Attorney General's News Release

May 7, 1998

Federal appeals court affirms death sentence of man convicted of 1983 double murder in Marshall

Jefferson City, Mo. — The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the sentence and conviction of James Edward Rodden, who was given the death penalty for the December 1983 murder of Terry Trunnel in Marshall. The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon argued on behalf of the state in opposing Rodden's petition.

Rodden had taken Terry Trunnel back to his apartment after meeting her at a local bar. Rodden then stabbed to death both Trunnel and Joseph Arnold, his roommate. He then made an unsuccessful attempt to set the apartment on fire to cover up the crime.

Rodden was captured when he lost consciousness and crashed Arnold's vehicle into the porch of a house in Linn County.

"These were two very violent and unprovoked murders," Nixon said. "The jury that heard this case rightly decided that the death penalty was the appropriate punishment."

Rodden was tried in Clay County on a change of venue. In addition to his death sentence, Rodden was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Arnold and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Rodden's habeas corpus petition previously had been rejected by the federal district court in 1996.

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