Missouri
May 18, 2005
After midnight CST
Shortly after midnight on May 18, 2005, the state of Missouri is scheduled to execute Vernon Brown. Brown is to be executed for the October 1986 murder of Janet Perkins in St. Louis City. Perkins was 9 years old at the time of her death.
On Oct. 24, 1986, Brown lured Perkins into his residence, tied her up, and then strangled her to death. He was arrested three days later for the murder.
Brown was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. In a later, unrelated case, Brown was convicted of first-degree murder for the March 1985 death of Synetta Ford. He received a death sentence for that crime as well.
Brown experienced a tumultuous childhood. His father had absolutely no presence in his life and his mother was often not around the house. This left Brown to be largely reared by his grandparents. Brown’s grandfather was overly stern and terribly abusive, sexually molesting and severely beating Brown throughout his youth. Brown’s difficult childhood was further complicated by a head injury that he endured at a young age. Brown’s attorney maintains that, “since the injury, [Brown] has suffered severe headaches during which his body would become rigid, he would lapse into a trance and would not remember what happened.”
Although Brown has confessed to Perkins’ murder, he claims that his ability to reflect upon his behavior prior to and during the commission of the crime was diminished by drug use. Brown, an admitted PCP user, asserts that his PCP use caused him to experience an episode of blackouts while Perkins was inside his home. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, PCP, which has anesthetic properties, “induces a profound departure from reality, which leaves the user capable of bizarre behavior and severe disorientation.”
Because Brown endured a traumatic childhood and there exist indications that he was not acting in a conscious manner when he took Perkins’ life, his execution should not proceed.
Please write to Gov. Matt Blunt and express your opposition to the state of Missouri’s plan to execute Vernon Brown.
