Females on Death Row
Only a handful of females are currently awaiting execution in the United States. Texas accounts for many of them. While their stories may be different, certain similarities exist. This article looks at the stories of two women born in the same year, in the same state, both of whom ended up with the same fate- awaiting execution on death row.
Brittany Marlowe Holberg was born in Potter County, Texas on January 7, 1973. Brittany did not complete high school, although she did complete her junior year. Prior to her conviction and incarceration, she was a common laborer.
A slender female of medium build, Brittany was no stranger to crime. Earlier in 1996, before the murder was committed, she had been in trouble with the law due to substance abuse. After completion of a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Program, she was released in September of 1996.
On November 13, 1996, an 80-year old white male was stabbed almost sixty times in his home in Randall County, Texas, after being struck with a hammer. The crime was a violent one. Several weapons were used during the commission of the crime, including a hammer, a paring knife, a grapefruit knife, a butcher knife, and a fork. A lamp pole was shoved partially down the man’s throat. The crime was violent.
There were no co-defendants in this trial. Brittany Marlowe Holberg was convicted for the heinous crime on March 27, 1998. At the age of 25, Brittany was sentenced to death row for the murder of the 80-year old white male. Now, at the age of 33, she is currently awaiting fulfillment of her sentence as one of the inmates on death row in Texas..
Erica Yvonne Sheppard, an African-American, was born on September 1, 1973 in Bay City, Texas. She completed high school and had no prior prison record. At the age of 19, Sheppard was already the mother of three young children. She was an unemployed, battered woman.
On June 30, 1993, Erica Sheppard and James Dickerson, both 19 years old at the time, plotted to steal a car to drive to Bay City to visit friends. They looked for possible victims outside of the apartment complex where they were staying with Erica’s older brother, Jonathon. They saw Marilyn Sage Meagher, a 43-year-old Caucasian mother of two, transferring packages from her black Mazda 626.
Seeing that she had left her apartment open, they snuck inside and waited for her. When Meagher refused their demand to turn over her car keys, the robbery turned violent. Dickerson demanded that Sheppard find a butcher knife, which she did. After stabbing Meagher 5 times, he bludgeoned her with a 10-pound statue as Sheppard held her down, despite the woman’s pleas for mercy.
Sheppard admitted to the police that she was there for the crime and did nothing to prevent it, but did not stab or beat the woman. One of Meagher’s daughters found her body. An acquaintance of Sheppard provided police with the information that led them to Sheppard and Dickerson.
Erica Sheppard’s court appointed lawyers did a less than stellar job of representing her. She was convicted of murder and robbery and sentenced to death row on April 25, 1995. While in prison, Erica found the Lord and laments being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At one time gave up her fight for her life and a new sentence.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson visited Erica shortly before she was scheduled to die and infused her with a new zest for life. A new team of lawyers was assembled and the fight for Erica’s life was renewed. Erica Yvonne Sheppard is 32 years old and is currently one of the females on death row.
