Michael Ross

Overview

Michael Ross was executed by lethal injection in Connecticut on May 13, 2005.

Victims

Ross murdered a series of women during the early 1980s. The victims were:

• Dzung Ngoc Tu, 25, a Cornell University student, killed May 12, 1981.
• Paula Perrera, 16, of Wallkill, N.Y., killed in March, 1982.
• Tammy Williams, 17, of Brooklyn, killed Jan. 5, 1982.
• Debra Smith Taylor, 23, of Griswold, killed June 15, 1982.
• Robin Stavinksy, 19, of Norwich, killed November, 1983.
• April Brunias, 14, of Griswold, killed April 22, 1984.
• Leslie Shelley, 14, of Griswold, killed April 22, 1984.
• Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Griswold, killed June 13, 1984.

Timeline

• May 12, 1981 — Dzung Ngoc Tu, 25, a Cornell University student, was killed by Ross.
• March 1982 — Paula Perrera, 16, of Wallkill, N.Y., was killed by Ross.
• Jan. 5, 1982 — Tammy Williams, 17, of Brooklyn, was killed by Ross.
• June 15, 1982 — Debra Smith Taylor, 23, of Griswold, was killed by Ross.
• November 1983 — Robin Stavinksy, 19, of Norwich, was killed by Ross.
• April 22, 1984 — April Brunias, 14, of Griswold, was killed by Ross.
• April 22, 1984 — Leslie Shelley, 14, of Griswold, was killed by Ross.
• June 13, 1984 — Wendy Baribeault, 17, of Griswold, was killed by Ross.
• 1987 — Ross was convicted for the murders of four of the eight women he confessed to killing.
• May 13, 2005 — Ross was pronounced dead following lethal injection in Connecticut.

The offences

Ross committed kidnappings and rapes followed by murders over a period in the early 1980s. At trial, he did not deny the kidnappings, rapes, and murders described.

Thanksgiving Day, 1983: Robyn S.

On Thanksgiving Day, 1983, Ross accosted nineteen year old Robyn S. on the grounds of a State Hospital in Norwich. He forcefully pulled Robyn S. into a wooded area and ordered her to remove her clothing. He then sexually assaulted her and, after ordering her to turn over on her stomach, strangled her. Before leaving, he covered her body with leaves.

June 13, 1984: Wendy B.

On June 13, 1984, Ross accosted seventeen year old Wendy B. as she was walking along Route 12 in Lisbon. After a short conversation, he pulled Wendy B. over a stone wall, forcing her to go with him into a wooded area that led to an open field. There he sexually assaulted her, forced her to turn over on her stomach, and then strangled her.

Easter Sunday, 1984: April B. and Leslie S.

On Easter Sunday, 1984, Ross picked up fourteen year old April B. and fourteen year old Leslie S., who were hitchhiking on Route 138. Once the girls had entered his car, he drove them over their protests past their intended destination. When April B. tried to force the defendant to stop the car by threatening him with a knife, he disarmed her and continued into Rhode Island. At Beach Pond, he parked his car and bound both girls hand and foot. He then untied April B.’s feet and forced her to walk a short distance from his car, where he assaulted her sexually, turned her over on her stomach and strangled her. Returning to the car, the defendant killed Leslie S. without sexually assaulting her. He then placed the bodies of both girls in his car and drove back to Preston, Connecticut, where he deposited their bodies in a culvert.

Confessions

Ross confessed to the murder of all four women and four others during the same time period. He confessed to kidnapping, raping and killing young women over a three-year period.

In addition, Ross’s confession was described as involving eight victims, and he was described as admitting to killing eight women in the 1980s. Ross personally admitted he was responsible for the rapes and murders of four women for which he was executed for, and he also confessed to the killings and rapes of other women in the same period.

Arrest and investigation

Witness descriptions were included about a blue car and a blue Toyota in relation to the case. The case was tied to Ross through a confession and investigative steps.

Trial

Ross’s trial involved convictions for capital felonies.

• He was convicted in 1987 for the murders of four of the eight women he confessed to killing.
• At his trial, the defendant did not deny having committed the kidnappings, rapes, and murders and asserted an insanity defense.
• The jury deliberated 86 minutes to convict him and only four hours to decide on his punishment.

Sentencing

In 1987, Ross received death sentences for murders of four women. He was sentenced to death following a jury verdict.

Appeals

Ross’s death sentences underwent multiple appellate and collateral proceedings. His death sentence was reversed at least once and later reinstated.

Outcome and execution

Ross was executed by lethal injection in Connecticut on May 13, 2005.

Execution details and last words

Ross was pronounced dead at 2:25 a.m. today. Ross made no statement before his death. When asked if he wished to make a final statement, he said: "No, thank you." Ross said "No, thank you" when asked if he wished to make a final statement.

Execution chamber procedure and witnesses

Ross was strapped to a padded table. Witnesses described a gasp and a shudder as drugs were administered and stated that he did not move again. Media witnesses described curtains separating groups, with the curtain opened at 2:08 a.m. onto Ross strapped to a padded table with his arms outstretched.

Other details

Meal

Ross ate the regular prison meal of the day. The meal was described as turkey a la king with rice, mixed vegetables, white bread, fruit and a beverage.

Selected quotations

Chief State's Attorney Christopher Morano said:

"Today is a day no one truly looked forward to - but then no one looked forward to the brutal, heinous deaths of those eight young girls. I hope that there is at least some measure of relief and closure for their families."

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said:

Ross’s lawyer, T. R. Paulding, said:

"I owe these people. I killed their daughters. If I could stop the pain, I have to do that. This is my right."

Ross’s affidavit statement included:

"I wish to make it clear that I do not authorize, endorse concur in or approve of any legal pleadings or petitions filed in any court anywhere in the time remaining between the execution of this affidavit and the moment of my execution unless they are filed by me or attorney T.R. Paulding, Jr."

Christine Whidden, warden of Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers, said:

"In accordance with the sentence of capital punishment imposed by the Superior Court of the Judicial District of New London, the execution of Michael Bruce Ross has been carried out in the manner prescribed by the laws of the state of Connecticut,"

Edwin Shelley, father of 14-year-old victim Leslie Shelley, said:

"We have waited 21 years for justice, and I would like to thank the jury in Bridgeport, the jury in New London and, finally, the State of Connecticut for finally giving us the justice that our children are due."

Victim Robin Stavinsky’s stepmother, Joan Stavinsky, said:

"I think I'm a little bit numb," Stavinsky said. "It just doesn't seem real. You just can't set aside 22 years of this in one instant."

Debbie Dupuis, Robin Stavinsky’s sister, said:

"I thought I would feel closure, but I felt anger, just watching him lay there and sleep, after what he did to these women, but I'm sure I will feel some closure soon," said Debbie Dupuis, Robin Stavinsky's sister.

Related individuals and family statements mentioned around the execution

• Jacob Grossouw, 16 of Enfield, said he was shocked.
• Several family members of Ross’s victims were described as grateful for the execution and others as expressing anger or mixed emotions.
• Jennifer Tabor said she issued a statement about sorrow and respect for the Ross family and described anger beginning to fade. Tabor said:

"We feel sorrow for the Ross family and respect their grief at losing a family member. We know that the sadness of losing Robin will always remain, but now the anger caused by Michael Ross' crimes can begin to fade into a safe place. ... We hope the words, thoughts and life of Michael Ross will become a faint memory and the notoriety that surrounded him will finally end."

Legal citations included in the record

The following case citations were listed:

• State v. Ross, 225 Conn. 559, 624 A.2d 886 (1993) (Direct Appeal)
• State v. Ross, 230 Conn. 183, 646 A.2d 1318 (1994) (Direct Appeal-Reversed)
• State v. Ross, 269 Conn. 213, 849 A.2d 648 (2004) (Direct Appeal)
• Ross ex rel. Dunham v. Lantz, --- F.3d ----, 2005 WL 1120272 (2nd Cir. May 12, 2005) (Stay)

Other procedural descriptions

Ross was described as being a “volunteer” for execution, and it was stated that he declined to pursue further appeals. Legal challenges included efforts to halt the execution, including competency and “next friend” arguments, and the execution proceeded after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected efforts by two defense lawyers to halt the execution.