Unless otherw ise indicated, all refe renc es to Articles a nd Sections ref

er to the Te x as 1 Code of Criminal Procedure and theTexas Penal Code, respe ctively
. 

## IN THE COURT OF CRIMINA L APPEALS

OF TEX AS N o. A P - 75, 359
STE PH EN D A LE BA R BE E , A ppe l l ant

v . THE S TA TE OF TE X AS ON DI RE CT AP P EA L F ROM CAUS E N O. 1 0 0 4 8 5 6 R I N T HE 2 1 3 DI S TR I CT COURT TH TARRA NT CO UNTY
H OL C OMB, J . , d eli v er ed th e o p inion o f the u n a n im o u s C o u rt.
In F e b ru a ry 2 0 0 6 , a p p e lla n t w a s c o n v ic te d o f c a p ita l m u rd e r. T EX . P EN . C OD E § 19. 03( a)
. B as ed on t he jury ’ s ans w er s t o t he s peci al i s s ues s etfor t h i n T exas C ode of C r i m i nal Pr ocedur e A r t i cl e 37. 071, s ect i ons 2( b) and 2( e) , t he t r i al j udge s ent ence d appel l ant to d ea th. A rt . 3 7
. 0 7 1 , § 2 (g). D ir ec t ap p ea l t o this C o u rtis au tom ati c. A rt . 3 7
. 0 7 1 , § 2 (h). 1BARBEE

-- 2

A f ter re v iew in g a p p e llan t’s n in e p o in ts o f e rro r, w e f

in d th e m to b e w ith o u t m e rit. C o n se q u e n tly , w e a f

f irm th e trial c o u rt’s ju d g m e n t.

STATEM ENT O F F AC TS A ppel l antw as char ged w i t h m ur der i ng L i s a U nder w ood and her s even- y ear - ol d s on, J a y d e n U n d e rw o o d , d u ri n g th e s a m e c ri m in a l tr a n s a c tio n . T EX . P EN. C ODE§ 1 9 .0 3 (a )(7 )(A ). L isa o w n e d a b a g e l sh o p in F o rt W o rth w ith h e r f rie n d H o ll y P il s. P ils t es t i fi ed t hat appel l ant , w ho w as m ar r i ed, had bee n a cus t om eratt he bage l s hop and t hathe and L i s a began a per s onal r el at i ons hi p i n Fal l 2003. T hey s t opped s eei ng eac h ot heratt he
e n d o f 2 0 0 3 , an d L isa b e g a n d a tin g a n o th e r m a n a t th e b e g in n in g o f 2 0 0 4 . S h e w a s s til l dat i ng t he otherm an w hen s he r es um ed her r el at i ons hi p w i t h appel l ant i n J ul y 2004, and s he b e c a m e p re g n a n t ar o u n d th a t ti m e . S h e in f o rm e d b o th m e n th a t sh e w a s p re g n a n t b u t to ld appel l antt hats h e b eli ev ed he w as t he fa t herof t he unbor n chi l d. She t ol d Pi l s t hats he
w a n ted h e r b a b yto h a v e h e a lt h in su ra n c e a n d th a t sh e h a d d isc u ss e d th e m a tter w ith
a p p e llan t. Pi l s t es t i fi ed t hatL i s a, w ho w as m or e t han seve n m ont hs pr egnant , s t ay ed home fr om
w or k on Fr i day , Februar y18, 2005, beca us e s he had a co ld. P il s pl anned t o hos ta baby
s how erforL i s a att he bage l s hop t he next day
. L i s a t ol d Pi l s t hats he w as fee l i ng bet t er , t hat
s he w as exci t ed aboutt he babys how er , and t h at s h e p l anned t o ar r i ve att he bage l s hop
s hor t l ybefor e 4: 00 p. m . on Satur day , Februar y19t h. A t a p p ro x im a tely 3 :0 0 o n S a tu rd a y m o rn in g , D e n to n C o u n ty D e p u ty S h e rif f D a v idBARBEE

-- 3

Brawne r testified that hewas “ 100 perc ent positive” or “ 110 perc ent positive” whe n he 2 identi fi e d a

pp e lla nt i n th e ph oto sp re a d. Ho we ve r, De te c tiv e Mic he l Ca rrollof theF or t Wor th Pol ic e Depa

rtme nt h a d a

dif ferent o pin ion

re g ardingB ra

wn e r’ s le ve l of

c e rt a int y . Ca rroll testified that B rawner’ s identification of a ppellant “wa sn’t g ood enough” for an ar rest and conviction, but it was g ood enough to causeCarroll to be moresuspicious of appellant. B r aw ners aw a man w al ki ng alon g the servi ce r oad of I nt er s t at e H i ghw ay35. B r aw ner sto p p e d h is p a tro l ca r be h in d th e m a n a n d a c tiv a ted h is ov e rh e a d e m e rg e n c y lig h ts a n d h is “i n- car vi deo camer a s y s t em. ” I t w as col d out s i de, and i t had been r ai ni ng. B r aw nert es t i fi ed t hat t he m an’ s cl ot hes w er e “ve r yw et ” and thathe w as “cove r ed i n m ud. ” W hen B r aw ner
as ked t he m an for i dent i fi cat i on, he s ai d t hathe had l efthi s w al l etathi s fr i end’ s r es i dence
n e a rb y . H e g a v e th e o f f ice r a f a lse n a m e a n d d a te o f

b irth a n d “ to o k o f

f ru n n in g o n f

o o t”
w hen B r aw ners poke w i t h di s pat ch i n an eff or t t o ver i fy t he i nfor m at i on. B r aw nerr an af t er t he man, buthe di s appea r ed i nt o a t hi ckl y w ooded ar ea. B r aw ner and ot heroffi cer s s ear ched t he ar ea f

orhour s butw er e unabl e t o l ocat e t he man. B r aw n er l at eri dent i fi ed t he man as appel l anti n a phot o s pr ead. 2 T he pol i ce w er e cont act ed aft er L i s a fai l ed t o s how up forherbabys how erl at ert hat day
. T her e w er e no s i gns of for ced ent r y at L i s a’ s hous e. J ay den’ s s hoes w er e on t op of t he fi r epl ace hear t h, and hi s gl as s es had been l eft next t o hi s bed. T her e w as bl ood i n t he l i vi ng
r oom on the ent er t ai nm entcent er , t he w al l s , and a f i t t ed couc h cover
. I tappea r ed t hat
so m eo n e h ad att em p ted to clea n an d co n ce al a sa turati o n b loo d stai n o n the living roo m flo o r. L i s a’ s carw as gone, and t her e w as bl ood on t he fl oori n t he gar age. L i s a’ s D N A pr ofi l e w as
cons i s t entw i t h t he bl ood s t ai ns i n t he house and t he gar age. H erper s onal hom e comput erBARBEE

-- 4

Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 3 s how ed t hats he l ogged on to the internet at11: 22 p. m . on Februar y18 and l ogged off at 1 2 :0 2 a .m . o n F e b ru a ry 1 9 . T h e la s t w e b s ite s h e v is ite d w a s “ b ir th p la n .c o m .” O n Februar y21, L i s a’ s D odge D ur ango w as found i n a cr eek a ppr oxi m at el y300 y ar ds fr om w her e O ffi cerB r aw nerhad enc ount er ed appe l l ant t w o day s ear l i er . T he fr ontend of t he vehi cl e w as s ubm er ged i n t he cr eek. T he w i ndow s w er e dow n and t he hat chbac k w as up. T her e w as a bot t l e of c l eani ng s ol ut i on i n t he car go ar ea of t he vehi cl e. L i s a’ s carkey s and p u r s e w e r e l o c a t e d n e a rb y. O n t he s ame dayt hatL i s a’ s carw as found, D et ect i ves M i ch el C arrol l , J ohn M c C a sk e ll, and B ri an Jam i son o f t he F ortW ort h P oli ce D epart m ent travel ed to T y l er t o
s peak w i t h appel l ant , hi s w i fe T r i s h B arbee, and hi s co- w or ker R on D odd. T he det ect i ves i ni t i al l yt al ked t o t hem i n t he parki ng l otof a W al
- M ar t , butl at er as ked t hem t o come t o t he T y l erPol i ce D epar t m entforfur t herques t i oni ng. A tt he pol i ce de par t m ent , C ar r ol l and J ami s on i nt er vi ew ed appe l l anti n one r oom , and M cC as kel l int er vi ew ed D odd i n anot her
room . A pp el l ant r ecei ved his Mi r anda wa r n i n g s a n d h i s i n t e r v i e w b e g a n a t a b o u t7 : 4 5 p . m. 3 I n t hi s i nt er vi ew , w hi ch w as r ecor ded on a di gi t al vi deo di s c ( D V D ) , appel l ant s ai d t hathe
w o rk e d c u tti n g d o w n tre e s in T y ler d u rin g th e d a y o n F e b ru a ry 1 9
. H e sa id th a t h e d ro v e to hi s hom e i n For tW or t h t hateveni ng and t hathe w entovert o D odd’ s hous e l at ert hatni ght t o w or k on t he t ruck t hatt heyus ed as t hei rbus i nes s vehi cl e. H e l eftD odd’ s hous e atar ound 2: 0 0 o r 3 : 0 0 a . m. I t t o o k o v e r a n h o u r f o r h i m t o d r i v e h o me b e c a u s e t he t r uck w asBARBEE

-- 5

“s put t er i ng” and “l eaki ng oi l
. ” H i s w i fe w as as l eep w hen he ar r i ved hom e, and he s l epton t he couc h s o he w oul d not w ake her
. H e acknow l edged t hat he had da t ed Li s a and thats he had i nfor m ed hi m he mi ghtbe t he fat her of her unbor n chi l d, but he cl ai m ed t hat he had not
s een orhear d fr om heri n a w hi l e. H e eve ntual l y acknow l edged t hat he had been s t opped by a po l i ce of

fi cer i n D enton C ou ntyataround 3:00 a. m . , t hat he had given t he off i cer a fals e
n a m e a n d d a te o f

b ir th , a n d th a t h e h a d ru n a w a yf ro m th e o f

f ic e r. C ar r ol l t es t i fi ed t hathe exc us ed hi m s el f t o obs er ve M cC as kel l ’ s i nt er vi ew w i t h D odd, th e n h e re tu rn e d to a p p e llan t’s in ter v iew ro o m a n d a sk e d , “D o e s F M 4 0 7 so u n d f a m ili a r to y o u ? ” He p l a c e d p h o t o g r a p h s o f Li s a a n d J a y d e n o n t h e t a b l e a n d wa l k e d o u t o f t h e r o o m, l e a v i n g a p p e l l a n ta l o n e . Ap p e l l a n t l a t e r o p e n e d t h e d o o r a n d a s k e d t o u s e t h e me n ’ s r o o m. C ar r ol l acc om pani ed hi m t o t he bathr oom w her e t heyhad an un- r ecor ded conve r s at i on for aboutfor t y - fi ve m i nut es t o one hour
. C ar r ol l t es t i fi ed t hathe t ol d appel l antt hatD odd w as

“ g o in g to la y th is w h o le th in g in [ a p p e lla n t’ s ] la p ” a n d th a t “L is a ’s f a m ily n e e d e d c lo s u re .” A ppel l ant m ade c om m ent s “aboutbei ng l ocked up [ for ] t he r es tof hi s l i fe” and s ai d t hathe
u n d e rsto o d th e n e e d f

o r c lo su re b e c a u se h e h a d lo st a f a m ilym e m b e r. A p p e llan t to ld C a rro ll th a t “h e a n d D o d d a c tu a llyc re a ted a p lan to g o k ill L isa ” b e c a u se “ L isa w a n ted to u se h is
n a m e o n a b irth c e rtific a te o r sh e w a s try in g to tak e m o n e yf ro m h im , sh e w a s g o in g to ru in h is f a m ily, h is re la tio n s h ip w ith h is w if e , T ri s h , a n d h e d id n o t w a n t th a t to h a p p e n .” A p p e llan t s a id th a t h e d ro p p e d h is c a r o f f a t D o d d ’s h o u se a n d th e n D o d d d ro v e h im to L i s a ’ s h o u s e . Do d d l e f t , a n d a p p e l l a n twe n ti n s i d e a n d t r i e d t o “ p i c k a f i g h t ” wi t h h e r . HeBARBEE

-- 6

w a s u n a b le to p ro v o k e a f ig h t, so h e c a lled D o d d to p ick h im u p . H e late r h a d D o d d tak e h im b a c k to L isa ’s h o u se . T h is t im e , “ h e w a s ab le to g e t h e r u p se t en o u g h th a t h e c o u ld sta rt a fi ghtw i th he r . ” H e w r es t l ed hert o t he gr ound and “he l d herfac e i nt o t he ca rpetunt i l s he
s to p p e d b re a th in g .” J a y d e n c a m e in to th e ro o m a n d w a s “ c ryin g ” a n d “ e m o tio n a l.” A p p e llan t sa id h e w a lk e d u p to Ja y d e n , p lac e d h is ha n d o v e r his m o u th a n d n o se , an d “ h e ld i tt her e unt i l he s t opped br eathi ng. ” A ft er w ar ds , appel l ant“t r i ed t o cl ean up t he hous e” a nd “t r i ed t o c o v e r a b l o o d s p o t wi t h a p i e c e o f f u r n i tu r e . ” He p l a c e d t h e b o d i e s o f Li s a and Ja y d e n in to L isa ’s c a r a n d d ro v e to “ a ro a d o f f o f F M 4 0 7 w h e re th e yb u rie d b o th th e ir bodi es . ” H e s ai d t hathe us ed a s hovel D odd had gi ven t o hi m and t hat he bur i ed t he bodi es i n a s hal l ow gr ave a nd pl ace d debr i s on t op of i t . H e t hen dr ove Li s a’ s cart o anot h er l ocat i on and “st opped i t j us ts hor tof t he cr eek. ” A ft err el at i ng t hi s s t or y , appel l antagr eed to h a v e a n o th e r d ig itallyre c o rd e d v id e o in ter v iew w ith C a rro ll. C arro ll test ifi ed that h e an d ap p ell an t l ef t th e b athro o m an d w en t t o D etec ti v e R icha rd C as h ell ’s desk w her e appe l l antas s i s t ed t hem i n m appi ng outt he l ocat i on w her e he ha d bur i ed t he vi ct i m s . T hey us ed “M apQ ues t ” t o “get a m ap of t hatar ea” and appe l l ants how ed t hem “t he r oads t hathe t r aveled ” an d w h ere he “ putt he vi ct i m s ’ bodi es . ” C ar r ol l and
a p p e llan t th e n w e n t b a c k to th e in ter v iew ro o m w h e re a p p e llan t g a v e h is s e c o n d d ig itally
re c o rd e d v id e o s ta te m e n t s h o rt ly af te r 1 1 :0 0 p .m . A f ter C a rro ll i n ter v iew e d a p p e llan t, he lef t th e in ter v iew ro o m a n d sp o k e w ith app el l ant’ s w i fe, T ri sh B arbee. C arr oll t old T ri sh t hat appell ant had co nfessed to ki l l i ng L i saBARBEE

-- 7

and t hathe w ant ed t o t al k t o her
. T r i s h w ant ed t o s peak w i t h appel l ant , s o C ar r ol l br ought hert o t he i nt er vi ew r oom . C ar r ol l r emai ned out s i de, and t he di gi t al vi deo r ecor dercont i nued
runni ng as appel l antand T r i s h conver s ed. T r i s h as ked appel l ant w hat happene d. A ppel l ant
e x p lain e d th a t L isa c a lled h im a n d th re a ten e d h im , so h e w e n t to h e r h o u se a n d tried to talk t o her
. H e s ai d t hat L i s a s ai d s he w oul d “rui n” hi m and t hats he foughtw i t h hi m and ki cked hi m . H e expl ai ned t hathe “he l d herdow n t oo l ong” and thathe “di dn’ tm ean f orhert o s t op br eathi ng. ” C ar r ol l t es t i fi ed t hatappel l ants pentt hatni ghti n the S m i t h C ount yJ ai l
. T he next
m or ni ng, he r ode w i t h C ar r ol l and O ffi cerM ar k T hor nhi l l and di r ect ed t hem t o t he l ocat i on
o f th e b o d ies. C arro ll test ifi ed that ap p ell an t stat ed , “[ W ]he n I t ak e y o u to the b o d ies, I do n ’t
w antt o s ee the bodi es , and I don’ t w ant t he medi a t o s ee me. ” W hen t heygotcl os ert o t he lo c a tio n , ap p e llan t to ld th e o f f ice rs to tak e a d if

f e re n t e x it a n d “ to o k [ th e m ] a b a c k ro u te to t he s ame l ocat i on. ” W hen t hey ar r i ved, appel l ant s at i n t he car and di r ect ed t hem t o t he gr ave b yy e l l i n g o u t t h e wi n d o w. Ca r r o l l t e s t i f i e d t h a t Do d d h a d a l r e a d yt a k e n p o l i c e t o “ t h e s a me
ar ea, ” butt hatt he bodi es w er e notl ocat ed unt i l appel l antar r i ved. T he bodi es w er e l ocat ed in a sh a llo w g ra v e th a t h a d tre e lim b s p lac e d o n to p o f it. T he medi cal exami nerw ho per for m ed Li s a’ s aut ops yt es t i fi ed th a tLi s a s u f f e r ed fa ci al abr as i ons and contus i ons and a br oken arm . She had brui s es on bot h s i des of herback that coul d have been caus ed by bei ng hi t or byhavi ng “ext er nal for ce a ppl i ed overa l ongerper i od of t i m e. ” H eri nj ur i es w er e cons i s t entw i t h a per s on hol di ng herdow n and s t oppi ng herfr omBARBEE

-- 8

b re a th in g . T h e c a u se o f h e r d e a th w a s “ tra u m a tic a sp h y x iatio n ,” a n d th e m a n n e r o f h e r d e a th
w as ho m ici d e. L i s a w as pr egnantw i t h a hea l t hyfemal e fe tus t hatappea r ed t o be ar ound
s even mont hs ges t at i onal age. T he ca us e of the fetus ’ death w as “fe t al as phy xi at i on”
r es ul t i ng fr om “mat er nal as phy xi at i on. ” T he medi cal exami nerw ho per for m ed J ay den’ s aut ops yt es t i fi ed t hat J ay den had a l ar ge brui s e above hi s r i ght t empl e t hat w as “due t o s om e sor t of i m pact t o t he hea d. ” H e had brui s es on hi s back a nd abr as i ons on hi s back, ar m , hi p, and l eg. H e had brui s es on hi s l i ps and gum s t hatappea r ed t o be “c aus ed bys om e s or tof compre s s i on, s om e obj ectputovert he
ar ea of t he mout h and pr es s i ng on t he mout h and compr es s i ng t he l i ps agai ns tt he under l y i ng t eeth. ” The m edi cal exami nert es t i fi ed t hatJ ay den’ s i nj ur i es w er e consi s t entw i t h: s om eone pl aci ng a hand ove r J ay den’ s m out h and nos e; s om eone pr es s i ng J ay den’ s fac e aga i ns ta fl at surface; or, som eon e press i ng Jay den ’s face against a surface t hat “gi ves i f y ou pu sh against i t , ” l i ke a c ouch ora ca rpet ed fl oor . H e det er m i ned t hatt he ca u se o f Jay d en’ s death w as “as phy xi a bys m ot her i ng” and the mannerof hi s death w as hom i ci de. A tpuni s hm ent , t he St at e pr es ent ed t he t es t i m onyof appe l l ant ’ s ex- w i fe, T her es a Sue B arbee. T her es a t es t i fi ed t hat s he w as m ar r i ed t o appel l ant fr om 1996 t o 2003 and t hathe ph y si cal l yassaul t ed h er du ri ng t he course of t heir rel at i on shi p. D uri ng on e of t heirfi gh t s,
s he s uffe r ed a “ bad conc us s i on. ” A ppel l ants ati n anot herr oom eat i ng i ce c r eam w hi l e s he
w as bl eedi ng and uncons ci ous , and he made herdr i v e her s el f t o t he hos pi t al w hen s he
aw oke. T her es a al s o t es t i fi ed t hatappel l antt ol d herand ot her s t hathe w as goi ng t o putherBARBEE

-- 9

“ th ro u g h a [ w o o d ] c h ip p e r.” T her es a fur t hert es t i fi ed t hat s he w as dat i ng D odd at t he t i m e of the i ns t antoffe ns e. S h e testi fied that ap p ell an t an d D o d d h ad b ee n at he r ho u se o n the n igh t of F ri d ay , F eb rua ry 18, 2005. D odd and app ell antl efti n D odd’ s t ruck s om et i m e af t er10: 00 p. m . , and D odd
r etur ned al one shor t l y t her eaf t er . A s s oon as D odd r etur ned, appel l antcal l ed hi m . D odd l eft agai n and r etur ned w i t h appel l antaboutfi ft een mi nut es l at er . A t ar ound 3: 00 a. m . , appel l ant cal l ed D odd and T her es a hear d appel l ants ay“come and hel p hi m ” and that“[h] e r an outof gas.” D odd l eftand Ther es a w entt o s l eep. W hen s he nexts aw appel l anton Sunday
m or ni ng, he cr i ed a n d said t hat“hi s l i fe w as overw i t h. ” Ther es a ment i oned t he mi s s i ng
w om an and a s ked, “W hathave y ou done?” A ppel l ants ai d, “H elp m e,” an d t hathe “w as gui l t y unt i l pr oven i nnocent . ” A ppel l antl at ercal l ed Ther es a and s ai d t hathe had c onfes s ed to p o lice
. H e w a s cr y in g a n d sa id th a t “ h e d id n ’t m e a n to ” a n d th a t h e “ w e n t o v e r th e re to talk to h e r . . . a n d d o th e rig h t th in g . . . [a n d ] th e yg o t in to a f ig h t

. . . s he hi thi m , and t heyj us tgoti nt o i t . ” Ther es a as ked, “W hatabout t he boy ?” A ppel l ant
r epl i ed t hat“he di dn’ t m ean t o” and “he w as j us tt r y i ng t o keep hi m qui et . ” Ther es a as ked hi m i f D odd w as i nvol ved, and he s ai d “R on’ s m i s t ake w as pi cki ng hi m up. ” A ppel l antl at er keptchangi ng hi s s t or yand s ay i ng t hathe di d not do i t . W hen T her es a l at ervi s i t ed appe l l ant i n j ai l , he hel d up a pi ece of pape ras ki ng her t o s ayt hatD odd di d i tand s ethi m up. She
s t ar t ed cry i ng and l eft
. A ppel l anthad herr em o v ed fro m h i s vi s i t or s l i s tfol l ow i ng t hat
en co u n ter.BARBEE

- - 10

T h e S tate a lso p re se n ted th e p u n ish m e n t tes tim o n yo f M a rie M e n d o z a , w h o b rie f ly
w or ked w i t h appel l antatt he U ni t ed Par cel Ser vi ce i n 2000 or2001. M endoza t es t i fi ed t hat appel l antcal l ed heroft en and cl ai m ed t hat he w as not m ar r i ed. W hen he t ol d hert hathe had a t r ee- t r i m m i ng bus i nes s , M endoza as ked hi m t o come t o herhous e and gi ve heran es t i m at e. She came hom e one day and found t hat he al r eady t r i m m ed hert r ees w i t houtgi vi ng heran
es t i m at e fi r s t . She s poke t o hi m on t he t el ephone a few day s l at er , t el l i ng hi m t hats he w as noti nt er es t ed i n a r el at i ons hi p and off er i ng t o pay hi m forhi s w or k. A ppel l antr es ponded
w i t h a “bi g outbur s t ” and y el l ed and cur s ed at M endoza
. H e cal l ed her a “fuc ki ng bi t ch” a nd
s ai d, “I go outt her e and tr i m y ourt r ees an d t hi s i s w hatI geti n r etur n?” Fol l ow i ng t hat in c id e n t, M a ri e h a d n o f u rt h e r c o n ta c t w ith a p p e lla n t a n d n e v e r s a w h im a t w o rk a g a in
. S UFF I CI ENCY OF THE EVI DENCE In p oint of erroron e, app el l ant ar gu es t hat the ev i den ce i s l egall yi nsuff i ci ent because t he St at e fa i l ed t o pr ove t hatt he gr and j ur yexer ci s ed due di l i gence i n d eterm ini ng t he
m a n n e r a n d m e a n s u se d to c a u se Ja y d e n ’s d e a th
. T h e in d ictm e n t a lleg e d , in p e rtin e n t p a rt:

. . . and dur i ng t he s ame cr i m i nal t r ans act i on, t he def endanti nt ent i o n all yor know i ngl ycaus ed t he dea t h of anotheri ndivi dual , J ay den U nder w ood, by s m ot her i ng hi m w i t h hi s hand or by a means unknow n t o t he gr and j ur yorby a c o m b in a tio n o f

th e tw o [ .] A ppel l antas s er t s t hatt he evi dence att r i al “conc l us i vel yes t abl i s hed t he mannerand means
us ed t o fac i l i t at e J a y d e n Und e rwood’s death, ” r el y i ng s peci fi cal l yon t he fol l ow i ng t es t i m ony b yD e tec tiv e C a rro ll:

[PR O SE C U T O R ] : D i d [appe l l ant ] s ayanyt hi ng aboutJ ay den?BARBEE

- - 11

The State disagree s that Carroll’s testimony conclusively

established the manner and 4 means of Jayden’s de ath, pointing out that the medic al examiner testified that Jayden’s injuries were consistent with threepossible scena rios: someone plac ing a

hand over

J ayden’s mouth and nose; someone pressingJ ayden’s f aceag ainst a flat surf

ace ; or, someone pressingJ ayden’s f ace ag ainst a surfa ce that “g ives if you push ag ainst it,” like a couc h or a c arpe ted floor.

[C A R R O L L] : He d i d
. He s a i d t h a t whi l e h e was i n t h e p r o c e s s of ki l l i ng L i s a, J ay den ca m e t o t he fr ontr oom , t he r oom w her e he w as fi ght i ng w i t h L i s a, and J ay den w as cr y ing , [w as ] emot i onal
. H e l ooked up and s aw J ay den s t andi ng t her e and he paus ed. S o I a sk e d h im , “ H o w d id y o u k ill Ja y d e n ? ” H e sa id , “ I w a lk e d u p to hi m and I pl ace d m yhand overhi s m out h and nos e and he l d i tt her e unt i l he s to p p e d b re a th in g .” C i t i ng Hic k

s v . S ta te , 86 0 S
. W
. 2d 41 9 (T ex. C ri m . A pp . 19 93 ), app el l ant ar gu es t hat because D et ect i ve C arr oll ’s t est i m on ycon cl usi velyest abli shed t he m ann er and m eans used t o cau se Ja y d e n ’s d e a th , the S tate w a s re q u ire d to p ro v e th a t th e g ra n d ju ryu se d d u e d ili g e n c e in
a ttem p tin g to a sc e rta in th e m a n n e r a n d m e a n s. T h e S tate c a lled th e g ra n d -ju ryse c re tar yto 4 t es t i fyatt r i al , butappel l antas s er t s t hat hi s t es t i m ony w as i ns uffi ci ent t o s how t hatt he gr and j uryexerci sed due di l i gen ce i n att em pti ng t o ascert ai n the m ann er and m eans used t o cau se J a y d e n ’s d e a th
. A s w e s t at ed i n R o s a le s v . S ta te , 4 S .W .3 d 2 2 8 , 2 3 1 (T e x . C rim . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ), “th e ru le i n cas es l i ke Hi cks i s no l ongervi abl e i n l i ghtof ourdeci s i on i n M a lik
. ” S e e Ma lik v . S ta te , 9 5 3 S .W .2 d 2 3 4 , 2 4 0 (T e x . C rim
. A p p . 1 9 9 7 )(h o ld in g th a t su f f icie n c yo f

th e e v id e n c e sh o u ld b e m ea su re d b y th e e lem en ts of the o ff en se a s d ef

ined b ythe h yp o theticall yco rrect j u ry char ge fort he ca s e)
. Fur t her , l i ke t he j ur yi n R osales , the juryi n appel l ant ’ s cas e w as char ged i n t he di s

j unct i ve. 4 S. W
. 3d at231
. T h e ev i dence pr es ent ed atappel l ant ’ s t r i alBARBEE

- - 12

s uppor t ed t he t heor yt hatappel l antcaus ed J ay den’ s death by s m ot her i ng hi m w i t h hi s hand. S e e id ., c itin gK itc h e n s v . S ta te , 823 S. W
. 2d 256, 258- 59 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 1 991) ( hol di ng that w hen a j ur yr etur ns a gene r al gui l t yver di cton an i ndi ct m entchar gi ng al t er nat i ve t heor i es of comm i t t i ng t he s ame of fens e, t he ver di cts t ands i f evi dence s uppor t s anyof t he t heor i es al l eged)
. T he evi dence , vi ew ed i n t he l igh tm os tfavor abl e t o t he ver di ct , w as suffici ent t o en able anyrat i on al t ri er of fact t o find t he essenti al el e m e n ts o f t he o ffen se b e y o n d a re a s o n a b le d o u b t. See J a c k s o n v . V ir g in ia , 443 U
. S. 307, 319 ( 1979)
. Poi ntof
er r orone i s over rul ed. In p o in t o f e rro r tw o , ap p e llan t cla im s th a t th e e v id e n c e is f a c tu a llyin su f

f icie n t to
su p p o rt h is c a p ital m u r d e r c o n v ictio n . E v id e n c e th a t is leg a llysu f f icie n t m a yb e f

a c tu a lly in su f f icie n t if it is s o w e a k th a t th e ju ry ’s v e rd ict se e m s c lea rly w ro n g a n d m a n if e stlyu n ju st,
o r w h e th e r, co n sid e rin g c o n f lictin g e v id e n c e , the ju ry ’s v e rd ict, th o u g h leg a llysu f f icie n t, i s
n e v e rt h e le s s a g a in s t th e g re a t w e ig h t a n d p re p o n d e ra n c e o f th e e v id e n c e . W

at s on v. St at e, 204 S. W
. 3d 404, 414- 15 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2006)
. A fac tual
- s uffi ci encyr evi ew r equi r es t he
re v ie w in g c o u rt to c o n s id e r a ll o f th e e v id e n c e . M

a rs h a llv . S t a t e , 210 S. W
. 3d 618, 625 (T ex . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 6 ), c e r t . d e n ie d , 12 8 S
. C t . 87 (2007 ). A cl earl yw rong an d u njust
v e rd ict o c c u rs w h e re th e ju ry ’s f in d in g is m a n if

e stly u n ju st, sh o c k s th e c o n sc ien c e , o r c lea rly d e m o n s tr a te s b ia s . S e lls v . S ta te , 1 2 1 S .W .3 d 7 4 8 , 7 5 4 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 3 ). A pp el l ant cl ai m s t hat the ev i den ce i s factuall yi nsuff i ci ent because t he S t at e’s case
w as ci r cumst ant i al and di d noti ncl ude ey ew i t n esses orfor ens i c evi dence connec t i ngBARBEE

- - 13

appel l antt o t he cr i m e. H ow ever , w e have hel d t hatci r cumst ant i al evi dence i s as pr obat i ve
as di r ectevi dence i n es t abl i s hi ng t he gui l tof an a ct or , and ci r cumst ant i al evi dence al one ca n b e s u f f ic ie n t to e s ta b lis h g u ilt. C la y to n v . S ta te , 235 S. W
. 3d 772, 778 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2 0 0 7 ); G u e v a r a v . S ta te , 1 5 2 S
. W
. 3 d 4 5 , 4 9 (T ex . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 4 ). A ppel l antadmi t t ed t o pol i ce t hat he ki l l ed L i s a and J ay den, t hathe at t empt ed t o cl ean up t he cr i m e s cene , and t hathe di s pos ed of their b o d ies and Li s a’ s caraft er w ar ds
. T he phy s i cal evi dence co rrob or at ed hi s confe s s i on. W hen appe l l antw as s t opped bya pol i ce
o f fi cer at 3:00 a. m . i n cl ose pr ox i m i t y t o the ar ea w here L i sa’ s car w as l at er f o u n d , h is cloth es w ere c o v ere d in m u d an d h e g av e the o ff icer a f alse n am e a n d b ir th d ate b ef o re
runni ng aw ayfr om hi m . L i s a’ s fr i end H ol l yPi l s confi r m ed t hatL i s a had be en i n a
r el at i ons hi p w i t h appel l antand t hats he bel i eved thathe w as t he fat her of her unbor n chi l d. A ppel l antt ol d pol i ce t hat he di d not w ant hi s w i fe t o fi nd outaboutL i s a’ s pr egnanc y , and he conf i r m ed t hi s dur i ng a re cor ded conver s at i on w i t h hi s w i fe. H e ac cur at el ydes cr i bed t he l ocat i on w her e t he bodi es w er e bur i ed, and he l ed pol i ce t o t he bur i al s i t e. T hi s evi dence w as
n o t s o w e a k th a t th e ju ry’s v e rd ic t se e m s c le a rl y w ro n g a n d m a n if e s tly u n ju s t. W a ts o n , 204 S
. W
. 3d at41 4-15. Ev en co nsi deri ng con fl i ct i ng evidence, t he j ury ’s verdi ct w as n ot agai nst th e g re a t w e ig h t a n d p re p o n d e ra n c e o f th e e v id e n c e . I

d. Poi ntof err ort w o i s over rul ed. I n poi ntof err orei ght , appel l antcont ends t hat t he evi dence w as l egal l yi ns uffi ci ent t o s uppor t t he j ur y ’ s aff

i r m at i ve ans w ert o t he futur e- danger ous nes s s peci al i s s ue. W e vi ew t he evi dence i n t h e li g h t m os tfavor abl e t o t he j ur y ’ s fi ndi ng and det er m i ne w het heranyBARBEE

- - 14

ra tio n a l trier o f

f a c t co u ld h a v e f

o u n d b e y o n d a re a so n a b le d o u b t th a t th e re is a p ro b a b ili ty t hatappel l antw oul d comm i tcr i m i nal act s of vi ol ence t hatw oul d cons t i tute a c ont i nui ng th re a t to s o c ie ty. J

a c k s o n v . V ir g in ia , 4 4 3 U .S . 3 0 7 (1 9 7 9 ). A ppel l antcomm i t t ed t he m ur der s of a pr egnantw om an and he rs even- y ear - ol d s on. S ee H a ye s v. Sta te, 8 5 S
. W
. 3 d 809, 814 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2002) ( s t at i ng t hatt he ci r cumst ance s of t he offens e al one m ay be suff i ci ent t o s uppor t an affi r m at i ve ans w ert o t he f u tu re d a n g e ro u sn e ss sp e c ial iss u e ). H e a d m itt e d p lan n in g L isa ’s m u rd e r in o rd e r to a v o id bei ng named as t he fa t herof t he unbor n chi l d. H e att em p ted t o conce al hi s cr i m e and
s ucce s s ful l yevade d a pol i ce of fi cers hor t l yaft erdi s pos i ng of t he bodi es . T he St at e pr es ent ed fur t herevi dence atpuni s hm entt hatappel l antverbal l yat t acke d a form erco- w or kerand p h y sic a llya ss a u lted h is e x -w if e a n d th re a ten e d to p u t h e r “ th ro u g h a [ w o o d ] c h ip p e r.” B o th the f ac ts of the i n stan t o ff

en se an d the oth er ev iden ce sh o w ing ap p ell an t’ s esc alati n g p att ern of vi ol ence ar e l egal l y s uffi ci ent t o s uppor t a fi ndi ng of futur e danger ous nes s . Poi ntof err or
e ig h t is o v e rr u le d
. VOI R DI RE In p o in t o f e rro r th re e , a p p e llan t c o n ten d s tha t th e trial co u rt e rro n e o u sly d e n ied h is ch all en g e f

o r ca u se to v en ir em em b er D en ise A n d erso n . A p p ell an t asserts t h at t h e tri al co u rt
s houl d have gr ant ed hi s chal l enge for caus e t o A nder s on beca us e s he had f or m ed an opi ni on
a b o u t ap p e llan t’s g u ilt b a s e d o n m e d ia r e p o rts p rio r to trial. A v e n ire m e m b e r is chal l engea bl e forcaus e i f s he has for m ed i n herm i nd “s uch a concl us i on as t o t he gui l torBARBEE

- - 15

i nnocenc e of the def

endantas w oul d i nfl uence [her ] i n fi ndi ng a v erd ict
. ” See A rt. 3 5 .1 6 (a )( 1 0 ). W e r evi ew a t r i al cour t ’ s rul i ng on a chal l enge for caus e w i t h cons i der abl e def er ence beca us e t he t r i al cour ti s i n t he b est p o sit ion t o eval uat e a ve ni r emem ber ’ s demeanorand
re s p o n s e s . C o lb u r n v . S ta te , 96 6 S. W
. 2d 51 1, 51 7 ( T ex. C ri m . A pp . 19 98 ). W e w i l l rever se
a trial c o u rt’s r u li n g o n a c h a llen g e f o r c a u se o n lyif

a c lea r a b u se o f

d isc re tio n is e v id e n t. I d. W h en a v en ir em em b er’s an sw ers a re v ac il lat ing , u n clea r, o r co n tr ad ict o ry , w e a cc o rd p a rt ic u la r d e f

e re n c e to th e tr ia l c o u rt ’s d e c is io n . Id
. A v e n ire m e m b e r is n o t ch a llen g e a b le f o r c a u s e m e re ly b e c a u s e s h e h a s h e a rd n e w s re p o rt s a b o u t th e c ri m e o r t h e s u s p e c t. Ladd
v. St at e, 3 S .W .3 d 5 4 7 , 5 6 1 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ), c itin gMa c ia s v . S ta te , 733 S. W
. 2d 192, 1 9 3 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 8 7 ). Wh e n i n i t i a l l yq u e s t i o n e d b yt h e p r o s e c u t o r , An d e r s o n s t a t e d t h a ts h e h a d s e e n n e ws
r epor t s about t he cas e on t he t el evi s i on “atl eas ta y ear ” ago. T he pr os ecut orques t i oned her fur t heraboutt hi s i s s ue: Q
. So w hatI w ant t o know i s have y ou al r eadydeci ded ordo y ou have a n o p i n i o n t h a t[ a p p e l l a n t ] i s g u i l t yr i g h tn o w? A
. T rut hfu l l y , t he w a y th ings ha ve b een p l ay ed o ut i tseem s l i ke that ’s a g r e a tp o s s i b i l i t y. Q
. U h- huh. A
. B utI don’ tnece s s ar i l yfee l l i ke I w oul d -
- I don ’t fee l l i ke I know every t hi ng. Q
. O kay
. D o y ou fee l l i ke y ou actual l yknow anyt hi ng?BARBEE

- - 16

A
. N o, I don’ tfee l l i ke I know anyt hi ng. Q. Y ou have h e a r d p o l i c e - - y o u h a v e h e a r d - - t e l l me wha ty o u h ave hear d. A
. I j us tr emem berabouta gi r l t hatw as pr egnanthad gone mi s s i ng. A nd t hen i ts eemed l i ke t heyfound h er thr ee da y s l at erand herboy fr i end and his fri end w ere i nv olved and - - or t he fr i end w as i nv olved in d isco v ering w h ere sh e w as th row n . T h at’s all I rem em b er. Q. Do y o u r e me mb e ra n y t h i n g a b o u tt h e v i c t i m? A
. I rem em b er tha t she w as e x cit ed ab o u t go ing to h er b a b ysh o w er. B eca us e dur i ng t he t i m e t hat s he w as m i s s i ng t heyki nd of ques t i oned if sh e w as d ep resse d an d if sh e w o u ld hav e l ef t, see m ed li k e t h e re p o rt di d. A nd herfr i end or cow or ker ors om et hi ng s ai d no, i n fac t , s he w as ex cit ed ab o u t hav ing this ba b yan d g o ing to a b ab ysh o w er. Q
. So t hat ’ s w hats t i cks i n y ourm i nd? A
. T hat ’ s w hats t i cks i n m ym i nd. Q. Do y o u r e me mb e ra n y t h i n g - - y o u s a i d t h e f r i e n d o r t h e b o y f

r i e n d
. Do y ou r emem beranyt hi ng s peci fi cal l y aboutt he fr i end ort he boy fr i end? A
. N o. I r emem bert hati ts eemed l i ke t he fr i end di dn’ thave a nyi dea w hat w a s g o in g o n o r so m e th in g . B u t th a t h e h a d b e e n a sk e d to b o rro w h is t ruck ors om et hi ng t he ac tual ni ghtordays he w as m issi n g o rt i m e. A nd t he onl yot her thing t hats t ands outi ts eems l i ke I r emem ber h e a rin g so m e th in g a b o u t a T -sh irt. Q
. D o y o u re m e m b e r w h a t y o u h e a rd a b o u t a T -sh irt? A
. I ca n ’trem em b er -- I can ’tre m e m b er if the yfo u n d a T -shirt-- or I d o n ’t re m e m b e r. I ju st re m e m b e r a T -sh irt.

* * * Q
. B utobvi ous l yi f y ou come i nt o t hi s - - i f y ou al r eady have an opi ni on as t o t h i s ma n ’ s g u i l t , we n e e d t o k n o w a b o u ti tn o w.BARBEE

- - 17

A
. I don’ thave a n opi ni on beca us e, agai n, I don’ tfee l l i ke I know al l t he fac t s . I w as ver ys y m pat het i c t ow ar ds the g ir l be i ng pr egnantand exci t ed abouta baby , and I t hi nk t hat ’ s w hyi ts t ood outt o m e. Q
. A nd al l t ho se feel i ng s w ere based on new s r epo rt s? A
. Y es. Q
. O kay
. H ave y ou everknow n new s r epor t s t o be w r ong? A
. O f cour s e.
* * * Q
. C o u ld y o u se t a sid e a n y th in g y o u m ig h t h a v e h e a rd in th e n e w s m e d ia and j us tcome i n her e and ba s e y ouropi ni on i n t hi s cas e s t r i ct l yon wh a t ’ s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e c o u r t r o o m? A
. Y es , I coul d.

* * * Q
. C an y ou j us tbas e - - w ai tunt i l y ou get i n her e befor e y ou actual l yknow s om et hi ng? A
. Y es. Q
. O kay
. W e don’ tas k y ou t o - - t o, y ou know , bl ank y ourm i nd. A
. U h- huh. Q
. B utw e do ask y ou t o not cons i der anyt hi ng el s e y ou m i ghthave he ar d. W e l i ve in a m edia age. P eop l e hear things. A
. R ig h t. Q
. U nl es s t heyl i ve undera r ock. A
. R ig h t.BARBEE

- - 18

Q
. B ut , y ou know , t hatcan have an ef fec ton a t r i al and w e don’ tw antt hat t o happen. A
. R ig h t. Q
. C an y ou - - do y ou t hi nk y ou coul d bl ock t hatout and j us t - - and j us tget y ourevi dence and
. . . any opi ni ons y ou for m , for m t hem bas ed on t he e v i d e n c e i n t h e c o u r t r o o m? A
. Y es , I coul d. O n voi rdi r e exa m i nat i on bydefe ns e couns el , A nder s on s t at ed t hat s he had w at ched t e l e v i s i o n n e ws c o v e r a g e “ p r o b a b l y a b o u t t wo o r t h r e e t i me s d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f [ t h e v i c t i m] bei ng m i s s i ng. ” She hear d on t he new s r epor t s t hat t he m i s s i ng w om an w as notm ar r i ed, t hat
s he had be en exci t ed aboutat t endi ng herbabys how er , t hatherboy fr i end had borr ow ed a t ruck fr om a fr i end about t he t i m e t hat s he w ent m i s s i ng, and t hatt he fr i end s eemed t o have no i dea w hatw as goi ng on “buts om ehow he knew w her e s he w as dum ped. ” A tt hatt i m e, based o n the new s r epo rt s, A nd ers on fel tt hat th e bo y fri end w as i nv olved be cause “m ost
cr i m es ar e done bypeopl e t hatknow y ou. ” D efe ns e couns el cont i nued t o ques t i o n heras foll ow s: Q
. W el l , how ar e [y ou] goi ng t o be abl e - - and I don’ tknow i f y ou can

-- t o d i st i ng u ish a f

a ctt hat y ou hear att his t ri al versus one o f t hese fac t s t haty ou hear d on t he new s i f t hey ’ r e ver y s i m i l ar t o eac h ot herbut m aybe notexac t l yt he s ame? Y ou under s t and w hatI am say i ng? A
. Y es , I do. I t hi nk pr obabl y - - I m ean, y ou know , i f y ou t hi nk I am t he ri g h t j u ror f

o r th em , b u t I think I w o u ld b e a b le t o d o itb ec au se I d o n ’t t rus tal l t he new s r epor t s and t he w ayt hey- - y o u k n o w , t hei rt ake on t hi ngs . A nd I w as n’ t- - I w as n’ tr eal i nt er es t ed af t ers he w as found. Q
. W el l , buty ou w er e i nt er es t ed enough t o w at ch i ten o u g h t o for m anBARBEE

- - 19 opi ni on t hat[appe l l ant ] i s i nvol ved? A
. Y es. Q
. O k a y. A
. W el l , beca us e t hatw as t he end of i t , y ou k n o w . T hatw as t he end of w hen s he w as found.

* * * Q
. I know y ou w antt o be abl e t o fee l w haty ou s aw t hen and the opi ni ons y ou r eac hed t hen ar e no t g o ing to fi gur e i n t o t he opi ni ons t haty ou r e a c h b a s e d o n wh a ty o u h e a ri n t h e c o u r t r o o m. A
. R ig h t. Q
. O kay
. B ut , qui t e fr ankl y , y ou have hear d a l otof t hi ngs and ca m e t o a pr et t ys t r ong concl us i on. A
. R ig h t.
* * * Q
. A nd s o t he ques t i on t hen bec om es . . . w hatguar ant ee do I have that y ou ar e r eal l y not goi ng t o be consi der i ng t hat ? I t ’ s one t hi ng fory ou to sa y , w e ll, I a m g o in g to d o it. I d o n ’t q u e stio n y o u r w ill . W h a t I q u esti o n is y o u r sub co n scien ce --

* * * A
. I se e . A n d th a t’s -- I m e a n , I d o n ’t re a llyk n o w h o w to tell y o u th a t I t hi nk I coul d do i tot hert han I am a per s on w ho fol l ow s rul es and t r i es re a llyh a rd
. . . B u t I c a n ’ t te ll y o u th a t I’m g o in g to b e a b le to p u t it t hr ough m ym i nd ot hert han t he fac tt hatI don’ tfee l l i ke att he t i m e I knew al l t he fa ct s . I j us tr emem berfee l i ng ver ys t r ongl yconce r ned for t hi s gi r l beca us e s he w as pr egnant . A nd I don’ tknow i f t hat ’ s beca us e, y o u k n o w , I a m a m o m o r w h a te v e r. A n d th e n o n c e s h e w a s f o u n d
. . . I w a s ju st g lad th a t th e re w a s a n e n d to it.BARBEE

- - 20

D efe ns e couns el l at eras ked A nder s on i f she coul d ans w ert he mi t i gat i on ques t i on “i n s uch
a w ayas t o gi ve a l i fe se nt ence , gi ven t he fact t hat y ou have al r eady had som e opi ni ons about th is ? ” A n d e rs o n re p lie d , “ I t h in k th a t I c o u ld s a y ye s to a lif e s e n te n c e , b e c a u s e , a g a in , I d o n ’t f e e l th a t I re a lly k n o w a ll th e d e ta ils a n d f a c ts o f th e c a s e .” D efen se coun sel chall eng ed A nd ers on for cause and the t ri al cou rtrul ed as fo l l ow s: T he C our t , w hen s he bega n t o go i nt o al l t hi s , I t ook - - I obs er ved her c o m p l e t e l y a n d t o t a l l y t h e w h o l e t i m e . I h a v e l i s t e n e d t o w h a ts h e h a d t o s a y. I v a c illa ted a s s h e v a c ill a ted . A n d I f e e l li k e f ra n k lyth a t b a se d u p o n w h a t I have obs er ved t hatI am goi ng t o over rul e t he cha l l enge and s he w i l l be j ur or num ber42. A nd i t ’ s bas ed s t r i ct l yon w hatI s aw t odayand w hatI obs er ved hert o do.
W e d e f e rt o t he t r i a l c o u r t ’ s ru l i n g . An d e r s o n a c k n o wl e d g e d t h a ts h e h a d l e a r n e d s o me t hi ngs aboutt he ca s e and ha d devel oped an opi nion ab o u t the boy fr i end’ s gui l tw hen s he
w at ched t el evi s i on new s cover age for a few day s about a y ear pr i ort o t r i al
. H ow ever , s he
m ai nt ai ned t hats he di d notknow al l of t he fac t s and t hat s he had know n new s r epor t s t o be
w r ong. She s t at ed t hats he coul d s etherknow l edge a nd opi ni ons as i de and ba s e herver di ct
s ol el yon t he evi dence pr es ent ed at t r i al and t hat s he coul d even vot e for a l i fe s ent ence i f t he puni s hm ent evi dence w ar r ant ed i t . T he t ot al i t y of her voi rdi r e t es t i m onyi ndi cat es t hatany concl us i on s he had f

or m ed about appel l ant ’ s gui l t w oul d not i nfl uence her ver di ct . T he t r i al
cour tdi d not cl ear l y abus e i t s di s cr et i on i n deny i ng t he cha l l enge f orcaus e. Poi ntof err or t hr ee i s over rul ed. AD M I SS I BI LI TY O F ORA L STATEM ENTSBARBEE

- - 21

In p o in ts o f

e rro r f o u r, f iv e , an d six , ap p e llan t as se rts th a t th e tr ia l co u rt a b u se d its di s cr et i on i n deny i ng hi s m ot i on t o s uppr es s “t hr ee s epa rate i ncul pat or ys t at ement s ”: ( 1) appel l ant ’s o r al s t at ement t o D et ect i ve C ar r ol l i n t he bathr oom of t he Ty l erPol i ce D e p a rtm e n t, i n w h ich h e a d m itt e d k ill in g L isa a n d Ja y d e n ; (2 ) ap p e llan t’s o ra l sta tem e n t to D et ect i ve C arr oll at D et ect i ve C ashel l ’s desk, i n w hich he descr i bed w here t he v ict i m s’ bodi es w er e b ur i ed and he l ped t o pr oduce a m ap of thatl ocat i on; and ( 3) appel l ant ’ s or al
s t at ement t o D et ect i ve C ar r ol l on t he w ayt o t he bur i al sit e the nextm or ni ng, i n w hi ch he poi nt ed outt he s peci fi c l ocat i on of t he bodi es and expr es s ed conc er ns aboutvi ew i ng t he b o d ies an d b eing see n b y the m ed ia. A p p ell an t sp ec ifi ca ll yasse rt s tha t th ese stat em en ts w ere i nad m i ssi ble unde r A rt i cl e 38
. 22 , S ect i on 3(a) , w hich provides: N o or al ors i gn l anguage s t at ement of an acc us ed m ade a s a r es ul tof cus t odi al i nt er r ogat i on s hal l be admi s s i bl e agai ns t t he accus ed i n a cr i m i nal pr ocee di ng un l ess: ( 1) an el ectr oni c r ecor di ng, w hi ch m ay incl ude mot i on pi ctur e, vi deo tap e , o r o th e r v isu a l re c o rd in g , is m a d e o f th e sta tem e n t; ( 2) pr i or t o the s t at ement but dur i ng t he r ecor di ng t he ac cus ed i s gi ven t he w ar ni ng i n Subse ct i on ( a) of Sect i on 2 ab o v e and the ac cus ed know i ngl y , i nt el l i gent l y , and vol unt ar i l yw ai ves anyr i ght s s etouti n t he w ar ni ng; ( 3) t he r ecor di ng devi ce w as capa bl e of maki ng an ac cur at e r ecor di ng, t he oper at orw as compet ent , and t he re cor di ng i s acc ur at e and has not been a l t er ed; ( 4) al l voi ces on t he r ecor di ng ar e i dent i fi ed; and ( 5) n o t late rt han t he 20 daybefor e t he dat e of the pr ocee di ng, t he th at t or neyr epr es ent i ng t he def endanti s pr ovi ded w i t h a t rue, compl et e,BARBEE

- - 22 a n d a c c u ra te c o p yo f

a ll rec o rd in g s o f

th e d e f e n d a n t m a d e u n d e r th is ar t i cl e. O ra l co n f

e ss io n s a re g e n e ra llyin a d m iss ib le u n les s th e re is c o m p lian c e w ith a ll p o rtio n s o f

S e c tio n 3 ( a )
. A rt. 3 8 .2 2 , § 3 (e ); W o o d s v . S ta te , 152 S. W
. 3d 105, 116 ( T ex. C rim . A p p . 2 0 0 4 ); Mo o r e v . S ta te , 9 9 9 S
. W
. 2 d 3 8 5 , 4 0 0 (T ex . C ri m . A p p . 1 9 9 9 ). H o w ev er,
an ex cepti on setou ti n S ect i on 3(c) provides: Subse ct i on ( a) of t hi s s ect i on s hal l notappl yt o anys t at ement w hi ch cont ai ns as s er t i ons of f

ac t s orci r cumst ance s t hatar e found t o be t rue and w hi ch conduce t o es t abl i s h t he gui l t of t he accus ed, s uch as the fi ndi ng of s ecr et ed or s t ol en pr operty o rt he i ns t rum entw i t h w hi ch he s t at es t he off ens e w as comm i t t ed. A r t . 38. 22, § 3( c)
. U nder t hi s exce pt i on, or al s t at ement s as s er t i ng fac t s orci r cumst ance s
es t abl ishing the gui l tof t he ac cus ed ar e admi s s i bl e i f, att he t i m e t heyw er e made, t hey cont ai ned as s er t i ons t hatw er e unknow n byl aw enforce m en t butw er e l at ercor r obor at ed. W o o d s , 1 5 2 S .W .3 d a t 1 1 7 ; Mo o r e , 9 9 9 S .W .2 d a t 4 0 0 -0 1 . S u c h o ra l sta tem e n ts n e e d o n ly
c ir c u m s ta n tia lly d e m o n s tr a te th e d e f e n d a n t’ s g u ilt. Id
. Fur t her m or e, i f s uch an or al
s t at ement cont ai ns even a s i ngl e as s er t i on l at er found t o be t rue and c onduci ve t o es t abl i s hi ng th e d e f e n d a n t’ s g u ilt, th e n th e s ta te m e n t is a d m is s ib le in its e n tir e ty. I d. T he t r i al cour thel d a hea r i ng on appel l ant ’ s m ot i on t o s uppr es s hi s s t at ement s . T he evi dence att he s uppr es s i on hear i ng s how ed t hatappel l ant a nd D odd w er e ques t i oned
s epar at el yatt he Ty ler P o l i ce D epar t m ent . D et ect i ve M cC as kel l i nt er vi ew ed D odd, and D et ect i ve C ar r ol l obs er ved a por t i on of t hat i nt er vi ew . M cC as kel l t es t i fi ed t hatD odd “had
a n id e a o f

w h e re [ a p p e llan t] h a d las t b e e n se e n w ith th e re m a in s o f L isa a n d Ja y d e n .” C a rro llBARBEE

- - 23

t es t i fi ed t h atD odd t ol d M cC as kel l t hathe had s een a ppel l antw i t h t he bodi es befor e he b u rie d th e m a n d th a t th e b o d ies h a d b e e n b u rie d n e a r “F M 4 0 7 ” in F o rt W o rth . M c C a sk e ll t es t i fi ed t hatD odd agr eed t o s how hi m t he l ocat i on w her e he thoug h t t he bodi es m i ghtbe bur i ed. Th e y l e f

t t h e Ty l e r Po l i c e Dep a r t me n t a b o u t 9 : 5 0 p . m. a n d t h e y a r r i v e d a tt hat l ocat i on about1: 00 a. m . Pr i ort o t hei r ar r i val , M cC as kel l w as i nfor m ed t hatappel l ant“had
c o n f e ss e d a n d h a d sa id th a t th e b o d ies w e re b u rie d in th a t sa m e g e n e ra l ar e a .” M c C a sk e ll
w as unabl e t o l ocat e t he bodi es beca us e “[ t ] he det ai l s t hat[he] r ece i ved w er e fa i r l ygener i c”
a n d “ i t w a s v e r y d a r k w h e n [ t h e y] g o tt h e r e , ” d e s p i t e t h e f a c tt h a tt h e y w e r e “ [ p ] r o b a b l y a few hundr ed y ar ds ” fr om w her e t he bodi es w er e ul t i m at el yfound. C ar r ol l t es t i fi ed att he s uppr es s ion h ea ri n g t hathe and a ppel l antw enti nt o t he b athro o m at t he Ty l erPol i ce D epar t m entatabout8: 30 p. m . D ur i ng t hei rbat hr oom
conver s at i on, w hi ch l as t ed aboutfor t y - fi ve mi nut es t o an hour , appel l antt o ld C arrol l how he had ki l l ed t he vi ct i m s and w her e he had bur i ed t hem. A ft er t hei r bat hr oom conver s at i on, t heyw ent t o D et ect i ve C as hel l ’ s des k “bec aus e [a ppel l ant ] agr eed t o s how [t hem] on a m ap
exac t l yw her e t he bodi es had been bur i ed. ” They“goton M apQ ues ton t he comput er ” and
a p p e llan t “p o in ted o u t to [ th e m ] w h e re th e b o d ies w e re .” C a rro ll c a lled S e rg e a n t Jo h n D a v id T hor nt on ar ound 11: 30 p. m . and r el ay ed t o hi m appel l ant ’ s des cr i pt i on of t he bur i al l ocat i on. T hor nt on test ifi ed t hatpol i ce ther eaf t ers ear ched the ar ea de s cr i bed byD odd and appel l antbutw er e unabl e t o l ocat e t he bodi es . H e t es t i fi ed, “[W ] e or i gi nal l ycoul dn’ tfi nd t he exa ct l ocat i on bas ed on t he i nfor m at i on w e w er e get t i ng, but w e t hought w e w er e i n t heBARBEE

- - 24

r i ghtl ocat i on, and t hatw oul d have be en fi nall y s om ew her e ar ound 2: 00 or3: 00 i n t he
m or ni ng. ” Shor t l yaft erday l i ght , T hor nt on and anotheroffi cerm ade a “w alk-thro u g h” of t he ar ea. T heydi d notl ocat e t he bodi es , alt h o u g h t hey“w al ked w i t hi n 20 t o 30 fee t ” of
w her e t he bodi es w er e l at erfound. C a rro ll t e stif

ied th a t ap p e llan t ro d e b a c k to F o rt W o rth w ith h im a n d O f f ice r T h o rn h ill l at ert hatm or ni ng. A ppel l antagr eed t o t ake them t o w her e t he vi ct i m s w er e bur i ed. T hey
m ade “ s m al l t al k” on t he w ayand appe l l antexpr es s ed thathe di d notw ant“t o s ee the b o d ies ” o r “to b e se e n b y th e m e d ia.” B e f o re th e y re a c h e d th e h ig h w a y e x it th e yp lan n e d to t ake, appel l ant “gui ded [t hem] i n t hr ough a back w ay t o t he same l ocat i on. ” C ar r ol l fur t her t es t i fi ed: S o a s w e p u lled in -- th e n ig h t b e f o re h e d e sc rib e d th a t a s w e p u ll i n to t h i s g a t e , j u s ta b o u ta f e w y a r d s i n t o t h e g a t e t o t h e l e f tt h e r e wi l l b e t wo b a rb e d
- wi r e f

e n c e s . Ov e rt h a ts e c o n d s e to f b a rb e d
- wi r e f

e n c e s wi l l b e s o me sh ru b b e ry a n d a f

re sh d u g g ra v e h e d e sc rib e d a n d lo o se sh ru b b e ryo n to p o f it. A s w e ent er ed t he gate an d d rov e a l i t t l e bi tt o t he l eft , I s aw s uch a m ound of debr i s , butfar t herdow n I s aw a s econd s uch des cr i pt i on. S o [ a p p e ll a n t] sa id -- h e lo o k e d a t th a t o n e a n d m a d e th e c o m m e n t to m e th a t h e th o u g h t th a t w a s it. T h e n h e s a id , “ W a it, w a it. G o f u rt h e r d o w n .” S o w e d ro v e to th e se c o n d m o u n d . W e lo o k e d a t th a t o n e f o r a m in u te and t hen [he ] s ai d, “N o, back up. ” So w e s t ar t ed t o back up. A tt hatpoi ntI got out of t he t ruck and w ent over t he fenc e. A s I w ent o v e r th e f

e n c e , [a p p e llan t] is y e lli n g in stru c tio n s to m e ; als o O f f ice r T h o rn h ill is st an d ing n ea r t h e truc k , so h e’s relay ing inf o rm ati o n to m e also o f w h at he ’s t el l i ng m e, t o w al k fur t hert o m yl eft , w al k fur t her to m y left a s I w as goi ng back t ow ard t hat fi rs tm ou nd of d ebri s, and t hat’ s w here I fou nd t he b od i es.BARBEE

- - 25

Fol l ow i ng t he s uppr es s i on hear i ng, t he t r i al co u rt m ad e fi ndi ngs of fa ctand
c o n c lu s io n s o f

la w re g a rd i n g a p p e lla n t’ s u n re c o rd e d o ra l s ta te m e n ts “ in th e re s tr o o m ,” “w hi l e empl oy i ng t he comput ert o expl ai n t he l ocat i on of t he bodi es , ” and “ on t he w ayback t o For tW or t h on Februar y22 di r ect i ng t he det ect i ves t o t he l ocat i on of t he bodi es . ” The t r i al
cour tconcl uded t hat the sta t ement s w er e admi s s i bl e bec aus e t hey“w er e r evea l ed byt he evi dence t o be t rue and c onduced t o es t abl i s h t he gui l tof t he D efe ndan t b y l eadi ng t o t he fi ndi ng of evi dence pr evi ous l yunknow n t o l aw enfor cementoffi cer s . ” A ppel l antal l eges t hat t he S ect i on 3( c) exce pt i on does notappl yt o hi s or al unr ecor ded
s t at ement s . T hi s exce pt i on appl i es t o “anys t at ement w hi ch cont ai ns as s er t i ons o f fa ct s or ci r cumst ance s t hatar e found t o be t rue and w hi ch cond u ce to es t abl i s h t he gui l tof t he
ac cu sed s uch as t he fi ndi ng of s ecr et ed ors t ol en pr oper t yort he i ns t rum entw i t h w hi ch he
s t at es t he off

ens e w as comm i t t ed. ” D a n s b y v . S ta te , 931 S. W
. 2d 297, 298 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 1996)
. “Found t o be t rue” means fac t s aboutw hi ch t he pol i ce w er e unaw ar e att he t i m e of th e c o n f e s s io n w h ic h a re la te r, a f te r t h e c o n f

e s s io n , f o u n d to b e tr u e . I

d. at298- 99. A ppel l antar gues t hatD odd t ol d pol i ce w her e t he bodi es w er e bur i ed bef or e appe l l antdi d; t hus , appel l ant ’ s s t at ement di d not cont ai n fac t s unknow n t o pol i ce and l at er found t o be t r ue.

W e pr evi ous l yaddr es s ed s i m i l arfac t s i n anot hercas e: I n Sa n ta n a v . S ta te , 714 S. W
. 2d 1 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 1986) , pol i ce que s t i oned bot h Sant ana a nd h is c o defe ndanti ndepende nt l yw hen bot h w er e arr es t ed sh o rtlya f ter a rob b e ry -m u rd e r. T h e c o d e f e n d a n t w a s in ter v iew e d f irst a n d to ld pol i ce the murde rw eapons coul d be found i n a fi el d. Sant ana al s o t ol d pol i ceBARBEE

- - 26

In Santana, the def

endant “ did not add any

additional information to the statement 5 alre ady obtained from [ his co-def endant].” 14 S.W.2d at 14. Here, it appe ars that a ppellant’s description of the burial location wa s more detailed than the one g iven by Dodd. th e lo c a tio n o f

th e w e a p o n s. L a ter , the g u n s u se d in th e m u rd e r w e re f o u n d in th e f ield b o th m e n h a d d e sc rib e d . S a n tan a a rg u e d th a t h is o ra l sta tem e n t d id no t f i t wi t h i n t h e e x c e p t i o n o f s e c t i o n 3 ( c ) b e c a u s e p o l i c e a l r e a d y k new t he lo c a tio n o f

th e w e a p o n s w h e n th e yq u e s tio n e d h im , h a v in g lea rn e d th is in f o rm a tio n f

ro m th e ir p r io r in ter v iew o f th e c o d e f

e n d a n t. W e re

jec ted th is c laim , h o ld in g th a t u n til p o lice a c tu a lly f o u n d th e w e a p o n s, th e yw e re u n a b le t o ver i fy t he t rut h of Sant ana’ s and hi s codef endant ’ s as s er t i ons ; t hus , nei t her s ta te m e n t w a s “ f

o u n d to b e tr u e ” u n til th e d is c o v e ry o c c u rr e d
. D a n s b y , 931 S. W
. 2d at299. I n Sa n ta n a , w e st at ed: “The fal l acyw i t h appel l ant ’ s ar gum ent is th a t a t th e tim e a p p e llan t g a v e h is o ra l sta tem e n t, th e p o lice h a d n o t as c e rta in e d th a t [ h is
co- defe ndant ’ s ] s t at ement as t o t he l oca ti o n o f t he w eapons w as t rue. ” 714 S. W
. 2d at14. H er e, t he pol i ce ha d not as cer t ai ned D odd’ s s t at ement t o be t rue att he t i m e appe l l antgave hi s or al s t at ement . T he pol i ce di d not l ocat e t he bodi es unt i l appel l antcame t o t he s cene t he next m or ni ng and spec i fi cal l y poi nt ed out t he gr ave. A s w e s ai d i n Sa n ta n a , “Thi s s i tuat i on 5 fal l s di r ect l yi nt o t he ca t egor yof adm issi bl e s t at ement s out l i ned i n A r t i cl e 38. 22, Sect i on 3( c)
. ” Id
. T he t ri al cou rtdid not abuse i t s di scr et i on i n ad m i t t i ng app el l ant’ s oral st at em ents . P o in ts o f e rr o r f o u r, f iv e , a n d s ix a re o v e rr u le d
.

S P OUS AL P RI VI L E GE In h is s e v e n th p o in t o f e rro r, ap p e llan t cla im s th a t th e trial c o u rt v io late d h is confi dent i al comm uni cat i on pr i vi l ege by admi t t i ng t he di gi t al l yr ecor ded vi deo conve r s at i on bet w een hi m and hi s w i fe T r i s h at t he T y l er Pol i ce D epar t m ent . R ul e 504 of the Texas R ul es of E vidence p rovi des t hat a pers on has a pr i vil ege d uri ng m arr i age an d after w ards t o refuseBARBEE

- - 27

Appellant re lies on the followingtestimony of De tective Car

roll on direct e x amination 6 (continued...) t o di s cl os e and t o pr eventanot herfr om di s cl os i ng a conf i dent i al comm uni cat i on m ade t o t he p e rso n ’s s p o u se w h ile th e y w e r e m a rrie d . T E X . R . E V ID . 5 0 4 (a )(2 ). A c o m m u n ica tio n is confi dent i al i f i t i s m ade pr i vat el y by any per s on t o t he per s on’ s s pous e and i ti s noti nt ended fordi s cl os ur e t o any ot her per s on. T E X
. R
. E V ID
. 504( a) ( 1)
. A n exce pt i on appl i es “[i ] n a pr ocee di ng i n w hi ch t he par t y i s acc us ed of conduct w hi ch, i f pr oved, i s a cr i m e agai ns tt he p e rs o n o f

th e s p o u s e , a n ym in o r c h ild , o r a n y m e m b e r o f th e h o u s e h o ld o f

e ith e r s p o u s e .” T E X . R . E V ID . 5 0 4 (a )( 4 )( C ). Fol l ow i ng t he su p p ression hea r i ng, the t r i al cour tm ade f i ndi ngs of fa ctand
co n clus ion s o f law , w h ich s tat ed in p erti n en t part (w ith cit ati o n s o m it ted): T he conve r s at i on bet w een the D efe ndantand hi s w i fe, T r i s h, w hi ch w as r ecor ded and ad m it t ed i nt o evi dence w as nota pr i vi l eged c onfi dent i al co mmun i c a t i o n b e t wee n h u s b a n d a n d wi f e u n d e rTe x a s Rul e s o f Ev i d e nce 5 0 4 . T h e re is a n e x c e p tio n to th e sp o u sa l p riv ileg e w h e re th e d e f e n d a n t is char ged w i t h a cr i m e aga i ns ta m inor chi l d. T he s pous al pr i vi l ege doe s not pr ohi bi tt he i nt r oduct ion o f evi dence of outof cour ts t at ement s m ade byt he s pous e. T he D efe ndantw as aw ar e t hathe w as bei ng r ecor ded. T he D efe ndant had no r i ghtorexpec t at i on of pri vacy i n t he si tuat i on of hi s confi nement w hen t he con v ersa t i ons w i t h hi s w i fe t ook pl ace . T he s t at ement s m ade byt he D efe ndantdur i ng t hi s s egment of t he D V D w er e not t he pr oductof cus t odi al i nt er r ogat i on. A ppel l antdi s put es t hathi s conver s at i on w i t h hi s w i fe Tr i s h fel l undert he “c r i m e aga i ns tany
m i norchi l d” exc ept i on t o t he confi dent i al comm uni cat i on pr i vi l ege. A ppel l antas s er t s t hat th e e x c e p ti o n d o e s n o t ap p lyh e re b e c a u se T rish w a s u n a w a re a t th e tim e o f th e ir
conver s at i on t hatappel l antw as acc us ed of ki l l i ng a mi norchi l d. 6BARBEE

- - 28

(...continued) 6 by thepros e c uto r d

uringtheguil t/i nn oc e nc e ph a seof tria l: Q. So [ Trish] enters the room. Howdid that come to be? A. After

Ihad complete d my

interview, shewanted to talk to [appellant]. I told him that she c ould come in and talk to him. He ha d alre ady confe ssed to kill ingL isa , Jayde n; a

nd Iwe nt o ut a

nd me t w ithhe r i n th e lob by , to ld her what had ha

ppened, hewanted to spe ak to her , asked he r if she w anted to speak to him; she said she did. Q. I s that the matter that hewas just ref erring to, “ Can Italk to her, plea se? ” I s th at what hewa s talki nga bo ut? A. Ye s. Q. Be foreyou escor

ted her into that room, did you tell her that hehad confe ssed to killing L isa? A. Ye s. Q. Did you tell her be foreshe ente red that room that he had c onfesse d to killing J ayden? A. No. We further

note that appe llant and Trish talked a bout L isa’s murder

duringtheir re corde d conver sation, but they

made no mention of Jayden’s murde r. T he conve r s at i on bet w een appel l ant and Tri s h w as notm ade “ pr i vat el y . ” See T EX. R . E V ID . 5 0 4 (a )(1 ). T h e ir c o n v e rsa tio n to o k p lac e in a p o lice sta tio n in ter v iew ro o m w h ile th e d ig ita l v id e o re c o rd e r w a s ru n n in g . See Stat e v. Schei nem an , 77 S. W
. 3d 810, 812- 813 ( T ex. C r i m . A pp. 2002)
. E ven i f t he conve r sati o n co u l d be cons i der ed a pr i vi l eged “c o n fid en ti al” c o m m u n icati o n , itw o u ld sti ll b e a d m issi b le pu rsua n t t o the e x ce p ti o n f o r a
cr i m e aga i ns tanym i norchi l d. A ppel l antw as acc us ed of c onduct w h ic h, i f pr oved,
c o n s titu te d a c ri m e a g a in s t a m in o r c h ild , s e v e n -ye a r- o ld J a y d e n . See T EX. R
. E VID.BARBEE

- - 29

5 0 4 (a )(4 )(C ). T rish ’s ig n o ra n c e o f th is f a c t is o f n o c o n se q u e n c e . T h e a p p lica b ili tyo f th is
e x c e p tio n d o e s n o t d e p e n d o n th e k n o w led g e o f a p p e llan t’s sp o u se . P o in t o f e rro r se v e n is
over rul ed. C O N ST I T U T I O N A L I T Y O F A R T I C L E 37. 071 I n hi s ni nt h poi ntof err or , appel l antcl ai m s t he T exas death penal t y s t atut e vi ol at es t he S ix th , E ig h th , an d F o u rte e n th A m e n d m e n ts to th e U n ited S tate s C o n stitu tio n b e c a u se it fa ils t o r equi r e t he St at e t o pr ove t he mi t i gat i on i s s ue bey ond a r eas onabl e doubt , ci t i ng Appr endi
v. N ew Jer s ey , 530 U
. S. 466 ( 2000) , and Ri n gv . Ar iz ona , 5 3 6 U .S
. 5 8 4 (20 0 2 ). W e have p re v io u s ly re

je c te d th is c la im , a n d w e d e c l i n e to re v is it it h e re . C ru tsin g e r v . S ta te , 206 S .W .3 d 6 0 7 , 6 1 3 (T e x . C ri m . A p p .), c e r t. d e n ie d , 1 2 7 S . C t. 83 6 (2 0 0 6 ); B lu e v . S ta te , 125 S .W .3 d 4 9 1 , 5 0 0

– 0 1 (T e x . C ri m . A p p . 2 0 0 3 ). P o in t o f e rr o r n in e is o v e rr u le d
. W e a f f irm th e ju d g m e n t o f

th e trial c o u rt.

D E L I V E R E D D E C E M B E R 10, 2008 D O N O T PU BL I SH