European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday november 14, 1994 the stars and stripes Page 5. Gravestones Are lined up at the military prison cemetery where some of the inmates who died or were executed Are buried along with 14 German prisoners of War from world War ii. 6 the following men Are on fort Leavenworth s death Row Ronnie Curtis Curtis a Black Marine was sentence to death in August 1987 at Cample Vieune ., for stabbing to death a White lieutenant and the lieutenant s wife. The former Lance Corpora who was 21 atthe time of the offences also was convicted of indecent assault larceny wrongful appropriation burglary housebreaking pos session of alcoholic beverages in the bar Racks and damage to government property. Of the six he has been on death Row the longest. Convicted in a general court martial of bigamy larceny and false swearing. German police found the body of Mur Phy s wife Petra Murphy 25, slumped Over the Bathtub in her Hanau Germany apartment in August 1987. Tim a. Herkstroeter 6, and James t. Murphyjr., 2, were found dead in the Bathtub. Murphy who is Black was 28 at the time of the murders. Ronald a. Gray Gray was sentenced to death in april1988 for raping and murdering two Young women at fort Bragg  The army Cook a specialist was convicted in the deaths of aft army private 18-year-old Laura Lee Vic cry clan i december 1986, and cabdriver Kimberly Ann Ruggles 24, in january 1987. Gray who is Black was 26 at the Tim of the crimes. He also was found guilty of attempted murder larceny robbery so Domy and burglary Jose Simoy Simoy of Guam is the sole airman on death Row. The senior airman was sentenced to death in july 1992 for murder ing an enlisted member serving in these purity police Force. He also was found guilty of injuring an enlisted airman Rob Bing a civilian woman conspiring to com Mit robbery and desertion. Simoy was 29 at the time of the offences Dwight Loving Loving was sentenced to death in april1989 for robbing and murdering two taxi Drivers. He also was convicted of attempted murder. The army private who is Black was 23 when he committed the offences and was assigned to fort Hood Texas. James t. Murphy Murphy was sentenced to death at military court martial in Frankfurt Ger Many in december 1987 for killing his estranged wife and her two Young sons. The army Supply sergeant also was Joseph l. Thomas Thomas was sentenced to death in no vember 1988 for beating his pregnant wife to death and trying to mask the slay ing by staging a fiery car Accident. The motive apparently was to collect on a$50,000 insurance policy. The body of Melinda Jean Thomas 24,was found in december 1987. An accomplice said that Thomas beat his wife witha tire Iron and that he helped Thomas strap the body into a rented car and Send it Over a 500-foot embankment in a mountainous area. The Marine sergeant who is White was 32 at the time of the crime and was stationed at Eltoro Marine corps air station Calif. Compiled by Christopher Allbright staff writer ethnic makeup of prison population ethnic group Black White Spanish Indian alaskan asian Pacific islander total smarmy 439 366 47 13 19 084 my air Force 72 198 9 2 14 i n la 295 womb Navy 16 59 1 0 1  ii a i to Mem a marines 48 49 12 3 3 115 my total 575 672 69 18 37 1,371 percentage 41.94 49.01 5.03 1.31 2.69 exc average length of sentence these Are the average lengths of prison sentences by service. Army 11 years Lamonthe Al Torce 12 year 5 month marines 16 year 5 months Navy 10 year 8 month 1992 average 13 years 5 months i /1994 average 12 years 4 month 843 god sunsets help ease Day by Richard a. Serrano los Angeles times fort Leavenworth Kan. None of the six men on fort leaven Worth s death Row is a Billy Budd the Sailor hanged at sea whom author her Man Melville endowed with the gaiety of High health youth and a free  rather these Are multiple murderers rid schemers. They drowned their Chil Dren and bludgeoned their wives an stabbed their military superiors. Joseph l. Thomas the sole White Man on death Row is a self admitted egotist who was a sergeant at Eltoro Marine corps air station Calif. He was convicted six years ago of beating his wife with a tire Iron then faking her death Ina traffic Accident to collect the insurance. I have no fear of death he boasted in an interview. Mno sir. Most people fear a painful death. Of but not me. I Don t fear death at All. Some people fear slow agonizing cancer. That s the kind of death a Man should fear. But not  James t. Murphy an army Supply ser Geant who killed his wife and drowned her two children seven years ago i Hanau Germany found god on death Row and now posters the other condemned men with his incessant singing of bringing in the sheaves. I Start my Day off with prayer he said. I Pray constantly through the Day i constantly read my Bible. And i end it a night with a prayer just thanking the lord for another Day because i Don know if i m going to see the  former Lance Cpl. Ronnie Curtis on death Row the longest is a quiet lonely Marine brought to fort Leavenworth in1987 for stabbing his White lieutenant and the lieutenant s wife. Our Row is in the basement which is of because it makes the cells cooler in the summertime Curtis said. There Are window where i can Lookout and see other prisoners going to work and it makes me wish i could join them. If the weather s Clear enough i can see the Sun  last step Only a staircase away source u s. Disciplinary Barracks fort Leavenworth.  Cindy Killio Washington Bureau fort Leavenworth Kan. Short walk Down the Hall from death Row is a staircase every death Row inmate knows that if his High court appeals Don t overturn or commute his sentence he Lamake that walk. In shackles with guards and a chaplain by his Side. Hell go Down 17 Steps into a chamber built 10 years ago by prisoners. Hell be held in a special cell there for 24 hours. From the time the shackles come offend the door closes on that cell hell be separated from human Contact by barred bulletproof plexiglas. Hell get a last meal anything he wants As Long As it s stocked at the fort Leavenworth commissary. Hell be visited by a chaplain his lawyer and family members if he desires. But when the 24 hours Are up unless a stay of execution Call comes from the president of the United states the inmate will be led into an adjoining Blue carpeted room to be strapped Down on Ablack table one that looks much like a reclining Cross. His arms will be extended his feet together. Looking to the right hell see two Glass partitioned rooms erne will hold the press the other family members if the inmate wants them there. Two corrections noncommissioned officers will insert intravenous Needles into each of the inmate s arms. The commandant will read the execution order that has been signed by the president. When the commandant is finished doctor in a separate room will Start the lethal injection fluid. No one not the corrections cos who inserted them the commandant or the doctor will know which Needle carries Asaline solution or the lethal combination of three medications that will put the in mate to sleep Stop his heart and relax his Muscles. When the doctor declares the inmate dead the press and family will be escorted out of the chamber. An autopsy will be done and the remains will be turned Over to the family. If the inmate has no family or if Theydon t want his remains he will be buried in the prison cemetery. Prison officials estimate that assuming the appeals run out the first execution could take place 17 months from now. It will be the first military execution since 1961