Michael F. Easley
Governor

Theodis Beck
Secretary

North Carolina Department of Correction

Execution date reset for Sammy Crystal Perkins

RALEIGH - Correction Secretary Theodis Beck has set Oct. 8, 2004 as the execution date for inmate Sammy Crystal Perkins.  The execution is scheduled for 2:00 a.m. at Central Prison in Raleigh.

On December 15, 1993, Perkins was sentenced to death in Pitt County Superior Court for the April 18, 1992 murder of 7-year-old Lashenna “Jo Jo” Moore.  His execution had been scheduled for May 21, 2004 but was stayed by U.S. District Court Judge Terence Boyle on May 10.

Central Prison Warden Marvin Polk will explain the execution procedures during a media tour scheduled for Monday, Oct. 4 at 10:00 a.m.  Interested media representatives should arrive at Central Prison’s visitor center promptly at 10:00 a.m. on the tour date.  The session will last approximately one hour.

The media tour will be the only opportunity to photograph the execution chamber and deathwatch area before the execution.  Journalists who plan to attend the tour should contact the Department of Correction Public Affairs Office at (919) 716-3700 by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1.

ATTENTION EDITORS: A photo of Perkins can be obtained by using the "Offender Search" function on the Department of Correction Web site at www.doc.state.nc.us. For more information about the death penalty, including selection of witnesses, click on “The Death Penalty” link.

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North Carolina Department of Correction
Public Information Office     4202 Mail Service Center     Raleigh NC 27699-4202
Phone (919) 716-3700      Fax: (919) 716-3795     www.doc.state.nc.us