James Upchurch
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Washington, North Carolina, USA
- Date of birth
- August 17, 1968
- Age at first offence
- 20
- Characteristics
- murder for hire, financial gain
- Victim profile
- Lieth Von Stein
- Method of murder
- Stabbed and bludgeoned to death
- Date(s) of murder
- July 25, 1988
- Years active
- 1988
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Resentenced to life October 1, 1992 after death sentence was set aside on October 1, 1992; sentenced to death January 30, 1990
Case record: James Bartlett Upchurch III
Background
James Bartlett Upchurch III (born August 17, 1968) was an American man convicted for the murder of Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Bonnie Von Stein on July 25, 1988, in Washington, NC.
He was born and raised in Caswell County, North Carolina. He was the first son of Joanne Ensley Upchurch (deceased) and James Bartlett Upchurch II. He had one brother, Emory, and two sisters, Carrie and Alexandra.
Two books were written about this case: Joe McGinniss' Cruel Doubt (1991) and Jerry Bledsoe's Blood Games (1992). Both books were made into TV movies. The miniseries Cruel Doubt was released in May 1992. The adaptation of Bledsoe's book, Honor Thy Mother, aired in April 1992.
The offence
Upchurch was convicted of first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure, conspiracy to commit murder, and burglary in the first degree.
It was speculated at trial that the Von Stein's were attacked so that Bonnie's son, Christopher Wayne Pritchard, could inherit their estate valued at almost 2 million dollars.
Upchurch was convicted for the murder of Lieth Von Stein and the assault with intent to kill of Bonnie Von Stein on July 25, 1988, in Washington, NC.
Sentencing
Upchurch was sentenced on January 30, 1990, to death for first degree murder, 20 years for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure, 6 years for conspiracy to commit murder, and life for burglary in the first degree.
Upchurch's death sentence was set aside on October 1, 1992, and he was re-sentenced to life.
Upchurch would not be eligible for parole until 2022.
Co-conspirators
His co-conspirators, Chris Pritchard and Gerald Neal Henderson, were both convicted of murder in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure.
Henderson began parole on December 11, 2000. His parole was completed on February 27, 2005, and he was a free man. Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007.
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