News 12 at 6 o'clock / Saturday, August 28, 2010

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The District Attorney's office says they have decided to seek the death penalty in two recent murder cases.Tony Grubbs is charged with killing Ralph and Trudy Gordon from Waynesboro. Clinton Shelton is charged with killing Benny Tidwell at a pawnshop back in April.

In addition to ethical arguments, some people object to the death penalty because the court processes alone cost millions of dollars every year. But others say this is the justice they've been waiting for.

Ms. Dannie Dagget says she's been following the pawn shop murder closely. She and the victim Bennie Tidwell worked next door to each other for years. "Mr. Tidwell would come over here to get a notary or to get some flowers, and we became friends. I began to shop over there a little bit."

She says things have just not been the same since "Mo Money" shut its' doors. "The family has closed down the pawn shop since so now it's vacant. And it's desolate out here almost...It's too different. It's changed too much."

The District Attorney's office says they will argue the death penalty for Clinton Shelton, the man accused of shooting Tidwell. Tony Grubbs will also be facing lethal injection if convicted of murdering Waynesboro couple Trudi and Ralph Gordon in June. Ms. Dannie believes that's fair justice. "No, I'm not surprised, I'm glad they're getting stricter... they need to because people are afraid."

The Department of Corrections says Georgia has one of the longest lists of death row inmates in the country: 101 men and one woman are awaiting lethal injection right now.

Opponents of the death penalty point out that these cases cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars annually, and in Georgia it's almost entirely local taxes, not state funds, that foot those court bills. "I think he should have been over with by now because tax payer's money is paying to keep him in [jail]... because they're entitled to appeals and appeals and appeals."

Death row cases can cost more than $2.6 million dollars more than convictions seeking life in prison, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The Department of Corrections adds that more than half (64%) Of Georgia death row inmates have been sitting in prison for at least ten years already.

Ms. Dannie says despite the cost, seeing justice served eye for eye is worth it. She hopes these harsh penalties will help curb crime in their area. "Mr. Tidwell's death wasn't for nothing. Even in his dying he helped the community on his way out."

Some research shows one appeals trial in a death penalty case can cost $125,000. Reports indicate 70 to 80 percent of people support the death penalty.

The D.A.'s office says there's four other cases right now: In Columbia county, Christopher Bowers and Rebecca Sears, a mother and son accused of murdering their neighbor, are awaiting trial. Kelvin Johnson is accused of killing Martha Greene during a home invasion last August.They're also seeking the death penalty for Adrian Hargrove in connection to a triple murder two years ago. Lacy Barnard is accused of being involved with the murder of Eladio Gonzalez in 2007. She, too could get the death penalty if a jury votes unanimously.