George Junior Porter

Overview

George Junior Porter was convicted of first degree murder for the death of his former girlfriend Teresa Jones. Porter was later sentenced to death on September 7, 1990. A state judge later denied a motion for a new trial filed by Porter, who was described as an Idaho death row inmate.

The offence

Teresa Jones was found dead at her residence. Police found her body in the bedroom covered in a sleeping bag. She was found naked. Officers testified that Jones had been severely beaten in the face, head, and lower body. Evidence suggested she was beaten severely.

Clumps of human hair were found near the body. Those clumps were described as being of the same length and color as that of the victim. An autopsy was performed, and the pathologist testified that there were between three and six areas on Jones’ scalp where the hair appeared to have been pulled out in large clumps.

Investigation

The body of the 29-year-old Kamiah woman, identified as Teresa Jones, was found in the bedroom of her residence. Police responded to a report that Jones had not been seen for several days. The body was found on December 26, 1988.

Trial

Porter was convicted in 1988. The motion described that the conviction concerned the 1988 slaying of Theresa L. Jones.

The State disclosed that it intended to call several of Porter’s former girlfriends to testify about what Porter did while beating them. Approximately eleven days before Porter’s trial, the State disclosed it would call former girlfriends to testify that Porter, while beating them, also pulled out clumps of their hair.

Lewis County Sheriff Don Fortney and Deputy Sheriff Randal Wadley, along with an investigator for the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, were presented in the trial proceedings as an offer of proof. Their testimony addressed whether, based on their experience with domestic violence crimes, they had found the act of pulling out clumps of hair unusual.

The district court declined to rule on admissibility, but informed Porter’s counsel that he should be prepared to meet the evidence regarding Porter’s prior misconduct. During trial, the State introduced evidence over objection from Porter’s counsel that Porter had previously battered several of his girlfriends. In the course of those beatings, the State introduced evidence that Porter had pulled out clumps of hair.

The district court concluded that the evidence of Porter’s hair pulling was admissible as demonstrating a particular signature or modus operandi. The jury found Porter guilty on January 26, 1990.

Sentencing

Porter was sentenced to death on September 7, 1990.

Appeals

A state judge denied a new trial motion filed by an Idaho death row inmate, George Junior Porter, in an Idaho Supreme Court context described as opinion 26645, opinion 28361, opinion 29559.

Porter sought a new trial based on DNA tests of evidence. The DNA tests included fingernail scrapings from Jones, and hair and blood samples. The new trial motion was filed after the conviction.

Second District Judge John Bradbury concluded that the new evidence was inconclusive and unlikely to provoke a jury to reach a different verdict in the case.

Outcome

Porter remained convicted and remained under the sentence of death following denial of the motion for a new trial.