Ronford Styron

Case details

Ronford Lee Styron was convicted of the capital murder of his eleven-month-old son, Lee Hollace Styron, and was sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 16, 2002.

The offence

On Oct. 23, 1993, Ronford Lee Styron punched his 11-month-old son, Lee Hollace Styron, at least three times in the head and face. The blows caused the child to black out and act abnormally thereafter. Styron did not take the infant to the hospital until the child's condition worsened three days later.

The infant died as a result of subdural hemorrhaging due to trauma to the head. Medical evidence introduced at trial indicated that the victim died as a result of subdural hemorrhaging caused by trauma to the head. The evidence revealed that the child had suffered at least three distinct blows to his head, and any one of which could have caused his death. Medical testimony indicated that the blows appeared to have been inflicted contemporaneously.

The fatal injuries were described as the culmination of a long pattern of abusive behavior directed at the 11-month-old victim. The abusive treatment included punching him in the face, dunking him in ice water, squeezing him hard enough to break his ribs, and shaking him hard enough to cause retinal hemorrhages. Styron stuffed tape into the child's mouth to quiet him and palmed the child's head like a basketball, dangling the child “like a puppet.” The victim’s older injuries included at least 10 broken bones.

The child had older injuries that included at least ten broken bones. Medical examiners found the baby suffered three recent blows to the head and that any of them could have been fatal. At least 10 bones were broken in previous injuries.

Styron was described as the child's primary caregiver. Living conditions in his home were described as filthy, and Styron's other baby was not in good condition at the time of the victim's death. When advised by police that Lee Hollace was not expected to live, Styron showed no remorse or sign of being upset. The evidence also included that the child had been taken to the hospital on three prior occasions: once for a cut lip, once for a broken leg, and once for treatment of a seizure disorder.

Motive and intent

Styron’s abusive treatment of the victim was motivated by Styron’s anger at his wife for allegedly having an affair and Styron’s expressed opinion that the victim was not his biological child.

In trial testimony, Styron testified that he punched the victim in the head one time and did not offer any explanation as to how the victim received multiple bruises on his head. He also testified that he did strike his son, but only once, to stop him from choking on food, and that he never intended to kill the child.

His defense at trial was based upon a lack of intent to harm or to kill the child. The defense presented evidence that Styron was in fact a loving father to the victim.

The jury convicted Styron of capital murder on October 24, 1994. In sentencing, the jury answered affirmatively to the first special sentencing issue and negatively to the second special sentencing issue, leading the trial court to sentence Styron to death in accordance with Texas law.

Investigation and medical findings

The child was one month shy of his first birthday when he died. He died Oct. 28, 1993, at Houston's Texas Children's Hospital, three days after he was brought into an emergency room in Liberty, about 40 miles east of Houston. When the child's injuries did not match information presented to physicians treating the comatose infant, authorities began investigating.

The cause of death was described as subdural hemorrhaging due to trauma to the head. Medical testimony indicated that the victim sustained retinal hemorrhages consistent with repeated episodes of shaken-baby trauma and multiple rib fractures within at least two weeks prior to his death. Testimony established that Styron squeezed the victim's stomach approximately three weeks before his death. It was also determined that the death was caused by massive head trauma, which could have been caused by any of the three punches thrown by his father.

Procedural history

Indictment, court, and counsel

Styron was indicted on Dec. 1, 1993, in the 253rd Judicial District Court of Liberty County, Texas, for the capital offense of murdering Lee Hollace Styron, an individual less than six years of age, on Oct. 23, 1993.

In the appeal record, Styron was indicted by the grand jury of the 75th District Court of Liberty County, Texas. Count I alleged that Styron, on or about October 23, 1993, in Liberty County, Texas, intentionally and knowingly caused the death of Lee Hollace Styron, an individual under six years of age, by striking and hitting the child's head with his fist, by causing the child's head to strike and hit an object, and by manner and means unknown. Count II charged Styron with murder, alleging essentially the same conduct as did Count I. Count III alleged injury to a child.

The 75th District Court found Styron to be indigent and appointed Walter F. Fontenot to represent him on November 2, 1993. At the request of the State, without notice to Styron or his attorney and without a hearing, the action was transferred by the 75th District Court to the 253rd District Court of Liberty County. On January 4, 1994, the 253rd District Court, on Styron's motion, appointed Gary W. Bunyard as additional counsel.

On January 5, 1994, Styron filed a pre-trial motion to quash the indictment contending that the government manipulated the transfer to secure a more favorable forum in which to prosecute the action. On May 10, 1994, after a hearing, the trial court denied the motion to quash.

Trial

Styron was tried before a jury upon a plea of not guilty. His defense was based upon a lack of intent to harm or to kill the child.

The jury convicted Styron of the capital offense on Oct. 24, 1994.

Punishment hearing and special sentencing issues

On Oct. 27, 1994, following a separate punishment hearing, the jury answered affirmatively the first special sentencing issue and negatively the second special issue. In accordance with state law, the trial court assessed Styron's punishment at death.

The State produced numerous witnesses during the punishment phase who testified about their knowledge of Styron's reputation and behavior. Four witnesses testified of his propensity to instigate fights. One witness testified that Styron provoked a fight with a boy who could not fight back because of a bad arm, and that Styron hit the boy several times before the witness grabbed Styron. Styron's high school principal and assistant principal both testified that he had a reputation for violence. A Dayton police officer, Shannon Spear, testified that Styron had violently attacked another boy while in the seventh grade, attacked a man on a freeway, and punched his sergeant while in the Army.

Curtis Wills, a psychologist called as a witness by the defense, testified that he could not predict whether Styron was likely to commit future criminal acts. On cross-examination, Wills testified that the results of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) indicated that Styron was hostile, was aggressive, and was a person who harbored grudges. Wills further testified that Styron was the type of person who tends to be diagnosed with an anti-social personality.

Dr. Gripon, a psychiatrist, testified for the State. After a review of the offense reports, Styron's statements, and the results of the MMPI, and in response to a hypothetical question, Dr. Gripon testified that in his opinion Styron was a continuing threat to commit future acts of violence. After the hearing, the jury answered affirmatively the first special sentencing issue as to whether Styron posed a continuing threat to society. The jury answered negatively the second special sentencing issue as to whether mitigating circumstances warranted a sentence of life imprisonment rather than the imposition of a death sentence. Accordingly, the trial court sentenced Styron to death in accordance with Texas law.

Appeals

Direct appeal

Styron's conviction and sentence were automatically appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which affirmed in an unpublished opinion.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in an unpublished opinion issued October 30, 1996. Styron v. State, No. 72,001 (Tex.Crim.App.1996).

State habeas corpus

On April 29, 1997, that court appointed James F. Keegan to represent Styron on state habeas corpus review. Styron filed his original application for writ of habeas corpus in the state trial court on Sept. 17, 1997, raising 43 grounds for relief. On Feb. 24, 1998, the state trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law recommending that relief be denied. In an unpublished order issued on April 29, 1998, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the trial court's findings and conclusions and denied habeas corpus relief. Ex parte Styron, No. 37,058-01 (Tex.Crim.App.1998).

Federal habeas corpus

On June 11, 1998, Styron filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. On March 5, 1999, the district court granted the Director's motion for summary judgment and denied Styron's request for federal habeas relief. An addendum to the memorandum opinion and order, also denying relief, was issued on April 14, 1999.

On May 20, 1999, the district court granted in part Styron's application for a certificate of appealability. In May 1999 Styron filed a notice of appeal and requested expansion of the certificate of appealability. On Dec. 28, 2000, the Fifth Circuit entered an order carrying Styron's motion for COA with the case. On Aug. 15, 2001, the Fifth Circuit denied Styron's request for COA and affirmed the district court's denial of habeas corpus relief in a published opinion. On Aug. 8, 2001, Styron filed a motion for rehearing which the Fifth Circuit denied on Sept. 10, 2001.

Styron v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 438 (5th Cir. 2001) (Habeas).

U.S. Supreme Court

On Nov. 30, 2001, Styron filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. On Feb. 25, 2002, the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.

On March 17, 2002, Styron filed a pro se original petition for federal habeas corpus relief in the United States Supreme Court. The petition was docketed by the Court clerk as an extraordinary writ. The Director filed a brief opposing the grant of habeas relief on grounds the issues raised in the pro se petition had already been raised before and rejected by the Supreme Court. Styron's pro se petition was still pending.

Sentencing

Following the punishment hearing on Oct. 27, 1994, the jury answered the special sentencing issues in a way that led the trial court to assess Styron's punishment at death.

Execution

Ronford Lee Styron Jr. was executed by lethal injection in Texas on May 16, 2002.

In the final statement made while he was strapped to a gurney in the Texas death chamber, Styron said:

"I'm going to go with my little boy and play with him. ... Lord Jesus, I see your spirit, it's OK, I love you."

In another account of the final statement, he said:

"I know where I am going." "I want to see you there, so get your heart right. You know I love you and care for you." "I am going to go see my little boy now and I'm going to have some fun with him." "Y'all take care and I love y'all."

He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. after the lethal dose was administered beginning around 6:12 p.m. and the fatal dose of chemicals was administered at 6:13 p.m. He lost consciousness looking at his family.

Final meal

For his final meal, Styron requested:

• Mexican platter with all the works
• two classic Cokes
• pickles
• olives
• Cookies and Cream ice cream

Criminal history and background

Styron’s documented criminal history reflected convictions prior to the 1993 capital murder.

On April 18, 1991, Styron was convicted and sentenced to one year of probation for carrying a weapon by the County Criminal Court at Law of Harris County, Texas.

On June 8, 1999, Styron was convicted and sentenced to one year of probation for assault by the County Criminal Court at Law of Harris County, Texas.

The jury learned additional information about Styron’s history, reputation, and conduct, including that he had a reputation for being a schoolyard bully and for provoking fights with classmates beginning in the seventh grade. It was said that at least one victim required medical attention and that at least one attack resulted in Styron's expulsion from school. It was also stated that Styron was discharged from the military for punching his sergeant, had problems with authority figures in civilian employment, and physically threatened several people while on the job. He was described as overly aggressive in his neighborhood.

Neighbors reported that Styron participated in a violent street riot, that he had been observed taking out his anger on his car, firing a gun at it, and kicking it. Neighbors also reported that he made an unprovoked physical attack upon one of his neighbors which broke the man's jaw. Styron had been arrested for an incident on the freeway in Houston in which he pointed a pistol at the passengers in another vehicle and later started a fist fight with the driver on the side of the freeway.

Other details

The case citation included:

• Styron v. Johnson, 262 F.3d 438 (5th Cir. 2001) (Habeas)