MurderousMinds
MurderousMinds takes a deep dive into the dark world of serial killers. Each episode features an in depth analysis of some of history's most notorious murderers. We examine the impact these crimes have had on families and communities, as we attempt to gain a better understanding of what drives these individuals to do what they do. Narrated by Top5s, from the popular YouTube channel Top5s, join us as we make sense of why these individuals committed such brutal acts and discover what drives them, here on the MurderousMinds podcast.
MurderousMinds
The Disturbing Journey of the DC Snipers: John Allen Muhammad & Lee Boyd Malvo | The MurderousMinds Podcast
On February 16th, 2002, Kenya Nicole Cook opened the front door of her aunt’s home, in Tacoma, Washington, to find a teenage boy standing outside. The pair chatted for a moment before the teenager produced a gun, and subsequently shot Kenya, a 21-year-old cashier.
Just over a month later, on March 19th, 60-year-old Jerry Taylor was killed after a single bullet fired from long range hit him while he practised at a golf course in Tucson, Arizona. Over the course of the next four months, two other deaths would occur, and a further four people would be injured by what seemed like stray or random bullets. On August 1st, John Gaeta, who was just 51-years-old, was changing his tyre after he discovered that it had been slashed in a car park in Hammond, Louisiana. As he carried out the task, he was shot in the back. The bullet exited John’s body, but he knew better than to show the shooter that he was alive. He pretended to be dead while the culprit searched him for valuables, coming away from the scene with the 51-year-old’s wallet. Once the shooter was gone, John climbed to his feet and made his way to a nearby service station, where he noticed he was bleeding. Afterwards, he went to the hospital and was released after an hour.
Then, on September 5th, at 10:30 pm, the shooter struck again. This time, the victim was a 55-year-old pizzeria owner named Paul LaRuffa, who was shot five times at close range while locking up his restaurant in Clinton, Maryland. Luckily, Paul survived. A few weeks later, on September 21st, Million Woldemariam became the next target. The 41-year-old was helping the owner of a Sammy’s Package Store in Atlanta, Georgia, close up for the night at around 12:15 am when he was shot in the head and back with a .22 calibre pistol. He died from his wounds. Later that same day, 52-year-old Claudine Parker, a liquor store clerk in Montgomery, Alabama, was shot in the chest and killed during a robbery. Her co-worker, 24-year-old Kellie Adams, was critically wounded after being shot through the neck but managed to survive. The final attack in this series of bizarre slayings occurred on September 23rd, at around 6:30 pm, when Hong Im Ballenger, 45, was shot in the head and killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The weapon used was later identified as a Bushmaster rifle.
While the string of seemingly random attacks came to an end, a new series of shootings began in the states of Washington, DC, and Maryland, this the the story of the DC Sniper Attacks
From murderers to money launderers, thieves to thugs – police officers from the...
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Thank you for tuning in to MurderousMinds, the chilling true crime podcast that delves deep into the darkest minds. Join us as we explore the captivating stories of notorious killers, analyze their motives, and unravel the mysteries behind their heinous acts. Stay connected with us on Patreon for updates, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes insights. Remember, listener discretion is advised.
Welcome to Murderous Minds, a documentary series started by the Top 5's YouTube channel back in 2018, dedicated to exploring the twisted minds of serial killers. The following podcast episode is the audio version of our video series over on the Top 5's Patreon page. If you would like to watch the video instead of just listening, and would also like to support our show, then please head on over to Patreon using the link in the show notes. Thank you for joining, and now let's take a journey into the minds of murderers. On February 16th 2002, kenya, nicole Cook, opened the front door of her aunt's home in Tacoma, washington, to find a teenage boy standing outside. The pair chatted for a moment before the teenager produced a gun and subsequently shot Kenya, a 21 year old cashier. But over a month later, on March 19th, 60 year old Jerry Taylor was killed after a single bullet fired from long range hit him while he practiced at a golf course in Tuscan, arizona. Over the course of the next four months, two other deaths would occur and a further four people would be injured. But what seemed like a stray of random bullets, on August 1st, john Gator, who was just 51 years old, was changing his tire after he discovered that it had been slashed in a car park in Hammond, louisiana. As he carried out the task, he was shot in the back. The bullet exited John's body, but he knew better than to show the shooter that he was alive. He pretended to be dead while the culprit surged him for valuables, coming away from the scene with the 51 year old's wallet. Once the shooter was gone, john climbed to his feet and made his way to a nearby service station where he noticed he was bleeding. Afterwards he went to the hospital and was released after an hour. Then, on September 5th, at 10.30pm, the shooter struck again. This time the victim was a 55 year old pizzeria owner named Paul La Rufa, who was shot five times at close range while locking up his restaurant in Clinton, maryland. Luckily, paul survived.
Speaker 1:A few weeks later, on September 21st, million Waldmeream became the next target. The 41 year old was helping the owner of a Sammy's Packaged store in Atlanta, georgia goes up for the night at around 12.15am when he was shot in the head and back with a.22 caliber pistol. He died from his wounds. Later that same day, 52 year old Claudine Parker, a liquor store clerk in Montgomery, alabama, was shot in the chest and killed during a robbery. Her co-worker, 24 year old Kelly Adams, was critically wounded after being shot through the neck, but managed to survive. The final attack in this series of bizarre slayings occurred on September 23rd at around 6.30pm, when Hong-Imm Borunga, 45, was shot in the head and killed in Baton Rouge, louisiana. The weapon used was later identified as a Bushmaster Rifle.
Speaker 1:While the string of seemingly random attacks came to an end, a new series of shootings began in the states of Washington DC and Maryland. This is the story of John Allen Mohammed and Lee Boyd Melville and the DC Sniper attacks. At 5.20pm on October 2nd, a single bullet was fired through the window over Michael's craft store in Aspen Hill, montgomery County, maryland. The shot barely missed a cashier at the store named Anne Chapman. Unfortunately, nobody else was injured by it. Since nobody was hurt, authorities were not called to the scene. It was deemed that the bullet was a stray one and had not been fired with malice. One hour later, however, 55-year-old program analyst James Martin, who worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was fatally shot at 2201 Randolph Road in the car park of a grocery store in Wheaton, also in Montgomery County.
Speaker 1:From here, things only escalated In the span of around two hours on the morning of October 3rd, four people were shot dead in Montgomery County. A further fifth victim was also fatally shot in Washington DC. The first fatality was at 7.41am, where James Al Buckinham, a 39-year-old landscaper known as Sunny, was shot and killed at 11.41, rockville Pike. He'd been cutting the grass at a commercial establishment near Rockville when the incident occurred. Roughly half an hour later, the shooter struck again. 54-year-old cab driver Prem Kumar Walaker was killed in Aspen Hill as he filled up his vehicle at a mobile petrol station located at Aspen Hill Road and Connecticut Avenue.
Speaker 1:It was yet another approximate half an hour later when the next victim was targeted. Sarah Ramouse, a 34-year-old from Silver Spring, was killed at a post office on Rossmore Boulevard near Leisure World Shopping Center. Witnesses at this time recall seeing a white van or truck speeding out to the car park immediately following the shooting. This time, the perpetrator left a long gap before he struck again. At 9.58am, 25-year-old Laurie Ann Lewis-Revera was fatally shot at a Shell petrol station in Kensington. Much later that night, at 9.20pm, 72-year-old retired carpenter, pascal Charlotte was shot in the chest while walking along Georgia Avenue in Washington DC. Although he was rushed to hospital, he died less than an hour later.
Speaker 1:The perpetrator of these crimes moved so quickly that law enforcement struggled to keep up. As news of the shooting broke, locals in the area began to panic. At a press conference, the chief of police from Montgomery County, charles Moose, informed parents that schools were on a code blue alert, which involved children being kept indoors at all times. Many parents picked their children up early, not allowing them to walk home or take the bus in case they became another victim of the killer. Many schools, both public and private, went into lockdown. Outdoor breaks, pe classes and trips were cancelled. By this time the shooters changed their way of working. They began covering a much larger area and, instead of carrying out multiple killings in a day, would spread their attacks over longer periods of time, taking two to three days between shootings.
Speaker 1:On October 4th, 43-year-old Caroline Sewell was shot in the chest at 2.30pm as she put her shopping bags in her car in the car park of another Michaels Crafts store. This one was located in Fredericksburg, virginia. Fortunately, carol survived and she was dispatched from hospital on October 14th. Three days after her attack, on October 7th at 8.09am, a 13-year-old student arriving at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, maryland, was shot in the chest. The boy named Iran Brown was critically wounded, but his aunt, who was a nurse, had been dropping him off rushed into the hospital where he was treated. He survived his wounds and, at a much later date, testified at the trial of one of the men responsible for the attack.
Speaker 1:Two days later, on October 9th, investigators examining the scene of the shooting discovered several compelling pieces of evidence. The first was a shell casing. The second was a tarot card, specifically the death card. Written on the front of the card were the words Call Me God. On the back, the perpetrator had written for you, mr Police, code Call Me God. Do not release to the press. Despite this demand from the shooter, and although efforts were made to keep this information private, the details of the tarot card were revealed to the public within a matter of days.
Speaker 1:On the same day that the tarot card was recovered, a 53-year-old man, civil engineer Dean Harold Myers, was shot dead while filling his vehicle at a petrol station in Prince William County, virginia, near the city of Manassas. Like with one of the earlier shootings, a white van was reported by witnesses as being at the scene at the time of the crime. Another two days later, on the morning of October 11th at around 9.30am, 53-year-old businessman Kenneth Bridges was shot dead while he filled his vehicle at an ex-in-petrol station up Interstate 95 in Spotsylvania County, virginia. On October 14th at 9.15pm, 47-year-old Linda Franklin, fbi intelligence analyst, was shot dead in a covered car park at Home Depot in Fairfax County just outside Falls Church, virginia. Reportedly, during this specific case, a witness came forward with information about the shooter. However, he was quickly found out to be lying, as he had been inside the store at the time of the slaying, and he was eventually convicted of interfering with the investigation.
Speaker 1:In the five days following Linda Franklin's death, the shooter became inactive. Still, precautions were made to protect citizens as much as possible. Petrol stations began putting up sheets of tarp around their establishments to obscure the view of the shooter, and locals began moving around or crouching as they filled up their vehicles to avoid becoming an easy target. On October 19th at around 8pm, 37-year-old Jeffrey Hopper was shot in a car park at a Ponderosa steakhouse near the I-95 in Ashland, virginia, about 83 miles south of Washington DC. The bullet had lodged itself in his body, but doctors managed to successfully remove it during surgery. Using this piece of evidence, law enforcement linked Jeffrey's attack with the others they had previously been investigating.
Speaker 1:At the same time as the shooting, law enforcement also found a four-page letter from the shooter, which had been left at the scene and wrapped in plastic. Up until this point, investigators had only theorized that multiple people were involved in the shooting spree, but the letter used plural terms, like us, which confirmed their suspicions. The letter demanded that the shooters be given $10 million and gave the account information for a Bank of America Platinum credit card which they had stolen from a bus driver in Arizona. The letter noted we will have a limited withdrawal at any ATM worldwide. Investigators also found that this same credit card had been used to purchase gas into Coma, washington.
Speaker 1:The letter became more chilling as law enforcement read on. It stated your failure to respond has cost you five lives and if stopping the killing is more important than catching us now, then you will accept our demand, which are non-negotiable. Investigators, however, believed that the demand for money was simply an afterthought, as by this time, 12 shootings have been carried out and no demands had ever been made before. The writers of the letter seemed intent on making contact with authorities. They noted a number for a phone booth outside of the Ponderosa restaurant and told authorities to await their call from them. The letter ended with lines such as if trying to catch us now are more important than prepare your body bags. Word is bound, as well as a post script that read your children are not safe anywhere at any time.
Speaker 1:On October 21st, richmond area police arrested two men outside of a petrol station. One owned a white van. The men were undocumented immigrants who had no connection to the case, but were subject to cavity searches and remanded into federal custody. They were subsequently deported. The following day, a 35 year old bus driver named Conrad Johnson was shot as he stood on the top step inside his bus in Aspen Hill, maryland. He was taken to a hospital in Bethesda but later died from his wounds Around. The same time, police chief Moose released some of the details from the letter. Law enforcement were left by the shooter. Additionally, after the shooting, the perpetrators attempted to make contact with investigators by calling the tip line that had been specifically set up for the case.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile, numerous law enforcement agencies were working together to try and catch the perpetrators, including the FBI, atf, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the US Secret Service. Although it was headed publicly by the Montgomery County Police Department, led by police chief Moose, the FBI helped to build a behavioral profile of the killer and estimated that the triggerman was a white male in his late 20s or early 30s who was high school educated and likely divorced. The agency also provided assistance by using animation software to determine where the shooter was positioned during his crimes, which led them to believe one person acted as a spotter or the other carried out the shootings. Furthermore, former Canadian police detective Kim Rosmo was brought in to create a geographic profile of the killer. It was also discovered that the shooter preferred.223 caliber bullets, a very common type of ammunition that could be used in a wide variety of rifles.
Speaker 1:The police were never slow to respond to the crime scenes. Upon arrival, they cornered off nearby roads and highways and questioned and inspected all drivers and vehicles. Furthermore, they canvassed the area, talked to locals and collected the CCTV footage from nearby establishments. On October 4th, the shootings that had taken place between the second and third were all forensically linked to the same weapon. Although witnesses came forward with information, their stories were often confused and spotty, and not many who spoke with investigators were deemed as reliable. A tip line for the case was set up and was flooded with information.
Speaker 1:As we mentioned previously, there were numerous reports that a white van or truck was linked to the scene. In one specific incident, a white box van with green lettering on the side was apparently seen speeding away after Sarah Ramos was shot near the Leisure World Shopping Centre in Silver Springs, maryland. This led authorities all across the state to pull over all white vans and trucks they had noted. Another vehicle thought to be linked to the crime was a grey car that was seen fleeing the shooting of Caroline Sewell, although this didn't pan out. Notably, a call from the perpetrators was traced to a pay phone at a petrol station in Henrico County, virginia, but by the time authorities arrived, the pay phone had been abandoned.
Speaker 1:Initially, the police detained the occupants of a nearby white van before realizing their blunder. Meanwhile, coverage of the story ran for hours on the news and the case was featured on America's Most Wanted. Many of the stories run by the New York Times was found to be either fabricated or plagiarized by writer Jason Blair, which caused a lot of controversy at the time. Blair later resigned from the paper, along with two of its editors, as the public did their best not to be easy targets for the shooters, while at petrol stations, some decided the best course of action would be to fill up their car at a naval base in Bethesda, feeling it was the safer option. In the meantime, government buildings and tourist attractions received heightened security, and schools were given extra police officers who patrolled the area. Drivers of white vans and trucks were seen as suspicious by drivers and pedestrians alike, while the film Phone Booth was delayed until April 2003 because it was deemed to be potentially upsetting in light of recent events.
Speaker 1:The thriller, which stars Colin Farrell and Forrest Whitaker, tells the story of a young publicist who answers a call made to a public phone booth by a sniper. A poll conducted by the Washington Post in October of 2002 asked Washington DC residents what they were most afraid of. The vast majority 44% said they were more afraid of a sniper attack than anything else. 29 said the 9-11 terrorist attacks, while 13% fear the anthrax scare. The big break in the case of the DC sniper attacks came when one of the perpetrators, during a phone call, referred to a previous murder in Montgomery. Police identified this murder as that of Claudine Parker, who was killed in her own liquor store on September 21st 2002, shortly before the DC killings began.
Speaker 1:A few days later, a magazine had been left behind by one of the perpetrators. When testing for fingerprints, it was found that not only had a clear set been left behind, but they were easily identified when compared to those on an immigration database. The prints belonged to a 17-year-old, lee Boyd Malvo, a Jamaican immigrant who was known to associate with John Allen Muhammad, a 41-year-old ex-soldier. After the mystery quickly began to unravel, it was discovered that the aunt of Kenya Cook, the pair's first victim back in Tacoma, was actually a friend of Muhammad's ex-wife, who convinced her to leave him when the relationship turned abusive. Additionally, his ex-wife, mildred, lived in Prince George's County, maryland, adjacent to Montgomery County, and Mildred had a restraining order against him.
Speaker 1:It was also discovered that Muhammad's vehicle was a blue 1990 Chevrolet Caprice sedan, which witnesses had begun seeing towards the end of the Virginia spree. The car had new jersey plates and had been noticed by officers in patrol cars near the shooting locations across several states. However, at the time it had not been linked to the case, and so it was never stopped and investigated. The car had been spotted on October 3rd, shortly before the shooting of Pascal Charlotte in Washington DC, and had been seen again near the Jones Falls Expressway on October 8th. As a result of these discoveries, law enforcement issued a media alert to the public asking them to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
Speaker 1:At 3.15am on October 24th, the car was found at a rest stop off Interstate 70 near Merseville, maryland. Its two occupants, malvo and Muhammad, were asleep inside. The police received a tip-off from a woman who'd spotted the vehicle and shortly thereafter they moved in. Almost hours before this, police chief Moose had spoken with the media and relayed the following message to the perpetrators of the shootings you have indicated that you want us to do and say certain things. You have asked us to say. We have caught the sniper like a duck in a noose. We understand that hearing us say this is important to you.
Speaker 1:At the rest stop, trooper First Class D Wayne Smith of the Maryland State Police Department was the first officer to arrive. He immediately used his unmarked police vehicle to block off the stop's exit, positioning his vehicle between two tractor trailers. Steadily more troopers arrived, sealing off the exit and entrance ramps and blocking off any and all potential escape routes. Once this task was complete, swat officers moved in to make the arrests Inside the vehicle.
Speaker 1:As well as their two shooters, authorities recovered a Bushmaster XM-15.223 caliber rifle which had been stolen, as neither Malvo nor Muhammad was permitted to buy weapons, a tripod for the weapon and a laptop that had been stolen from one of their victims. The laptop contained maps of the areas the two men were active in and also included letter drafts similar to those that were used to communicate with the police. Furthermore, a list entitled People to Die Later was also found. It contained the names of several individuals. The rifle was linked to 11 of the 14 shootings and was a semi-automatic weapon equipped with a Bushnell holographic weapon sight which was effective at ranges up to 300 meters. It was also discovered that the car had been modified to serve as a moving sniper's nest. The back seat had been modified to allow access to the trunk of the vehicle and a small hole had been created near the license plate which the shooter could fire from.
Speaker 1:After the pair were arrested, they were taken to the youth division for separate interviews. Detective Terry Ryan of the Major Crime Division of the Montgomery County Police Department noted that Malvo attempted to escape after being placed in a secure interview room in the facility in Rockville, maryland. During his initial questioning session, malvo primarily communicated using hand gestures when he was advised that it would be in his best interest to communicate with law enforcement, he put his fingers to his lips and mimed zipping them shut. Then, when he was told there were forms he would need to sign, he mimed crumpling up the paper and tossing it away, refusing to sign anything. Malvo didn't verbally communicate until he was handed over to law enforcement officials in Fairfax County, virginia. It was here that he took responsibility for all of the shootings, claiming that he was the triggerman. He also stated that if, given the chance, he would carry out his actions all over again Outside of this.
Speaker 1:Speaking with him proved difficult, as he seemed to parrot the words and phrases he had been taught by Mohammed and they sounded bizarre and recited. The following is just one example of Malvo's strange responses while under questioning, which was found in the book the Making of Leboid Malvo, the DC Sniper, by Carmeta Al-Barras and Jonathan H Mac. At one point he even asked where his father was. The interviewer assumed Malvo was referring to his biological father, but he quickly corrected them, stating that he meant Mohammed. Similarly, mohammed, during interviews, often referred to Malvo as his son. It quickly became apparent that the pair had deeply bonded and that their relationship was more father-son than anything else.
Speaker 1:Leboid Malvo was born on February 18, 1985 to a construction worker named Leslie Malvo and a seamstress named Una James in Kingston, jamaica. As a baby, malvo was doted on by his father and the pair's relationship grew strong very quickly. Leslie encouraged Malvo's dreams of becoming a pilot, bought him presents, including a tricycle, which he adored, and allowed him to exist as a child, never scolding him for accidents and mistakes. Friends of Leslie recalled him as a wonderful father and a good example to others. Malvo's mother, however, was the polar opposite a smart but short-tempered woman prone to mood swings. Her family had a history of mental illness and they did not approve of her obtaining an education. Una ruled her household with an iron fist and would frequently beat Malvo for the most trivial errors. She was also prone to pinching him and verbally abusing him. She would tell him regularly that his father had no ambition and she would determine that his son wouldn't turn out the same way. If Leslie was home, he would not allow Una to hurt Malvo. However, leslie was often unable to protect his son as he was at work. One of Malvo's earliest memories is of seeing his parents physically fight over Leslie's gambling habit. Una felt the habit affected the family's finances, while Leslie felt that he was still able to adequately provide for his girlfriend and their child. Eventually, the argument escalated to the point that Leslie hit Una. She retaliated by attacking him with a machete.
Speaker 1:Following this, in 1988, leslie took a job as a construction worker in Grand Cayman, which meant he would be away from home for up to six months of the year. Before he left, however, he moved Una and Malvo into a nice home in a pleasant, low-crime neighborhood. But Una's temperament never improved and Malvo was consistently subjected to abuse. Only two years later, una became fed up with the arrangement she and Leslie had. He reportedly did not want her to join him in Grand Cayman, and Una accused him of having an affair while he was away. Leslie denied this and told her he'd actually bought an engagement ring and planned to propose when he next returned home, but it was too late. The relationship was in ruins and, although Leslie repeatedly tried to win Uma back, she continued to reject him. She eventually emptied their joint bank account and moved in with her estranged sister, marie. In the aftermath of this event, leslie's friends described him as a lost man, noting that Malvo was his life.
Speaker 1:Eventually, una met another man who quickly became her new boyfriend. Malvo, however, resented him and wished to be with his father. He frequently showed his dislike for his mother's partner in ways that would result in her attacking him, and she even hit him for expressing her desire to be with his father again. Despite his dysfunctional home life, malvo was, by all accounts, a good student. His teachers described him as intelligent, curious, generous and kind-hearted. At home, he was often left in the care of babysitters. As an adult, malvo recalled a repressed memory he had where he was molested by one of his babysitters.
Speaker 1:Life with Una was tumultuous. Life in Jamaica was hard and Una struggled to keep her and her son afloat on her sole income. By the time he was eight years old, malvo had witnessed three murders due to the fact that he and his mother were living in an extremely dangerous neighborhood. Eventually, una decided that they would have to move abroad. That was the only way she could truly provide for her son and give him a better life. While Una made her way overseas, she left Malvo in the care of numerous friends. The first friend who took him in had a boyfriend who disliked Malvo and would often beat him when his mother's friend wasn't around. Malvo wrote to his mother about the abuse but never heard back.
Speaker 1:By 1995, aged 10, una's friend decided she could no longer care for him. He was then sent to Leslie, who claimed he couldn't keep him because he was still working part-time in Caimans. But Malvo believed it was because his father's new partner didn't want him. He was deeply hurt by his father's rejection. This rejection is often cited as something that triggered Malvo. He was desperate to be loved by his father and it made him vulnerable and impressionable to older men.
Speaker 1:Following this, malvo spent time with his mother and then with his aunt Marie. He soon discovered that his aunt was just as moody as Una and she could also be just as harsh. She believed in corporal punishment. But Malvo noted in his journals at the time that he found the farm she lived on to be his sanctuary, writing In the country. We lived on several acres of farmland. We raised goats and pigs and grew yams and potatoes. There were orchards in which tangerine grapefruits and orange trees grew. The hillsides were filled with blackberry bushes that seemed to bear fruit year-round. The farm became a refuge.
Speaker 1:After passing his high school entrance exam, una returned home briefly. She brought Malvo a Nintendo console, but soon lashed out to Tim for not being more careful with his previous gifts, before turning on Marie and berating her for not caring for her son as she expected her to. However, marie argued that she was unable to take care of Malvo properly because Una had stopped sending over money for his upkeep. Una pulled Malvo from Marie's home and sent him to live with another friend of hers named Sonja. Sonja had two sons and treated Malvo like one of her own. During this time, despite continuing to be a good student who was known to be kind and perspective, malvo was bullied relentlessly in school.
Speaker 1:Once more, aged 12, malvo moved again. This time he was taken in by the daughter of Una's aunt, a 21-year-old schoolteacher who sought to listen to and encourage him and had no interest in corporal punishment. Simone Powell appeared to have a great impact on Malvo. The two were happy together and he seemingly thrived under her care. As before. Una failed to keep up the payments for Malvo's care, but Simone had no intention of giving the 12-year-old up. They made do with what they had, and every spare bit of cash Simone had went straight towards Malvo's upkeep.
Speaker 1:Simone learned of the young boy's struggles and fears and of his mother's instability. She noted that he still longed for his father and was concerned that he would become attached to any male figure who showed him kindness. Eventually, however, the financial side of things became too difficult and Simone grew worried. She didn't want to abandon Malvo, and so she planned on sending him to talk to Leslie, hoping the boy's father would offer money to help care for him. Before this plan could be put into action, however, una returned home furious that Simone had moved Malvo to a different school, as his old one was much too far away. Despite Simone's best efforts to keep Malvo, una uprooted him again and placed him in a boarding house. She also re-enrolled him at his old school. Before she left the country again, she told him let me get any bad report and see what I do to you.
Speaker 1:From this point on, malvo began to feel depressed. During the middle of the term, payments from his board stopped. The boarding house owner, mrs Robertson, noted this, but continued to feed Malvo and give him lunch money Around. This time he visited Leslie, who was happy to see him, but Malvo couldn't quite bring himself to describe the situation that he was in or ask for financial assistance. Eventually, leslie sent his son off with a small sum of money, the equivalent of five to $10.
Speaker 1:Shortly afterwards, una returned home, but this time she had been deported and had lost a fair bit of money in the process. Additionally, malvo's report card was not good and they had lost their original home, which Una had left in the care of her grandmother Epsy. The landlord of the property was displeased with her and told Una that neither she nor Epsy was welcome anymore. After learning this news, una subject Malvo to one of the most vicious beatings he'd ever received from her. Once he had recovered, he attempted to take his own life in an orchard, but before he could do so was found by his mother and a local carpenter who worked nearby. Una appeared remorseful for her actions and scared of losing her own child, but this was short-lived and she soon returned to her default behavior.
Speaker 1:After this, malvo was transferred to the care of one of his original guardians, sonja. By this time, una had a replacement passport and had plans to travel to a different island. Although their relationship restrained and fraught with violence, malvo didn't want to lose his mother again. He was tired of the instability of the life she was giving him. He attempted to get her to stay going as far as to speak with the vice principal of his school as well as his guidance counselor. But these attempts were ultimately futile and Una left for the island of Antigua. He reportedly said to his mother before she left don't you feel it, mum, that you are losing me, can't you see it? This day at Sonja's went as well as expected.
Speaker 1:Eventually, una stopped sending money to cover the expense of caring for her son and after some time he began to show signs of neglect, although Sonja did her best to care for him and Malvo knew this. Following this, his teacher, miss Maxwell, offered to take him in and care for him free of charge until he completed high school. Una agreed. Malvo appeared to do quite well from this point on. He was given his own bedroom and noted in his journal I became a part of a family. They treated me as if I'd always been there. I talked a lot less and did my work, attending school and put some effort in the last few months of the school term. He also recalled that he had his own plot on the farm where he planted cabbages, carrots and bell peppers. He enjoyed the feeling of watching them grow.
Speaker 1:The Maxwells had hoped to feed and shelter Malvo until he'd finished school. But Una had other plans. She said that she had established herself in Antigua and had obtained a home for them both, and so Malvo left Jamaica to join her. He was sorely disappointed to find that his mother's idea of a home was a one room shack with no bathroom, and that his bed was a foamless mattress laid on a piece of plywood and two cinder blocks. Additionally, her business was an ice box from which she sold cold beverages. Despite this, una was able to enroll Malvo at one of the best private schools on the island, and in September of 1999, age 14, he began school at the Seventh Day Adventist High School in St John's.
Speaker 1:It wasn't long before Una left him alone again, although she paid for a few school terms and left him money for two months worth of rent. He quickly struggled to keep his head afloat and began participating in petty crime so that he could continue to survive. He would steal CDs from music shops, then burn his own copies and illegally sell them on. He didn't make much, but it was enough to keep him going. In the meantime, when his mother sent for him from St Martin, he found out that she had secured yet another one room apartment, not very different from the one he just vacated. Upon his arrival, una berated him needlessly for his writing and the messy condition of his clothing and introduced him to her less than savoury boyfriend. It wasn't long before the pair returned to Antigua. This had not been part of Una's original plan. She intended on heading to America from St Martin, but her previous boyfriend back in Antigua, who was older than Una and had recently become a widower, offered to rent her a bigger, nicer apartment and said that he would cover Malvo school fees, and so the pair returned to the island. It was here that Malvo met John Allen Muhammad.
Speaker 1:John Allen Williams was born December 31st 1960 in Baton Rouge, louisiana, to Ernest and Eva Williams. The family, which included John's four siblings, moved to New Orleans shortly after Eva was diagnosed with breast cancer and she passed away when John was just three years old. Following her death, ernest left, leaving his children in the care of their maternal grandfather and several aunts. In 1978, aged 17, john graduated from Scotlandville High School and enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard, which he served in for seven years. Reportedly, in 1982, he was court-martialed for disobeying orders from a non-commissioned officer and was subsequently fined $100 and demoted in rank. Around this time he married his first wife, carol, with whom he had a son. A year later, muhammad struck a non-commissioned officer in the head and was fined another $100, but this time he was also threatened with 22 days in solitude.
Speaker 1:In 1985, aged 25, he left the National Guard where he'd been a combat engineer, and two years later he enlisted in the regular army. Here he was trained as a mechanic, a truck driver and a specialist metal worker. This same year he divorced his wife and joined the Nation of Islam. As a member he helped provide security for the Million man March, which occurred later in 1995. And in 2001, he legally changed his surname to Muhammad. In 1988, he married again. He and his new partner, mildred, had three children together. During his time in the regular army, muhammad qualified with the army's standard rifle, the M16, earning him the expert rifleman's badge, which is the highest of three levels of basic rifle marksmanship for a soldier.
Speaker 1:In 1990, muhammad served in the First Gulf War as part of a company that inspected, catalogued and dismantled Iraqi chemical weapons. For his service here he received several medals. In 1992, however, he was charged with aggravated arson, although no action was taken. Between 1994 and 1995, john served in the Oregon National Guard before being honorably discharged and settling into Coma, washington with his family. In 1995, muhammad was arrested twice for driving with a suspended license and, around this time, decided to start his own business. First he attempted to open and run an auto mechanic shop and afterwards he tried to start a karate school. However, both business ventures failed.
Speaker 1:In 1999, mildred and Muhammad separated and shortly thereafter Mildred filed for divorce. She later told the Washington Post that her husband returned from the Persian Gulf a changed man. He was an angry man. I didn't know this man. The one I knew. He was a man who was a man of his own. The one I knew stayed in Saudi Arabia. She also said that her husband enjoyed playing mind games. He knew exactly what words to use to push her buttons. He is always thinking. His mind is never idle.
Speaker 1:On March 8, 2000, muhammad arrived in Antigua accompanied by his three children, who were using their names Fred Alan Lee, theresa Lee and Lisa Lee. At this time, muhammad had not changed his surname. He was traveling under the alias Thomas Alan Lee. Upon arriving on the island, the foursome was collected by a woman named Joanne Green, who had been contacted by her cousin who asked her to provide the family with accommodation. The first thing that struck her as odd was that the group intended on staying for six weeks, yet the only luggage the children and Muhammad had was a backpack each.
Speaker 1:About four weeks after they arrived, muhammad announced that he needed to return to Washington. He asked Joanne to care for the children and she agreed. She then began questioning the children, feeling like something was off, and subsequently learned at the name game, where Muhammad would give one of his daughters a dollar for each time she remembered to say the name he had given her. Joanne and her daughter, jameen, noticed that he would borrow their tape player every night and play something while his children slept. They felt Muhammad was indoctrinating his children. Eventually, john Jr, who was using the name Fred and was the oldest of the children, revealed that his father had visitation rights but had taken the children away from their mother. Upon hearing this, joanne realized the children had been abducted and called Muhammad, telling him to come and collect the children or she would contact the authorities. John described Muhammad as a devoted father who was protective of his children, but noted that she still questioned his intentions. She also stated that he had a way of attracting respect from the neighborhood. Children felt that there was a magnetism about him that drew them towards him.
Speaker 1:After leaving Joanne's residence, muhammad and his children began living with a Jamaican couple who wished to live in the US and quickly became enamored with the father of three and his children. They recalled how he was a good father who paid attention, took them to the beach and checked over their homework. In October of 2000, muhammad and Malville finally met. It was a change encounter that took place at an electronic shop in St John's Antigua. Malville visited regularly as he enjoyed the games that were available to play there. He recalled that he would often watch other children play as it was too busy for him to be able to have a turn. One boy he watched play was John Jr, muhammad's eldest, who was playing a fight simulator game. Malville watched their playful banter and affectionate interactions and remembered the times that his own father had discussed his dreams of becoming a pilot with him. He also noticed the way Muhammad's attention never strayed from his son and the way he listened to everything the young child said to him.
Speaker 1:Malville's home life was much the same At this point in time. Oona was doing a little better for herself, but she was still intent on moving to the US. She was at one point told that a man named John Muhammad could help her obtain a visa to go there. Upon accompanying his mother to Muhammad's residence, malville was delighted to discover that this man, who was going to help his mother, was the same man he'd seen at the electronic shop. It turned out that John Jr also wanted to become a pilot, and he and Malville hit it off. Oona promised her son, just as soon as she had enough funds, she would have Muhammad send Malville to the US to join her.
Speaker 1:One significant event that appeared to cement the relationship between Muhammad and Malville is when the teenager became ill with rheumatic fever. He was found alone in his mother's flat by Muhammad, who promptly swept the boy up in his arms, called a taxi and took him to the hospital. Afterwards, muhammad brought Malville back to his own residence. After some care and medicine, the teenager was back to normal. Reportedly, this is when the pair truly bonded and they began to go everywhere together. As Malville's previous guardian, simone Powell, had predicted, he was vulnerable to this older, father-like figure and quickly came to trust him. Sharing his life story with Muhammad, muhammad also shared his own troubles and traumas with Malville, claiming his wife had cheated on him, left him, took all his money and destroyed all his businesses. The older man was quick to take the teen under his wing. Muhammad told Malville they had met, not by coincidence but by destiny. Shortly thereafter, muhammad began introducing the teenager as his own son, and soon Malville began working for him, learning the ins and outs of how to illegally enter the US. Eventually, he moved in with Muhammad and was introduced to the nation of Islam.
Speaker 1:In his new home, malvo found structure and consistency. No longer was he beaten for minor infractions, disagreements were talked out in a civil manner, and punishments consisted of push-ups, not attacks by fists or belts. Recalling his feelings, when he finally moved, malvo wrote I was welcomed into the household as though I had been with them forever. I had finally found a family. Eventually, though, things took a turn when Muhammad was arrested in March of 2001 at the airport in Antigua in connection with the criminal career he built for himself. Two days after his arrest, however, he escaped from custody before arranging for his children to be moved to a safe house where they were cared for by his girlfriend, who was around this time that Malvo stopped turning up to school. His friends recalled how much he changed by then. He was no longer interested in girls and sports but was fanatic about his newfound religion, guns and fitness. He claimed he quit school to focus on looking after Muhammad's children.
Speaker 1:Two weeks later, muhammad returned to Malvo and the children and continued his smuggling business. Malvo took it upon himself to teach the children and helped out with the business where he could, while Muhammad's girlfriend took care of the household chores. In a matter of weeks, una learned that Malvo wasn't attending school, but when she called to speak to him, he refused to take the call For the teenager. The pressure was rising. He wanted a say in how the money in the household should be spent. But Muhammad's girlfriend had other ideas. He was struggling to make ends meet as a whole because Muhammad was often in and out of the country on business, and eventually he lashed out that John Jr, muhammad's eldest child, assaulting him. As a result, John Jr began to withdraw from Malvo.
Speaker 1:Meanwhile, over in the US, una was living in or near Fort Myers, florida. She planned to marry an American citizen she'd met shortly after arriving. She wanted to bring Malvo across, but she was still short of funds. Little did she know, however, that Muhammad had other plans for the teenager. After he arrived back in Antigua, muhammad took Malvo and his three children to Puerto Rico and then to the US. There was May of 2001, and Malvo travelled under the name Lindenburg Williams, which is the name of Muhammad's oldest son, whom he had with his first wife. After arriving in Florida, the group travelled to Fort Lauderdale. Una didn't learn of this until she called Malvo's residence, after which she promptly rang Muhammad and demanded that he bring her son to her.
Speaker 1:Muhammad, malvo and John Jr visited Una while she worked. She seemed happy to see her son and fed the trio meals while they waited for her to finish work. Muhammad reassured Malvo that he would be able to convince his mother to let him stay with him, but Una disliked this idea and continued to reject Muhammad's plan for keeping Malvo with him. The following day, however, malvo made his own decision. As Una walked into work, she demanded that her son come with her, but Malvo remained seated in the car with Muhammad, and they drove off together. Una wasn't ready to let her son go, however, and she called Muhammad and threatened to get the police involved. Muhammad and Malvo went to visit Una, which resulted in the mother of one kicking Muhammad out of her apartment and keeping hold of Malvo. Staying with Una and working with her. Malvo once again became depressed and withdrawn. Although he was earning his own money, his mother insisted he help pay towards household necessities and upkeep, and so he was left penniless. Meanwhile, muhammad had returned to Washington but was caught with his abducted children.
Speaker 1:On September 4th 2001, after a custody battle, mildred was given full custody of their three children. It was at this point Mildred realized her life was likely in danger. She had taken what Muhammad loved most in the world, and he had already threatened her life before. She was now her ex-husband's enemy, and so were their children in tow. Mildred fled the state. Mildred struggled to reconnect with their children. John Jr would not hug his mother and became angry over small things. Meanwhile, the couple's youngest daughter wouldn't sleep. She constantly woke in the middle of the night to check her mother was still there.
Speaker 1:As for Muhammad Yen, malvo still spoke every Friday at 4pm over the phone, recalling the moment Muhammad explained that his children had been removed from his custody. Malvo wrote he spoke to something in me, that void that yearned to be filled. I wanted to have a father to love me like that. I wanted to know that someone cared as deeply for me. He said he needed me to help him get the children back so that we could once again be a family. It opened up the floodgates for the kid who ran away to his father five years earlier but who was rejected.
Speaker 1:Following many arguments with Una, malvo decided to run away from home and he made his way to Washington to meet the man he called father. For a time the pair stayed in a homeless shelter before they moved in with a friend of Muhammad's into coma. It quickly became a weekly routine that the pair went to the rifle range together and practiced using weapons, and Malvo began to steal at Muhammad's instruction. It wasn't long before Malvo knew everything there was to know about guns. Muhammad also gave Malvo video games about war, stealth and sniping and introduced him to movies about snipers. It amongst this, malvo was for the first and reportedly last time, subject to an incident of physical assault by Muhammad. Una came to Washington to find his son, but even with the police involved, malvo continued to ignore her pleadings that he returned to her. She warned him that he was being used and Muhammad admitted to Una that he needed an intelligent boy for his clans, not just anyone off the streets. But still Malvo returned to his father. The bond, it seemed, was unbreakable.
Speaker 1:Initially, both Malvo and Mohammed were arrested under federal charges, but both of these were dropped In Virginia. Malvo was charged with two capital crimes the murder of FBI analyst Linda Franklin in the commission of an act of terrorism and the murder of more than one person in a three year period. Additionally, he was charged with the unlawful use of a firearm in the same murder. Meanwhile, mohammed was originally set to be charged in Maryland, but the case was reassigned to Virginia's jurisdiction as the state was deemed more likely to give him the death penalty. He was charged with four crimes the capital murder for the shooting of Dean Myers. Capital murder under Virginia's anti-terrorism stature, a homicide committed with an intent to terrorize the government or the public at large, conspiracy to commit murder and illegal use of a firearm.
Speaker 1:The trial was originally meant to be held in Prince William County but was moved to Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, over 100 miles from the closest alleged tack in Ashland, to avoid a tainted jury. Investigators and the prosecution suggested during pre-trial motions that Mohammed intended on killing Mildred, who he felt had estranged him from his children. Mildred had been subject to escalating abuse before she finally left him, taking the children with her. Reportedly, he told her. You have become my enemy and as my enemy I will kill you. Mohammed even admitted that he had gone to Maryland looking for his ex-wife and children. The theory put forward by the prosecution is that the other shootings carried out by Malville and Mohammed were intended to cover up the motive for the crime. Mohammed believed that he wouldn't be seen as a subject following his wife's murder if her death was just one in a string of many random acts of violence. He was known to frequent the Maryland neighborhood in which she lived, and some of the attacks were carried out near her home. For her part, mildred also believed she was the intended target. She stated that one police officer had said to her Mrs Mohammed, didn't you know you were a target.
Speaker 1:Malville spent much of his trial in 2003 sketching on a legal pad In prison. He wrote a number of rambles and rants about the unfairness of his situation, writing I have been accused on my mission. Alan knows I'm going to suffer now. His drawings featured figures such as Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, but also characters from the Matrix. They were largely dismissed as immaterial. The key evidence in his trial was a taped confession made shortly after his arrest, where Malville took responsibility for the crimes and admitted he was the sole triggerman, which the defense claimed was in some part inconsistent with the facts. The defense also noted that Malville had been trained to self-destructive court. One of his prison psychologists, dewey Cornell, told the court that Malville understood that he was being trained for a mission and that the goal was to get Mohammed's children back. Reportedly, the 41-year-old was controlling every aspect of the teen's life, from his exercise to his diet to what he was thinking. Malville was once made to stand in the snow, chained to a tree, for hours so he would learn how to withstand an interrogation if he was ever caught. Mohammed trained Malville on how to use different types of weapons and also indoctrinated him with teachings about how white people were devils oppressing black people.
Speaker 1:Malville admitted that his first test was the murder of Kenya Cook. He recalled how he'd stood and talked and laughed with her and how he could hear a child inside the house. Before he shot Kenya, there was a lot of debate surrounding Malville's part in the crimes. The trial prosecutors rejected the notion that the 17-year-old was less responsible for his crimes because of Mohammed's influence. But Malville pled not guilty, by reason of insanity, to all charges laid against him on the grounds that he was completely under the old man's control. His lead attorney, craig Cooley, said violent video games contributed to his state of mind and willingness to murder. However, several sociologists have disputed this, stating that other factors in Malville's life were much more significant. Mohammed, for his part, claimed that both he and Malville were innocent.
Speaker 1:During his 2003 trial for the murder of Dean Myers, he was granted the ability to represent himself. However, after opening arguments, mohammed brought back his defense counsel. At the hearing, the prosecution called on 130 witnesses and introduced over 400 pieces of evidence intended to prove that he carried out the murders and ordered Malville to help him do so. Numerous witnesses placed his blue Chevrolet Caprice at the scenes of many of the crimes, and the rifle found in the vehicle was linked to 11 of the attacks. His defense asked that the capital murder charges be dropped, claiming that there was no direct evidence. However, the rifle had the DNA of both men on it. They then argued that he couldn't be put to death under Virginia's Trigger man Law unless he actually pulled the trigger to kill Dean Myers, and no one testified that they saw him do so. Despite this, on November 17th 2003, the judge was convicted on all four counts on which he was charged. The jury deliberated for five hours over two days and recommended that he be given the death penalty. The judge agreed with this sentencing. Malville, for his part, was also convicted of all three charges laid against him on December 18th 2003. The jury deliberated for almost 14 hours On the 23rd. They recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole, and on March 10th 2004, he was given that sentence.
Speaker 1:In May 2005, maryland and Virginia both agreed to allow Mohammed's extradition to Maryland, where he would face further charges. He was held at a maximum security prison named Sussex I State Prison near Waverly, sussex County, virginia. While he awaited trial, malville was also temporarily handed over to Maryland for a separate trial. Malville and his legal team reported he was willing to negotiate while Mohammed and his team fought extradition, but it ultimately went ahead. During his time in Maryland, malville pled guilty to six murders and confessed to more in other states. During questioning, he also testified against Mohammed in 2006 and eventually admitted that he was not always the trigger man. He told the courts that he had confessed to acting alone because he wanted to spare Mohammed the death penalty. He claimed that he had carried out as many as 17 murders.
Speaker 1:During this trial, malville broke down the pair's ultimate plan. He stated that he wanted to do what literally could for the families of the victims by letting the full story be told. In his two days of testimony, he detailed every aspect of the shooting and revealed the end goal of their crimes. Reportedly, mohammed had come up with a three-phase plan which was set to take place in Washington DC and Baltimore, maryland. In phase one consisted of planning, mapping and practicing in and around numerous locations in the DC area. This way, the men would know the best exit to use after a shooting and be able to move seamlessly onto another area. They also aimed to kill six white people a day for 30 days during this time period, but their plan failed due to heavy traffic and an inability to get a clear shot.
Speaker 1:Phase two was ideally meant to take place in Baltimore. Malville stated that his part of the plan was close to being implemented, but was never carried out. It was supposed to begin with the men killing a pregnant woman by shooting her in the stomach, before they went on to kill a Baltimore police officer. Following this, they would detonate explosives complete with shrapnel at the officer's funeral, as it would allow them to easily kill a large number of the police force. In phase three, the men would extort several millions of dollars from the US government, which would go towards financing a larger plan in which they would travel to Canada and, along the way, recruit young and impressionable black boys who would know their guidance and whom Mohammed would act as a father figure towards. Once recruited, he would then begin training the boys in weapons and stealth, as he had been taught. Then, after their training was complete, he would use them to carry out mass shootings in other cities. These incidents would be coordinated and send the country into chaos.
Speaker 1:On May 30th 2006, mohammed was found guilty of six counts of murder and was given six consecutive life sentences without parole. Later that year, on October 10th, malville pled guilty to the six murders he was charged with in Maryland. He also confessed that he and his accomplice had murdered Jerry Taylor, who had been golfing in Tuscan, arizona, at the time of his death. As a result, malville was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. It wasn't just Malvo and Muhammad who came under fire for the events that transpired in the autumn of 2002.
Speaker 1:According to an article written by the Seattle Times in April of 2003, muhammad honed his marksmanship at Bull's Eye's firing range. The newspaper claimed that the Bull's Eye store is where he obtained the rifle that he was found to be illegally possessing. Upon his arrest, the ATF stated that the store and its owners had a long history of firearm sales and records violations, and there was a file on the establishment consisting of 283 pages. A few months later, in July, the ATF revoked the Federal Firearms License of Brian Borghalt, a former staff sergeant with the US Army Rangers and the owner of Bull's Eye's shooter supply. Later that month, borghalt transferred ownership of the store to a friend, but continued to operate the range and own the building his store was located in.
Speaker 1:Prior to this, in January of 2003, the legal action project of the Brady Centre to prevent gun violence filed a civil lawsuit against both Bushmaster, the manufacturer and distributor of the rifle, and Bull's Eye's shooter supply on behalf of many of the victims of the DC sniper attacks and their families. Also included in the lawsuit was Malvo, muhammad and Borghalt. Since Malvo was a minor and Muhammad had a criminal history of domestic battery, both were legally prohibited from buying firearms. The suit claimed that Bull's Eye's shooter supply ran its Tacoma Washington store in such a grossly negligent manner that scores of its guns routinely disappeared from its stores and it kept such shoddy records that it could not account for the Bushmaster rifle used in the sniper shootings when asked by federal agents for records of sale for the weapon. It also alleged that the dealer couldn't account for hundreds of guns received from manufacturers in the years immediately prior to the attacks. It was also claimed that the store continued to sell guns in the same irresponsible manner even after it was discovered that the perpetrators of the DC sniper attacks had illegally obtained their weapon there. Regulations were not tightened and Bushmaster continued to keep the store on as a dealer, despite being aware of its track record with violations.
Speaker 1:The case was set to go to trial in April of 2005, but the parties involved settled the suit before then. Bushmaster claimed that it settled because of the rising cost of legal fees and the dwindling amount of insurance money that is left for the case. In the end, bull's Eye's shooting supply provided $2 million to an out-of-court settlement, while Bushmaster contributed $500,000. The latter company also agreed to educate its dealers on safer business practices. Following the statement, sonia Wells, the mother of the final victim, conrad Johnson, told the media. I think a message was delivered that you should be responsible and accountable for the actions of irresponsible people when you make these guns and put them in their hands.
Speaker 1:As for Mohammed, in April of 2008, over 18 months before his execution, his counsel filed an appeal citing evidence of brain damage that might have rendered him incompetent to make legal decisions. They argued that he should not have been able to represent himself during his Virginia trial. However, it was later revealed that a month after his appeal was filed, mohammed asked the prosecution to help him end legal appeals of his conviction and death sentence so that you can murder this innocent black man On September 16th 2009,. Mohammed's execution date was set for November 10th. He declined to pick his execution method and so, by default, was given the lethal injection. His lawyers petitioned the US Supreme Court to stay his execution, but this was denied. Similarly, they also requested clement's safe from Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, but this was also denied. His lawyers told the Associated Press that his last meal consisted of chicken and red sauce and some cakes. Mohammed died by lethal injection at Greensville Correctional Centre in Girat, virginia, on November 10th 2009 at 11 minutes past 9pm. His execution was witnessed by 27 people and when asked if he had any final words. He gave no reply.
Speaker 1:Lee Boyd Malvo is still serving a sentence at Red Onion State Prison in Wise County, virginia. Over the years, he has taken small steps to attempt to redeem himself and has given several interviews about the shootings. In October of 2007, he contacted Cheryl Wetz, the daughter of Jerry Taylor, one of he and Mohammed's victims, and apologised for his actions, and three years later, in February of 2010, he wrote a letter to another victim, john Gatter, apologising for shooting him. Part of the letter read I am truly sorry for the pain I caused you and your loved ones. I was relieved to hear that you suffered no paralyzing injuries and that you are alive. On July 29th 2011, a Wise County Circuit judge denied Malvo's request to change his name. He petitioned the court for the name change on the basis that he would be safer if inmates didn't know his real name due to the notoriety attached to it. In 2012, he alleged that Mohammed had been sexually abusing him.
Speaker 1:In May of 2017, a Federal District Court judge in Virginia overturned Malvo's sentence of life in prison without parole on the grounds of it being unconstitutional under Miller v Alabama, as he was only 17 at the time of the killings. However, in August, a Maryland Circuit Court judge decided that this court ruling did not apply to cases in Maryland. The judge noted that the original judge who worked on the case considered all relevant factors at play and decided the defendant is irreparably corrupted. However, this wasn't the end of the matter. In June of 2018, the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld the decision that his life sentences without parole were unconstitutional. A week later, virginia Attorney General Mark Herring stated that his office was seeking to have the Supreme Court at the US review the case. It was heard in October of 2009. However, on February 24th 2020, Malvo asked the Supreme Court to dismiss his appeal as moot because a change in Virginia state law made him eligible for parole there. He will be eligible for parole consideration at the end of 2022, although his life sentences in Maryland will remain unaffected by this change. Malvo is, however, trying to appeal his sentences there as well.
Speaker 1:On March 10th 2020, malvo married Sable Noel Knapp in a jailhouse ceremony. Knapp is the granddaughter of one of Iowa's wealthiest property developers, andan Ayres. She spends much of her time campaigning and being a left-wing activist. The couple connected in 2018 when she began writing to him in prison. In September of 2012, malvo, age 27, gave an interview with the Washington Post. He told the newspaper. So informative.