Murder suspect pleads guilty
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 3:07 AM EDT
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By Ashley Fuller
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
The trial for the murder of Sueann Ray of Woodstock has ended with guilty pleas from her estranged husband and father-in-law.
Quinton Ray, 28, of Jasper pled guilty Tuesday to malice murder and kidnapping for strangling his wife to death in August 2005, which he claimed he had to do because she "wanted his money."
He could have faced the death penalty if found guilty at trial, but instead was sentenced to two consecutive life terms by Pickens County Superior Court Judge Brenda Weaver. He will be eligible for parole in 20 years.
Ray's father, Harold Daniel Ray, accused of helping cover up the murder, also pleaded guilty Tuesday. He was sentenced on the charge of hindering the apprehension of a criminal to five years probation and 132 hours of community service.
Sandy Chasm, Sueann's sister, said it was not the outcome the family wanted, but is glad Quinton Ray will be in prison, likely for the rest of his life.
"It is not the justice we wanted, but it is justice," she said.
When given the opportunity to speak in court Tuesday, Ray, who was wearing a prison uniform and showed no emotion, said nothing.
Family members of both the victim and defendants filled several rows in the courtroom, but remained quiet during the hearing and also declined the opportunity to speak as part of the proceedings.
Ms. Ray, 26, was reported missing by her family in August 2005, a few days after she went to Quinton Ray's home in Jasper. He said the visit was so he could repair her minivan, but Ms. Ray's family said it was due to a custody dispute over their daughter.
Her minivan was found abandoned in the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot in Canton on Aug. 29, 2005, hours after she was reported missing. GBI agents discovered Ms. Ray's body in February 2006 in a shallow grave in northern Cherokee County, near the home of Quinton Ray's parents. An hour after her body was found, Quinton Ray was arrested and charged with her murder.
He was indicted by a grand jury last year on charges of malice and felony murder, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.
Harold Danny Ray also was arrested in February 2006 on charges of concealing the death of another, hindering the apprehension of a criminal and tampering with evidence.
During Tuesday's hearing, Pickens County District Attorney Joe Hendricks read the transcript of a February 2006 conversation Quinton Ray had with two acquaintances, who were working as GBI informants.
During the conservation on their way back from Cowboys in Kennesaw, Ray told the informants he had been planning the crime for months because Ms. Ray was having and affair with another man, Jeff Wilson.
Quinton Ray said he dug the grave for his estranged wife and spent the next five months exercising so he would be strong enough to carry her to it.
When Ms. Ray came to his house that August night, he grabbed her by the throat and choked her to death. It took 90 seconds to killer her, Quinton Ray said during the conversation. An autopsy report determined she died from asphyxiation.
After Quinton Ray killed his estranged wife and drove her minivan to the Wal-Mart, Harold Danny Ray picked his son up from the store.
Ray told the informants he also wanted to kill Wilson and Ms. Ray's father, Danny Jenkins.
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