Bio

John C. Middleton was born on November 2, 1959. By the mid-1990s, Middleton was living in northern Missouri. He was a methamphetamine user and dealer. His case began after several people were arrested for methamphetamine-related crimes in Harrison County, Missouri, on June 10, 1995. Middleton was not arrested, but prosecutors said he became afraid that suspected informants would tell police about his drug activity.

After those arrests, Middleton reportedly talked about people he believed were informants. Court records state that he mentioned a “hit list” and said that “snitches” were going to be dealt with. The names connected to this list included Randy “Happy” Hamilton, Alfred Pinegar, and William Worley.

Murder Story

On June 10, 1995, several people were arrested in Cainsville, Missouri, for drug-related crimes. John C. Middleton was not arrested, but prosecutors said he became afraid that suspected informants would tell police about his methamphetamine dealing. After the arrests, Middleton reportedly said that “snitches” needed to be dealt with. One of the people he named was Randy “Happy” Hamilton.

On June 11, 1995, Middleton and his girlfriend, Maggie Hodges, met Randy Hamilton and Hamilton’s girlfriend, Stacey Hodge, on a gravel road. According to court records, Middleton shot Hamilton and Stacey Hodge with an SKS rifle. Hodges also shot Stacey Hodge. Their bodies were placed in the trunk of Hamilton’s car.

After the shootings, Middleton drove Hamilton’s car while Hodges followed in another vehicle. Middleton later saw Danny Spurling and told him he had “taken care” of Hamilton. He also asked what he should do with the bodies.

In the following days, Middleton continued talking about suspected informants. He reportedly mentioned a “hit list” that included Hamilton, Alfred Pinegar, and William Worley.

On June 23, 1995, Alfred Pinegar became Middleton’s third victim. Pinegar was connected to the methamphetamine trade. Earlier that day, Pinegar’s fiancée saw Middleton and Hodges near her home in a white pickup truck. When she arrived home, Pinegar was gone, and his shotgun and about $200 were missing. Later that day, Middleton, Hodges, and a man believed to be Pinegar went to a Wal-Mart in Bethany, Missouri. Middleton bought ammunition, including twelve-gauge shotgun shells.

The group then drove to a rural area near Ridgeway, Missouri. According to trial evidence, Pinegar tried to run when he saw Middleton raise a shotgun. Middleton shot Pinegar twice in the back and then shot him in the face. Pinegar’s body was left over a fence.

On June 26, 1995, Pinegar’s body was found. Investigators recovered evidence from the scene, including shotgun shell evidence, a broken sunglass lens, and a piece of leather fringe. Some of that evidence was later connected to Middleton.

On July 10, 1995, Hamilton’s car was found abandoned in the woods. Hamilton’s and Stacey Hodge’s bodies were found in the trunk. Bullet evidence was linked to SKS rifles that Middleton had given to a man in Iowa.

Middleton was tried separately for the murders. He was convicted of killing Alfred Pinegar and sentenced to death. He was also convicted of killing Randy Hamilton and Stacey Hodge and received two more death sentences. Maggie Hodges pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in all three deaths and received a life sentence.

Middleton appealed his convictions and death sentences, but they were upheld. He also made later claims of innocence and mental incompetency, but those appeals did not stop the execution.

John C. Middleton was executed by lethal injection in Bonne Terre, Missouri, on July 16, 2014. He was pronounced dead at 7:06 p.m. His final statement was: “You are killing an innocent man.”