One of MDPDs Greatest ... from MDPD to Serial Killer

[Unregistered]

David Stephen MIDDLETON

Classification: Murderer

Characteristics: Convicted rapist - Former Miami-Dade police officer

Number of victims: 2 +

Date of murders: August 7, 1994 / February 3, 1995

Date of birth: June 25, 1961

Victims profile: Thelma Davila, 42 (employee at Circus Circus) / Katherine Powell, 45 (elementary school teacher)

Method of murder: Suffocation

Location: Washoe County, Nevada, USA

Status: Sentenced to death on September 15, 1997

Nevada - December 16, 1997

After a trial and an estimated $400,000 in defense costs, ex-Miami-Dade Cop, David Middleton is on Nevada's death row for the murder of 2 women, and unless he wins a new trial or sentencing hearing on he will not be a defendant again in Washoe County.

Focus now shifts to Colorado, where the parents of a teenager Middleton is suspectd of killing in 1993 have moved ahead with plans to sue the police department. The investigation into Buffy Rice Donohue's death continues, but the district attorney will not comment on the chances of charges being filed against Middleton there.

Middleton was found guilty in September, in Reno, Nev., of the murders of Katherine Powell of Reno, an elementary school teacher, and Thelma Davila of Sparks, an employee at Circus Circus.

Middleton kidnapped Powell from her home in Feb. 1995 and about a week later put her dead body in a trash bin near Virginia Lake.

Davila disappeared from her Sparks apartment in August 1994 and was found in April 1995.

The Washoe County Comptroller's Office reported that the county paid $292,005.90 to the 2 court-appointed lawyers who represented Middleton at trial, but that does not include the time and money the Washoe County Public Defender's Office spent before it was removed from the Middleton case because of a conflict of interest.

Public defender Mike Specchio said his office had only $5,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, but he added that his staff put an estimated 3,500 hours into the case before it was removed. Specchio estimated that was about $105,000 in salaries.

Assistant District Attorney John Helzler could trace $46,000 in overtime costs, laboratory costs and expert-witness fees to the Middleton trial; that does not include regualr staff salaries.

And the county also spent $12,804 in juror fees for prospective jurors and the jurors actually selected, plus $450 for 3 meals for the jury while they deliberated.

That puts the price for justice--at least those costs that could be determined--at $461,260.

Jeff Powell, brother of the slain elementary school teacher, is a Southern California architect, and he traveled to Reno frequently before Middleton went on trial and stayed there through the trial; the trial postponements and the trial cost him customers.

Powell added that "it will be years before I recover from this. At the moment, I am treading water with my head just above the surface. I am in massive debt. I am getting just enough to make monthly payments...It will be a long time before I get back to where I was. But at least David Middleton is in prison and will stay there."

Nevada Supreme Court Upholds Former Police Officer's Death Sentence

Jun 17, 2009

CARSON CITY, Nev. - A former police officer's death sentence for murdering an elementary school teacher in Reno and a casino worker in Sparks was upheld Wednesday by the Nevada Supreme Court.

The high court ruled against David Middleton, a one-time Miami-Dade police officer, who claimed his constitutional due process rights were violated in his 1997 trial for the murders of Sun Valley teacher Katherine Powell and Circus Circus Reno employee Thelma Amparo Davila.

Middleton had argued that he should have had a competency hearing, and also had ineffective legal counsel. He also said his death sentence should be erased in line with the high court's 2004 McConnell decision.

In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of inmate Robert McConnell, holding that a defendant can't be convicted of first-degree murder using a particular circumstance, such as a killing that occurred during a robbery, and then have robbery used again as an aggravating circumstance in the penalty phase of a trial.

While one of several felony aggravators against Middleton was erased by the high court in each case, justices said others were still valid, including his previous felony convictions involving violence, his convictions for more than one murder, and the torture of Powell.



Death sentence upheld in Reno, Sparks slayings

By Brendan Riley - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Jun. 18, 2009

CARSON CITY -- A former police officer's death sentence for murdering an elementary school teacher in Reno and a casino worker in Sparks was upheld Wednesday by the Nevada Supreme Court.

The high court ruled against David Middleton, a one-time Miami-Dade police officer, who claimed his constitutional due process rights were violated in his 1997 trial for the murders of Sun Valley teacher Katherine Powell and Circus Circus Reno employee Thelma Amparo Davila.

In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of inmate Robert McConnell, holding that a defendant can't be convicted of first-degree murder using a particular circumstance, such as a killing that occurred during a robbery, and then have robbery used again as an aggravating circumstance, or aggravator, in the penalty phase of a trial.

While one of several felony aggravators was erased by the high court in each case, justices said the others were still valid, including Middleton's previous felony convictions involving violence, his convictions for more than one murder, and the torture of Powell.

"The remaining aggravators in this case are compelling," the court said, adding Middleton had a history of violence and his torture of Powell, who was bitten, shocked by a stun gun and forced into a refrigerator where she suffocated, "was nothing less than sadistic."

Even with one of the aggravators gone, "the jury would have imposed death for each murder," the court said.

During his trial, Middleton was characterized by prosecutors as a sadist who liked rough sex. Investigators searching his storage unit found restraint devices, sex toys and a refrigerator that they believe held Powell.

Powell, 45, disappeared from her Reno home in February 1995. Her bound and wrapped body was found about a week later by a transient rummaging through a trash bin near Virginia Lake.

Davila was 42 when she disappeared from her Sparks apartment in August 1994. Her body, wrapped in plastic and bound with robe, was found near Verdi in April 1995.

[Unregistered]

OH NOOOOOOO

Say it isn't true. . . . . . . .he b black. . . . . . . .what a surprise ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[Unregistered]

So much for MDPD's psychological and polygraph "screening processes!"

http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...vada-Death-Row

[Unregistered]

So much for MDPD's psychological and polygraph "screening processes!"

http://www.cncpunishment.com/forums/...vada-Death-Row

The psychological is easy test...

[Unregistered]

It looks like he was fired in 1990. He was employed by MDPD from 1982 to 1990.

[jwjeffrey]

OH NOOOOOOO

Say it isn't true. . . . . . . .he b black. . . . . . . .what a surprise ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

As compare to how many White serial killers serving life,my my!

[Unregistered]

As compare to how many White serial killers serving life,my my!

True most serial killers are white most killers period black estrapulate data based on population OMG

[Unregistered]

It looks like he was fired in 1990. He was employed by MDPD from 1982 to 1990.

He was canned.

Miami-Dade Police Department
Class:
Law Enforcement
Type:
Full-Time
Start Date:
6/18/1982
Separation:
(Separated on 10/10/1990) Administrative - Unfavorable (Historical Use Only)

[Unregistered]

Biggest serial killer was Nanney and his boys they shot dozens !

[Unregistered]

Biggest serial killer was Nanney and his boys they shot dozens !

Wtf nanney was one of few pro cop big brass