A man convicted of the 1993 sleepover kidnapping and subsequent murder of Polly Klaas is asking the California Superior Court to overturn his death sentence.
Richard Allen Davis, an inmate at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death for kidnapping 12-year-old Polly, now known as the Internet’s first missing girl, at knifepoint during a sleepover. received. strangled her to death.
“On August 5, 1996, Richard Allen Davis was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and murder of my 12-year-old daughter Polly Klaas with the intent to molest her.” His father, Mark Claes, made the announcement in April. 4 statements. “On October 1, 1993, at 10:30 p.m., Davis invaded a slumber party at the Petaluma, California, home where Polly lived with her mother, where he tied up two of Polly’s friends, tied them up, and… After blindfolding her, he kidnapped her at knifepoint.”
Two months later, Klaas’ family learned that Davis had “murdered Polly and dumped her body on a pile of trash within hours of her abduction.”
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The disappearance of Polly Klaas, which made national headlines, became known as the first high-profile disappearance to spread on the Internet in 1993, when computers were just beginning to become popular. (Polly Klaas Foundation)
Davis is seeking to have his death sentence overturned based on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 decision to abolish the death penalty statewide. Under Mr. Newsom’s suspended sentence, no one will be executed in California while he is in the governor’s office.
“We expected that the death sentence recommended by the jury and imposed by Judge Thomas Hastings would leave him isolated from society for the rest of his life. We could not have been more wrong. I did!” Marc continued. “The Sonoma County District Attorney’s opposition to reversing Davis’ death sentence…is correct that the death penalty cannot be revoked under this provision. The court should deny his motion on April 5, 2024. be.”
Child kidnapping and murder that changed American justice
Richard Allen Davis, currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death for kidnapping Polly Klaas during a sleepover and strangling her to death at knifepoint. (Klaas Kids)
On April 5, Superior Court Judge Benjamin Williams set a May 31 decision date on Davis’ motion to vacate his sentence.
“What if my family could be subject to a recall on the death row of a death row inmate who had multiple convictions for assaulting women and was diagnosed as a sexually sadistic psychopath before killing Polly? “Now, whoever the victim’s family thought justice was, those serving time in court are faced with a shocking new reality,” Mark said in a statement. “If Polly’s killer is somehow able to come out victorious, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Slumber Party Nightmare: The Kidnapping and Murder of Polly Klaas
Polly Klaas was kidnapped at knifepoint and strangled to death during a sleepover in 1993. (Polly Klaas Foundation)
He added:[t]Thousands of violent criminals will follow, so lock your doors, protect your children, and pray that your family will not fall prey to the violence and destruction that is sure to follow. ”
Newsom’s office previously directed Fox News Digital to comments the governor made when he issued a stay of execution in March 2019, when 737 people were on death row in California.
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“Intentionally killing another person is wrong, and as governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual,” Newsom said in a statement at the time. “No matter how you look at it, our country’s death penalty system has been a failure.
Mark Klaas said the development of the internet and social media has “changed the way the public and law enforcement approach missing children.” (Polly Klaas Foundation)
“It has discriminated against mentally ill, black and brown defendants, or defendants who cannot afford expensive legal representation. It provides no public safety benefit or deterrent value. You’re wasting billions of tax dollars. Most of all, you died.” The penalty is absolute, irreversible and irreversible in the event of human error. ”
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Press release from Newsom’s office The state noted that California is one of four states that have issued a moratorium on the death penalty, including Pennsylvania, Colorado and Oregon. Since 1978, California has spent $5 billion on the death penalty and executed a total of 13 people, according to the announcement.
Polly’s disappearance made national headlines in newspapers and television, and became known as the first high-profile missing persons case to spread on the Internet in 1993, when computers became popular.
