Andre Stanley Deputy

**Andre Stanley Deputy** was an American serial killer who murdered 3 people in Delaware from 1977 to 1979. He committed two of his murders with an accomplice, William Henry Flamer. Both men were executed.

## Overview

### The murders

In 1977, Andre Deputy killed a man from Wilmington after having an argument with him while playing horseshoes.

On February 1st, 1979, Andre Deputy and his friend, William Flamer, went to the home of Flamer's aunt and uncle, Albert Smith and Byard Smith. William Flamer asked them if he and Andre Deputy could use their social security check to buy drinks. When the couple refused, William Flamer and Andre Deputy stabbed them 148 times with a butcher knife and a bayonet. They then robbed the home, taking a tv, a car, watches, a wallet, and several other items.

### Aftermath

A few hours later, Arthur Smith, the son of Alberta and Byard Smith, found their bodies and called the police. The police then found the victims' car in William Flamer's possession. The police then went into William Flamer's home, which he lived in with his grandmother and father. The grandmother invited them inside, and they found the Smiths' television, fan, and a blood-covered bayonet in the kitchen.

The police then arrested William Flamer at the Blue Moon Tavern. He had blood on his clothing and hands, and scratches on his neck. Flamer was also at the tavern with two friends, who were questioned. One friend was released, but the other friend was Andre Deputy. The authorities found a wallet and two watches belonging to the Smiths' on Deputy.

   Both of the men were questioned, together and separately, but they both kept blaming the murders on each other. Then, Corporal Porter, an officer who was questioning William Flamer, talked to said to Flamer that he would go to hell if he didn't confess to the murders. Shortly after that, Flamer confessed.

>   "*After a day of drinking, he and Andre Deputy went to the Smiths' house just before midnight in order to rob them.  Id. at 32.  They brought with them a bayonet, a smaller knife, and a shotgun, and they hid the shotgun outside the Smiths' home. Flamer carried the smaller knife, and Deputy concealed the bayonet under his coat.  In order to gain entry to the Smiths' home, Flamer told Alberta Smith that his grandmother had had a stroke and was missing.  Id. at 32.*
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> *lamer and Deputy stood just inside the house speaking to the Smiths for about ten or fifteen minutes until Flamer, acting on a signal from Deputy, began to stab Byard Smith with the smaller knife, which he later threw away when he was stopped by the police on Route 13.  Id. at 33-34.  After Flamer began stabbing his uncle, Deputy began to stab Alberta Smith with the bayonet.  At some point, Deputy also stabbed Byard Smith with the bayonet.  After the couple died, the two men searched the bodies for money and found four wallets. Id. at 36.  They fled in the Smiths' car, which they had loaded with property stolen from the house.*
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> *The two men drove to Flamer's home, where they stored some stolen items and burned three of the four wallets that they had taken from the Smiths.  (The fourth was recovered from Deputy when the men were arrested.)  Id. at 36.  Flamer left his home alone in the Smiths' car.*
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> *Outside Felton, Delaware, he became so drunk that he fell asleep.  When he awoke, the car's battery was dead.  Id. at 36-37.  He abandoned the car, went to the Blue Moon Tavern to meet Deputy and to shoot pool and drink, and he was arrested a few hours later.*"
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### Execution

Andre S. Deputy was found guilty and sentenced to death for two counts of intentional murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of first-degree robbery, and one count of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was also convicted of manslaughter in the death of his first victim and sentenced to 30 years in prison. William H. Flamer was also sentenced to death.

Andre Deputy became a christian in prison. A prison chaplain described him as "*a Christian and role model for others, who put his faith in God.*"

Andre Deputy was executed on June 23, 1994, when he was 45 years old. His last meal was fried shrimp, french fries with ketchup, flounder, corn, and apple pie.

William Flamer was executed on January 30, 1996, when he was 40 years old. Flamers last meal was fried chicken, corn, french fries with ketchup, and apple pie. His last words were "*Yes. I'd like to ask my ex-wife and Mrs. DeShields* [granddaughter of the Smiths'] *to find in their hearts to forgive me. Understand, we're all in pain and we all suffer. I hope they can find that love again, that they will understand and one day be able to forgive me. To my brother inmates, seek God. God is the only one who sees. Through the grace of God*."

## Victims

 Alberta Smith
 Byard Smith

## References

1. ↑ Andre Stanley Deputy
2. ↑ DELAWARE EXECUTES MAN WHO KILLED AUNT, UNCLE
3. ↑ WILLIAM H. FLAMER v. STATE OF DELAWARE - Murderpedia
4. ↑ Delaware Executes a Killer of 2
5. ↑ William Henry Flamer died by injection for the killing of his aunt and uncle, Byard & Alberta Smith