Attorney General's News Release

July 24, 1996

Nixon says his office will fight efforts by Nave to delay July 31 execution

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today said his office will continue to vigorously oppose legal efforts made by convicted murderer Emmett C. Nave to delay his scheduled July 31 execution date. Yesterday Nave filed a request for a stay of execution with the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“Emmett Nave's legal attempts to forestall the sentence passed on him in a Missouri courtroom 12 years ago will continue to be met with vigorous opposition at every step by my office,” Nixon said. “The sentence Nave received was merited by the heinous crimes he committed. The state and federal courts that have reviewed Nave's case have concurred with his conviction and sentence. We will press forward with a sense of grim determination to see that it is carried out on July 31.”

Nave was convicted of the 1983 killing of his upstairs neighbor and landlord during a crime spree that included the kidnapping and sexual assault of four women from a Jefferson City hospital. Nave was on parole from the Missouri State Penitentiary at the time of the killing.

On the morning of Nov. 19, 1983, Nave took a .22-caliber rifle, went to Geneva Roling's apartment and shot her 16 times, including a shot to the head at point-blank range. He then went to the alcohol abuse treatment area of Still Hospital, where he took four women hostage at gunpoint. He forced them into his car and drove to the home of one of the women in Brazito.

Nave sexually assaulted the hostages before three of them were able to escape and one flagged down a highway patrolman on Highway 54. Law enforcement authorities then apprehended Nave. He was convicted of capital murder in June 1984 in St. Charles County on a change of venue and sentenced to die.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818