Granville Riddle

Case record: Granville Riddle

Timeline

• April 1985 — Granville Riddle committed the burglary and vandalism of the Oakdale Christian Church.
• May 1985 — Granville Riddle committed the burglary of the Mexican food restaurant where his mother worked.
• May 1985 — Granville Riddle committed the burglary of C&A Lawnmower.
• October 1985 — Granville Riddle shoplifted beer from a grocery store.
• August 1986 — Granville Riddle committed a burglary of the Oakdale Elementary School.
• November 1987 — Granville Riddle committed the criminal trespass of a travel trailer.
• October 9, 1988 — Ronnie Hood Bennett was killed in Amarillo, Texas.
• November 17, 1988 — A grand jury indicted Granville Riddle in the 251st District Court of Potter County, Texas, for the capital murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett, committed during the course of committing and attempting to commit burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft.
• November 3, 1989 — A jury found Riddle guilty of capital murder.
• November 8, 1989 — Following a separate punishment hearing, the court assessed a sentence of death.
• June 8, 1994 — Riddle’s conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a published opinion.
• June 26, 1995 — The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari review.
• October 10, 1996 — Riddle filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court.
• February 26, 1997 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied habeas relief in an unpublished order.
• September 5, 1997 — Riddle filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division.
• July 14, 2000 — The federal district court denied habeas relief.
• August 25, 2000 — The federal district court granted permission to appeal.
• April 15, 2002 — The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of habeas relief.
• July 15, 2002 — Riddle petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari review.
• October 15, 2002 — The Supreme Court denied certiorari review.
• January 30, 2003 — Granville Riddle was executed by lethal injection in Texas.
• June 4, 1989 — Riddle attempted an escape by digging a hole in one of the cell walls.
• July 14, 1989 — Riddle attempted to escape but was foiled when a correctional officer found Riddle behind duct work in the facility’s attic.
• August 1989 — Riddle attempted to electrify his cell door by tampering with his television and radio wires.

Background

Granville Riddle was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett.

Riddle was executed by lethal injection in Texas on January 30, 2003.

Riddle had previously committed numerous offenses, including the burglary and vandalism of the Oakdale Christian Church in April 1985; the burglary of the Mexican food restaurant where his mother worked in May 1985; the burglary of C&A Lawnmower in May 1985; shoplifting beer from a grocery store in October 1985; a flea market burglary; the burglary of a Baptist church; the burglary of the Oakdale Elementary School in August 1986; the criminal trespass of a travel trailer in November 1987; possession of a controlled substance; auto theft; disorderly conduct; and violation of probation with arrests for public intoxication, criminal trespass, and possession of controlled substances and marijuana.

While Riddle was incarcerated awaiting trial for capital murder, he instigated a “full scale mutiny” among his cell mates and escaped from the dining hall of the correctional center. When correctional officers apprehended Riddle three days later, Riddle had a rifle, about 100 rounds of ammunition, civilian clothes, and two tote bags containing toiletries, all burglarized from a trailer home. On June 4, 1989, Riddle attempted another escape by digging a hole in one of the cell walls. Riddle attempted to escape again on July 14, 1989, but was foiled when a correctional officer found Riddle behind duct work in the facility’s attic. Riddle also talked to himself all night in his cell and threatened to jump anyone who opened the door. In August 1989, Riddle attempted to electrify his cell door by tampering with his television and radio wires. Riddle was involved in three to four fights while in jail, each with different inmates.

Riddle was on parole about 4 months before the murder after serving 2 months of a 7-year sentence for burglary.

While awaiting trial, Riddle escaped from the Potter County jail and was arrested 3 days later after burglarizing another house and arming himself. Once in prison, he attempted to escape again and was less successful.

The offence

On October 9, 1988, Granville Riddle and a friend, Brad Bybee, went out drinking. They proceeded to drive to the home of Ronnie Hood Bennett in Amarillo, Texas. Brad Bybee remained in the car while Riddle entered Bennett’s home.

Riddle used a tire iron to strike Bennett on the head at least 15 times, causing his death.

Riddle made multiple statements about what happened. In an initial statement to police, Riddle stated that he entered the premises through a screen window, which he pried open with the tire iron. Riddle explained that Bennett became angry at him for damaging his property and that he hit Bennett in the knee with the tire iron in an effort to defend himself. Riddle said that when this angered Bennett even more, he proceeded to hit him over the head until he died.

During the trial, Riddle maintained that he had consent to enter Bennett’s home when the murder occurred because Bennett was a close friend, akin to a stepfather. Riddle testified that he took a tire iron with him, which he intended to use to pry the screen off the kitchen window; however, when he arrived, he found a sliding door unlocked. The kitchen window was found pried open.

Riddle testified that Bennett made sexual advances toward him and that when he refused, Bennett grabbed him, pulled him down, put his lips on Riddle’s ear, and a hand on his buttocks. Riddle testified that he then hit Bennett with the tire iron repeatedly, causing his death.

After he realized that Bennett was dead, Riddle tried to make the home look burglarized. In court, Riddle also admitted that Bennett was drunk when he arrived.

Forensic evidence proved Bennett’s blood-alcohol level was .29 percent. This level of extreme intoxication would have rendered Bennett unconscious.

Brad Bybee testified that Riddle called him into the home, pointed to a few items piled on the floor, and informed him that the items were theirs to keep. Bybee also testified that Riddle remarked that he wanted “to see how strong [Bybee’s] stomach [was],” and that Riddle hit Bennett in the head once more, embedding the tire iron into Bennett’s skull. Bybee then secretly left.

According to Riddle, after he panicked, he grabbed Bennett’s wallet and his truck and left. The truck was found the next day burned out in a ravine.

Evidence showed Riddle stole Bennett’s wallet and truck, leading to a capital murder charge.

Investigation

Riddle was arrested five days after the murder following a statement to police from the 18-year-old man who drove Riddle to the residence. That man was initially charged with murder, but the charges were dropped.

Arrest and custody

While awaiting trial, Riddle escaped from the Potter County jail and was recaptured 3 days later. At the time of recapture, Riddle had a .22-caliber rifle in his possession, and the gun was traced to a residence Riddle had burglarized during his flight.

Riddle escaped from jail for three days while awaiting trial on the murder charge; he was nabbed three days later with a rifle and ammo taken from a residential burglary.

Trial

Riddle was indicted and tried for capital murder in Potter County, Texas.

Charges and verdict

• A grand jury indicted Granville Riddle in the 251st District Court of Potter County, Texas, for the capital murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett, committed during the course of committing and attempting to commit burglary of a habitation with intent to commit theft.
• A jury found Riddle guilty of capital murder.

Punishment

Following a separate punishment hearing, the court assessed a sentence of death.

Evidence at trial

A forensic pathologist testified that Bennett’s blood-alcohol level was .29 percent, which showed Bennett was extremely intoxicated to the degree that his motor and sensory functions were “totally out.” The pathologist also testified that the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and that the fatal blow was one which struck the victim “behind the left ear in the mastoid area and compressed the spinal cord.” The pathologist further testified the first blow was not the fatal blow.

In testimony at trial, Riddle said Bennett was a close friend and also testified that Bennett made sexual advances and that he hit Bennett after those advances.

Brad Bybee testified that Riddle called him into the home, pointed to items piled on the floor, informed him the items were theirs to keep, and that Riddle then swung the blunt end of the lug wrench into Bennett’s head one final time, leaving it embedded in the victim’s skull. Bybee testified that it was at this point he left.

Direct appeal and state proceedings

• Riddle’s conviction and sentence were affirmed on direct appeal by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in a published opinion on June 8, 1994.
• The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari review on June 26, 1995.

The appeal decision was in Riddle v. State, 888 S.W.2d 1 (Tex.Crim.App. 1994).

In that decision, the trial court did not err in denying defendant’s challenges for cause to veniremembers who allegedly could not distinguish between terms intentionally and deliberately. Hypotheticals used to illustrate terms intentional and deliberate were not improper. Evidence did not warrant instruction on self-defense. The punishment charge was not improper. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed.

The decision stated that appellant was convicted by a jury in Potter County of capital murder pursuant to V.T.C.A., Penal Code, Section 19.03(a)(2). After the jury answered the special issues in the affirmative, the trial court imposed the death penalty pursuant to Article 37.071(b), V.A.C.C.P. It was an automatic, direct appeal, and the court said it would affirm.

Habeas corpus proceedings

Riddle filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court on October 10, 1996. The Court of Criminal Appeals denied habeas relief in an unpublished order on February 26, 1997.

Riddle filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division, on September 5, 1997. On July 14, 2000, the federal district court denied habeas relief. On August 25, 2000, the federal district court granted permission to appeal.

On April 15, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of habeas relief. Riddle petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari review on July 15, 2002. On October 15, 2002, the Supreme Court denied certiorari review.

Final meal

Riddle’s final meal included: Steak, baked potato, cherry cheesecake, salad, blue cheese dressing, rolls, Coke, coffee, strawberries, and oranges.

Final statement and execution

Granville Riddle made a final statement in French, English, and referenced family members.

The final words were: “I would just . . . (speaking in French). I love all of you. I love you Lundy, Levi, my dad. I have no grudges against anyone, or any of the things that have gone wrong. I would like to say to the world, I have always been a nice person. I have never been mean-hearted or cruel. I wish everybody well.”

Riddle began the last statement by speaking in French. Switching to English, he spoke to his family. He then stated: I wish everybody well.”

He told Mallory Kessler one more time: “Je t'aime,”

Riddle was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. on January 30, 2003.

Outcome

Riddle was executed by lethal injection in Texas on January 30, 2003 for the capital murder of Ronnie Hood Bennett.

Other details

Riddle declined to speak with reporters in the week preceding his execution and described himself online as “a normal small town boy,” and said: “I am caring and I am considerate.”

Riddle wrote on an Internet web site devoted to prisoners seeking pen pals: “I am caring and I am considerate.”

Riddle wrote: I wish everybody well.”

Riddle’s record of “numerous burglaries” included a church, school, and a restaurant where his mother worked. He also had arrests for drug possession and auto theft.

A Swiss woman, Mallory Kessler, married Riddle on death row. Kessler attended the execution. Riddle met Kessler as a pen pal.