With a Sunday evening press release, South Dakota formally announced that 10 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday, August 29, is when the first execution in the state since 1947 will occur. Elijah Page, age 24, is set to die by lethal injection. Page pleaded guilty to first degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and grand theft in connection with the brutal March 2000 beating death of Chester Poage in the Black Hills.
Under South Dakota law, the judge in a capital punishment case designates a week for the execution to occur, and the exact day and time of the execution is left to the warden's discretion. The warden is then required to publicly announce the day and hour of the execution not less than 48 hours prior to the execution.
Page's execution is on track because of a handwritten letter he sent state officials, lawyers and the media saying, "I have decided to end my appeals and face execution." He and another defendant, Briley Piper, pleaded guilty to Poage's murder and were sentenced to death. A third defendant, Darrell Hoadley, had a jury trial and was found guilty but the jury did not impose the death penalty. Page and Piper appealed their sentences, in part, on the grounds their fate was disproportionate given Hoadley's life sentence.
The death sentence was affirmed 3-2 in a lengthy opinion by the South Dakota Supreme Court on January 4. Piper continues to pursue his appeals but Page instructed his lawyers not to do so. Earlier this month, Page was determined competent to make that decision.
The last execution in South Dakota occurred shortly after midnight on April 8, 1947, two days after Easter Sunday. George Sitts was electrocuted for killing two South Dakota law enforcement officers after escaping from a Minnesota jail where he was being held pending transfer to prison on a life sentence for killing a Minneapolis liquor store clerk.
Article comments
1 - Peter J
Good article Tim,
I have to say that I'm a bit surprised that there hasn't been an execution in South Dakota since 1947.
I am personally 100% in favor of the death penalty for any and all violent crimes that include rapes, murder, torture and the like. I'm not the kind of person given to excuses such as a very troubled childhood, raw deals in life, whatever.
There are many people walking the earth who were beaten, molested, or horribly mistreated in their youth and to a point I can empathize with them. That is tragic, but it certainly is no excuse for committing those crimes against innocent people. There are many people who suffered horrible abuse as children and I know first hand of kids (who are now grown) who had things a lot worse than most and were ever compelled to pass that anger and pain on to an innocent. In fact, it worked the opposite for many. As far as beatings I myself endured as a child I was left with the thought 'why would this person be doing this to me and when I grow up I will never treat anyone this way' and that's the way it is. I could never raise my hand to my child because of this lesson.
As far as the death sentence goes that's the price one pays for the most gruesome, horrific crimes against humanity. They should be thankful that I don't get to choose the manner of death. I would gather the families, pass out the pliers and propane lighters and commence with the happy fizzie party.
2 - RJ Elliott
"Among other things, reports indicate Page was sexually abused by his mother as early as age two and that his mother sold her children to others in exchange for money and drugs. His stepfather also reportedly used Page as a shield when he thought he was being attacked by drug dealers. In addition, a Missouri court determined the stepfather had physically and sexually abused the children, including allowing others to sexually abuse them in exchange for drugs."
Horrific and disturbing. Nonetheless, the people of the state of South Dakota have allowed the dealth penalty to remain in force. The USSC has allowed states to keep the death penalty. And this monster's crimes are surely worthy of the "rough justice" of capital punishment.
I care not about his various mitigating circumstances. He brutally murdered an innocent, in cold blood. Most people who have experienced the kinds of victimization he has faced have NOT brutally slaughtered an innocent as a response.
His death is well deserved.
3 - Dave Fett
Gov. Rounds is a pussy.
4 - larry
DEATH. he deserves it!!