“Since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the US in 1976, more than 8,000 people have been sentenced to death.” ~Netflix, I am a Killer series.
I Am a Killer Episode 9 – Living with the Consequences
- Death Row Inmate #0-989102
- Josh Nelson
In 1995, Josh Nelson and Keith Brennan murdered their friend Tommy Owens. Convicted in 1996, Josh Nelson has spent more than half his life on Death Row.
Nelson’s father was an alcoholic and he grew up with violence in the home. When he was seven years old his parents got divorced, however, things did not get better with his father out of the picture. When Nelson was sent to rehab, he met Keith. Josh and Keith would often fantasize about the things they were going to do once they got out of rehab.
Somehow, they came up with the idea to kill their friend Tommy. Nelson and Brennan used Tommy’s own bat to kill him. They were able to lure Tommy out of the vehicle by telling him there was damage to it. Nelson hesitated at first but hit Tommy with the bat. Nelson states he had to hold on to a rage that was inside of him to continue to hit Tommy until he was quiet. Brennan then cut Tommy’s throat with a boxcutter.
After the murder, the two went to see their girlfriends. The girls knew that something wasn’t right when the guys showed up in Tommy’s car. When they were questioned about where Tommy was Brennan openly admitted to the girls that they had killed him. The two boys ended up driving 1,200 miles to New Jersey in Tommy’s car.
They were both arrested a week later when their girlfriends alerted police. They were both sentenced to death in 1996. However, because Brennan was 16 at the time his sentence was commuted to life in prison. Nelson’s mother is described as lacking any mothering ability. He was also sexually abused by his stepfather. Tommy happened to be killed on the same day that Nelson was kicked out of his house.
Supposedly Tommy had sexually assaulted Brennan’s girlfriend. This information is given as a possible motive for the crime. Nelson is currently awaiting an execution date.
I was able to find a significant amount of court documents online. I was not able to find many news articles that added anything to the story. Keith’s death sentence was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court. Nelson’s appeal was denied by the same court. I have mixed emotions about this case. On one hand, I feel like they should have found a better way to deal with the crap they had been dealt. But then I must remind myself that it was a different time and people weren’t that ready to believe a child’s accusations. I guess in this case I must leave it to the victim’s family. If they feel that the death penalty is a fair and just punishment, then so be it.