John A. Brown, Jr.

John Ashley Brown, Jr. (died April 24, 1997) was an American murderer. He was tried and executed in Louisiana for the murder of Omer Laughlin.

Crime

In an A&E special about Louisiana State Peniteniary entitled "The Farm," Brown stated that, on the night of the murder, September 7th, 1984, he had run out of cocaine and wanted money to purchase more of the drug. Laughlin and his wife had eaten dinner at a restaurant near the corner of Dauphine and Touro Streets in New Orleans. At approximately 11:45 p.m., they left the restaurant and began walking to their car, which was located about a block away. Brown stepped out of a nearby vehicle and confronted the Laughlins. He pinned them against their car, and demanded money from Omer Laughlin. His wife screamed and ran back towards the restaurant. When she returned a short time later, her husband was dead. According to a New Orleans police officer who had arrived at the location, the victim was found lying "face down in the street, bleeding profusely". An autopsy later revealed that Laughlin had been stabbed thirteen times. His wife provided the police with a description of the perpetrator and the vehicle which she had seen him get out of prior to the attack. She also told police that a woman with dark hair had been driving that car.

Arrest

Louisiana State Penitentiary, where Brown was confined and executed

Sergeant James Scott of the New Orleans Police Department was stopped at a traffic light on Franklin Avenue when he heard the description of the crime and Brown being broadcast over the police radio. He looked to his left and saw Brown sitting in a vehicle that matched the description given by Laughlin's wife. A woman, Anna Hardeman, was at the wheel of the car. Brown’s vehicle pulled into a nearby service station, and Scott followed, believing that the people in the car might be the suspects being sought. He watched as Hardeman put gasoline in the car while Brown walked over to a water hose and began washing his hands. Brown then re-entered the car.

Scott approached the vehicle and ordered Brown to step out and place his hands on the hood of the car. When Brown did so, the police officer observed scratches, marks, and droplets of blood on Brown's forearms. He also observed blood between Brown’s toes, which were visible through the sandals that he was wearing. In plain view on the floor of the car was a New Orleans shopper's card which belonged to the Laughlins.

Brown was arrested and taken into custody. A search of the vehicle pursuant to routine police procedure yielded Laughlin's wallet. A second search pursuant to a properly secured warrant led to the discovery of a Bowie knife which had been concealed underneath the front seat of the car on the passenger side. Laughlin's wife positively identified Brown from lineup photographs as the man who had attacked her husband.

Trial

Brown was indicted by the Orleans Parish Grand Jury for the first degree murder of Omer Laughlin. The jury convicted Brown of first degree murder following the guilt phase of a bifurcated trial. After a sentencing hearing, the jury unanimously recommended the imposition of the death penalty. Judge Patrick Quinlan sentenced Brown to death.

Anna Hardeman, the driver of the vehicle in which Brown was riding at the time of his arrest, was also indicted for first degree murder. Although she was originally charged in the same bill of indictment that named Brown as a defendant, the prosecution severed the charges against her on the date that the case was called to trial, and announced that she would be tried separately. Shortly after Brown was convicted and sentenced to death, Hardeman pleaded guilty to the amended charge of accessory after the fact to first degree murder, and was sentenced to five years imprisonment at hard labor.

Execution

On April 24, 1997, Brown was put to death by lethal injection at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. His final words were: "Let my baby sister know I love her and the rest of my family, for supporting me. I love you very much. I'm ready to go now."

As he felt the lethal drugs enter his system, Brown stated, "Wow!"

Sources

• State v. Brown, 514 So.2d 99 (Louisiana, October 19, 1987).
• http://www.burkfoster.com/AnyLastWords.htm