Free Republic

When a jury found Richard Allen Davis guilty of the murder of Petaluma's 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1996, Davis puckered his lips and extended a middle finger to TV cameras. Later, Davis was sentenced to death, and outraged California voters passed a three-strikes sentencing law. From death row now, Davis still is puckering up and extending his finger at the public - and the public is paying for it. It's 2009, yet it was only this month that Davis' first appeal was argued before the California Supreme Court. "Who would think it would take almost as long for this guy...

It's been 13 years since a Santa Clara County jury sentenced Richard Allen Davis to death for kidnapping and killing Polly Klaas, but believe it or not his appeal process has move not one step closer to San Quentin's death chamber in all those years. That first and guaranteed step will happen in San Francisco next Tuesday. That's when the California Supreme Court will hear what is sure to be the first of many appeals. When the wire crossed in the newsroom, long timers were livid. How could it be that one of the most notorious killers of one of...

This is a reference thread with links to previous FR threads discussing the arrest of a suspect, John Mark Karr, in the decade-old cold case concerning the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, plus case resources for continued commentary on investigation of the crime.

Death Row inmate Richard Allen Davis, who kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Polly Klaas in Petaluma in 1993, was found unconscious in his San Quentin Prison cell Sunday night and rushed to the hospital, authorities said today. Davis, whose crime is largely responsible for California's three strikes law, overdosed on opiates, according to prison spokesman Vernell Crittendon. It was not clear Monday whether it was a suicide attempt or an accidental overdose. The drugs are believed to have been obtained from an outside source, probably during visiting hours, Crittendon said. Prisoners, he said, "are still allowed to visit with their loved...

SANTA ROSA The former head of a theater company named for 12-year-old murder victim Polly Klaas was sentenced to eight months in jail for embezzling thousands of dollars from the group. Promoter Jack Stein, 61, was sentenced Tuesday in Sonoma County Superior Court for stealing from the theater company from 2003 to 2004 as it was trying to raise money to renovate the Polly Hannah Klaas Performing Arts Theater building. Stein admitted stealing $6,300 as the group was trying raise money to renovate its performance center. But an audit uncovered losses of nearly $30,000, said board President Austin Garner. Stein...