On this date, May 21,
1990, Ella Foy Riley was stabbed to death by Willie McNair. McNair was put to
death by lethal injection on May 14, 2009. Let us not forget the victim by
hearing from her family members.
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Ella Foy Riley
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Summary:
McNair and another man went to the home of Ella Foy Riley, an elderly widow who
lived alone and occasionally hired McNair to do yard work. When Ella came to
the door, McNair asked her if he could borrow twenty dollars. Riley told him
she had no money to lend him. McNair then asked if he could have a glass of
water. Ella invited him in, and when she turned around McNair grabbed her by
the neck and stabbed her in the throat. When the blade of the knife broke off
in Ella’s neck, McNair’s companion retrieved another knife from the kitchen and
McNair stabbed Ella in the neck again, then strangled her for several minutes
as she bled to death. When an officer came to his house the next morning,
McNair admitted killing Ella and later directed officers to the place where he
had dumped the purse. McNair was originally convicted and sentenced to death.
On direct appeal, the sentence was vacated and a new hearing ordered. The
second jury recommended a sentence of life without parole by a vote of 8-4. The
court rejected this recommendation and again sentenced McNair to death.
McNair's accomplice, Olin Grimsley, received a life sentence for first-degree
robbery for his role in the attack.
Pat Jones
and her brothers Calvin, Don, John, Bobby and Wayne Riley wore buttons with
their mother's photograph for the execution. The buttons said "You are not forgotten." Wayne Riley, the
youngest of the sons, issued a statement afterward: "I
thank God for keeping myself, my four brothers and my sister alive and in good health
so that we were able to see justice finally done. I ask that you pray for my
family in the coming days and for the Willie McNair family, too, for they ...
have suffered for what he has done."
Wayne Riley
also said: "I can forgive Willie McNair for what
he did because he paid the price with his life." Later the six
children gathered with other family members for a candle light vigil.
Participating was District Attorney Doug Valeska, who prosecuted McNair.
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