2004 Executions - Norman Richard Cleary #13:
13th murderer executed in the U.S. in 2004.
Executed February 3, 2004 in Oklahoma at 6:20 p.m. by lethal injection.
Summary of the Murder: Norman Cleary and accomplice Kenneth Chandler wanted to rob a house but when they came upon housekeeper Wanda Neafus, their plans changed. After leading her around the home she where she was working, they took her to the basement and Cleary killed her.
Statistical Data: Murderer - Norman Richard Cleary
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Date of Birth - February 15, 1966
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Race - White
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Sex - Male
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Age when crime committed - 25
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Age when executed - 38
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Date of Sentence - February 26, 1993
Victim - Wanda Neafus
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Date of Murder - December 6, 1991
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Race - White
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Sex - Female
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Age when murdered - 44
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Method of Murder - Handgun
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Relationship to Murderer - None
Details of the Crime: On December 6, 1991 Norman Richard Cleary, Kenneth "KC" Chandler, and Jack Bell drove around Tulsa in Cleary's truck. Bell was looking for a job; Cleary and Chandler decided to burglarize a home. Bell wanted no part of the burglary and was dropped off at a shopping mall.
Cleary and Chandler drove through Maple Ridge and cased the neighborhood. They knocked on the door of two homes, and when the residents answered from upstairs windows, they asked for the address of a fictitious person.
Housekeeper Wanda Neafus answered the door of the third home. The handgun Chandler was carrying slipped out from under his coat, and believing they had been found out, the men pushed open the storm door and came into the house. They took Neafus to the basement where Cleary shot her five times in the face and neck. On their way out, they took Neafus' purse, and a cane with an eagle hand grip from the hall tree.
Testimony in the Case: Cleary's ex-girlfriend. Corlea Corbell, testified about three incriminating conversations she had with Corbell.
The first conversation with Cleary occurred at the Swingers club a few days after the murder. Corbell's sister Sally, who was Chandler's girlfriend, told Corbell that Chandler had killed a woman. Corbell immediately took Cleary behind the bar and asked him "... what was going on?" He told her Sally's statement was true, but that Chandler had not "shot the lady," he had.
The second conversation took place at the home of Corbell's mother and involved Corbell, Cleary and Chandler. Chandler explained how they approached the house and rang the doorbell. Cleary detailed the two prior stops and said he "shot the lady." The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Sally came in yelling she didn't want to hear any more about it.
Corbell testified she overheard the third conversation between Cleary and Chandler at the Fountains bar. At the hearing on the motion for new trial Corbell testified she did not hear the third conversation, but had been told about it by someone else. She also testified Cleary may not have told her that he killed the victim to avoid being identified, but she was confused, and he may well have told her that.
Verdict: Norman Richard Cleary was convicted of first degree murder and first degree burglary after a former conviction of two felonies. Following the sentencing stage of trial the jury found four aggravating circumstances:
- continuing threat,
- voiding arrest or prosecution,
- prior felony conviction involving violence, and
- murder committed while serving a term of imprisonment.
The jury recommended a sentence of death for the murder and ninety-nine years imprisonment for the burglary.
Co-defendant Kenneth Chandler : Co-defendant Kenneth Chandler was tried separately and sentenced to life imprisonment. Judgment and sentence has been affirmed by unpublished opinion.
The Execution: For his final meal before being executed, Cleary had a two foot-long chili-cheese hot-dogs, a large chocolate malt, a large vanilla malt and six pieces of extra crispy chicken -- two breasts, two thighs and two legs.
In moments before he was executed he expressed remorse to the victim's family for causing them pain. In his final words he said, ""Again, I'd like to apologize to my victim's family, to tell them how sorry I am for the pain I've caused them. I hope that someday they can forgive me. For my family, just thank you for loving me. Thank you and God bless you."
As his family and the family of Wanda Neafus looked on, Clearly died at 6:14 p.m. by lethal injection within three minutes of his first injection.
Source: Cleary v. State, 942 P.2d 736 (Okl.Cr. 1997) (Direct Appeal)
