Oklahoma Executes James Lewis DeRosa June 18, 2013 Shortly after 6 pm CDT, 36-year-old James Lewis DeRosa was executed at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma on June 18, 2013. James was executed for the murder of 73-year-old Curtis Plummer and his wife, 70-year-old Gloria Plummer. Curtis and Gloria were killed in their Poteau, Oklahoma house on the evening of Monday, October 2, 2000. James spent the last 13 years of his life on death row. James DeRosa and John Eric Castleberry, who was 21 at the time, were dropped off by then 18-year-old high school senior, Scotty White. The three men had planned to rob the Plummer’s home because DeRosa, who had previously worked for them, said that they “always carried a bunch of money on ‘em.” Castleberry and DeRosa wanted the money so that they could move to Corpus Christi, Texas to find work. Scotty did not want to participate in the robbery but agreed to drop them off at the house and meet them later. Around 9:00 pm, on October 2, 2000, DeRosa rang the doorbell of the Plummer’s home. DeRosa told Gloria, who answered the door, that he and Castleberry wanted to talk to her husband about possible work opportunities. Gloria escorted them into the den where Curtis was watching television. A few minutes later, DeRosa pulled out a knife and held it to the neck of Curtis. Castleberry put a knife to the neck of Gloria. Both were told to sit still. DeRosa stayed to watch the Plummers, while Castleberry began searching the house for valuables. A short time later, Castleberry heard DeRosa yell for him to come back. DeRosa was standing near the door to the kitchen, fighting the couple. DeRosa was stabbing at both of them, and Gloria was covered in blood. DeRosa stabbed Curtis in the chest, while Castleberry grabbed Gloria, and slit her throat. Castleberry then stabbed Curtis in the back several times. Curtis promised to give DeRosa and Castleberry anything they wanted if they would just let him get help for his wife. Instead, DeRosa threw a marble topped end table, which hit Curtis in the head. DeRosa then slit Curtis’ throat from ear to ear. The men continued the search of the house, but could only find about $70 in cash. They were also unable to locate the keys to an old pickup, so they stole the newer pickup parked in the garage. The two left the crime scene and went to meet up with Scotty. Deciding that the pickup was too obvious to be left on the side of the road, DeRosa and Castleberry pushed it into a lake. They also used the lake to wash the blood off their clothing and themselves. They then changed clothes. All the bloody clothing was put into a black plastic trash bag, which was later burned. The knives were tossed into the lake. That evening, DeRosa and Castleberry informed Scotty that they had killed the couple. They also told Scotty that they were leaving for Texas in the morning. Later that night, Castleberry, while DeRosa was present, told another friend how they killed the couple. They also burned their clothing using lighter fluid, however, they feared DeRosa’s combat boots would not completely burn, so they tossed them into a river. The following day, the bodies of Curtis and Gloria were found in their home. On October 4, 2000, Scotty informed a teacher that he knew who killed the Plummers. Scotty spoke to Sheriff Kendall Ballew and investigator Shawn Ward. Initially Scotty downplayed his involvement, however, he later confessed to his part. He also informed them that DeRosa and Castleberry had gone to Corpus Christi, Texas. On the evening of October 4, 2000, DeRosa and Castleberry were arrested outside of Castleberry’s father’s home in Texas. During the arrest, DeRosa was informed that he was being arrest for the murder of a couple in Oklahoma. After being told that information, DeRosa said, “Yeah, I heard about what happened to those people. We had just visited ‘em so my prints are probably out there.” Castleberry chose to waive his Miranda Rights and told Sheriff Ballew and Investigator Ward what happened in detail during a tape recorded interview. Castleberry agreed to testify against DeRosa. In exchange, Castleberry was granted life in prison without the possibility of parole. Please pray for peace for the family of Curtis and Gloria Plummer. Please pray for strength for the family of James DeRosa.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:29:21 +0000
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