Bio

Michael Earl Sexton was born on August 31, 1966. He had a difficult early life marked by hardship and instability. His father passed away when Michael was just five years old, leaving him and his family without a father figure. His mother struggled with alcoholism and was often abusive. Michael and his siblings were raised in an environment filled with violence as their mother had a series of violent boyfriends who contributed to the chaos.

When Michael was 14 years old, his mother decided she no longer wanted custody of her children. This led to a separation from his siblings as they were placed into different living situations. Michael was sent to a training school because the Wake County Department of Social Services could not find a foster home for him. A year later, he was admitted to Central Orphanage.

Throughout his childhood, Michael faced various traumas. He endured physical beatings and was involved in a serious incident where he overturned a pot of boiling water, resulting in a severe burn on his leg. Some reports indicate that one of his mother’s boyfriends sexually assaulted Michael’s younger sister, compounding the family's issues.

Murder Story

On August 8, 1990, Michael Earl Sexton kidnapped Kimberly Crews from the parking lot of Wake Medical Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kimberly, who was a social worker, had just finished her last client for the day and was on her way home. After taking her mini-van, Sexton drove to a wooded area, where he raped and strangled her.

Later that night, Kimberly's husband reported her missing after she did not return home. A detective found her minivan around midnight, only 200 yards from the hospital. Inside, they discovered Kimberly's nude body.

Evidence gathered from the crime scene linked Sexton to the murder. Footprints found in the minivan matched his shoes, and hair consistent with Sexton's was present around Kimberly's body. Additionally, various fibers from Sexton's clothing were found on Kimberly and in the van.

Sexton confessed to the crime during the investigation. He claimed that after attempting to engage in sexual activity, Kimberly changed her mind and tried to scream. He stated that he used her pantyhose to strangle her. During his trial, his confession was played for the jury, although he later testified that the encounter was consensual.

Sexton was convicted of murder in September 1991. He spent years on death row before he was executed by lethal injection on November 9, 2000. At the time of his execution, he was 34 years old.