Sterling Spann

Background

Sterling Spann was a former death row inmate whose death sentence was overturned and whose later plea resulted in a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

He was associated with the 1981 death of Melva Niell, 81, of Clover. The case involved evidence described as indicating that a serial killer murdered Niell and two other elderly Clover women. The three victims were described as elderly, heavy-set white women, living within 12 miles of one another.

The three victims were said to have been strangled to death and sexually assaulted between July and November 1981.

The offence

In the case involving the 1981 death of 81-year-old Melva Niell of Clover:

• The victims were described as strangled to death and sexually assaulted.
• The first two victims were described as left in the bathtub.
• The third victim was described as drenched in fruit juice because the bathroom was outside the house.

Mary Ring, 57, was described as found dead in her bathtub in Clover on July 18, 1981.

Investigation

Much of the new evidence was described as surrounding Johnny Hullett, a Bowling Green man convicted of murdering 69-year-old Bessie Kate Alexander, described as the third murder in the series. Hullett was also described as the suspect in another elderly murder case.

A diary kept by a relative was described as including an admission by Hullett that he committed the murder blamed on Spann. The diary entry was described as including details of the murder that had not come out in the trial or in subsequent appeals.

Trial

Sterling Spann was convicted in 1981 of murdering 81-year-old Melva Niell of Clover.

Spann’s defense included three experts to try to prove the serial killer theory:

• Dr. Werner Spitz, a forensic pathologist, said the three victims were killed with a unique chokehold he had not encountered in his 43 years of practice.
• Dr. Emanuel Tanay, a forensic psychiatrist, said a “sexual, sadistic murderer” committed all three crimes.
• Robert Ressler, described as a former FBI ace-agent, said the circumstances of the three murders indicated they were committed by a white male in his 20s or 30s with a dysfunctional marriage and a history of psychological problems.

The account stated that Spann was Black, was not married in 1982, and was not diagnosed with mental problems.

The account also stated that Hullett fit the profile in a 1996 appeal.

The account described that no one had ever been arrested for the first murder.

Appeals

The South Carolina Supreme Court granted a new trial to death row inmate Sterling Spann on February 17, 1999.

In a unanimous decision, the S.C. Supreme Court cited new evidence that suggested a serial killer murdered Niell and two other elderly Clover women. The February 17, 1999 granting of a new trial related to the charges involving the 1981 death of Melva Niell, 81, of Clover.

Sentencing

Sterling Spann was sentenced to death on May 26, 1982.

His death sentence was overturned on February 16, 1999.

He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after entering a plea on May 7, 2002. The plea was described as not admitting guilt but as conceding there was enough evidence that a jury might convict him.

Prosecutor Tommy Pope was described as having promised in Spann’s plea deal to take no position on parole other than a letter stating Spann should serve the entire sentence.

Parole and release

In May 2006, Spann was paroled.

A board at the Probation, Parole and Pardon Services voted 5-1 to release Spann on May 3, 2006. The board was described as voting against releasing him unanimously in 2004 and on a 3-3 vote in 2005.

At the time of the parole vote, Spann was described as 43 years old and as having spent 17 years on death row before he won a new trial on the charges involving the 1981 death of Melva Niell.

Spann planned to move to Connecticut after winning parole. His attorney Lionel S. Lofton was described as saying a job was waiting for him in Connecticut.

Lofton was described as saying a couple from Monroe, Connecticut saw Spann’s story on NBC’s “Dateline” several years ago and became his benefactors. Lofton was described as saying the couple had no connection to Spann or South Carolina and owned a string of tire stores across the country. Lofton was described as saying, “They have adopted Sterling and his entire family,” and “They have been working very hard to help Sterling and see that he's got good legal representation and make sure that he had a place to live and a job to go to,” and “It's really heartwarming to see that there are people like that in this country,” and “Sterling's record since he's been back in prison has been exemplary.” Lofton was also described as saying, “He had a track record for them to see that he hadn't done anything wrong” while Spann was out on bond in 2002.

Spann was described as currently at Broad River Correctional Institution.

Because his release to Connecticut had to be approved by both Connecticut and South Carolina, it was described as taking up to 45 days before Spann was freed. Pete O’Boyle, spokesman for Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, was associated with that estimate.

Tommy Pope was described as not immediately returning calls from The Associated Press.

Other details

Lionel S. Lofton represented Spann.