'Xbox Killers' get death

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 22nd 2006 at 4:55PM }

Jerone Hunter, 20, and Troy Victorino, 29, were sentenced to death yesterday in the murders of six people in 2004. The killings occurred after Victorino, who was kicked out of a house that he'd been squatting in, returned with Hunter to retrieve his Xbox and other belongings -- but the mainstream media mostly picked up on the Xbox stuff.

The murders were vicious, with blood being found on the floors, ceilings and walls. The victims were not only bludgeoned to death, but were mutilated after.

In related blame-it-on-video-games news, last week 25-year-old Tyrone Spellman (pictured) killed his daughter after she yanked the cords on the console he was playing. According to Mia Turman, the dead child's mother, "the system - the box itself - fell" so he "hit her in the face twice." Turman also says that Spellman "slung" the child over a chair.

Turman is currently eight-months pregnant with Spellman's second child.

Tags: game killings, game violence, GameKillings, GameViolence, justice, video game murder, VideoGameMurder

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

BYAHHH! @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:03PM

I remember the first or second generation Xbox consoles would always have death warnings in the instruction manual. Never really thought (besides joking) that it would literally kill someone. Funny but yet so very very very sad. =(

Jay @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:02PM

I mentioned this elsewhere, but ...

A guy I know cleaned up the crime site -- it was brutal, worst he'd seen. He mentioned the blood on the ceiling, also (he had to take pics of everything). They even killed the dog.

It's too bad this is being associated with gamers. I mean, if the guy was a real gamer, he wouldn't have left his Xbox behind in the first place.

Scythe @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:09PM

People like this shouldn't be allowed to breed children.

HotShotX @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:07PM

What, no credit? I've been trying to send this article into you guys for a while now. I assume the Hotmail account when through, but damned if I kept getting Daemon errors when trying to use my Florida Tech (@fit.edu) address.

Fix that.

~HotShotX

Thrall @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:09PM

Yay for PC Gamers. Only idiots with no school or education who play consoles all day would do this. PC gamers tend to be smarter and geekier, and actually like to learn.

Down with consoles.

JodyAnthony @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:09PM

I find the second story to be worse than the first. it was a fucking child, for christ sakes

Jay @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:10PM

PC gamers are the one's they always catch online as pedophiles :P

JodyAnthony @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:10PM

thrall's comment was the most asinine thing I have ever read on this site.

ejflex @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:13PM

Jerone.. tyrone... fill in blanks ______, _______, ______.

Mouths of Babes @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:16PM

They should never mention consoles by name in situations like these, they should just say "a video game" or something. It makes it seem like both situations had to do with a console when it really had to do with some people that have anger problems.

BPM? @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:17PM

It's sad, really, what these people have done. While I don't think video games are the reason for what people do (we all have the free will to do what we choose), the media's bias against video games will always paint it as such.

Something has to be wrong with a person's mind in the first place for them to get the idea that killing is okay. Playing GTA or whatever for a few hours or days won't do that. But the surroundings you've been raised in will.

Jack Thompson to post in 3... 2... 1...

pandlcg @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:18PM

To Jerone Hunter Troy Victorino and Tryone Spellman,

I hate you.

Jay @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:25PM

Death? so glad I live in a county that considers that barbaric, and the law attempts to position themselves above murderers.

Still these guys are utter scum. Locking away and throwing away the key would be nice, or give them the Guantanamo treatment.

rocko @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:24PM

wooo!! thats my NBC local news station (philadelphia/tri-state area)

wooo!

Ω697 @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:26PM

No mercy for these people. How did they make it out of grade school alive?

LRV @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:29PM

I don't think I understand what you're getting at ejflex. Are you attempting to make some sort of vague racial sterotype or something? If you're trying to be a racist jackass, don't beat around the bush. I certainly hope that joystiq has the sense to remove that star I see.

Allstar @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:28PM

The death penalty is cold, "eye-for-an-eye" garbage and any jury willing to sick someone with that punishment has officially lowered themselves to the level of the killer. They have turned into killers. In a tax-payer funded, air-conditioned court of law.

And people worry about video game violence. Let's investigate the jury and the prosecution to see what made them so vengeful.

Life in prison is a far nastier punishment, anyway.

DBlock @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:39PM

LRV I see exactly what you're seeing. I also see EJFlex to be as stupid as the media is about video game consoles causing violence. It's not the race of these people that caused the incidents, it's not the video game consoles, it's beyond that and so long as people are making these superficial connections of race or video games, the world will be overlooking the true cause of these violent scenarios.

Allstar @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:44PM

Which is poverty.

Shogan @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:06PM

Well I am glad they are getting the death penalty. No need to feed them for the rest of their lives in prison. Just be done with them as quickly as possible.

greatn @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:49PM

Times like these you could really use an extra man.

Allstar @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:55PM

Shogan,

You are naive on this issue. It costs more to put someone to death than it does to keep them in prison for life. Do some research before posting ignorant, hateful comments and then maybe your comments won't be as ignorant or hateful.

hoff @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:57PM

@ Allstar: I would MUCH rather 'lower' myself and dispose of these wretched people than waste my tax dollars making sure they get 3 squares a day, better healthcare than a large number of US citizens, and the opportunity to get a free college education. People like this don't deserve the life given them, nor do they deserve sympathy from ANY of us.

Allstar @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:01PM

hoff,

See comment # 22.

Adam @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:10PM

Erm, I wish we had capital punishment in this country, having to deal with the murder of someone close.

Infact, no. Not capital punishment, too nice. Lock them up, give them a beating every day. No food, multilate them alive, push them around, don't let them ever out of a sell. And wait for them to last the most of a week before a nice painful death in a nice cold damp empty cell.

We're too nice in this country, this type of crime is just total lack of respect for anyone, utter scum.

hoff @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:13PM

Allstar, you're missing my point entirely. I don't mind using tax dollars to rid the earth of the morons. I DO however mind my tax dollars paying for them to exist. On a related note, the reason executions appear to cost more than life in prison is because of our terrible appeals process. The actual execution cost is negligible.

pukgreenuniform @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:25PM

Hey hoff death is the easy way out. Its no punishment.

cringer8 @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:19PM

With all the appeals they're sure to file, they won't be put to death anytime soon. Maybe the death penalty will be abolished by then (eight years from now).

Their crime was heinous. They showed no mercy, no humanity. Life in prison without the possibility of parole is a perfect punishment for this crime.

As for Spellman, any amount of jail time will be a death sentence for him. Child killers do not fare well in prison. If he lasts three months, I'd be surprised.

But, as was stated earlier, these killings have little to do with video games causing violence and more to do with anger control issues (and possibly some psychotic tendencies).

Hopefully, the powers that be won’t see it fit to impose a “sin tax” on video games here in the States.

RogueJedi86 @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:20PM

@#25/Adam:
The way you're talking, you want to treat them very inhumanely. I believe there are constitutional rights against cruel and unusual punishment(at least in the US). I refrain from commenting on the "Life in Prison" or Death sentence, but beating them and starving is cruel.

BPM? @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:22PM

You people disgust me...

Yes, they screwed up. Big time. But they're still people. People with families themselves. It doesn't solve anything to get revenge (which is what capital punishment is).

I should know. I'm the son of a prisoner. What he did could've gotten him the death penalty. But since he didn't resist arrest, he got a lesser sentence.
I would've been absolutely devastated if they sentenced my father to death. What he did was wrong, there's no doubt about that. However, it'd make my family miserable, too, if his life was taken away as well.

"An eye for an eye, and we'd all be blind..." Isn't that how it goes?

Regardless of what these people have done, do you want to bring more harm to their families? It's hard enough living with a killer in your family, but it's even worse to have them dead, too.

cheese @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:26PM

Riiiiiight.... Poverty caused these crimes, according to Allstar and DBlock. These "poor" fellas had enough scratch to buy a xbox, among other things. Stop making excuses for criminals just because they happen to be black like me and you, and because they chose the "easy" way out, living from paycheck to paycheck at McDonalds. What you gonna say when some white ass crackas do the same thing? Nevermind EJflex, you can't change his stupid mind. He knows that all us black people are about as smart and equally stupid as white people. Stop making excuses for stupid ass brothas. We come off sounding like a bunch of cry babies.

Jay @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:29PM

An eye for an eye, YEY FOR SHARIA LAW. Lets go cutting off hands of thieves, stoning infidels! whilst we're at it why not fly a plane into a building or 2.

I thought the US was at war with terrorists, with Sharia Law that is spurning on the threat.

cheese @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:30PM

About the life vs death sentence. Which of the two ensures that criminal will not do it again? You think putting a killer in prison, next to someone who didn't do something as bad, is a good idea? So what do you tell the family of the other guy in prison when the killer kills him? "Oh the death sentence was too harsh for my killer daddy. I much prefer the outcome of him living for years and preying on others, even in prison". Captital punishment biotch. Thin the herd.

Allstar @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:34PM

"the reason executions appear to cost more than life in prison is because of our terrible appeals process. The actual execution cost is negligible."

That "terrible" appeals process you speak of has saved many innocent people from death. Would you just prefer everyone wrongfully convicted die to save you a few "tax-dollars?" As long as there's a death penalty (and hopefully that won't be for much longer), there needs to be a VERY complex and thorough appeals process. As it is, innocent people are still getting executed. This is why it would be best (and far more cost-effective) to get rid of the death penalty all together like sane, moral and intelligent countries in the world and states in the United States already have.

pukgreenuniform @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:38PM

BPMΩ,

You are completey correct. The death penalty is murder anyway. Certain prisoners should be isolated but all should have contact with family.
Im sorry about you and your fathers situation but its good he gets to live the rest of his life.

These realy are not xbox murders. They are simply murders. The media loves being outrageous and adapting headlines to tug at viewers emotions and ignorant ideas.

Zo� K. @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:51PM

"You people disgust me...

"Yes, they screwed up. Big time. But they're still people. People with families themselves. It doesn't solve anything to get revenge (which is what capital punishment is)."

Hell yes, BPMΩ, I was just about to make mention of that.

I never have believed in capital punishment, and I'm a Texan. I think some people may deserve to die, but that sure as hell is not our call to make. Maybe it makes me pathetic, but these people, these murderers, they do have my sympathy, just as much as those they hurt do. There's obviously something wrong in their lives if they'd do something this wretched. They need help.

Maybe if we'd quit turning our backs on the problems we see in our society, we might be able to fucking assess and repair them.

LRV @ Sep 22nd 2006 6:55PM

Damn right Allstar! Thousands of guilty people being put to death does not excuse one innocent person being executed. Not to mention the fact that a dead man cannot be reformed, which ought to be the driving force behind a prison system.

robogamerx @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:06PM

the second story is absolutely disgusting.this world makes me sick some times,I mean it.
here is some food for thought,why do we have to have a license to go fishing,but not for procreation???
you have to take a test to see if u r good enough behind the wheel to get a license to drive,but there is no test or training for parenting.WTF!?!?
As a parent I cant imagine letting something so stupid piss me off to the extent that i would abuse my kids.
Im a good dad,that loves my children.assholes like that just look at their kids like a meal ticket so they can get welfare to buy themselves games,and shit.
(trust me as a POOR-ass white boy from the ghetto,ive seen these types before)
when i quit smoking pot,i was grouchy as hell for a few days my baby girl spilled yet another soda on the coffee table(my fault for leaving it where she could reach it)i did a bit of yelling ,and just generally making an ass of myself for a second as i cleaned it up.(mind you that as a victim of child abuse myself i would NEVER EVER HIT A CHILD!!!)I was so ashamed of myself for a long time.
how can those kinds of animals live w/ themselves?
I'll never know.

its time for some serious changes here in the USA,
its no mystery how corrupt our governmennt is,power corrupts,absolute power corrupts absolutely.
all they care about is lining their pockets,instead of doing the JOB they were "hired" for.
and that job is to take care of us,the citizens!
if losers like them were educated both academicly,and emotionally, shit like this wouldnt happen,but thank our abismal failure of a public school system for that.and another thing,if more "MEN" were "MEN",and they learn to accept their responsibility as loving nurturing,FATHERS, THIS COULD HAVE ALL BEEN PREVENTED IF THEIR FATHERS SET THE EXAMPLE BEFORE THEM!
blame it on those stupid selfish hippies and all of their free love bullshit.that self righteous bullshit has left a scar on society and clearly the damage is not done yet.and where are all of those old losers now,sitting in barstools,while their bastard unguided children are making news like this.shame shame shame

hoff @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:08PM

People are looking at this from a rational persons standpoint. Murderers are not rational. Disposing of a threat to your life is not murder. To quote one of my favorite books "...I have to win this now, and for all time, or I'll fight it every day and it will get worse and worse." I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. :)

vaylen @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:20PM

It's a shame these worthless killers got to outlive the xbox itself. Microsoft put a bullet in that box's head months ago.

alyx devereux @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:30PM

Those Damned Fools Did Diserve The Death Penality For What They Did,I Mean Really You Kill Someone For Any Reason,If It's In This Life Or The Next You Will Be Judged

Zo� K. @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:31PM

The ignorance almost makes me want to cry.

Silent Xenocide @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:39PM

Anybody who kills his daughter especially for knocking a console over, deserves the death penalty.

robogamerx @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:47PM

and another thing,at the end of my block is a huge max security prison with a regular see-thru fence,yep thats right no privacy fence,or preferably a wall.
and would you believe those inmates are outside all day long PLAYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THATS RIGHT PRISON IS HELL!!!
they dont work,all they do is play ball games and hop-scotch and tag,like its a damn playground.
no bills to worry about,a valid excuse for abandoning their children,like the sleeze-bags that fathered them did.
then when they are inside for the night they watch cable tv,I dont even have cable/satelite,but those pathetic losers do,and we r paying for it WTF!?
THE DEATH PENALTY ON THE OTHER HAND IS THE EASY WAY OUT,but all of the bleeding-heart ppl that beleive these ppl can be reformed,need to pull their heads out of the sand and realize they are all repeat offenders,given a chance.watch the news.
we need to change these summer camp style prisons into something that actually PUNISH's and REFORMs.
but i think the powers that be keep it so nice in jail for in case they get caught and end up in one.they dont want to suffer so they cover their bases like that. just more food for thought.

BPM? @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:52PM

Indeed, Zoë, the ignorance is really painful.

If prison is so great, people, then why do so many inmates try to break out? Think about that one.

No matter how "nice" prison may seem from the outside, the inside tells a different story.

robogamerx @ Sep 22nd 2006 8:06PM

more ppl break out of jails in the movies,etc, than in real life,dont allow media power over your own better judgement.

killr0y @ Sep 22nd 2006 8:25PM

You morons who think capital punishment is an-eye-for-an-eye need to go back to school. Capital punishment is about making sure someone evil can never hurt another person. If it was about an eye-for-an-eye, people would be tortured before being put to death.

Dead people can't escape prison and kill more innocent people. Dead people can't start prison riots. Dead people can't kill or hurt other prisoners.

How many of these sick child rapists/murderers have walked out or escaped prison only to almost immediately go off and kill another child? This happens all the time, and its disgusting.

ejflex @ Sep 22nd 2006 8:10PM

People in "poverty" should be more concerned with buying food, and clothing, and taking care of thier childred (Yeah right) then buying X-Box's or putting rims on their 87 honda accord.

What a joke. Stigmas exsist for a reason... and the cycle continues. And no I'm not racist... I'm a realist.