A Man Who Twice Avoided Execution Has Died
Darryl T. Kemp, 88, died of natural causes on Saturday at the California Medical Facility in Solano County, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
A Convicted Killer with a Complicated History
Kemp was one of more than 600 inmates in the California penal system who were sentenced to death but were instead made to wait out their natural life after the state put a permanent freeze on prison executions.
The First Conviction and Sentence to Death
In 1960, Kemp was found guilty of killing and raping Los Angeles nurse Marjorie Hipperson. He was sentenced to death following that trial, and waited execution for the next decade.
The Supreme Court Intervenes
However, in 1972, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional, and Kemp’s sentence was modified to life with the possibility of parole.
The Second Conviction and Sentence to Death
In 2009, Kemp was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1978 rape and killing of 40-year-old Armida Wiltsey at a reservoir in Contra Costa County. He was sentenced to death, but his defense attorneys argued that he suffered from mental illness that compelled him to rape, and that the killings were the accidental result of sexual assaults in which he restricted his victim’s airflow.
A Life Spent in Prison
Kemp spent decades in prison, first serving his sentence for the Hipperson murder, and then being released on parole in 1978. However, he was soon arrested again for the Wiltsey murder and was sentenced to death.
Death Row and Beyond
Despite being sentenced to death twice, Kemp’s sentence was never carried out. Instead, he spent the rest of his life on death row, where he was one of the oldest inmates.
Conclusion
Darryl T. Kemp’s case is a complex and tragic one, marked by multiple convictions, sentences, and appeals. His death at the age of 88 brings a sense of closure to a life spent in and out of prison, but it also raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
FAQs
Q: How many inmates are currently on death row in California?
A: There are currently 611 remaining inmates on death row in California.
Q: Why was Darryl T. Kemp’s sentence to death never carried out?
A: Kemp’s sentence to death was never carried out due to the state’s permanent freeze on prison executions, which was implemented in 2019.
Q: What was the motive behind Darryl T. Kemp’s crimes?
A: According to his defense attorneys, Kemp suffered from mental illness that compelled him to rape, and the killings were the accidental result of sexual assaults in which he restricted his victim’s airflow.
