Ruthann Veal

Case overview

Ruthann Veal was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1993 killing of Catherine Haynes in Waterloo, Iowa. Veal was fourteen years old at the time of the offense and was charged as an adult after being waived from juvenile court to criminal adult court. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on November 13, 1995, and her sentence was later commuted to 60 years in prison on July 16, 2012.

Timeline

• June 1993 — Veal was arrested in connection with the death of Catherine Haynes in Waterloo, Iowa, when Veal was fourteen years old.
• June 15, 1993 to June 16, 1993 — Catherine Haynes, age sixty-six, was stabbed to death at her Waterloo home sometime between 6:00 p.m. on June 15 and 6:00 a.m. on June 16.
• June 18, 1993 — A medical examination disclosed that Veal’s arms had bruises that were one to five days old.
• November 13, 1995 — Veal was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• May 21, 1997 — The Iowa Supreme Court considered the appeal of the first-degree-murder conviction and affirmed the judgment of the district court finding Veal guilty.
• January 19, 2010 — The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments in Veal’s case.
• February 26, 2010 — A case reversal was discussed in connection with the Iowa Supreme Court’s earlier oral argument decision affecting Veal’s appeal; the case was to be sent back to Black Hawk County District Court.
• July 24, 2009 — The Iowa Court of Appeals turned down Veal’s challenge to her life sentence for the 1993 slaying.
• July 16, 2012 — Gov. Terry Branstad commuted life sentences of 38 juveniles, including Veal, giving mandatory 60-year prison terms instead.
• July 19 — Veal had a status hearing on her case.

Background

Veal was waived from juvenile court to criminal adult court and was charged by trial information with first-degree murder under Iowa Code section 707.2 (1993). Before trial, Veal filed a motion for change of venue, claiming that she could not receive a fair and impartial trial in Black Hawk County because of publicity generated in that area.

The offence

Catherine Haynes, age sixty-six, was stabbed to death at her Waterloo home sometime between 6:00 p.m. on June 15 and 6:00 a.m. on June 16, 1993. Tests indicated Haynes had died between those times. The evidence described that Haynes was stabbed twenty-three times. Her body was discovered at her Waterloo home that afternoon after she had been seen visiting a neighbor across the street the previous evening. Witnesses had observed that the screen door was shut but the inside door was open when Haynes returned to her home, and that earlier in the evening both the front and back doors had been open.

The record described that during the early evening hours of June 15, witnesses saw a police officer chase Veal through a residential neighborhood. Veal had run away from a juvenile home. Veal, described as six feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, was wearing green pants, a white shirt, and hiking boots.

Investigation

The record described that several long-distance telephone calls were placed from Haynes’ residence between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. to residences of friends and relatives of Veal, who testified they did not know Catherine Haynes. At 11:45 p.m., a woman called the Yellow Cab Company to request a cab pick up a person at Haynes’ address. The ultimate destination indicated by the caller was to the address of a person who knew Veal but not Haynes. When the cab driver arrived, a woman leaned out of the door so that only her head and shoulders were visible and told the driver the cab was no longer needed. The cab driver later picked Veal’s picture out of a police photographic lineup as the woman he saw at Haynes’ house.

The record also described travel and events over the following night and into June 16, including that Veal spent the rest of that night and the following two days in various locations in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. At about midnight on June 15, Veal drove around in Haynes’ car near a Waterloo convenience store, showed young people that she had some credit cards, and offered to pay their way if they accompanied her to Cedar Rapids. Veal drove to Cedar Rapids and back to Waterloo and then drove to Cedar Rapids a second time with Tarik Tate and Tequisha Parsons. The group arrived at the Cedar Rapids home of Elizabeth Richardson, Tate’s grandmother, at about 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. on June 16.

According to Parsons, Veal told Parsons she had done something bad and that she killed someone or killed a lady, and that she stabbed her. The record described that Veal, Parsons, and Tate stayed at Richardson’s house until that afternoon, when they decided to go shopping with a fourth person. The record also described that Veal used Haynes’ credit card to buy clothes and shoes for herself and the others, decided to leave Iowa City after seeing a security guard, and then returned to Cedar Rapids.

Physical evidence described in the record included: Veal’s fingerprint on a table in Haynes’ house, and a false fingernail attached to one of Veal’s fingers near Haynes’ body in an upstairs hall. A footprint found in an upstairs bedroom matched those made by Veal’s shoes. Veal’s white shirt and green pants were stained with human blood, although witnesses had seen no such stains at 6:00 p.m. on June 15. Veal’s shoes had bloodstains consistent with Haynes’ blood but inconsistent with Veal’s blood. A medical examination on June 18 disclosed bruises on Veal’s arms one to five days old, and acquaintances Annette and Tonja Sexton testified they had not seen bruises when they visited with Veal at about 6:00 p.m. on June 15.

During the afternoon of June 17, the record described that while walking with Parsons near Richardson’s Cedar Rapids house, Veal threw Haynes’ credit cards and car keys into a trash can. Police investigators later found physical evidence linking Veal to the murder.

The record also described that neighbors of Haynes testified they heard voices and noises outside at about 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. on June 16, and that the cab driver’s description of Veal did not match her height or weight, and that a package of cigarettes found in Haynes’ home was a different brand than those smoked by Veal.

Arrest

The record described that Veal was arrested in June 1993 in connection with the death of Catherine Haynes in Waterloo, Iowa. It described that Veal was fourteen years old at the time of her arrest and that she was waived from juvenile court to criminal adult court.

Trial

Venue and jury trial

The district court overruled Veal’s motion for change of venue. The case proceeded to a jury trial after the motion was overruled. After a three-week trial, the jury found Veal guilty of first-degree murder. A motion for new trial was filed and was pending when Veal learned the trial judge, James C. Bauch, had been present in a bar with members of the county attorney’s staff following the guilty verdict; Veal filed a motion to recuse the trial judge. Judge Bauch recused himself, and Judge Robert J. Curnan presided over the remaining proceedings.

Judge Curnan overruled Veal’s motion for new trial and sentenced her to serve a life term in prison.

Charges and jury instructions

The appeal materials described that the overall issue involved the alleged errors by the trial court requiring reversal of the conviction for first-degree murder in violation of Iowa Code section 707.2 (1993).

The trial court instructed the jury that the State had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the elements in one of the following alternatives:

Alternative “A”:

1. On or about the 15th/16th day of June, 1993, Ruthann Veal stabbed Catherine Haynes.
2. Catherine Haynes died as a result of being stabbed.
3. Ruthann Veal acted with malice aforethought.
4. Ruthann Veal acted willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and with a specific intent to kill Catherine Haynes.

Alternative “B”: 4. Ruthann Veal was participating in the offense of Robbery in the First Degree.

Alternative “C”: 4. Ruthann Veal was participating in the offense of Willful Injury.

Sentencing

Veal was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on November 13, 1995. The appeal materials also described that the district court sentenced her to serve a life term in prison after the overruling of her motion for new trial.

Appeals

1997 Iowa Supreme Court decision

The Iowa Supreme Court considered the appeal of State v. Veal, identified as STATE of Iowa, Appellee, v. Ruthann VEAL, Appellant, No. 95-2002, with the decision date of May 21, 1997. The court affirmed the conviction, finding no reversible error by the trial court.

The Iowa Supreme Court described the issues raised by Veal on appeal as including:

1. Sufficiency of evidence to convict her of first-degree murder.
2. Denial of a fair trial through denial of a motion for change of venue due to publicity.
3. Constitutional rights violated by the trial court’s failure to address alleged pretextual reasons for peremptory challenges to three black prospective jurors.
4. Denial of the right to confront witnesses when the trial court prohibited cross-examination of three witnesses regarding their juvenile records.
5. Abuse of discretion excluding juvenile records of three witnesses.
6. Error in sustaining the State’s motion in limine and overruling offers of proof, prohibiting Veal from offering statements she had made to police at the time of her arrest and to another person.
7. Error in excluding those statements once the State allegedly “opened the door.”
8. Testimony by a state witness regarding Veal’s request for counsel violated constitutional rights.
9. Allowing Tequisha Parsons to testify despite nondisclosure that Parsons revised her out-of-court statements two weeks before testifying.
10. Abuse of discretion restricting Veal’s cross-examination of Parsons and two other witnesses.
11. Abuse of discretion restricting Veal’s closing argument.
12. Abuse of discretion refusing to submit to the jury three jury instructions proposed by Veal.
13. Abuse of discretion instructing the jury concerning Veal’s other criminal acts.
14. Denial of the constitutional right to a fair tribunal.
15. Cumulative effect of alleged trial court errors denied a fair trial.

The Iowa Supreme Court described that it viewed the evidence in the light most favorable to the State and affirmed the denial of the motion for judgment of acquittal, concluding that substantial evidence supported the verdict.

The court addressed the change of venue claim by noting that publicity was generally factual and informative, that almost a year passed between initial publicity and the start of trial, and that exhaustive voir dire removed jurors who had a fixed opinion of Veal’s guilt. It concluded there was no presumed jury prejudice and no evidence of actual prejudice.

The court addressed the peremptory strikes issue under Batson v. Kentucky, concluding it found no constitutional violation. It described the panel of thirty-two potential jurors passed for cause, included six black jurors; the State struck seven white jurors and three black jurors; Veal struck ten white prospective jurors; and the actual jury included nine white jurors and three black jurors. The court described race-neutral reasons provided for striking the three black prospective jurors, including lack of interest in the case or community events; a view that Veal could not receive a fair trial and a statement about referring persons to Veal’s attorney when problems arose; and failure to disclose prosecution details involving the prospective juror’s husband.

The court also addressed the evidentiary issues regarding juvenile adjudications and confrontation rights, concluding that precluding cross-examination on juvenile records did not violate the Confrontation Clause and that there was no abuse of discretion in excluding the evidence of juvenile adjudications.

The court addressed pretrial statements sought to be admitted, including statements described as made when Veal was at the Cedar Rapids home of Elizabeth Richardson on June 17 and statements made when Veal was arrested. It concluded the trial court did not err in sustaining the State’s motion in limine and overruling offers of proof.

The Iowa Supreme Court also described a discussion of a police officer’s improper testimony and a denied motion for mistrial, concluding no abuse of discretion. It addressed a Brady claim regarding undisclosed inaccuracies in Parsons’ statements and concluded there was no Brady violation. The court also addressed limits on cross-examination, limits on closing argument, and jury instruction issues, concluding there was no prejudicial error and rejecting cumulative error.

2009–2010 Iowa appellate proceedings discussed in the record

The record included later appellate litigation described as follows:

• The Iowa Court of Appeals turned down Ruthann Veal’s challenge to her life sentence in a 1993 slaying (described with an effective date of July 24, 2009).
• The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments in the case on January 19, 2010.
• A subsequent reversal of prior decisions regarding Veal’s appeal was discussed with a date of February 26, 2010, with the case to be sent back to Black Hawk County District Court for reconsideration.

Outcome

Veal was convicted of first-degree murder and received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole on November 13, 1995. On July 16, 2012, her sentence was commuted to 60 years in prison as part of Gov. Terry Branstad’s commutation of the life sentences of 38 juveniles.

Aftermath

In connection with the commutation, the record described that Veal stabbed a retired librarian to death in 1993 in Waterloo. It also included discussion of U.S. Supreme Court sentencing decisions affecting mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles. It further included that Veal’s continuing legal fight could have new hope for parole release, while also including a statement from Black Hawk County attorney Tom Ferguson that the high court’s ruling did not guarantee anything and that issues would be addressed through courts and possibly legislation.

The record also included direct statements and quotes:

“During this process, the victims are all too often forgotten by our justice system, and are forced to re-live the pain of the tragedies,” said Branstad.

“These victims have had their loved ones violently taken away from them. I take this action today to protect these victims, their loved ones' memories, and to protect the safety of all Iowans.” said Branstad.

“My husband and I were the last ones to see Catherine alive, except for Veal. It was just so shocking to hear such an innocent lady to be attacked so brutal,” said Chris Murphy.

“You've got to forgive yourself everyday you wake up,” said Veal in 2002.

“My own view is that if you had an honest conversation about that in the Legislature it would not be set at 14. No state that has taken this up has ever set the minimum age for life without parole at 14,” Stevenson said.

“They're going to change. Their judgment's going to improve. Their impulse control will improve; their sense of responsibility will improve. And while they can do things that are tragic and devastating and need to be punished, we shouldn't conclude that they, like adults, are beyond all hope and redemption,” Stevenson said.

“Even people who feel strongly that punishments should be tough would hesitate on the question of whether a 14-year-old should be placed in an adult prison until they die,” Stevenson said.

“There was just no dealing with her,” Andrews said.

“What they've essentially said is there's no time bar to Ruthann's argument,” Stevenson said.

“It's going to be some time before we sort this all out. It's going to be sorted out through the courts. And, ultimately, I think will be sorted out somewhat through the legislature when we get some guidance from the courts on this decision's impact on juveniles as well as our own Supreme Court's decision on the impact of life without parole on juveniles,” Ferguson said.

“I think she'll kill again. So I would hope if she does come up for parole, she would not get it. But every time she's eligible, we'd just be holding our breaths, 'Is she going to get it? Is someone going to give it to her?' Oh my gosh,” Murphy said.

Other details

The record included discussion that Veal was formerly of Mason City and had been on the run from a Waterloo detention facility at the time of the murder. It described Veal as “now 31” at the time of the January 19, 2010 report. The record also described Veal as a 17-year-old Waterloo murder case headed back to district court after an Iowa Supreme Court ruling, and it described her age as 14 at the time of the offense and that she was tried as an adult.

The record described prosecutors and counsel named in the Iowa Supreme Court decision, including Alfredo Parrish and Andrew J. Dunn of Parrish, Kruidenier, Moss, Dunn & Montgomery, Des Moines, for appellant, and Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Thomas S. Tauber, Assistant Attorney General, Thomas J. Ferguson, County Attorney, and D. Raymond Walton, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.

The record also included named individuals and relationships mentioned during the proceedings and evidence description:

• Catherine Haynes, victim.
• Chris Murphy, husband of a neighbor described as having seen Catherine alive with the exception of Veal.
• Annette Sexton and Tonja Sexton, acquaintances of Veal who testified about not seeing bruises on Veal’s arms when she visited them at about 6:00 p.m. on June 15.
• Tarik Tate, described as a person who traveled with Veal and Parsons.
• Tequisha Parsons, described as a person who traveled with Veal and Tate and whose testimony was central to the issues on appeal.
• Elizabeth Richardson, described as Tate’s grandmother and as the person whose Cedar Rapids home was used by Veal, Tate, and Parsons.
• James C. Bauch, trial judge, who recused himself.
• Judge Robert J. Curnan, who was assigned to preside over remaining proceedings and overruled the motion for new trial.
• Bryan Stevenson, Veal’s attorney in later proceedings.
• Thomas Andrews, assistant Iowa Attorney General.
• Tom Ferguson, Black Hawk County attorney.
• Equal Justice Initiative attorneys.
• Yellow Cab Company, mentioned in the investigation description.
• Tequisha Parsons’ out-of-court statements and deposition testimony.
• Judge Curnan’s proceedings after recusal.

The record included comparative information about another juvenile case discussed alongside Veal’s commutation: Edgar Concepcion Jr. of Charles City, who was described as killing his 3-year-old cousin in Charles City in 2009 and receiving a mandatory sentence of life without parole when convicted.