Opinion ID: 1285745
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Audrey Spain Murder

Text: In June 1993, Audrey Spain, age twenty-four, lived in an apartment in Charlotte. On 23 June 1993, Spain was to report to work at 6:30 p.m. at a Taco Bell restaurant on Wendover Road. Spain did not show up for work. Mark Lawrence, Spain's manager, thought it was unusual for Spain not to come to work, so he drove by Spain's apartment that evening. Lawrence saw Spain's car in the parking lot. Lawrence then called Spain and left a message on her answering machine. The next morning, 24 June 1993, Lawrence rode by Spain's apartment and again saw her car in the lot. Lawrence called Spain's sister and left a message to express his concern. Spain did not show up for work that evening. Spain's sister never returned Lawrence's call, so Lawrence called 911. Thereafter, officers periodically rode by the apartment and knocked on the door, but got no response. On 25 June 1993, maintenance personnel from the apartment complex entered the apartment through a sliding glass door and discovered Spain's body on the bed. Lawrence again stopped by Spain's apartment, and an officer informed Lawrence they had discovered Spain dead in her apartment. On 26 June 1993, Dr. Sullivan conducted an autopsy on Spain's body. There was a ligature made from a T-shirt and a bra around Spain's neck with the end of the T-shirt stuffed into her mouth. After removing the ligature, Dr. Sullivan discovered a furrow, or mark, left by the ligature. Dr. Sullivan also observed hemorrhages in the conjunctiva, on the skin of the face, in the voice box, and in the muscles in the front of the neck, as well as minor blunt-trauma injuries, including a small facial abrasion, small linear abrasions on her right back and on the knee, and a small contusion over the right hip. Dr. Sullivan opined that the cause of death was strangulation. Defendant confessed that he went to Spain's house and that they smoked marijuana together. Defendant admitted that his motive for visiting Spain was robbery. He stated that he put Spain in a choke hold in her living room and inquired about the combination for the safe at her workplace, but she said she did not know the combination. Defendant also asked about money in her personal bank account, but she said she did not have any money because she had just returned from a vacation. Defendant said he did not remember asking Spain to remove her clothes. Spain begged defendant not to hurt her, but defendant maintained the choke hold until Spain passed out. Defendant then dragged Spain into her bedroom and had intercourse with her. Afterwards, defendant took Spain into the bathroom, where he put her into the shower to wash off any evidence. Defendant placed Spain into her bed and tied a T-shirt and bra around her neck. Before leaving, defendant took Spain's keys and Visa credit card. He used the Visa card to purchase gas. Defendant returned to Spain's apartment to make phone calls so it would seem as though she had not died on the day defendant killed her.