BELLEFONTAINE — Before they arrived at the Logan County Common Pleas Court Thursday, relatives of Tiffany Brown and Richard and Gladis Russell knew Samuel Littleton II would be sentenced to life in prison for murdering the trio.
However, they may never know why Littleton in February fatally stabbed Brown, who would have turned 27 years old today. Nor will they know why Littleton entered the Russells’ home, strangled the elderly couple and dumped their bodies in Tennessee and Georgia before eventually fleeing to West Virginia, where he was arrested after a nationwide manhunt.
Littleton, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts each of aggravated murder and gross abuse of a corpse. While his hands trembled violently throughout a hearing, Littleton never addressed the families, or explained his actions to authorities.
Prosecutors were planning to seek the death penalty, but after consulting with the victims’ families, a plea agreement was reached in which Littleton will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.
Several relatives said while Littleton deserved the death penalty, it would have been difficult to wait through an appeals process that can sometimes take as many as 20 years.
“Make no mistake, Mr. Littleton, sparing your life was not our first choice,” said Jim Hall, a nephew of Richard Russell. “You robbed us of three beautiful souls.”
Eric Stewart, chief assistant Logan County prosecutor, recounted the series of events that led to Thursday’s sentencing. On Feb. 11, Tiffany Brown dropped her two young children off at the home of a neighbor. But she never returned, and authorities began to investigate her disappearance.
Stewart said Littleton became a suspect several days later, after authorities discovered he had sent Brown several text messages asking her to visit him to discuss a Valentine’s Day present he had supposedly purchased for Brown’s mother.
Her last text message was a reply that simply said, “OK. I’ll be there in 10.”
Deborah Neeley, Brown’s mother, said she believes Littleton murdered her daughter in an effort to steal a tax refund, although he never got the money. Neeley and Littleton were dating, and they shared the home where Brown’s body was discovered.
On Feb. 16, deputies found Littleton’s truck abandoned on a rural Logan County road with his cell phone and keys still in the vehicle. It was found not far from the home of the Russells, who had sold a home to Littleton in 2009.
Littleton later admitted to strangling Gladis Russell in the garage of her home, then strangling and stabbing her husband, Richard. Authorities believe he killed the couple, both of whom were 80 years old, in order to steal their vehicle and flee the state. Their bodies were found weeks later in Georgia and Tennessee, respectively.
Stewart said Brown’s body was discovered under a pile of scrap wood in the basement of Neely and Littleton’s home. Brown had been stabbed multiple times, and a bloody palm print that was later linked to Littleton was found on her clothes.
“When I saw her, I felt rage and anger, and I thought how could anyone do that to another person,” Stewart said.
Littleton was eventually found after the Russells’ car was located in West Virginia, where Littleton has relatives.
Stewart said Littleton ran when he was found, hoping authorities would shoot and kill him.
“He wanted the easy way out but he was wrong,” Stewart said.
The key to the Russells’ car was found in Littleton’s pocket, Stewart said.
Littleton never told authorities why he killed Tiffany Brown and the Russells. Stewart said when asked, Littleton always answered that he didn’t know why he killed them, or he couldn’t remember. Littleton also did not speak at the hearing Thursday.
However, relatives of both Tiffany Brown and the Russells wanted Littleton to know exactly what he took from them for the rest of his life.
Larry Brown, Tiffany’s father, said his daughter was going to school and working to provide a better life for her two young children.
“As a family, we are all finding out the day-to-day things Tiffany did for her boys is a lot of work and it’s taking the whole family to come together to get it done,” Larry Brown said.
Jim Hall, Richard Russell’s nephew, said Richard had serious health problems, and was not capable of defending himself against Littleton.
“I ask that every time a door slams behind you in that prison, you’re reminded of the three lives that you took,” Hall said.
Catheryn Whitmore, a niece of Gladis Russell, read an anonymous poem that had been sent to the family about the murders. Gladis was a great-aunt and had 17 nieces and nephews who will never get the chance to see her again, Whitmore said.
“No one can replace her in our lives,” she said.
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