State of West Virginia v. Jesse Lee Heater

Davis, Justice:

Petitioner, Jesse Lee Heater (“Mr. Heater”), was convicted in the Circuit Court of Upshur County of murder in the first degree; conspiracy to commit murder; concealment of a deceased human body; and conspiracy to conceal a deceased human body. The jury did not add a recommendation of mercy to "its verdict. Accordingly, Mr. Heater was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole, as well as three one-to-five year terms of imprisonment, all terms set to ran consecutively.

On appeal, Mr. Heater raises three assignments of error. First, he alleges that he was denied…