A History of Violence: The Dark and Brutal Life of Raymond Eugene Brown
In late 1986, a young single mother gave ex-con Raymond Eugene Brown a second chance. Tragically, this decision would have fatal consequences
Background
On the 10th of August 1987, in the working-class town of Ensley, Alabama, a horrific double homicide rocked the community and captured the nation's focus.
A young mother and her 10-year-old daughter were viciously assaulted and brutally murdered in their home; the crime was a true life nightmare. As authorities worked to unravel the events, their pursuit led them to a man with a troubled history marked by darkness and violence.
Crime Scene
When police reached the LeMonte residence on the morning of August 10, they were met with a horrific sight: Linda's lifeless body lay in the hallway close to the kitchen; she had been stabbed multiple times and bore defensive wounds, suggesting a fierce fight for survival had taken place before her demise.
She had been stabbed and sliced viciously in her back, abdomen, genitals, neck, and other areas.
In another bedroom lay the body of Linda’s 10-year-old daughter, Sheila Smoke. Sheila had been sexually assaulted and stabbed numerous times. The killer left the murder weapon, a large kitchen knife in Sheila’s body.
After the murders, the killer performed some strange rituals before leaving the scene. He took a Polaroid photograph of Linda’s body, which he then taped to the television. He then scattered a deck of playing cards around the bodies before taking two pieces of paper and writing “me” on them.
Linda’s 6-year-old son Aaron was also in the home that night but was left unharmed. When friends and family were unable to reach Linda, her parents went to Linda’s home, where they made the horrific discovery.
Residents in the area had heard screams during the night but had not connected them to any criminal activity at first. Investigators interviewed neighbors to gather information on events they might have witnessed or heard.
Suspect
Investigators also interviewed Linda’s ex-husband, David, who indicated to police that there was a man at Linda’s house when David arrived to drop off Aaron on the night of the killings.
The man was later identified as 41-year-old Raymond Eugene Brown. It was then learned that Brown had been seeing Linda romantically shortly after his release from prison for convictions stemming from the rape and attempted murder of his apartment manager.
Reportedly, Brown had toned down his normally aggressive behavior when he was seeing Linda and had seemingly gained her trust.
A Dark Past
Raymond Eugene Brown was born in Ashland, Alabama, on the 11th of January, 1946; his childhood was relatively stable and unremarkable. He had friends and played for his high school’s junior varsity football team.
However, on October 1, 1960, the trajectory of Brown’s life changed forever when the 14-year-old committed an unthinkable act of violence.
That night, Brown snuck into a home that was shared by three of his relatives. His 31-year-old aunt Berta Mae Martin, his 63-year-old grandmother Ethel Ogle, and his 82-year-old great-grandmother Everlena Ogle.
Brown had broken in intending to steal money to buy new football cleats. However, when his aunt was awoken, she confronted Brown, and he viciously stabbed her more than one hundred times.
Now intending to conceal his deed, Brown entered the bedroom of his grandmother and great-grandmother and stabbed them both to death.
The bodies were later discovered by Brown’s mother, who informed the police. A key piece of evidence was several bloody heel prints, which were later matched to Brown. Also, after interviewing several of Brown’s classmates, police learned that Brown had planned to visit his aunt on the night of the murders.
Brown was then arrested and subsequently confessed to the murders.
Trial and Imprisonment
Brown’s attorneys petitioned the court to have him tried as a juvenile; they also attempted to portray their client as mentally unwell and not in control of his faculties. However, he was ruled fit to stand trial as an adult.
Though he now faced a possible death sentence, he was ultimately convicted and received three life sentences.
For his part, Brown became a model prisoner and participated in many prison programs to develop marketable trade skills. Due to this, he was eventually paroled in 1973. Soon after his release, Brown moved to Montgomery, where he rented an apartment and took a job in an auto shop.
By the late 1970s, Brown had developed a drinking problem, which led to him being sexually aggressive towards women.
Then in 1980, Brown was convicted for the violent assault and rape of his apartment manager. Shortly after being paroled in June 1986, Brown became involved with Linda LeMonte.
Fugitive
By now, Raymond Brown was the prime suspect in the murders of Linda and Sheila. Along with his fishing rod and some groceries, Brown made his way to a secluded area near the Jordan Lake, north of Montgomery.
At the same time, the Sheriff’s Department was actively searching for the fugitive. Then, on August 12, Brown walked into a gas station convenience store to purchase cigarettes. The clerks noticed his dirty appearance and contacted authorities.
Brown was apprehended that same day without a struggle.
Conviction
Brown's trial for the murders of Linda and Sheila commenced in 1988. The case quickly became highly publicized.
The defense tried to argue that Brown was mentally unwell and couldn't recall the murders due to the amnesia he claimed to have had. However, psychological evaluations showed that although Brown displayed symptoms of antisocial personality disorder, he was conscious of his actions when the killings took place.
The jury found Brown guilty and recommended a sentence of death for the gruesome nature of the crimes committed, as stated by the judge.
In the years after his conviction, Brown and his lawyers appealed his conviction and sentence on various grounds, claiming procedural mistakes or questioning his mental condition.
These legal challenges postponed his execution but failed to reverse his guilty verdict or punishment. The courts repeatedly upheld the decision, validating the evidence presented and the seriousness of Brown's deeds.
However, before his sentence could be carried out, Raymond Brown died on Alabama’s death row in 2008.
Sources:
Keller, R. (2022). Serial Killers: Raymond Brown. Retrieved from https://www.robertkellerauthor.com
.Justia Law. (1990). Brown v. State. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/alabama/court-of-appeals-criminal/
Bloody hell, truly dangerous. Seems most of his life was shut up. No understanding of compassion or love.
What made a 14 year old so desperate.
Parole boards make incredibly difficult decisions all the time. I would like to think that, mostly, those decisions are fair and correct. Infallibility is the gift of hindsight.