1969 - 1999
Sean Richard Sellers
Summary
Name:
Sean Richard SellersYears Active:
1985 - 1986Birth:
May 18, 1969Status:
ExecutedClass:
Serial KillerVictims:
3Method:
ShootingDeath:
February 04, 1999Nationality:
USA1969 - 1999
Sean Richard Sellers
Summary: Serial Killer
Name:
Sean Richard SellersStatus:
ExecutedVictims:
3Method:
ShootingNationality:
USABirth:
May 18, 1969Death:
February 04, 1999Years Active:
1985 - 1986bio
Sean Richard Sellers was born on May 18, 1969, in Corcoran, California.
murder story
On March 5, 1986, Sean Richard Sellers killed his mother and stepfather while they were sleeping in their home in Oklahoma City. He first shot his stepfather, Lee Bellofatto, then shot his mother, Vonda Bellofatto, when she woke up. To hide his involvement, Sellers tried to make the scene look like a break-in.
Earlier, in 1985, he had killed Robert Paul Bower, a convenience store clerk, after Bower refused to sell him beer.
During his trial, Sellers claimed he was a Satanist and that a demon had possessed him. Sellers's attorney argued that his addiction to the game Dungeons & Dragons had affected his behavior. The jury did not accept these claims, and Sellers was convicted of first-degree murder for both incidents. He was sentenced to death in 1986.
While in prison, Sellers converted to Christianity and sought clemency based on his age and religious change. He made several media appearances, including on The Oprah Winfrey Show, discussing his past.
Sellers appealed his conviction and argued that he had a mental disorder. However, the courts ruled against him. His requests for clemency were also denied by the board.
Sellers was executed by lethal injection on February 4, 1999, making him the first person executed in the U.S. for a crime committed under the age of 17 since the death penalty was reinstated. Before his execution, he addressed his family, urging them to find peace. He sang a Christian song and called out to God moments before the injection began. His final meal consisted of Chinese food.