Does Cost Factor Into Death Penalty Cases?

David Ison

(Brookville, Ind.) - The man who allegedly murdered five people in Franklin County will not face the death penalty, and many residents want to know why.

 

On Friday, Franklin County Prosecutor Mel Wilhelm filed an amended charge which will have David Ison facing a possible life in prison sentence if convicted on five counts of murder.

 

Ison, 46, allegedly shot Roy Napier, Napier’s ex-wife and two grown children, and neighbor and friend Henry Smith at two homes on Stipps Hill Road near Laurel last September 25.

 

The Fayette County resident massacred the victims because he was upset Roy Napier had raised the price of prescription pills he was selling by $2, Indiana State Police detectives claimed in the affidavit detailing their investigation.

 

Wilhelm has not publically stated why he decided to forgo the death penalty, but a large reason could be because of the cost.

 

In 2010, the Indiana state legislature’s non-partisan Legislative Services Agency conducted a study of 92 murder cases across the state between 2000 and 2007, considering the costs of attorneys, expert witnesses, appeals, and other costs.

 

The analysis of the cost of each type of sentence, from limited years up to the death sentence, determined the cost of prosecuting a death penalty trial was nearly $450,000.

 

On the other hand, a life in prison without parole trial cost under $43,000.

 

The death penalty case would have been a large strain on Franklin County’s budget. During meetings leading up to Friday’s revelation, county council and commissioners there had briefly discussed the possibility of a county government shutdown to fund the trial.

 

According to a report issued by the Indiana Public Defender Council in January, only one in five death penalty cases in Indiana result in a death sentence, and even when they do, it is rarely carried out.  For every death row prisoner executed, three more have had their death sentences reversed thanks to appeal.

 

Ison is also charged with Attempted Armed Robbery for a failed holdup at the G.A. Triplett Pharmacy in Osgood last May.

 

The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately return calls seeking more information Monday morning.

 

The Legislative Services Agency’s report detailing the costs of murder cases can be found online at http://www.in.gov/ipdc/general/DP-COST.pdf.

 

The IPDC’s report is available at http://www.in.gov/ipdc/general/indianadpfactsheet.pdf.

 

LINKS:

 

David Ison Won't Face Death Penalty

 

Murder Suspect Granted Change of Venue

 

Murder Suspect Wants Trial Moved

 

Ison Pleads Not Guilty To Franklin Co. Murders

 

Ison Charged With Five Murders

 

Laurel Five Laid To Rest

 

Services Set For Metamora Massacre Victims

 

Ison Held On $5M Bond

 

Person of Interest Held In Murder Case

 

Killer Not Among Five Dead

 

ISP: No Persons Of Interest In Five Deaths

 

Questions Abound In Franklin Co. Deaths

 

Five Found Dead In Two Metamora Homes

 

Multiple Homicides Investigated In Franklin Co.

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