prostitution. Officials said police in Columbus were helping with the investigation and that leads were followed but no suspects were named.

Arrest

Bruce was held in the Fairfield County Jail in connection with the Baltimore-area murder.

Trial

After deliberating for 24 hours, a Fairfield County jury found David Lance Bruce guilty Friday in the death of a woman found in a home under construction.

Bruce was found guilty on two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, one count of murder and one count of kidnapping. The home was in the town of Baltimore in northern Fairfield County and was not yet occupied.

Prosecutors showed jurors crime scene photos of the bloody room where Brown was stabbed multiple times, and prosecutors said there was proof that Bruce was there, including a palm print on one of the walls in her blood. Defense attorney Andrew Stevenson insisted that Bruce was not involved and said: "My client did not take the life of Robin Renee Brown." Stevenson also said there were problems with the DNA in the case.

Fairfield County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Moreheart said: "Because he once worked on that house. He used to put up and take down scaffolding for stucco work." Moreheart also said: "In this room, on one of the walls, is his palm print -- and it's in her blood."

Defense attorney Andrew Stevenson said: "There are problems with the DNA in this case," and the defense position included: "My client did not take the life of Robin Renee Brown."

Robin Brown was described by defense attorney Andrew Stevenson as a prostitute: "Robin Brown, as you'll find out, was a prostitute."

Bruce was not convicted on specifications that could have sentenced him to death.

Sentencing

Bruce was sentenced to life in prison on July 7, 2006.

Appeals

No appeals were described in the provided material.

Outcome

Convicted murderer David Lance Bruce was released from Fairfield Medical Center on June 15, 2006 after what officials said was a suicide attempt. Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said a prisoner noticed Bruce was slumped over his bed at about 5:30 a.m. Monday, and the prisoner summoned a deputy who found Bruce unresponsive. Bruce was rushed to the hospital and remained there with a guard.

Phalen said the suspicion was that Bruce attempted suicide and that he had been hoarding medications over a number of days. Phalen also said Bruce had been taking regular medications while in the Fairfield County Jail and explained: "What can happen many times with drugs dispensed by our staff is that they can simulate taking it and hold it in their tongue or the corner of their mouth."

Investigators were waiting for the results of a toxicology report to determine the substance in Bruce’s system. Phalen said there was also the possibility that another prisoner in his cellblock might have given him some medications.

While Phalen said a previous evaluation never showed Bruce to be suicidal, Bruce would be put into an isolated cell when he was released from the hospital and returned to the jail. Bruce was described as in critical but stable condition in a coma on Tuesday.

After being found guilty Friday, Bruce was in the Fairfield County Jail awaiting sentencing. He was set to stand trial in connection with the Delaware County cases in November, but the provided material did not describe the outcome of those Delaware County cases.

Other details

Delaware County victims and locations

Melonie M. Carr’s partially clothed body was discovered Jan. 14, 2005 while painters were driving along Africa Road. Tawana L. Beane’s body was found in March 2005 about 20 feet from Africa Road, just south of state Route 36/37, and Beane was last seen Jan. 10 in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street. The two slayings were described as occurring four miles apart.

Forensic and scene details for Carr

Sheriff Al Myers said the coroner ruled that Carr, while she had cocaine in her system, her actual cause of death was manual strangulation. Carr was wearing a lot of silver necklaces, as well as rings and a bracelet. She had a tattoo on the inside of her right wrist that said "Macoy" with an artistic "a," and Andrews reported this.

Forensic and scene details for Beane

Investigators said the crime scene provided no information on any physical signs of trauma, bruising or stabs or bullet holes for the cause of death.

Forensic and scene details for Robin Brown

Robin Brown’s body was found shortly after arriving at the job site in the Woodside Meadows subdivision. Her body was on the home’s front porch and she was wearing only a shirt. Investigators said blood was found inside the house and there appeared to be signs of a struggle.

Sheriff Dave Phalen said Brown had a criminal history involving prostitution and other offenses. Phalen said the death appeared to be a homicide and described: "The victim was nude with the exception that she had a top on." Phalen also said: "She was on the porch, where she collapsed." Phalen said few people would have had access to the house, possibly only construction workers.

Timeline of dated events in the provided material

• January 10, 2005 — Tawana L. Beane was last seen in the area of Cleveland Avenue and Hudson Street.
• January 14, 2005 — Two painters discovered Melonie M. Carr’s partially clothed body as they were driving along Africa Road.
• January 15, 2005 — The body of Tawana L. Beane was identified as a grandmother who was last seen in January.
• January 28, 2005 — The Fairfield County Sheriff said more than 50 people were being interviewed who could have access to a home where Robin Brown’s body was found Thursday morning.
• January 28, 2005 — A woman’s body was found Thursday morning on the front porch of a new house under construction near Baltimore; police identified the woman as 35-year-old Robin Brown.
• February 24, 2006 — A Delaware County grand jury indicted Bruce on 13 counts, including murder and rape, in connection with the deaths of Melonie M. Carr and Tawana L. Beane.
• March 15, 2005 — The body of Tawana L. Beane was found and described as being found about 5 p.m. about 20 feet from Africa Road, just south of state Route 36/37.
• May 3, 2005 — Officials said there was growing evidence linking the deaths of Melonie Carr and Tawana Beane.
• May 26, 2006 — Prosecutors said they believed David Lance Bruce was a serial killer and the first efforts to prove it began in Lancaster.
• June 11, 2006 — A Fairfield County jury found David Lance Bruce guilty Friday in the death of Robin Brown.
• June 15, 2006 — Bruce was released from Fairfield Medical Center after what officials said was a suicide attempt.
• July 7, 2006 — Bruce was sentenced to life in prison.

Named individuals and quoted statements

Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "Our suspicion is that this is an attempted suicide and that he had been hoarding medications over a number of days." Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen also said: "What can happen many times with drugs dispensed by our staff is that they can simulate taking it and hold it in their tongue or the corner of their mouth," Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "The victim was nude with the exception that she had a top on." Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "She was on the porch, where she collapsed." Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "We're trying to find out what she was doing the last hours of her life," Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "We're interviewing friends, family members. We're also talking to people who had access to that home where she was killed." Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen said: "The death appeared to be a homicide." Fairfield County Assistant Prosecutor Paul Moreheart said: "In this room, on one of the walls, is his palm print -- and it's in her blood," Defense attorney Andrew Stevenson said: "Robin Brown, as you'll find out, was a prostitute," Defense attorney Andrew Stevenson said: "My client did not take the life of Robin Renee Brown," Defense attorney Andrew Stevenson said: "There are problems with the DNA in this case," Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost was named as describing the case details, including that Bruce was charged with the murders of Melonie M. Carr and Tawana L. Beane and the assault and rape of a third victim. Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "The coroner has ruled that Melonie, while she did have cocaine in her system, her actual cause of death was manual strangulation," Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "The body could have been at the Delaware County location for about 60 days." Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "The crime scene provided no information on any physical signs of trauma, bruising or stabs or bullet holes for the cause of death," Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "We don't know if they knew each other or were friends or anything like that. We'll look at them, and explore all avenues." Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "We're not going to say they are together, but there's enough similarities that there maybe somebody that has committed these acts," Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "We're definitely looking at that venue," Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "They're right down from the bike trail where there's a lot of traffic in the spring and summer, but not much in the winter," Delaware County Sheriff Al Myers said: "The painters said they were driving through Alum Creek State Park when they spotted something near the road" (as quoted within reported details), Tenira Beane said: "That's somebody's mother. That's my mom," Tenira Beane also said: "If you know something, please, please call in and let them know." A caller and dispatcher exchange included: Caller: "We just discovered a body on Lewis Center Road." Dispatcher: "Do you know where at on Lewis Center Road?" Caller: "Lewis Center by the bike path." Dispatcher: "The person's definitely been dead for a while?" Caller: "Oh yeah. It's all twisted up … and it's got a pair of white underwear."