Bio

James P. Stout was born on October 21, 1975. He grew up in a troubled environment in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother, Annette Bailey, had a difficult life. She was an exotic dancer and a prostitute when she became pregnant with James. Due to her circumstances, she gave him to her own mother, Francis Beasley, when he was just three weeks old. Francis took custody of James and raised him alongside her other children.

Growing up, James had a close relationship with his grandmother. She took him to church every Sunday, and he was involved in church activities. However, during his teenage years, James faced significant challenges. His mother was mostly absent from his life, and he struggled with feelings of abandonment. These experiences may have affected his development and future choices.

As a young man, he became involved in a local street gang known as the Gangster Disciples. This involvement would later play a significant role in his life and the events surrounding him.

James had several run-ins with the law as he grew older. He accumulated multiple convictions, which included violent crimes.

Murder Story

On November 8, 1995, James P. Stout and three accomplices, Derrick Carmichael, Robert Terrell, and Quentin Jordan, were involved in the carjacking, kidnapping, and murder of 26-year-old Amber Hunter in Shelby County, Tennessee. The incident began when the group left an apartment in Memphis. Stout, seated in the front passenger seat of a car, saw Amber driving home from church and made a derogatory comment about her. The group then decided to follow her.

After Amber parked her car in front of her house, Stout and Jordan got out and accosted her. Stout forcibly pulled her from her vehicle by her hair and threatened her with a gun. He then forced her into the backseat of her own car while Jordan sat with her. Once inside the car, Stout handed the gun to Jordan and, during a disturbing exchange, asked Amber if she believed in God. After she replied affirmatively, he told her that she was "with the devil now."

They drove a short distance and stopped the car near railroad tracks. Stout then removed Amber from the backseat. Before he shot her, he hugged her, claiming he wanted her to "hug a real man before she died." He then shot her once in the head and, after stealing some of her belongings, Stout and his accomplices fled the scene.

The victim was left for dead and remained unconscious until she died two days later. During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence from Stout's accomplices, who testified against him. They described the events leading to Amber's murder and confirmed Stout's role as the one who shot her.

On May 19, 1998, Stout was sentenced to death for his crimes, which included felony murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and especially aggravated robbery.