Rendell Signs Execution Warrants
HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell has signed execution warrants for Gregory Powell, 49, who murdered his 6-year-old son in 1997 in Philadelphia; and Michael Pruitt, 45, who raped and strangled to death a 69-year-old Sunday school teacher in 2002 in Reading.
Powell obtained sole custody of his son, Raymond Graves, while the child’s mother was in a drug and alcohol treatment program, and evidence at Powell’s trial indicated that his son had suffered months of physical abuse before Powell killed him. In 2000, a jury convicted Powell of first-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child and sentenced him to death. The state Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in September 2008, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Powell’s appeal in March 2009.
Pruitt confessed to police that while he was high on crack cocaine, he forced his way into Greta Gougler’s home looking for money to buy drugs and killed her. DNA found at the scene also linked Pruitt to the attack. In 2005, a jury found Pruitt guilty of first-degree murder, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, robbery, and burglary and sentenced him to death. The state Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in July 2008 and denied reargument in September 2008. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Pruitt’s appeal in March 2009.
Powell’s execution by lethal injection is set for Aug. 18, and Pruitt’s is set for Aug. 19. Both are held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
Powell obtained sole custody of his son, Raymond Graves, while the child’s mother was in a drug and alcohol treatment program, and evidence at Powell’s trial indicated that his son had suffered months of physical abuse before Powell killed him. In 2000, a jury convicted Powell of first-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child and sentenced him to death. The state Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in September 2008, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Powell’s appeal in March 2009.
Pruitt confessed to police that while he was high on crack cocaine, he forced his way into Greta Gougler’s home looking for money to buy drugs and killed her. DNA found at the scene also linked Pruitt to the attack. In 2005, a jury found Pruitt guilty of first-degree murder, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, robbery, and burglary and sentenced him to death. The state Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in July 2008 and denied reargument in September 2008. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Pruitt’s appeal in March 2009.
Powell’s execution by lethal injection is set for Aug. 18, and Pruitt’s is set for Aug. 19. Both are held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.
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