Roosevelt Abernathy murder of Terri (Sue) Bradley

Roosevelt Abernathy broke into a Little Rock home in May 1981 and shot Terri Sue Bradley twice in the head while she slept, killing her.

Bradley had previously charged Abernathy with rape. He was 23 years old at the time of the killing.

Evidence presented at trial showed Abernathy went to Bradley’s residence with the intent to kill her or cause serious bodily harm. He entered the home, shot her as she slept, and fled the scene.

In a separate but related incident, Abernathy also shot Janice Martin, his former girlfriend and a prospective witness in the rape case involving Bradley. Martin survived and later testified for the prosecution. Abernathy faced first-degree battery charges for that shooting.

Authorities later arrested Abernathy in Chicago, where he was held on a fugitive warrant before being returned to Arkansas.

Prosecutors initially charged Abernathy with first-degree murder, then upgraded the case to capital murder. On June 16, 1982, a Pulaski County jury found him guilty of capital murder and first-degree battery.

Jurors sentenced Abernathy to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The state sought the death penalty, but the jury returned a life-without-parole sentence after deliberation.

Abernathy entered the Arkansas prison system on February 18, 1982, and is currently housed at the Varner Unit in Gould. Now 67, he remains incarcerated under a life without parole sentence. He has a few disciplinary actions related to contraband and under the influence.