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Samuels v. State

An officer's suggestion that he might, at some point, be willing to talk to the district attorney about the defendant's situation, did not constitute a reward of a lighter sentence and did not taint the voluntariness of the defendant's custodial statement.

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Dannie Lee Samuels, Jr. was convicted of malice murder, rape, and related offenses in connection with the beating and strangulation death of Barbara Hefner, his supervisor at work.1 Samuels appeals from the denial of his motion for new trial, asserting that the trial court erred in admitting his custodial statement into evidence. Finding no error, we affirm. After the victim failed to show up for a prearranged appointment with a friend, police were called to her residence. They found the victim’s bedroom in disarray and blood stains present on the floor, bedding and items of her clothing. The victim’s body was found later that day partially submerged in a local lake. The cause of death was manual strangulation along with blunt force trauma to the head, chest and extremities. Forensic evidence also established vaginal and anal injuries consistent with forcible and violent penetration.

Vaginal swabs taken from the body were tested for DNA and the results were run through the DNA computer index system. When a match for Samuels’ DNA was found, he was arrested and taken to the GBI office. After receiving Miranda warnings, Samuels executed a waiver of rights and agreed to speak with the investigating officers. He subsequently confessed that he raped and killed the victim, dragged her body from her home, and left it at the lake.

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