Chapman v. State

Hines, Justice.

Damien Chapman and Reginald Murphy appeal their convictions for felony murder, in connection with the death of Jannel Sanders. For the reasons that follow, we reverse.

The police found Sanders, Chapman’s mother, in her apartment, dead of asphyxiation. She had been missing for several days. Her body was in the closet of the master bedroom, wrapped in a sheet, and dressed in a nightgown. Her head was wrapped in a plastic bag taped to her neck; another plastic bag was outside that, unsecured. Layers of packing tape covered her head from her eyes to her lips. Her arms and legs were…