Murder of Chere Jo Horton: Difference between revisions

By /

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Content deleted Content added


 
Line 6: Line 6:

==Arrest and trial==

==Arrest and trial==

Shaver, a thrice-married airman third class in the US Air Force, initially blamed another airman, Sumpter Brawley, who was briefly held as a material witness before being released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 6, 1954 |title=Early Trial Slated For Soldier Who Killed Child, 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clinton-daily-news-early-trial-slate/167473491/ |website=The Clinton Daily News |pages=8 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Once in custody, Shaver was moved to a secret location after police received tips of a possible attempted lynching.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 1954 |title=Airman moved to ‘Secret’ jail |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor/90236825/ |website=The Monitor |pages=1 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> It was later revealed Shaver had been moved to the Travis County jail in Austin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 1954 |title=Child Slayer’s Moved to Jail At Austin After Mob Threats |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-child-slayers/167474664/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

Shaver, a thrice-married airman third class in the US Air Force, initially blamed another airman, Sumpter Brawley, who was briefly held as a material witness before being released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 6, 1954 |title=Early Trial Slated For Soldier Who Killed Child, 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clinton-daily-news-early-trial-slate/167473491/ |website=The Clinton Daily News |pages=8 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Once in custody, Shaver was moved to a secret location after police received tips of a possible attempted lynching.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 1954 |title=Airman moved to ‘Secret’ jail |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor/90236825/ |website=The Monitor |pages=1 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> It was later revealed Shaver had been moved to the Travis County jail in Austin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 8, 1954 |title=Child Slayer’s Moved to Jail At Austin After Mob Threats |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-child-slayers/167474664/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

On July 13, Shaver was formally indicted by a Bexar County grand jury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 1954 |title=Bexar Grand Jury Indicts Airman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-bexar-grand-jury-ind/167474823/ |website=The Odessa American |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> A [[change of venue]] was ordered, moving it out of [[San Antonio]] to Brady, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 1954 |title=Rape Trial Change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-rape-trial-change/167474999/ |website=El Paso Times |pages=14 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Shaver’s court appointed attorney, Manual C. Gonzales, petitioned the court for Shaver to be examined by an Air Force psychiatrist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-san-angelo-judge-will/167475229/|title=Private Article Clipping – Newspapers.com™|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Additional attorneys joined the defense.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 1954 |title=2nd Brady Lawyer Named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/90237573/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=40 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Air Force psychiatrists signed an affidavit saying Shaver was “not able to distinguish right from wrong”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 1954 |title=Court Orders Shaver Sanity Trial Tuesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-court-orders-shaver/167476518/ |website=The Austin American |pages=3 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Three psychiatrists testified Shaver was insane, while chief psychiatrist [[Louis Jolyon West|Louis West]] described examining the defendant under the effect of hypnosis and truth serum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 1954 |title=Sanity Hearing For Airman To Finish Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brownsville-herald/90241762/ |website=The Brownsville Herald |pages=10 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> A jury found Shaver sane.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 1954 |title=Suspected Murderer Of Tot Found Sane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph-suspected-murder/167477065/ |website=Tyler Morning Telegraph |pages=7 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

On July 13, Shaver was formally indicted by a Bexar County grand jury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 1954 |title=Bexar Grand Jury Indicts Airman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-bexar-grand-jury-ind/167474823/ |website=The Odessa American |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> A [[change of venue]] was ordered, moving it out of [[San Antonio]] to Brady, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 1954 |title=Rape Trial Change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-rape-trial-change/167474999/ |website=El Paso Times |pages=14 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Shaver’s court appointed attorney, Manual C. Gonzales, petitioned the court for Shaver to be examined by an Air Force psychiatrist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-san-angelo-judge-will/167475229/|title=Private Article Clipping – Newspapers.com™|website=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Additional attorneys joined the defense.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 1954 |title=2nd Brady Lawyer Named |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/90237573/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=40 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Air Force psychiatrists signed an affidavit saying Shaver was “not able to distinguish right from wrong”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 1954 |title=Court Orders Shaver Sanity Trial Tuesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-court-orders-shaver/167476518/ |website=The Austin American |pages=3 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Three psychiatrists testified Shaver was insane, while chief psychiatrist [[Louis Jolyon West|Louis West]] described examining the defendant under the effect of hypnosis and truth serum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 1954 |title=Sanity Hearing For Airman To Finish Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brownsville-herald/90241762/ |website=The Brownsville Herald |pages=10 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> A jury found Shaver sane.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 24, 1954 |title=Suspected Murderer Of Tot Found Sane |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tyler-morning-telegraph-suspected-murder/167477065/ |website=Tyler Morning Telegraph |pages=7 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

The state introduced the victims’ parents, the tavern owner, Airman Sumpter Brawley, who spent time with the defendant that evening, and three airmen who had visited the tavern.<ref name=”UP_Sept29″>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 1954 |title=State Begins Questioning In Rape-Slaying Trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-state-begins-q/167477655/ |website=Austin American-Statesman |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The prosecution introduced a statement Shaver had made on the day of his arrest, saying “If she was raped and if she is dead then I must be responsible since I was the one who picked her up and put her in my care.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 1954 |title=Shaver Admission of Guilt Introduced by Prosecutor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-shaver-admissio/167478053/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=10 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The defense began its case on September 30. Shaver was convicted at his first trial, but attorneys alleged juror misconduct after evidence emerged that two of the jurors had made statements vowing to sentence Shaver to death prior to the start of the trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 1954 |title=Shaver Attorneys Claim Misconduct By McCulloch Jury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-shaver-attorneys-clai/167478325/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=22 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The trial judge denied a request for a new trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 1954 |title=Judge Overrules Motion For New Trial of Shaver |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-judge-overrules-motio/167478754/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=31 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> After an appeals court ruled the trial was unfair,<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 30, 1956 |title=Defense Emphasizes Jim Shaver ‘Insane’ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-defense-emphasizes-ji/167480395/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=1 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Shaver was again convicted at a retrial.

The state introduced the victims’ parents, the tavern owner, Airman Sumpter Brawley, who spent time with the defendant that evening, and three airmen who had visited the tavern.<ref name=”UP_Sept29″>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 1954 |title=State Begins Questioning In Rape-Slaying Trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-state-begins-q/167477655/ |website=Austin American-Statesman |pages=5 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The prosecution introduced a statement Shaver had made on the day of his arrest, saying “If she was raped and if she is dead then I must be responsible since I was the one who picked her up and put her in my care.”<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 1954 |title=Shaver Admission of Guilt Introduced by Prosecutor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-shaver-admissio/167478053/ |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=10 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The defense began its case on September 30. Shaver was convicted at his first trial, but attorneys alleged juror misconduct after evidence emerged that two of the jurors had made statements vowing to sentence Shaver to death prior to the start of the trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 17, 1954 |title=Shaver Attorneys Claim Misconduct By McCulloch Jury |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-shaver-attorneys-clai/167478325/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=22 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The trial judge denied a request for a new trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 31, 1954 |title=Judge Overrules Motion For New Trial of Shaver |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-judge-overrules-motio/167478754/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=31 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> After an appeals court ruled the trial was unfair,<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 30, 1956 |title=Defense Emphasizes Jim Shaver ‘Insane’ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-defense-emphasizes-ji/167480395/ |website=Brownwood Bulletin |pages=1 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Shaver was again convicted at a retrial.

==Execution and legacy==

==Execution and legacy==

Latest revision as of 05:43, 14 November 2025

1954 murder of a three-year-old girl in San Antonio, Texas

The murder of Chere Jo Horton occurred on the night of July 3–4, 1954, in San Antonio, Texas.[1][2] Jimmy Shaver was arrested, tried, convicted, and executed for the murder.

On the night of her disappearance, Chere Jo’s parents left the three-year-old girl alone while they were inside the Lazy A tavern.[2] After she went missing, a search was undertaken. A car was found parked with the girl’s underwear hanging from its door. Jimmy Shaver, a technical instructor stationed at the local Air Force base, was found shirtless, covered in scratches. The girl’s body was found nearby, having been raped and murdered.[2]

Shaver, a thrice-married airman third class in the US Air Force, initially blamed another airman, Sumpter Brawley, who was briefly held as a material witness before being released.[3] Once in custody, Shaver was moved to a secret location after police received tips of a possible attempted lynching.[4] It was later revealed Shaver had been moved to the Travis County jail in Austin.[5]

On July 13, Shaver was formally indicted by a Bexar County grand jury.[6] A change of venue was ordered, moving it out of San Antonio to Brady, Texas.[7] Shaver’s court appointed attorney, Manual C. Gonzales, petitioned the court for Shaver to be examined by an Air Force psychiatrist.[8] Additional attorneys joined the defense.[9] Air Force psychiatrists signed an affidavit saying Shaver was “not able to distinguish right from wrong”.[10] Three psychiatrists testified Shaver was insane, while chief psychiatrist Louis West described examining the defendant under the effect of hypnosis and truth serum.[11] A jury found Shaver sane.[12]

The state introduced the victims’ parents, the tavern owner, Airman Sumpter Brawley, who spent time with the defendant that evening, and three airmen who had visited the tavern.[13] The prosecution introduced a statement Shaver had made on the day of his arrest, saying “If she was raped and if she is dead then I must be responsible since I was the one who picked her up and put her in my care.”[14] The defense began its case on September 30. Shaver was convicted at his first trial, but attorneys alleged juror misconduct after evidence emerged that two of the jurors had made statements vowing to sentence Shaver to death prior to the start of the trial.[15] The trial judge denied a request for a new trial.[16] After an appeals court ruled the trial was unfair,[17] Shaver was again convicted at a retrial.

Execution and legacy

[edit]

On February 5, 1958, Shaver was given a stay of execution just three hours before he was due to be executed in the electric chair. Another prisoner, Donald Summers, confessed to the murder. As a result, the Governor issued a stay.[18] Summers later recanted and said Shaver had offered to pay him for taking credit for the crime. He received a third execution-eve stay on March 18. On July 25, 1958, Shaver was executed in the electric chair.[19]

The case was discussed in the 2019 writings of Tom O’Neill and Dan Piepenbring as well as a 2025 documentary by Errol Morris.[20]

  1. ^ “Airman Held On Murder Charge”. Durant Daily Democrat. July 5, 1954. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c “Jimmy Shaver GI charged”. The Decatur Daily Review. July 5, 1954. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ “Early Trial Slated For Soldier Who Killed Child, 3”. The Clinton Daily News. July 6, 1954. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ “Airman moved to ‘Secret’ jail”. The Monitor. July 7, 1954. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ “Child Slayer’s Moved to Jail At Austin After Mob Threats”. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 8, 1954. p. 5 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ “Bexar Grand Jury Indicts Airman”. The Odessa American. July 13, 1954. p. 5 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ “Rape Trial Change”. El Paso Times. July 29, 1954. p. 14 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ “Private Article Clipping – Newspapers.com™”. Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ “2nd Brady Lawyer Named”. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 12, 1954. p. 40 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ “Court Orders Shaver Sanity Trial Tuesday”. The Austin American. September 21, 1954. p. 3 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ^ “Sanity Hearing For Airman To Finish Today”. The Brownsville Herald. September 22, 1954. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ “Suspected Murderer Of Tot Found Sane”. Tyler Morning Telegraph. September 24, 1954. p. 7 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ^ “State Begins Questioning In Rape-Slaying Trial”. Austin American-Statesman. September 29, 1954. p. 5 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ “Shaver Admission of Guilt Introduced by Prosecutor”. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 30, 1954. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ “Shaver Attorneys Claim Misconduct By McCulloch Jury”. Brownwood Bulletin. October 17, 1954. p. 22 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ “Judge Overrules Motion For New Trial of Shaver”. Brownwood Bulletin. October 31, 1954. p. 31 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ “Defense Emphasizes Jim Shaver ‘Insane’“. Brownwood Bulletin. March 30, 1956. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ^ “Last-Minute ‘Confession’ In Slaying Doubted By Sheriff”. Brownwood Bulletin. February 5, 1958. p. 8 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ^ “Shaver Is Executed On 33rd Birthday”. Brownwood Bulletin. July 25, 1958. p. 10 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Murray, Noel (March 3, 2025). “The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in March”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 5, 2025.

Must Read

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Exit mobile version