Shane Ragland

Overview

Shane Ragland was convicted of murder for the sniper-style shooting death of University of Kentucky football player Trent DiGiuro on his front porch in Lexington on July 17, 1994. His conviction was overturned on November 17, 2004. Ragland later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on August 26, 2007 and received a sentence of time served (six years), including credit for 14 months of house arrest.

Timeline

• July 17, 1994 — University of Kentucky student Trent DiGiuro was slain in a sniper-style shooting while sitting on his front porch in Lexington.
• January 2000 — Nearly six years after the murder, an anonymous tip led police to a suspect named Shane Ragland, a former UK student.
• July 14, 2000 — Police arrested Ragland in Frankfort and charged him with murder.
• Aug. 17, 2000 — Ragland was released from jail after his father, prominent Frankfort businessman Jerry Ragland, posted a $1 million bond.
• March 13, 2002 — Prosecutors in the trial of the Frankfort man accused of the sniper-style slaying of Trent DiGiuro claimed he had the motive and means to commit murder.
• March 27, 2002 — Prosecutors rested their case after playing a videotape of police questioning Ragland; the trial continued.
• March 28, 2002 — Jurors convicted Shane Ragland of murder in the 1994 sniper-style slaying and recommended a sentence of 30 years.
• April 26, 2002 — Judge Thomas Clark sentenced Ragland to 30 years in prison.
• March 23, 2005 — After filing numerous appeals, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned Ragland’s conviction, citing concerns over questionable ballistics evidence.
• July 13, 2006 — Jerry Ragland posted another $1 million bond and Ragland was released from custody with an electronic-monitoring device pending a retrial.
• Aug. 27, 2007 — Ragland pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to time served—six years, including credit for 14 months of house arrest.
• Aug. 19, 2008 — A Lexington jury awarded the DiGiuros a record-setting $63.3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Ragland.
• October 2008 — Ragland spent 90 days in a Beaver County jail after police received a call about a hit and run; Ragland was behind the wheel.
• February 2009 — Ragland started his 90-day jail sentence.
• July 8, 2009 — An article described the 1994 killing and Ragland’s release after later legal proceedings.
• December 30, 2012 — A report said Ragland had additional legal trouble, including harassment and driving on a suspended license.

The offence

Trent DiGiuro was shot and killed in a sniper-style shooting while sitting on his front porch in Lexington on July 17, 1994. Prosecutors described the shooting as a gunman positioned under a dogwood tree at the corner of Woodland and Columbia avenues, providing a line of fire and an easy escape. Police later determined that at 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, 1994, the shooter used a bi-pod rifle stand, released a copper-jacketed bullet, and that the bullet struck DiGiuro in the left ear, traveled through his skull and into his brain, killing him instantly.

Victim

Trent DiGiuro was a University of Kentucky student and an offensive lineman and honor student. The shooting occurred while he was celebrating his 21st birthday with friends.

Investigation

The murder went unsolved for nearly six years. Early on, dozens of tips flooded in but none panned out. An episode of “America’s Most Wanted” highlighted Trent DiGiuro’s murder and brought hundreds of leads from all over the country.

In January 2000, an anonymous source led police to Shane Ragland, a former UK student. The anonymous tipster turned out to be Ragland’s ex-girlfriend, Aimee Lloyd. Lloyd agreed to assist investigators by recording conversations with Ragland after meeting with him through her attorney. Police were able to persuade Lloyd to help because she had been terrified of what Ragland might do if he discovered she was assisting police.

During the recorded conversation excerpt, Lloyd said:

"Something has been bothering me. Something you told me a long time ago. I wish you never had. I need to know how you feel about it now." Ragland responded: "I regret it …" Lloyd said: "How could you do something like that over something so fucking stupid? Do you ever think about that?" Ragland said: "You are making me uncomfortable about it now, just thinking about it …" Lloyd said: "Do you ever plan on telling anybody what you did?" Ragland said: "Of course not. You’re scaring me talking about this. I’ve never told anybody else … You’re not setting me up are you? Swear to me you are not setting me up …" Lloyd said: "I need to get some closure." Ragland said: "I do too … I could tell you everything. I just needed to get it off my chest … To answer your question, I am very, very remorseful." Lloyd said: "How could you be so stupid?" Ragland said: "I know … I made the wrong decision. But there is nothing I can do now."

Arrest and pretrial

On July 14, 2000, Kentucky State Police arrested Shane Ragland and charged him with the murder of Trent DiGiuro.

Because Ragland split his time living with his divorced parents, law enforcement searched both Frankfort homes. At his father’s house, police found a box of .243 caliber bullets. At his mother’s, they found a .243 caliber Weatherby rifle with a right-twist barrel pattern. Ragland was transported to the Lexington Police Department, where he maintained his innocence throughout a videotaped interview.

Ragland remained free pending trial after his father Jerry Ragland posted a $1 million bond. He was released from jail on Aug. 17, 2000, following the posting of that bond.

Defence and prosecution positions at trial

Prosecutors contended that Ragland was angry because Trent DiGiuro helped get him blackballed from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in 1991, and they argued that Ragland had the motive, means and opportunity to kill Trent DiGiuro. The prosecution’s key evidence included Ragland’s rifle and ammunition being considered a match to the murder weapon but not conclusively linked, and recorded material involving Ragland and Aimee Lloyd.

The defense argued Lloyd was a bitter ex-girlfriend and claimed that she admitted she hated Ragland, and that police used her to trap him. The defense also discounted being blackballed from a fraternity as a believable motive for murder.

During police questioning, Ragland denied he knew Trent DiGiuro. Ragland said:

“I didn’t know Trent, I swear to God,” and he allowed he might have seen him at Sigma Alpha Epsilon parties before Ragland was blackballed in the fall of 1991.

Ragland also said:

“If she told you we talked about the murder, she's a liar,” to Lt. Mark Barnard and Detective Don Evans.

When police played a recording from Blue Grass Airport, Ragland said:

“You can say, "I didn't hear it one time.' You can say, "I didn't hear it two times,'” Lt. Barnard told Mr. Ragland. “You cannot say, "I didn't hear it three times.' I'm not going to let you lie to me.” Ragland also said: “I may have made an inference to Trent at some point in the past, but I didn't kill anyone. I swear to you guys, I didn't do this,” he said. “You're wrong, guys, I swear to God.”

Trial

March 13, 2002 — opening statements and key assertions

In the opening statement, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Lou Anna Red Corn told the jury:

“We will prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant killed Trent DiGiuro,”

The prosecution said Trent DiGiuro was killed instantly when a bullet slammed into his temple as he celebrated his 21st birthday on the porch of his Lexington home on July 17, 1994. Prosecutors said the case went unsolved for more than half a decade until Aimee Lloyd came forward in January 2000 and told police Ragland admitted he shot and killed the walk-on offensive lineman. Prosecutors said Lloyd was living in New Jersey and saw a newspaper article on the five-year anniversary that prompted her to contact authorities.

Defense attorney William Johnson told the jury:

“You will not hear Shane say he killed Trent DiGiuro,” and that they would not even hear her ask whether he shot and killed Trent DiGiuro: “You will not even hear her ask him if he did shoot and kill Trent DiGiuro.”

Johnson described Ragland’s 18-month relationship with Lloyd as “a hot affair that could go cold in a hurry,” and argued Lloyd was a bitter ex-girlfriend with an ax to grind. Johnson told the jury:

“Evidence will show that until Aimee Lloyd came forward five years after the murder, there was nothing linking Shane with the crime,” and he argued: “When you have heard all of the evidence in this case, we will ask you to give a verdict of not guilty for the prosecution's failure to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Shane Ragland killed Trent DiGiuro.”

March 27, 2002 — videotaped interview

On March 27, 2002, prosecutors rested after playing a videotape of police questioning Ragland about the death of Trent DiGiuro. Ragland denied he knew DiGiuro, denied living near him, and denied discussing his death with former girlfriend Aimee Lloyd.

Police were stumped by the crime until Lloyd told them Ragland admitted the killing to her. On the day before he was arrested, Lloyd met with Ragland and recorded a discussion about their pasts, during which she brought up the death of DiGiuro.

March 28, 2002 — verdict and recommendation

On March 28, 2002, a Fayette Circuit Court jury convicted Shane Ragland of murder. The jury deliberated about 5 1/2 hours and recommended a 30-year sentence. The sentencing deliberations took about an hour.

Ragland showed no emotion when the verdict and sentencing recommendation were read but nodded and winked at his father, Jerry Ragland, as he stood to leave the courtroom. The conviction brought a teary outburst from his mother, Kathy Ragland.

Sentencing April 26, 2002

Judge Thomas Clark sentenced Ragland to 30 years in prison on April 26, 2002. The sentencing included the possibility of parole after serving 12 years if the judge followed the jury’s recommendation.

Appeals

After several appeals, the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned Ragland’s murder conviction on November 17, 2004. The overturning cited concerns over questionable ballistics evidence and also included an earlier agreement to order a new trial after the Kentucky Supreme Court found that the prosecutor had made an inappropriate comment during trial and used inadmissible evidence concerning a bullet. An FBI bullet analyst was found to have lied on the stand during a pre-trial hearing, but Fayette Circuit Judge Thomas Clark determined the inaccurate testimony was inconsequential.

The defense also challenged the type of bullet analysis used in Ragland’s case, a method the FBI had since stopped using because it was unreliable. That appeal was successful, leading to the conviction being overturned. A retrial did not proceed because prosecutors had lost their star witness after convincing Aimee Lloyd to testify, and she would no longer cooperate.

Guilty plea and reduced sentence

After the conviction was overturned, prosecutors offered Ragland a plea deal, and Ragland pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter on Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. The plea agreement sentenced Ragland to time served—six years—crediting 14 months of house arrest.

Statements and reactions on August 27, 2007

Ragland’s attorney, Steve Romines, described the decision as “a ‘bittersweet’ decision” and said:

“He pleaded guilty,” and: “That's what it is. But if you talk to him today, he'll maintain his innocence. Only a fool, though, turns down walking out of court when you're facing life.”

Trent DiGiuro’s father, Michael, said:

“I don't think justice was done.” He also said: “Justice would be my son is still alive or Shane Ragland is in jail for life. We're not really excited about it, but we acquiesced.”

Commonwealth’s Attorney Ray Larson said:

“It's over,” and: “He's pleaded guilty. He's now a convicted killer.” Larson said the plea confirmed Ragland was responsible for DiGiuro’s death and that the family had been waiting for years to hear it.

Larson also said he decided to offer the plea after deciding not to call as a witness Ragland’s former girlfriend Aimee Lloyd, and that he feared going forward with a trial could put her life at risk.

Romines said:

“They were going to lose at trial,” and: “The scientific evidence was clear we couldn't have done it.”

Under the terms of the plea deal filed in Fayette County Circuit Court, Ragland was required to remain on electronic monitoring until Thursday. Ragland was staying at his father’s house in Frankfort, Ky.

Wrongful death litigation

A Lexington jury awarded the DiGiuros a record-setting $63.3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Ragland on Aug. 19, 2008. The report said the DiGiuros had filed the wrongful death suit after the plea agreement and that Mike DiGiuro had sued and won.

The report also said that Ragland claimed in later proceedings that he was broke and that the judgment was excessive, and that the Kentucky Court of Appeals was considering his appeal.

Other legal troubles (Pennsylvania)

After the 2007 plea, the narrative described that Ragland moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, about 370 miles away. Mike DiGiuro said Ragland owed him over 60 million dollars and that because Ragland lived in Pennsylvania it was against the law to garnish wages in that state.

The narrative stated that Ragland spent 90 days in a Beaver County jail after police there got a call in October 2008 about a hit and run. It said Ragland was behind the wheel; court documents said he hit a telephone pole and mailbox and admitted to police that he had been drinking. Ragland told police:

“Look we both know I'm drunk... it's cold and raining... i don't want to do this.” Police took a blood sample, and the narrative stated that Ragland’s alcohol level was .252, while the legal limit in Pennsylvania was .08.

The narrative said that in February 2009 Ragland started his 90-day jail sentence. It also said that three weeks before a reported July 8, 2009 article, Ragland was cited again by police for harassment and driving on a suspended license. The narrative also said that a latest run in with police was still an open investigation and that Pennsylvania Police would not go into detail as to why Ragland was cited for harassment. Mike DiGiuro said:

“he's already hurt enough people.”

People and roles

• Shane Ragland — defendant; later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter.
• Trent DiGiuro — victim; University of Kentucky football player; 21 years old.
• Aimee Lloyd — Ragland’s ex-girlfriend; provided information leading to Ragland’s arrest and served as the prosecution’s star witness; later did not cooperate further.
• Jerry Ragland — Ragland’s father; posted $1 million bond twice.
• Kathy Ragland — Ragland’s mother; had a teary outburst after conviction.
• Mike DiGiuro / Michael DiGiuro — Trent DiGiuro’s father; filed and pursued civil proceedings; gave statements about the plea and conviction.
• Ann DiGiuro — Trent DiGiuro’s mother.
• Thomas Clark — Fayette Circuit Court judge; sentenced Ragland and ruled on matters during the appeal process.
• Ray Larson — Fayette County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
• Lou Anna Red Corn — Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney; made an opening statement.
• William Johnson — defense lawyer for Ragland.
• Steve Romines — attorney for Ragland at the August 27, 2007 guilty plea.
• Lt. Mark Barnard — police questioned Ragland during the videotaped interview; confronted Ragland over alleged denial of hearing the recorded conversation.
• Detective Don Evans — Lexington Police Department homicide detective who responded to the murder scene as lead investigator.
• Sean Mann — friend of Trent’s who was on the porch when the shooting occurred; told Detective Evans:

  “Detective, you are going to figure out who did this, right?”

• Matt Blandford — Trent’s close friend; testified that Ragland knew DiGiuro and that Ragland had told Blandford and DiGiuro about sleeping with a fraternity member’s girlfriend; also scanned a list of names and recognized Ragland.
• Antonio O’Ferral — former UK football player; lived with Trent when he was killed; moved out of the house after the killing.
• Trent’s friends (as a group in narrative) — distraught friends at the scene whose initial interviews provided little information until officers moved them for individual interviews.

Other details

Family background and context described for the victim

The narrative described Trent DiGiuro’s family background in Goshen (Oldham County suburb) and his upbringing, including early football involvement, school activities, and family accounts of his personality.

Fraternity context discussed in the prosecution narrative

The narrative described that Ragland’s alleged motive was retaliation for being blackballed from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in 1991, and that Trent’s friends’ accounts tied Trent to the fraternity dispute.

Parole eligibility statement

At trial, the sentencing eligibility discussion stated Ragland would be eligible for parole after serving 12 years if Judge Thomas Clark followed the jury’s recommendation when Ragland was sentenced April 26.