Nelson Shelton

Overview

Nelson Shelton was executed by lethal injection in Delaware on March 17, 1995.

Timeline

• April 30, 1993 — Nelson Shelton was sentenced to death for his part in the 1992 bludgeon death of a robbery victim.
• January 11, 1992 — Nelson Shelton spent the afternoon drinking beer with his brother Steven Shelton, his cousin Jack Outten, and his girlfriend, Christina Gibbons; later that evening the group met Wilson Mannon in a bar in New Castle, Delaware.
• 1992 — Wilson Mannon was bludgeoned to death with the top of a washing machine; his body was found the next day.
• March 18, 1995 — Nelson Shelton was executed by lethal injection at the Delaware Correctional Center.
• March 17, 1995 — Nelson Shelton was pronounced dead at 12:34 A.M.

The offence

Nelson Shelton was convicted of first degree murder for his part in the bludgeon death of Wilson Mannon.

Wilson Mannon was 64 years old. His body was found on East Seventh Street in Wilmington near the Christiana River. He was beaten to death with the top of a washing machine.

Nelson Shelton acted together with his brother Steven Shelton and their cousin Jack Outten. All three men were convicted of first degree murder for their part in the killing.

Background and participants

Nelson Shelton spent the afternoon drinking beer with his brother Steven Shelton, his cousin Jack Outten, and his girlfriend, Christina Gibbons.

That evening, at a bar in New Castle, Delaware, they met 64-year-old Wilson Mannon. After leaving the bar, Wilson Mannon was killed.

At trial, the state's principal witness was Christina Gibbons. She claimed at first that Nelson's brother was uninvolved in the murder.

Trial

Nelson Shelton, Steven Shelton, and Jack Outten were tried and sentenced in 1993. For the first time in state history, Superior Court Judge Jerome O. Herlihy sentenced three people to death for committing a single murder.

Nelson Shelton decided not to appeal his sentence.

Sentencing

On April 30, 1993, Superior Court Judge Jerome O. Herlihy sentenced Nelson Shelton to death for his part in the 1992 killing of Wilson Mannon.

Steven Shelton and Jack Outten were also sentenced to death.

Appeals

Nelson Shelton refused to appeal his sentence.

Steven Shelton and Jack Outten were scheduled to be executed in April, with plans for appeals that probably would delay their executions.

Execution

Nelson Shelton was executed by lethal injection at the Delaware Correctional Center on March 17, 1995.

When asked by the warden, Robert Snyder, if he had any last words before the injection was administered, Nelson Shelton said: "No." He was pronounced dead at 12:34 A.M.

Aftermath and statements

During his time on death row, Nelson Shelton entered the interview room crestfallen. A death-penalty “volunteer” had ordered his lawyer not to appeal his sentence. His rationale for not appealing was: "What I miss most? The morning part. I had a lot of problems, but I loved to work. And I guess it comes from my father....I was always the first one on the job site. And I was just going along with the mornings"

He said during that period: "Well, yeah, the death penalty is OK & it's suitable. And I'm pretty much comfortable with that because I believe in the Holy Bible & I believe in every wonder that's in there....And it was right after the flood, when God told Moses, his son would be proof & multiply....And one of the first laws was if any man shall shed any man's blood, by man shall that man's blood be shed. And that was right."

Nelson Shelton also described medication during his time on death row: "Recently, I tried some antidepressant medication. I wouldn't let them put me on those Thorazine or Halcion or any of that stuff. And I'm on just a regular, generic antidepressant, because I was sleeping too much. I was putting in 16, 12 hours in bed....I've been going, trying to struggle with a normal routine for the last week. It helps with the medication, the antidepressant."

He described his schooling and upbringing: "My dad used to always call me stupid. Literally. And I didn't know anything. Because no one showed me nothing. Not one person showed me anything that was right. Not one."

He made a reflection that included Wilson Mannon: "And now I think about that man [Wilson Mannon]. And I think about his family & what his family's going through....Even though my father was rough with me & had a bad fuse, you know, to brutally kill like that-....I know he was a real kind, gentle guy, you know....And it's like he was getting ready to retire & enjoy life. And the way I see it now, is that before he could retire & enjoy the fruits of his labor, you know, 4 evil people came along & snuffed his life out....No, I...I'm really torn. Even though my life is in the balance, you know."