Blair v. State

Shannon Eliga Blair was convicted of felony murder and arson arising out of the stabbing death of Bobby Payton.1 Finding no reversible error by the trial court, we affirm.

1. The jury was authorized to find that Blair had worked for the victim at a sandwich shop for four years and had engaged in occasional sexual acts with the victim over that four year period. On the day of the crimes, Blair, who was twenty years old, entered Payton’s trailer home, to which he had the key, and woke the sleeping victim. They argued and the victim told Blair, “I don’t want you no more.” Blair initially left the home then returned to the kitchen where the victim advanced on Blair while “looking mean at me, angry.” Blair grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed the victim 37 times, 23 in the back. Blair then set fire to the body and the trailer, burning himself in the process. Clothing items found in an area from which Blair was seen leaving had blood from the victim and a hair matching Blair’s. In several voluntary statements Blair made to police, he stated that he loved the victim and did not indicate that their relationship was not consensual. There was evidence that Blair was a gambler, that the victim had helped Blair with his gambling debts before, and that Blair was the exclusive beneficiary of the victim’s life insurance.