Alvin and Judith Neelley
Encyclopedia
Alvin Howard Neelley, Jr. (1953-2005) and Judith Ann Adams Neelley (1964-) are an American
couple responsible for two torture murder
s. They each were convicted of the kidnapping
s and murder
s of Lisa Ann Millican
and Janice Chatman. Judy Neelley was sentenced to death by the state of Alabama
in 1983, but her sentence was later commuted
to life imprisonment
in 1999. She is serving her sentence at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
in Wetumpka, Alabama
. Alvin Neelley was serving a life sentence at the Bostick State Prison
in Hardwick, Georgia
at the time of his death in 2005.
in 1953, where he was a car thief
during his teenage years. He met his second wife Judith Ann Adams when he was 26 years old and she was 15. Alvin divorced his first wife shortly before eloping in 1980.
in 1964. Her father, an alcoholic, died when she was nine. After meeting Alvin Neelley, she began her life of crime, committing armed robbery across the country for which she was later caught. She gave birth to twins
while incarcerated at Rome's
Youth Development Center.
with a Molotov cocktail
. Phone calls were made to the victims following the attacks by a female who claimed to have been sexually abused
at the Youth Development Center, but neither victim could identify the caller's voice.
, a 13 year-old girl from Cedartown, Georgia
was abducted by Alvin and Judith Neelley from the Riverbend Mall
in Rome, Georgia
on September 25, 1982. She was taken to a Murfreesboro, Tennessee
motel
where the Neelleys held her captive. During her captivity
, Lisa was molested by both Neelleys, and Judith injected her with Drano
. On the 28th, Lisa was shot in the head by Judith and her body was thrown in the Little River Canyon in Fort Payne, Alabama
. Judith even called police to report Lisa's body.
. On October 4, 1982, they were abducted by Judith Neelley. John Hancock is shot while Janice Chatman was abducted and brought back to the Neelleys' motel room, where she was tortured and murdered. John Hancock, however, did not die, and was able to point to Alvin and Judith Neelley as his assailants.
To avoid the death penalty, Alvin Neelley pled guilty to murder
and aggravated assault in Georgia. He was not tried for the Lisa Millican murder.
Judith Neelley's trial began on March 7, 1983. Before her trial however, she gave birth to a third child behind bars. After a six-week trial, Judith was convicted of the torture murder
of Lisa Ann Millican
. Despite a jury
's recommendation to sentence Judith to life in prison, judge Randall Cole sentenced the 18 year-old mother of three to death in Alabama
's electric chair
.
Following her first conviction, Judith pled guilty to Janice Chatman's murder.
from 1983 until his death in November 2005.
Judith Neelley became the youngest woman sentenced to death in the United States
. She was on Alabama's Death Row
at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
.
Judith appealed for a new trial
, but it was denied in March 1987. In 1989, the United States Supreme Court affirmed her death sentence. On January 15, 1999, Judith Neelley was days from her execution date when Alabama's then-governor Fob James
granted her clemency, commuting her death sentence
to life in prison. The decision was met with controversy, but James cited how Judith's jury wanted to sentence her to life in prison, but the judge sentenced her to death. Judith will be eligible for parole in January 2014.
. On a scale developed by forensic psychiatrist Michael Stone, Judith was ranked as a category 22 killer, the "most evil" level deemed for serial torture murderers.
On October 23, 2008, Alvin and Judith Neelley were featured on Wicked Attraction
in the episode "Hearts of Darkness".
Judith was featured on Deadly Women
in 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
couple responsible for two torture murder
Torture murder
Torture murder is a loosely defined term to describe a murder where death has been preceded by the torture of the victim. In many legal jurisdictions a murder involving "exceptional brutality or cruelty" will involve a harsher sentence.-Punishment:...
s. They each were convicted of the kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
s and murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s of Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican was a victim of a notorious kidnapping and murder that began at the Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia on September 25, 1982. That day Lisa was on a shopping outing with other residents of the Ethel Harpst Home, a home for neglected and abused girls and boys located in Cedartown,...
and Janice Chatman. Judy Neelley was sentenced to death by the state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in 1983, but her sentence was later commuted
Commutation of sentence
Commutation of sentence involves the reduction of legal penalties, especially in terms of imprisonment. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not nullify the conviction and is often conditional. Clemency is a similar term, meaning the lessening of the penalty of the crime without forgiving the crime...
to life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
in 1999. She is serving her sentence at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
The Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women is a prison for women of the Alabama Department of Corrections, located in Wetumpka, Alabama. All female inmates entering ADOC are sent to the receiving unit in Tutwiler. Tutwiler houses the state's female death row...
in Wetumpka, Alabama
Wetumpka, Alabama
Wetumpka is a city in Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,726.The city is the county seat of Elmore County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state....
. Alvin Neelley was serving a life sentence at the Bostick State Prison
Bostick State Prison
Bostick State Prison is a former prison located in Hardwick, Georgia in Baldwin County, Georgia. It was constructed in the 1950s and converted to a prison in 1987. It closed in May 2010....
in Hardwick, Georgia
Hardwick, Georgia
Hardwick or Hardwicke is a place in Bryan County, Georgia. The town was laid out in 1755. Harwick was the county seat of Bryan County from 1793 through 1797....
at the time of his death in 2005.
Alvin Neelley
Alvin Howard Neelley, Jr. was born in GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1953, where he was a car thief
Car Thief
Car Thief is the 11th track on the album Paul's Boutique by American hip hop group the Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989. It heavily samples "Rien Ne Va Plus" by Funk Factory...
during his teenage years. He met his second wife Judith Ann Adams when he was 26 years old and she was 15. Alvin divorced his first wife shortly before eloping in 1980.
Judith Ann Neelley
Judith Ann Adams was born in Murfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
in 1964. Her father, an alcoholic, died when she was nine. After meeting Alvin Neelley, she began her life of crime, committing armed robbery across the country for which she was later caught. She gave birth to twins
TWINS
Two Wide-Angle Imaging Neutral-Atom Spectrometers are a pair of NASA instruments aboard two United States National Reconnaissance Office satellites in Molniya orbits. TWINS was designed to provide stereo images of the Earth's ring current. The first instrument, TWINS-1, was launched aboard USA-184...
while incarcerated at Rome's
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
Youth Development Center.
Youth Development Center Crimes
On September 11, 1982, a Youth Development Center employee, Ken Dooley's home was shot through four times. The following day, fellow employee Linda Adair's home was firebombedFirebombing
Firebombing is a bombing technique designed to damage a target, generally an urban area, through the use of fire, caused by incendiary devices, rather than from the blast effect of large bombs....
with a Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
. Phone calls were made to the victims following the attacks by a female who claimed to have been sexually abused
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
at the Youth Development Center, but neither victim could identify the caller's voice.
Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann MillicanLisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican was a victim of a notorious kidnapping and murder that began at the Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia on September 25, 1982. That day Lisa was on a shopping outing with other residents of the Ethel Harpst Home, a home for neglected and abused girls and boys located in Cedartown,...
, a 13 year-old girl from Cedartown, Georgia
Cedartown, Georgia
Cedartown is a city in Polk County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,750. The city is the county seat of Polk County...
was abducted by Alvin and Judith Neelley from the Riverbend Mall
Riverbend Mall
Riverbend Mall was a shopping mall located in Rome, Georgia. It was open from 1975 to 2002, when it was demolished and replaced with a strip mall...
in Rome, Georgia
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
on September 25, 1982. She was taken to a Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
where the Neelleys held her captive. During her captivity
Captivity
Captivity or Captive may refer to:*Imprisonment or hostage, the state of being confined to a space from which it is difficult or impossible to escape**Captive company...
, Lisa was molested by both Neelleys, and Judith injected her with Drano
Drano
Drano is a drain cleaner product manufactured by S. C. Johnson & Son.- Crystal Drano :According to the National Institutes of Health's Household Products Database, the crystal form is composed of sodium hydroxide , sodium nitrate, sodium chloride , and aluminum.The power crystals are simply colored...
. On the 28th, Lisa was shot in the head by Judith and her body was thrown in the Little River Canyon in Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne, Alabama
Fort Payne is a city in DeKalb County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 12,938. The city is the county seat of DeKalb County. It bills itself as the "Official Sock Capital of the World."...
. Judith even called police to report Lisa's body.
Janice Chatman and John Hancock
Janice Chatman and John Hancock were a young engaged couple from Rome, GeorgiaRome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
. On October 4, 1982, they were abducted by Judith Neelley. John Hancock is shot while Janice Chatman was abducted and brought back to the Neelleys' motel room, where she was tortured and murdered. John Hancock, however, did not die, and was able to point to Alvin and Judith Neelley as his assailants.
Arrests and Trial
Judith Neelley was arrested on October 9, 1982, and Alvin was taken into custody a few days later. Judith was deduced as being the perpetrator in the YDC employee attacks.To avoid the death penalty, Alvin Neelley pled guilty to murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
and aggravated assault in Georgia. He was not tried for the Lisa Millican murder.
Judith Neelley's trial began on March 7, 1983. Before her trial however, she gave birth to a third child behind bars. After a six-week trial, Judith was convicted of the torture murder
Torture murder
Torture murder is a loosely defined term to describe a murder where death has been preceded by the torture of the victim. In many legal jurisdictions a murder involving "exceptional brutality or cruelty" will involve a harsher sentence.-Punishment:...
of Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican
Lisa Ann Millican was a victim of a notorious kidnapping and murder that began at the Riverbend Mall in Rome, Georgia on September 25, 1982. That day Lisa was on a shopping outing with other residents of the Ethel Harpst Home, a home for neglected and abused girls and boys located in Cedartown,...
. Despite a jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
's recommendation to sentence Judith to life in prison, judge Randall Cole sentenced the 18 year-old mother of three to death in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
's electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
.
Following her first conviction, Judith pled guilty to Janice Chatman's murder.
Aftermath
Alvin Neelley was incarcerated at the Bostick State PrisonBostick State Prison
Bostick State Prison is a former prison located in Hardwick, Georgia in Baldwin County, Georgia. It was constructed in the 1950s and converted to a prison in 1987. It closed in May 2010....
from 1983 until his death in November 2005.
Judith Neelley became the youngest woman sentenced to death in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
. She was on Alabama's Death Row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women
The Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women is a prison for women of the Alabama Department of Corrections, located in Wetumpka, Alabama. All female inmates entering ADOC are sent to the receiving unit in Tutwiler. Tutwiler houses the state's female death row...
.
Judith appealed for a new trial
New trial
A new trial or retrial is a recurrence of a court case. Depending on the rules of the jurisdiction, a new trial may occur if:*a jury is unable to reach a verdict ;...
, but it was denied in March 1987. In 1989, the United States Supreme Court affirmed her death sentence. On January 15, 1999, Judith Neelley was days from her execution date when Alabama's then-governor Fob James
Fob James
Forrest Hood James, Jr., known as Fob James , is an American politician, a civil engineer, and an all-American half-back...
granted her clemency, commuting her death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
to life in prison. The decision was met with controversy, but James cited how Judith's jury wanted to sentence her to life in prison, but the judge sentenced her to death. Judith will be eligible for parole in January 2014.
In the Media
On February 28, 2008, the Neelleys' case was profiled on the Investigation Discovery program Most EvilMost Evil
Most Evil is an American forensics television program on Investigation Discovery presented by forensic psychiatrist Michael Stone of Columbia University. On the show, Stone rates murderers on a scale of evil that he has developed...
. On a scale developed by forensic psychiatrist Michael Stone, Judith was ranked as a category 22 killer, the "most evil" level deemed for serial torture murderers.
On October 23, 2008, Alvin and Judith Neelley were featured on Wicked Attraction
Wicked Attraction
Wicked Attraction is a true-crime documentary television series on Investigation Discovery which began airing in the United States in 2008. The series focuses on how two seemingly ordinary people can come together to commit heinous crimes, thereby forming a "wicked attraction."-Synopsis:Wicked...
in the episode "Hearts of Darkness".
Judith was featured on Deadly Women
Deadly Women
Deadly Women is a television series first aired in 2005 on the Discovery Channel, focusing on female killers. It was originally a mini-series consisting of three episodes: "Obsession," "Greed" and "Revenge". After a 2 year hiatus, the show resumed production in 2008 and began airing on the...
in 2011.