Michael Worthington

Case record: Michael Worthington

Overview

Michael Worthington was convicted after pleading guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and forcible rape, and was sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on August 6, 2014.

People

• Michael Worthington — defendant.
• Melinda “Mindy” Griffin — victim; 24-year-old college student and finance student at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
• Jill Morehead — friend from work mentioned in the case facts.
• Kent Gipson — Worthington’s attorney referenced in connection with seeking a stay.
• Jay Nixon — Missouri Governor who denied clemency.
• Chris Koster — Missouri Attorney General.
• Mike O’Connell — Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman (quoted regarding execution pronouncement time).
• Kent Gibson — attorney referenced as representing Worthington.
• Carol Angelbeck — Griffin’s mother.
• Jack Angelbeck — Griffin’s father.
• Debbie Selecky — Griffin’s older sister.
• Jim Selecky — Debbie Selecky’s husband.
• Mike Force — Lake Saint Louis Police Department Chief.
• Don Bolen — retired Lake Saint Louis Police detective.
• Chris DiGiuseppe — Assistant Chief (Lake Saint Louis Police).
• Tim Braun — then-prosecutor referenced as involved in Griffin’s case.
• Grace M. Nichols — judge referenced in connection with the guilty plea.
• Nancy L. Schneider — judge referenced in post-conviction proceedings.
• Wolff — judge on direct appeal (as referenced in the Missouri Supreme Court opinion).
• Dr. Max Givon — psychologist referenced in evaluation.
• Dr. Kevin Miller — psychiatrist retained by defense for evaluation.
• Dr. Roswald Evans — psychiatric pharmacist who testified at penalty phase.
• Dr. Jonathan Pincus — expert witness at post-conviction hearing.
• Dr. Dennis Cowan — expert witness at post-conviction hearing.
• Dr. Robert Smith — expert witness at post-conviction hearing.
• Darick — person mentioned in Worthington’s account.
• Anthony — person mentioned in Worthington’s account.
• Charlotte Peroti — witness referenced in penalty phase discussion, including uncharged misconduct testimony.
• Charlotte Kirn — name under which Peroti had been listed as a witness.
• Charlotte Tegard — Worthington’s maternal aunt referenced as a mitigation witness.
• Patricia Washburn (“Patricia”) — Worthington’s mother referenced in cross-appeal.
• Richard Worthington (“Richard”) — Worthington’s father referenced in cross-appeal.
• Max Givon and others are referenced as part of court discussions and testimony summaries in the opinions.

Timeline

• September 29, 1995 — Michael Worthington and Jill Morehead were at Worthington’s condominium in Lake St. Louis, watching television; later that day they left to pick up paychecks; Worthington later broke into Melinda “Mindy” Griffin’s condominium.
• September 30, 1995 — A police officer pulled Worthington over while he was driving Griffin’s car.
• October 1, 1995 — A neighbor discovered Griffin’s body.
• August 28, 1998 — Worthington pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and forcible rape without a plea agreement; he waived a jury for sentencing.
• September 14, 1998 — the four-day sentencing hearing commenced; the State presented victim impact statements, forensic evidence, and evidence of Worthington’s lengthy criminal history.
• January 4, 1999 — Worthington was sentenced to death.
• 2004 — Worthington’s federal and state post-conviction history is described through later filings, including a PCR decision in 2005 and federal habeas discussion that references later proceedings; (no specific dated event in the provided text is assigned to the year 2004).
• 2005 — the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed denial of post-conviction relief in Worthington v. State, 166 S.W.3d 566 (Mo. 2005).
• August 5, 2014 — the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear another appeal; Worthington was scheduled to be executed just after midnight.
• August 6, 2014 — Worthington was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m. CDT (0511 GMT) at a prison facility in Bonne Terre after execution by lethal injection.

Background

Melinda “Mindy” Griffin was a 24-year-old college student and a finance student at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She worked at two restaurants to support herself.

Michael Worthington and Jill Morehead were together earlier on September 29, 1995. After their activities that day, Worthington later returned to Griffin’s condominium area and broke in.

The offence

Entry and assault at Griffin’s condominium

Later that night, Worthington saw that the kitchen window was open in the condominium of his neighbor, Melinda Griffin. Worthington cut through the screen using a razor blade and gloves. He confronted Griffin in the bedroom, covered her mouth to stop her screams, and strangled her until she became unconscious.

Worthington began to rape Griffin. When Griffin regained consciousness and fought back, Worthington beat her and strangled her to death. The wounds on Griffin’s neck showed that Worthington used a rope or cord in addition to his hands to strangle her.

Theft and vehicle

Worthington stole Griffin’s jewelry, credit cards, mobile phone, keys, and her car. He also used stolen credit cards to buy drugs, and he stole her car keys.

After the killing: traffic stop and found items

On the morning after the murder, a police officer pulled Worthington over while he was driving Griffin’s vehicle. The officer noticed items associated with a woman in the car, including make-up and shoes. The car had not been reported stolen.

A fanny pack Worthington was wearing contained jewelry and keys belonging to Griffin. DNA testing later established that semen found on Griffin’s body came from Worthington.

Police discovery and scene details

On October 1, a neighbor discovered Griffin’s body. Police found Griffin’s body lying bruised, bloody, and unclothed at the foot of the bed, with a lace stocking draped across it. All the bedroom drawers had been pulled open. Police also found that the screen in the kitchen window had been cut to gain entry.

Threat of suicide and custody

When police officers found Worthington that evening and he saw police, he pulled out a knife, held it to his throat, and threatened to commit suicide. Officers convinced him to put the knife down and brought him into custody.

Investigation

DNA testing established the semen found on Griffin’s body came from Worthington.

Police also linked Worthington through items stolen from Griffin’s home found on Worthington at the time of his arrest and through his confession after evidence presentation.

Arrest and statements

At the police station, Worthington relayed his story of four days of drinking and getting high. After being presented with the evidence against him, he confessed to the killing but said he could not remember the details because he was prone to blackouts when using alcohol and cocaine.

At the time the offenses occurred, Worthington said he was extremely high on Prozac, cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. He also said that two friends, Darick and Anthony, helped him with the burglary; the story was described as inconsistent with physical evidence and subsequent statements made by Worthington.

Worthington threatened to commit suicide when he was first located by police and held a knife to his throat; officers convinced him to put the knife down and he was taken into custody.

Plea and sentencing

Plea

Worthington pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and forcible rape. The guilty plea was entered on August 28, 1998.

Penalty phase and death sentence

Because the trial court imposed the death penalty for the murder conviction, Missouri appellate jurisdiction attached to the direct appeal.

The sentencing court also imposed prison terms for the other offenses:

• 30 years on the burglary charge.
• Life imprisonment on the forcible rape charge. These sentences were described as to be served consecutively.

The death sentence was imposed after findings that included:

• Worthington committed murder for the purpose of receiving money or other thing of monetary value from the victim.
• The murder occurred while Worthington was engaged in the perpetration of forcible rape and burglary.

Trial

Worthington’s guilty plea was entered with waiver of jury sentencing. During the sentencing hearing, the State presented victim impact statements and forensic evidence, along with evidence of prior criminal history and behavior while incarcerated.

Court comments during sentencing (quoted)

“... The Court has considered all of the non-statutory mitigating circumstances and factors that have been offered to this court, and any other facts or circumstances which may be found from the evidence presented, and finds that defendant was raised in a dysfunctional family, and was neglected and abused as a child and further, that the defendant is a long-term drug abuser. Having considered all of the evidence and the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the Court finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the non-statutory mitigating circumstances ...”

Appeals

Direct appeal outcome

In State v. Worthington, 8 S.W.3d 83 (Mo. 1999), the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence.

Post-conviction proceedings

In Worthington v. State, 166 S.W.3d 566 (Mo. 2005), the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed denial of post-conviction relief.

Federal habeas

In Worthington v. Roper, 631 F.3d 487 (8th Cir. 2011), the Court of Appeals reversed part of the district court’s grant of habeas relief and affirmed denial of two other grounds; the appellate outcome was described as:

• reversed the district court’s grant on the ineffective-assistance claim relating to psychological mitigation evidence,
• affirmed denial on two ineffective-assistance claims.

Clemency and execution

Denial of clemency

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon denied Worthington’s clemency petition and stated in part:

“Today, my counsel provided me with a final briefing on the comprehensive review of the petition for clemency from convicted murderer and rapist Michael Worthington. Each request for clemency is considered and decided on its own merit and set of facts, and this is a process and a power of the Governor I do not take lightly. After due consideration of the facts, I am denying this petition. There is no question about the brutality of this crime – or doubt of Michael Worthington’s guilt. Melinda “Mindy” Griffin, only 24 years old, was viciously raped and killed in her own home by Worthington. DNA evidence and his possession of items stolen from her home reinforced his confession and guilty pleas to murder, rape and burglary. My denial of clemency upholds the court’s decision to impose the death penalty for this horrific killing. I ask that the people of Missouri remember Mindy Griffin, and keep her and her family in their thoughts and prayers.”

U.S. Supreme Court stay requests

The U.S. Supreme Court denied two different stay applications filed by Worthington’s attorneys.

Execution method and timing

Worthington was executed by lethal injection in Missouri on August 6, 2014. Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman Mike O’Connell said Worthington was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m. CDT (0511 GMT) at a prison facility in Bonne Terre.

Witnesses observed Worthington before execution through glass while he was strapped to a gurney and covered with a sheet.

Worthington’s final statement (quoted)

Worthington issued a final statement before his execution, including no apology for the crimes. He said:

“Thank you, I will finally get to live in peace with my true Father. I’ll no longer have to suffer. It’s really my beloved friends and family that will suffer. May God forgive those who call this justice. When in truth, it’s truly about politics and revenge. Amen and peace to unto you all.”

Aftermath

Carried out after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block the execution and after the governor denied clemency.

Griffin’s mother, Carol Angelbeck, anticipated witnessing the execution and discussed the glass view arrangement.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster issued a statement after the execution that included:

“Mindy Griffin’s parents waited for nearly two decades for justice for their daughter. She was just 24-years old, finishing the final year of her studies at UMSL when her promising life was cut short. Tonight, Michael Worthington paid the price for his callous brutality.”

Lake Saint Louis Police Department Chief Mike Force and retired detective Don Bolen discussed the case and its impact, including statements about Worthington’s behavior after arrest and over the custody period.

The articles also described additional attention due to recent execution complications in other states and discussion of Missouri’s use of pentobarbital.

Other details

Criminal history and background as described in appellate discussion

In federal habeas discussion, the sentencing evidence included references to Worthington having been arrested fifteen times and listed as suspect or criminal in connection with another fifteen cases, including incidents involving burglaries and assaults on an ailing grandfather. The State also presented evidence that Worthington repeatedly had been convicted for burglary as a juvenile and twice had been institutionalized in juvenile correctional facilities, plus incarceration twice by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Execution viewing witnesses and observations

One account described six witnesses including relatives, Worthington’s step-mother, and a girlfriend. Another account described Worthington speaking with witnesses through glass before drugs began flowing, with subsequent witness crying after he fell unconscious. Another account described the time of death as 12:11 and a brief interval where he appeared to breathe heavily, then close his eyes.

Meal

Worthington’s final meal was described as:

• a cheeseburger
• french fries
• a rib-eye steak
• onion rings