Ark. Prosecutors say Hall and others abducted her from her Arlington, Texas, home as she made 911 call, then beat her to death with shovel in retaliation for having been cheated in marijuana deal by her brother. Co-defendant Bruce Webster also received death sentence. At time of murder, Hammer was serving a sentence for escaping from state prison in early 1980s. He still had 1,223 years remaining on an Oklahoma state sentence for crimes including kidnapping and attempted murder. Prosecutors say Higgs and two others abducted the women after Higgs became enraged because one of the women rebuffed his advances at party.
Prosecutors say murders committed by Richmond, Va., gang to expand territory and silence informants.
Co-defendants James H. Roane Jr. and Richard Tipton, members of same drug gang, also under death sentences. Banks cooperating with Justice Department investigation of gang when killed. Prosecutors say Jones abducted McBride from laundry room at Goodfellow Air Force Base, where he was bus driver, held her captive at her home and beat her to death with tire iron. A bullet meant for the teen-ager missed, and he survived by playing dead. Co-defendant German Sinisterra also under death sentence.