d: 1997
Summary
Name:
Carlton Jerome PopeYears Active:
1986Status:
ExecutedClass:
MurdererVictims:
1Method:
ShootingDeath:
August 19, 1997Nationality:
USAd: 1997
Summary: Murderer
Name:
Carlton Jerome PopeStatus:
ExecutedVictims:
1Method:
ShootingNationality:
USADeath:
August 19, 1997Years Active:
1986“I thank God for giving me peace. I love my mother. I thank God that Jesus Christ died for my sins.”
— Carlton Jerome Pope
Carlton Jerome Pope was born in 1962 and grew up in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was one of five children in his family. His father was as an alcoholic.
By the time he was nine years old, Carlton had started drinking alcohol himself. He would consume a case of beer and a fifth of wine in a single night during the summers.
Pope's education suffered as well. He dropped out of school in the seventh grade and had a low IQ of 79. Reports indicated that he struggled to perform basic tasks, such as writing the alphabet without making mistakes.
At seventeen, he encountered a significant injury when he fell from a building while working at a construction site. By twenty, he had gained a conviction for malicious wounding after he shot a friend in the toe during an argument. He was sentenced to ten years in prison but was released on parole just two years later.
On January 12, 1986, Carlton Jerome Pope was involved in the murder of Cynthia Gray, a 24-year-old woman, in Portsmouth, Virginia. That night, Gray and her sister, Marcie Kirchheimer, met Pope outside Nick's Pool Hall. After a brief conversation, the sisters agreed to give him a ride. They shared a bottle of wine during the drive.
When they arrived at Pope's home, he unexpectedly pulled out a pistol. He shot Cynthia in the face, then struggled with Marcie, resulting in him shooting her as well. Cynthia was severely injured and died shortly after the shooting. Marcie survived her injuries and managed to drive herself to the hospital.
After the attack, it was noted that Cynthia's purse was missing. Marcie testified in court that she did not see Pope take the purse, but it had been in clear view during the ride. A critical piece of evidence was a fingerprint found on the wine bottle that had been used during the drive, which matched Pope's.
Pope was tried and convicted of capital murder, along with robbery, based on the events of that night. His conviction led to a death sentence, which was upheld through various appeals. He was executed by lethal injection on August 19, 1997.
