The only woman on Oregon’s death row has been re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Angela McAnulty pleaded guilty to the 2009 murder of her daughter Jeanette Maples in Eugene. The 15-year-old girl had been tortured, neglected and starved by her mother.
McAnulty was sentenced to death by a Lane County Circuit Court Jury in 2011. The Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed her conviction in 2014.
However, McAnulty was appointed three additional attorneys to review her case to determine whether her original lawyers adequately represented her. The new attorneys filed a petition for Post-Conviction relief in Washington County circuit Court.
Judge J. Burdette Pratt ruled McAnulty's attorney's failed:
"(1) in advising her to plead guilty to the charge of Aggravated Murder without any concessions in return from the state, (2) in failing to adequately prepare for and present evidence on the question of future dangerousness during the penalty phase, and (3) in failing to conduct an adequate investigation and present evidence regarding Petitioner’s mental health and psychological trauma during the penalty phase. Judge Pratt rejected fifteen other claims for relief." According to a press release from Lane County District Attorney Patty Perlow.
At a hearing last week, Angela McAnulty, now 51, appeared by video from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Jeanette Maple’s now-adult sister was also at the hearing. Under the settlement agreement ratified by Judge Pratt, McAnulty will remain in prison without possibility of parole.
Jeanette Maple's stepfather, Roger McAnulty, pleaded guilty to murder by abuse in 2011. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without possiblity of parole before 25 years in prison. Perlow said he did not appeal the sentence. Jeanette Maple's sister was 11 at the time of her death. She also had a 5-year-old brother. They were taken into DHS child custody after Maple's death.
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