Dean Carter
Encyclopedia
Dean Phillip Carter is an inmate at San Quentin, California
's Death row
. He has been convicted (in two separate trials) of the murder of four women: Susan Knoll, Jillette Mills, Bonnie Guthrie, and Janette Cullins.
Carter was born the illegitimate son of a half-Eskimo woman in Nome, Alaska. He was adopted by a former police and fire chief in Nome. When he was 12, Carter was declared a delinquent child and committed to a youth camp, from which he attempted to run away at least three times. He later was placed in a foster home. Carter's crimes continued and "by the time he was 14 or 15, he was a fairly confirmed burglar." He later served adult prison terms in Oregon
for auto theft and in Alaska for burglary.
In 1980, Carter was employed by the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska. TCC was a federally funded non-profit organization which operated the Video Center. The Video Center was a project to provide employment related training to the members of the Doyon region of interior Alaska. Carter worked as a production assistant and cameraman. During his tenure at the Video Center, Carter was on probation for cocaine possession, for which he served 4 years in prison in Oregon. Carter married the receptionist at the Video Center and fathered twin sons in 1981.
He worked for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska, and later as a free-lance cameraman in Seattle in the early 1980s.
In one of his letters, Carter claims he's innocent. The California Supreme Court record of his appeal, however, shows that his latent palm print was found in one of the victim's homes, and there is an ATM
video of him emptying out another victim's bank account. Also, a car that he stole from his first murder victim was found a block from another murder victim's home and then the car of that murder victim was stolen. He was arrested a few days later in Arizona
, driving the stolen car, along with personal items from the homes of each of the victims. He was also convicted of raping
two women prior to the murder convictions.
Dean Carter spends his days on Death Row trying to inform the world about the American justice system and life on Death Row. He reaches a lot of people (including many students) through letter writing and columns on his Deadman Talkin' website. The Website is hosted by one of Dean Carter's friends.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
. He has been convicted (in two separate trials) of the murder of four women: Susan Knoll, Jillette Mills, Bonnie Guthrie, and Janette Cullins.
Carter was born the illegitimate son of a half-Eskimo woman in Nome, Alaska. He was adopted by a former police and fire chief in Nome. When he was 12, Carter was declared a delinquent child and committed to a youth camp, from which he attempted to run away at least three times. He later was placed in a foster home. Carter's crimes continued and "by the time he was 14 or 15, he was a fairly confirmed burglar." He later served adult prison terms in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
for auto theft and in Alaska for burglary.
In 1980, Carter was employed by the Tanana Chiefs Conference in Fairbanks, Alaska. TCC was a federally funded non-profit organization which operated the Video Center. The Video Center was a project to provide employment related training to the members of the Doyon region of interior Alaska. Carter worked as a production assistant and cameraman. During his tenure at the Video Center, Carter was on probation for cocaine possession, for which he served 4 years in prison in Oregon. Carter married the receptionist at the Video Center and fathered twin sons in 1981.
He worked for KTUU-TV in Anchorage, Alaska, and later as a free-lance cameraman in Seattle in the early 1980s.
In one of his letters, Carter claims he's innocent. The California Supreme Court record of his appeal, however, shows that his latent palm print was found in one of the victim's homes, and there is an ATM
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
video of him emptying out another victim's bank account. Also, a car that he stole from his first murder victim was found a block from another murder victim's home and then the car of that murder victim was stolen. He was arrested a few days later in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, driving the stolen car, along with personal items from the homes of each of the victims. He was also convicted of raping
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
two women prior to the murder convictions.
Dean Carter spends his days on Death Row trying to inform the world about the American justice system and life on Death Row. He reaches a lot of people (including many students) through letter writing and columns on his Deadman Talkin' website. The Website is hosted by one of Dean Carter's friends.