Earl Bramblett
Encyclopedia
Earl Conrad Bramblett was a man from Virginia
who was convicted for the 1994 murder
s of the Hodges family (father William, mother Teresa, 11 year old Winter and 4 year old Anah). He was sentenced to death for the murders and executed
by the Commonwealth of Virginia
in the electric chair
in 2003.
s after a fire
at their residence in Vinton
, Virginia
had been reported. William, Winter and Anah Hodges had been shot to death, and Teresa Hodges had been strangled and doused with the flammable liquid used to start the fire. Initially, authorities thought that the family died as a result of a murder-suicide
, with William Hodges as the perpetrator. He had been convicted of embezzling
funds from his employer and was due to begin a jail sentence for the crime. However, the barrel from the gun found in William's hand was removed and William's autopsy
showed that he had died several hours before the other family members, ruling out the initial murder-suicide theory.
Earl Bramblett was a friend of the Hodges family, who frequently stayed with them. When he was informed shortly after the discovery of the bodies that the family had died in a fire, his response indicated knowledge that the family had been murdered, when he had only been told that they died in a fire and no other information had been released about their deaths.
As a result of his initial statements, Bramblett became a suspect
; subsequent investigation uncovered evidence pointing to him as the killer of the family. This evidence included a witness who had seen a vehicle
similar to Bramblett's driving away from the Hodges' home just prior to when the fire was reported. Other evidence included drawings that were found at Bramblett's place of employment. The drawings were of stick figure
s that represented the Hodges family and included arrows corresponding with the bullet wounds the family had received. A family member of Bramblett provided police with a box he had left with them; the box contained several audio tapes on which he spoke of his sexual attraction
to 11 year old Winter Hodges, and his belief that the family, including Winter, was conspiring to set him up for molestation charges. A DNA test on a pubic hair
found in the bedroom where the girls were found was matched to Bramblett. A pair of jeans
were found soaking at his place of employment and were determined to contain stains of the same flammable liquid
used to start the fire at the Hodges' home. The bullet
s used to kill the victims were determined to be of the same composition as bullets found in a vehicle belonging to Bramblett. Two women testified that, in the 1970s, Bramblett had given them alcohol
and molested them when they were 11 and 14 years old.
Bramblett is a suspect in the 1977 disappearances of Tammy Akers and Angela Rader, who were both 14 and both worked for Bramblett at the time. Bramblett reportedly told friends that he wished he hadn't "hurt Tammy" three years after she went missing. He was never charged in either Akers' or Rader's disappearances and their whereabouts are still unknown.
Bramblett was tried, convicted and sentenced to death in 1997.
Governor
Mark Warner
had been rejected, as was an appeal
to the U.S. Supreme Court, Earl Bramblett was executed in the electric chair
for the murders on April 9, 2003. He was 61 years old at the time of his death. He chose the electric chair over lethal injection
as a form of protest. His final words were, "I didn't murder the Hodges family. I've never murdered anybody. I'm going to my death with a clear conscience. I am going to my death having had a great life because of my two great sons, Mike and Doug."
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
who was convicted for the 1994 murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
s of the Hodges family (father William, mother Teresa, 11 year old Winter and 4 year old Anah). He was sentenced to death for the murders and executed
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
by the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
in 2003.
Crime
The bodies of the Hodges family were discovered by firefighterFirefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s after a fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
at their residence in Vinton
Vinton, Virginia
Vinton is a town in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,782 at the 2000 census. It hosted teams by three names in the ECHL in a custom built facility known as the LancerLot; after the roof collapsed during the Blizzard of 1993, the franchise moved to the Roanoke Civic...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
had been reported. William, Winter and Anah Hodges had been shot to death, and Teresa Hodges had been strangled and doused with the flammable liquid used to start the fire. Initially, authorities thought that the family died as a result of a murder-suicide
Murder-suicide
A murder–suicide is an act in which an individual kills one or more other persons before or at the same time as killing himself or herself. The combination of murder and suicide can take various forms, including:...
, with William Hodges as the perpetrator. He had been convicted of embezzling
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
funds from his employer and was due to begin a jail sentence for the crime. However, the barrel from the gun found in William's hand was removed and William's autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
showed that he had died several hours before the other family members, ruling out the initial murder-suicide theory.
Earl Bramblett was a friend of the Hodges family, who frequently stayed with them. When he was informed shortly after the discovery of the bodies that the family had died in a fire, his response indicated knowledge that the family had been murdered, when he had only been told that they died in a fire and no other information had been released about their deaths.
As a result of his initial statements, Bramblett became a suspect
Suspect
In the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a known person suspected of committing a crime.Police and reporters often incorrectly use the word suspect when referring to the...
; subsequent investigation uncovered evidence pointing to him as the killer of the family. This evidence included a witness who had seen a vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
similar to Bramblett's driving away from the Hodges' home just prior to when the fire was reported. Other evidence included drawings that were found at Bramblett's place of employment. The drawings were of stick figure
Stick figure
A stick figure is a very simple type of drawing made of lines and dots, often of the human form or other animals. In a stick figure, the head is represented by a circle, sometimes embellished with details such as eyes, mouth or crudely scratched-out hair. The arms, legs and torso are all...
s that represented the Hodges family and included arrows corresponding with the bullet wounds the family had received. A family member of Bramblett provided police with a box he had left with them; the box contained several audio tapes on which he spoke of his sexual attraction
Sexual attraction
Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
to 11 year old Winter Hodges, and his belief that the family, including Winter, was conspiring to set him up for molestation charges. A DNA test on a pubic hair
Pubic hair
Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region....
found in the bedroom where the girls were found was matched to Bramblett. A pair of jeans
Jeans
Jeans are trousers made from denim. Some of the earliest American blue jeans were made by Jacob Davis, Calvin Rogers, and Levi Strauss in 1873. Starting in the 1950s, jeans, originally designed for cowboys, became popular among teenagers. Historic brands include Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler...
were found soaking at his place of employment and were determined to contain stains of the same flammable liquid
Flammable liquid
Generally, a flammable liquid is a liquid that can catch fire.In the USA, there is a precise definition of flammable liquid as one with a flash point below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Less-flammable liquids are defined as combustible liquids...
used to start the fire at the Hodges' home. The bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
s used to kill the victims were determined to be of the same composition as bullets found in a vehicle belonging to Bramblett. Two women testified that, in the 1970s, Bramblett had given them alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and molested them when they were 11 and 14 years old.
Bramblett is a suspect in the 1977 disappearances of Tammy Akers and Angela Rader, who were both 14 and both worked for Bramblett at the time. Bramblett reportedly told friends that he wished he hadn't "hurt Tammy" three years after she went missing. He was never charged in either Akers' or Rader's disappearances and their whereabouts are still unknown.
Bramblett was tried, convicted and sentenced to death in 1997.
Execution
After a clemency petition to VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
had been rejected, as was an appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
to the U.S. Supreme Court, Earl Bramblett was executed in the electric chair
Electric chair
Execution by electrocution, usually performed using an electric chair, is an execution method originating in the United States in which the condemned person is strapped to a specially built wooden chair and electrocuted through electrodes placed on the body...
for the murders on April 9, 2003. He was 61 years old at the time of his death. He chose the electric chair over lethal injection
Lethal injection
Lethal injection is the practice of injecting a person with a fatal dose of drugs for the express purpose of causing the immediate death of the subject. The main application for this procedure is capital punishment, but the term may also be applied in a broad sense to euthanasia and suicide...
as a form of protest. His final words were, "I didn't murder the Hodges family. I've never murdered anybody. I'm going to my death with a clear conscience. I am going to my death having had a great life because of my two great sons, Mike and Doug."