Paul Ezra Rhoades

Case overview

Paul Ezra Rhoades was a male Idaho inmate who was born on January 18, 1957, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was executed in Idaho on November 18, 2011.

He was convicted in three separate kidnapping and murder cases. For the murders of Susan Michelbacher and Stacy Baldwin, Rhoades was sentenced to death. For the murder of Nolan Haddon, he received an indeterminate life sentence based on a conditional plea.

Timeline

• February 28, 1987 — Stacy Dawn Baldwin, 21, was abducted while working at the Red Mini Barn convenience store in Blackfoot; she was taken to a secluded location and shot several times.
• March 17, 1987 — Nolan Haddon, 23, was shot five times while working at Buck's convenience store in Idaho Falls; his body was found in the store's walk-in cooler.
• March 19, 1987 — Susan Michelbacher, 34, was abducted in a parking lot at 7 a.m.; she was forced to withdraw money from her checking account, driven to a rural location, raped, and shot nine times.
• January 26, 1988 — Paul Ezra Rhoades, IDOC #26864, was found guilty in the 7th Judicial District Court for Bonneville County of the crimes of first degree murder and first degree kidnapping.
• March 4, 1988 — The 7th Judicial District Court for Bonneville County made and entered its findings in considering the death penalty, finding Rhoades guilty of murder in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree and imposing the sentence of death.
• March 11, 1988 — Paul Ezra Rhoades was found guilty in the 7th Judicial District Court for Bingham County of the crimes of first degree murder and first degree kidnapping.
• March 24, 1988 — Rhoades was sentenced to death for the murder of Susan Michelbacher by Seventh District Judge Larry M. Boyle.
• May 13, 1988 — The 7th Judicial District Court for Bingham County made and entered its findings in considering the death penalty, finding Rhoades guilty of murder in the first degree and kidnapping in the first degree and imposing the sentence of death.
• February 15, 1991 — The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed Rhoades' conviction and sentence in the Baldwin murder.
• October 11, 2011 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied Rhoades' petition for certiorari.
• November 4, 2011 — The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole decided to deny the petition for a commutation hearing submitted on behalf of Rhoades.
• November 14, 2011 — A U.S. Magistrate Judge denied a stay of execution.
• November 15, 2011 — Attorneys for Rhoades filed an emergency appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming Idaho's new lethal injection protocol is likely to be botched, causing him to suffer excruciating pain in violation of the 8th Amendment.
• November 16, 2011 — The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied an emergency stay.
• November 18, 2011 — Paul Ezra Rhoades was executed by lethal injection; he was pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m.
• Undated (planned schedule for November 18, 2011) — The execution chamber sequence included offender transport at 7:20 a.m., movement to the execution chamber at 7:20 a.m., warden reading the death warrant and asking for final statement at about 8:00 a.m. to 8:03 a.m., and administration of chemicals beginning at 8:10 a.m.

The offence

Susan Michelbacher (34)

Susan Michelbacher was a 34-year-old special education teacher. She was abducted in a parking lot at 7 a.m., forced to withdraw money from her checking account, driven to a rural location, raped, and shot nine times, resulting in her death.

Rhoades was convicted in this case and sentenced to death for the murder of Susan Michelbacher.

Stacy Dawn Baldwin (21)

Stacy Dawn Baldwin was abducted while working at the Red Mini Barn convenience store in Blackfoot. She was taken to a secluded location and shot several times. She died approximately an hour and a half later.

Rhoades was convicted in this case and sentenced to death for the murder of Stacy Baldwin.

Nolan Haddon (23)

Nolan Haddon was a 23-year-old student who was shot five times while working at Buck's convenience store in Idaho Falls. His body was found in the store's walk-in cooler.

Rhoades received an indeterminate life sentence based on a conditional plea for the murder of Nolan Haddon. He was also sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Nolan Haddon.

Investigation and arrest

Ballistics testing matched a confiscated revolver to the bullets used in the three murders.

Paul Ezra Rhoades crashed his mother's car near Wells, Nevada, and walked to a nearby casino. Police found the weapon and the same bullets used in the three murders inside his car. Detectives located Rhoades playing blackjack in a casino.

When officers approached Rhoades at the casino, he said: “I did it.” He was advised of Miranda rights by an officer from Idaho, Victor Rodriguez, and searched by another Idaho officer, Dennis Shaw.

During the booking process at the Wells Highway Patrol Station, Shaw remarked something to the effect: “If I had arrested you earlier, Stacy Baldwin may be alive today.” Rhoades replied: “I did it.” Shaw then said, “The girl in Blackfoot,” and Rhoades again replied, “I did it.”

Forensic analysis would show that footprints found in the snow near Baldwin’s body were consistent with the size and pattern of Rhoades’s boots, and that Rhoades’s hair was consistent with a hair on Baldwin’s blouse.

Rhoades also admitted to a cellmate that he kidnapped Baldwin, took her to an archery range intending to rape her but was unable to do so because she was hysterical, and shot her twice in the back.

In the case involving Nolan Haddon, Rhoades admitted to police he killed Nolan Haddon and Susan Michelbacher. He was also convicted in the murder of Stacy Baldwin.

Trial

Convictions

Rhoades was convicted in three separate kidnapping and murder cases.

For the murders of Susan Michelbacher and Stacy Baldwin, he was convicted and sentenced to death.

Jury trial details referenced in the appellate record

In the Michelbacher case, the issues presented on direct appeal included constitutional questions about Idaho’s abolition of the insanity defense, prosecutorial comments during closing argument, limitation on juror inquiry, accelerated post-conviction procedures, suppression of inculpatory statements, withholding of exculpatory evidence, jury instructions, compelled defense expert reporting or interviews, victim impact statements, proper imposition of death, proper jury selection, and form of weapons enhancement charges.

A quoted statement in the appellate record during discussion of prosecutorial comments was: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: When I get paid, when you get paid is that how you describe it that you came into some money? That's the phrase you use when you inherit some money or come into some other windfall. In today's world when money changes hands legitimately there's generally a document that documents that transaction. A receipt, a check, a passbook saving's account that indicates the transfer of those funds. What did we hear from the defendant yesterday? DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Excuse me, Your Honor— PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: I'm sorry— DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I'm going to object. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY: I'm sorry, what did we hear from the defense counsel in the case-in-chief yesterday?

The appellate record also included a discussion of a reasonable doubt instruction. The instruction included: A reasonable doubt is an actual doubt based upon the evidence or lack of evidence. It is such doubt as you are conscious of after going over in your minds the entire case and giving consideration to all the testimony. If you then feel uncertain and not fully convinced that the defendant is guilty or if you feel that you would not be acting reasonably should you find him guilty, and if you believe that a reasonable man in any matter of like importance in his own affairs would hesitate to act because of such doubt as you are conscious of having, then that is a reasonable doubt, and the defendant is entitled to the benefit of it.

Sentencing

Rhoades was sentenced to death in Idaho in March 1988, including death sentences imposed in Bonneville County and Bingham County.

• In Bonneville County, he was sentenced to death after findings made on March 4, 1988.
• In Bingham County, he was sentenced to death after findings made on May 13, 1988.
• For the Nolan Haddon murder, he received an indeterminate life sentence based on a conditional plea.

Appeals

Rhoades pursued direct appeals and post-conviction proceedings, and he sought federal habeas relief. The appellate history included:

• Idaho Supreme Court opinions: 99-2000, 115-2000, 126-2009, and 134-2009.
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit opinions: 07-35808 and 07-99022.
• Citations listed for the cases included:
  • State v. Rhoades, 120 Idaho 795, 820 P.2d 665 (Idaho 1991) (Baldwin Direct Appeal)
  • State v. Rhoades, 121 Idaho 63, 822 P.2d 960 (Idaho 1991) (Michelbacher Direct Appeal)
  • State v. Rhoades, 135 Idaho 299, 17 P.3d 243 (Idaho 2000) (Baldwin PCR)
  • State v. Rhoades, 148 Idaho 247, 220 P.3d 1066 (Idaho 2009) (Haddon PCR)
  • Rhoades v. Henry, 638 F.3d 1027 (9th Cir. 2011) (Baldwin Habeas)
  • Rhoades v. Henry, 598 F.3d 511 (9th Cir. 2010) (Michelbacher Habeas)
  • Rhoades v. Henry, 611 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 2010) (Haddon Habeas)

In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari on October 11, 2011.

A planned appeal included an emergency appeal filed on November 15, 2011 alleging Idaho’s lethal injection protocol is likely to be botched and would violate the 8th Amendment. The 9th Circuit denied an emergency stay on November 16, 2011, and a U.S. Magistrate Judge denied a stay on November 14, 2011.

Outcome

Rhoades was executed by lethal injection on November 18, 2011 in Idaho.

A statement by Director Brent Reinke after the execution included: “Today, the Idaho Department of Correction carried out the court-order death warrants issued against Paul Ezra Rhoades for the crimes of first-degree murder and first degree kidnapping in Bonneville and Bingham counties. Paul Ezra Rhoades was pronounced dead at 9:15 a.m.”

Final words

Rhoades delivered final words including: “To Bert Michelbacher, I am sorry for the part I played in your wife's death. For Haddon and Baldwin, I can't help you. You still have to keep looking. I'm sorry for your family. I can't help you. I took part in the Michelbacher murder, I can't help you guys. I'm sorry.”

He then told his mom “goodbye.” He also uttered: “I forgive you, I really do.”

Aftermath

The execution was witnessed by representatives of all three victims’ families; Rhoades’ mother, Pauline Rhoades, and four members of Idaho media were referenced among witnesses.

After the execution, the time from initial injection to declaration of death was reported as 22 minutes.

The department planned to cremate his body after the execution and give the remains to Rhoades’ attorney, Oliver Loewy.

Rhoades was offered a “Final/Special Meal” that included hot dogs, sauerkraut, mustard, ketchup, onions, relish, baked beans, veggie sticks, ranch dressing, fruit with gelatin and strawberry ice cream cups—described as the same meal offered to all Idaho Maximum Security inmates.

Other details

Biographical information and health

Rhoades’ biographical information included:

• Sex: male
• Height: 6’ 2”
• Weight: 259 lbs
• Eyes: hazel
• Hair: brown
• Ethnicity: white
• Complexion: fair
• Birth date: 01/18/1957
• Birthplace: Idaho Falls, ID

He was described as a high school dropout. He began drinking at about the age of 10. He suffered polio as a child and developed a serious methamphetamine addiction as an adult.

He was described as a diabetic. He was described as in fair health during his final days, though anxious about the coming execution.

Prior criminal record and background facts mentioned

Rhoades was described as having a record of small-time arrests dating from age 21 and as having engaged in drinking, polio-related physical problems, and drug addiction.

The record also referenced that courts ruled out an insanity plea in November 1987.

Planned execution procedure details

A planned schedule for November 18, 2011 included:

• 4:00 a.m. Media center opens
• 5:45 a.m. Selection of news media witnesses
• 6:00 a.m. Short news media briefing by IDOC Director Brent Reinke
• 7:00 a.m. IDOC van available for transport to demonstration area
• 7:15 a.m. News media witnesses transported to Idaho Maximum Security Institution
• 7:20 a.m. Offender is moved from isolation cell to execution chamber
• 7:30 a.m. IDOC van returns from demonstration area
• 7:45 a.m. Witnesses are escorted into execution chamber
• 8:00 a.m. IMSI’s warden reads death warrant to offender and witnesses
• 8:03 a.m. Warden asks offender if he wishes to make a final statement
• 8:07 a.m. IDOC’s director re-confirms that no legal impediments exist
• 8:10 a.m. Administration of chemicals begins
• 8:30 a.m. Coroner enters chamber, examines the condemned and pronounces death
• 9:30 a.m. News media briefing by IDOC Director Brent Reinke and media witnesses
• 10:30 a.m. Demonstration area closes
• 1:00 p.m. Media center closes

Inmate number

Rhoades was identified as IDOC #26864 in the account of his finding of guilt on January 26, 1988.