The Supreme Court has issued show-cause orders for two more Death Row inmates — Michael Shane Worthington and Leon Taylor. A show-cause order is issued when the court believes all appeals have been exhausted, meaning there is no reason why the death sentence should not be carried out.
Michael Shane Worthington (left) and Leon Taylor enter the next phase in the death penalty process.
Michael Shane Worthington was found guilty of murder, rape, and robbery in 19-95. The victim was his Lake St. Louis neighbor, Melinda Griffin.
Worthington claimed he was black-out drunk after four days of alcohol and cocaine and did not remember his actions.
Leon Taylor is on Death Row for the 19-94 shooting death of Robert Newton, a gas station attendant in Independance, during an armed robbery. Taylor also tried to shoot Newton’s eight-year-old step daughter, but because his gun jammed, her life was spared.
The Supreme Court of Missouri has given Taylor and Worthington’s attorneys until April 24th to file appeals. If no motions are filed, the court will issue warrants for their deaths.
For more information on Taylor, click HERE. For more on Worthington, click HERE.
