Samuel Little Pleads Guilty by Video Link to Two Cincinnati Murders, 2019

Name: Samuel Little Pleads Guilty by Video Link to Two Cincinnati Murders, 2019
Uploaded: 2019-08-23T00:00:00Z
Duration: 31 min 5 s
Description: The complete hearing at which Samuel Little, appearing by Skype from a California prison, pleaded guilty to the murders of Anna Stewart and an unidentified woman in Cincinnati and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life.

The complete hearing at which Samuel Little, appearing by Skype from a California prison, pleaded guilty to the murders of Anna Stewart and an unidentified woman in Cincinnati and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life.

Subject: Samuel Little
Recorded: about August 23, 2019
Runtime: 31:05

Content warning: The prosecutor describes the strangling of two women and the sexual motive Little gave for his killings; no other graphic detail.

The Hearing

This is WCPO 9's complete, unedited video of the hearing in Cincinnati on August 23, 2019, at which Samuel Little was arraigned, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for two murders committed in the city in the 1980s. Judge Melba Marsh of the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas sat in a room of the county law library; Little, aged 79 and in a wheelchair, took part by Skype from California State Prison, Los Angeles County, with one of his lawyers, an assistant prosecutor and Texas Ranger James Holland beside him. There is no narration: the video runs for 31 minutes, from just before the hearing opens to the judge's "end of record".

Little is heard only in short answers to the judge: "Yes", "I see you", his name, his date of birth, "Yes, ma'am" and, when asked if he wished to say anything before sentence, "No". His audio is faint, and several of his answers cannot be made out. In all he is heard for well under half a minute. He says nothing about the crimes in this video; the facts are read by the prosecutor.

Historical Context

Little, a drifter who grew up in Lorain, Ohio, was arrested in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2012 and convicted in 2014 of three murders in Los Angeles. In 2018 he began confessing to Texas Ranger James Holland, and he went on to describe 93 killings between 1970 and 2005. In October 2019 the FBI called him the most prolific serial killer in United States history. In Cincinnati, he confessed to the 1981 murder of Anna Stewart, a mother of three (33 according to the prosecutor; some reports give 32) whose body was found in Grove City, south of Columbus, and to the murder of a woman who has not been identified. He was indicted for both in June 2019.

Circumstances of the Hearing

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Piepmeier tells the court that he and a Cincinnati detective met Little in prison in May 2019, and that Little agreed to give details of the two murders in return for the state not seeking the death penalty; he adds that Ohio's death penalty was suspended at the time of the Stewart murder in any case. Because Little's health did not allow him to travel, the hearing was held under Ohio Criminal Rule 43, which allows a defendant to appear remotely. The judge works through the rule's conditions one by one before declaring that Little has, by Skype, "entered into the State of Ohio".

What the Hearing Covers

After the appearances and the Rule 43 findings, the clerk reads the arraignment, and Little's Los Angeles lawyer holds up his signed jury waivers and plea forms to the camera. The judge takes his pleas on both indictments and puts the standard questions to him. The assistant prosecutor then reads the facts. Anna Stewart, he says, got into Little's car in the Over-the-Rhine area, and Little strangled her and drove north on I-71 to leave her body. The second woman, whom Little met in a doorway on a downtown hillside, was strangled and left on a hillside, possibly under a cigarette billboard. The prosecutor also reports what Little told investigators about how he chose his victims and why he killed. In mitigation, defense counsel says Little came forward to confess. The judge finds him guilty and imposes 15 years to life on each count, consecutive to each other and to his California sentences, noting that if all his confessions are accurate he "could be the most prolific serial killer in the history of the United States".

What Makes the Recording Significant

The hearing shows how the cases Little confessed to were brought to court: an elderly prisoner in California, a judge in Ohio, and the whole process from arraignment to sentence completed in half an hour over a video link. The judge calls it "another first" in the history of the courthouse, then marking its 100th anniversary. The prosecutor's statement records, in open court, Little's own account to investigators of how he selected women he believed would not be missed.

Archival Importance

This is the complete court record on video of Little's Cincinnati convictions, one of many pleas he entered across the country in 2018 and 2019 as investigators matched his confessions to unsolved cases. Little died in custody in December 2020. The second Cincinnati victim remained unidentified at the time of the hearing.

Important Caveats

Little does not describe any killing in this video. What the prosecutor says about how Little chose and killed his victims is Little's account to investigators, as reported in court, not evidence tested at trial; in particular, his claims that the women went with him voluntarily and that he never raped anyone are his claims. Some names and words in the prosecutor's statement are not clearly audible (see the transcript's variant readings). The judge's figure of 90 confessions and the prosecutor's 93 are the counts given in court in August 2019.

Unidentified: [unclear: "Yeah, are you? Yeah, I live in front of the, uh, there's one way to tell me."] Yeah.

Judge: Counsels, are we ready? Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Today's date is Friday, August 23rd, 2019. This criminal proceeding is being conducted between two sites today: from the Hamilton County Courthouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, the time is [unclear: "perhaps" / "practiced"] a little bit after noon Eastern Standard Time; in Los Angeles, California, time is a little bit after 9 a.m. Pacific time. Let's have the introduction of the parties in Cincinnati. My name is Melba Marsh. I'm one of the judges of the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. And representing the State of Ohio?

Joseph Deters: Joseph Deters, [unclear: "and the county prosecutor" / "Hamilton County Prosecutor"].

Judge: I'm sorry. Please go ahead. And representing the defendant, Samuel Little?

Defense Counsel: Norman [unclear: "Aubin" / "Robin"], here in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Judge: In Los Angeles, California, representing the State of Ohio?

Assistant Prosecutor: [unclear: "We're going to have the county prosecutor's office"].

Judge: Thank you. And representing the defendant, Samuel Little?

Defense Counsel: [unclear: "I'm again from Mr. Little, Tim, Canada"], Los Angeles.

Judge: Anyone else that you want to introduce on the record?

Assistant Prosecutor: Yes, Your Honor. Texas Ranger Jim Holland, who's to the left of us. He's been a big assistance to us, and he's also actually [unclear: "happened to helping"] both parties today, the state and the family.

Judge: Thank you very much. Mr. Piepmeier, why are we here today?

Assistant Prosecutor: Yeah. [unclear: "Don't you?"] We reached an agreement with Mr. Little back in May. At that time, [unclear: "I detected" / "Detective"] Kelly Best and myself came to this prison and [unclear: "dealt with"] Mr. Little. [He] agreed to give us details on [unclear: "it. It had been due to"] two murders that happened in the city of Cincinnati back in the 1980s time frame. In return, he asked that we not seek the death penalty. And in doing research on the matter, we realized that the one case that we had a specific date on, which is October 11, 1981, the death penalty was actually suspended in Ohio and did not get reinstated until about a week later. So he was not eligible for the death penalty on that case.

Assistant Prosecutor: Another murder happened in a time frame, we're not sure of a specific date, but it happened during a time when we did, and we did not have the death penalty. So we did make that agreement with Mr. Little. He gave us a full statement on both of those cases. He's been indicted, and we are now here pursuant to Criminal Rule 43 for the defendant to be arraigned, to enter [unclear: "the only" / "a guilty"] plea, and to be sentenced on both of those cases.

Judge: Thank you very much. The court has been presented with two indictments by the Hamilton County Prosecutor charging the defendant with the commission of felonies. Case numbers are B1902543, State of Ohio versus Samuel Little, murder, 2903.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, victim Anna Stewart, on or about October the 11th, 1981. And B1902957, State of Ohio versus Samuel Little, murder charge, Jane Doe victim, in between 1-1 of 1980 and December the 31st, 1999. Is that correct, Mr. Piepmeier?

Assistant Prosecutor: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: And it's my understanding that Mr. Little is currently serving multiple life sentences without parole, correct?

Defense Counsel: [unclear: "Mr. Congressman"], he has three life without parole sentences consecutive to each other that he's serving in California.

Judge: And it's also my understanding that he is currently, that you are all currently located at the California State Prison in Los Angeles County. And it's my understanding as well that Mr. Little's health does not permit him to travel back to Ohio to face these felony indictments. Is that correct? [inaudible] And it's my understanding that Mr. Little has told the prosecution that he is willing to plead guilty today. Is that correct?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. He has also signed waivers pursuant to Criminal Rule 43, waiver of appearance in person, and agreed to do these proceedings as we're doing them today, and [unclear: "this mechanic has"] a form signed on each of those cases. [unclear: "He cannot hold up the camera" / probably "I can hold it up to the camera"], if you like. He also has jury waivers on both of these cases.

Judge: Is that correct, Mr. McKenna, and Mr. Aubin as well?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: And let me just say for the record that the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office has made arrangements with the California State Prison in Los Angeles County, through the use of Skype equipment, with the cooperation of the Hamilton County Law Library, for the parties to travel to said prison on this date of August 23rd, 2019, for the arraignment, plea and sentencing to occur. Also correct? And, counsels, let's go over Ohio Criminal Rules of Procedure 43, which allows for such a remote proceeding if all of the following factors occur. Let's go through the factors one at a time, please. It is appropriate notice to all parties. The record will reflect that all parties have received notice. Am I correct, counsels?

Counsel: Yes.

Judge: And the court makes, will make a provision to allow private communication between Mr. Little and counsel. Mr. McKenna, certainly, being physically present with your client, Mr. Little, today, you've been given the opportunity to have private communications with him. However, if you or Mr. Aubin need to speak or consult with your client any time during this proceedings, all you would have to do is ask, and it will be granted. Microphones in this room will be disengaged. Understood, counsels?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. McKenna in Los Angeles and Mr. Aubin here in Cincinnati, you're both present for the record, am I correct?

Counsel: That's correct, Your Honor.

Judge: And you're both participating, am I correct?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. Yes.

Judge: And you're both consenting to this format, is that correct, counsels?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. Yes.

Judge: Let the record reflect that both counsels are present, both counsels are participating, both counsels are consenting to the format in this proceedings. Thus, this proceedings may involve sworn testimony that will be subject to cross-examination. Let's go to the next factor. The defendant may waive in writing or on the record the defendant's right to be physically present. Counsels, Mr. Aubin, Mr. McKenna, are you waiving your client's presence here today in this proceeding?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: And finally, the last three factors of Criminal Rule 43, I'll take these factors directly with the defendant, Samuel Little, himself. Mr. Little, it is part of Rule 43 that you must be able to see and to hear these proceedings. Also, this proceedings must allow you to speak and to be seen and to be heard by the court and the parties. For the record, on the monitor I can see the parties. I can see Mr. Piepmeier, I can see Mr. McKenna, I can see the officer, and I can see the individual sitting along with Mr. Piepmeier. And for the record, I see another individual who I've identified as Samuel Little. Mr. Little, for the record, I need to hear you. Can you hear me?

Samuel Little: [unclear: "No" (captions only)]

Judge: I'll speak louder. I will speak louder. Mr. Little, can you hear me?

Samuel Little: Yes.

Judge: Mr. Little, can you see me?

Samuel Little: [unclear: "You barely see me" (probably "I barely see you") / "Good to see you"]

Judge: All right, I'm going to raise my hand. Mr. Little, can you see me?

Samuel Little: I see you.

Judge: For the record, would you please state your full name?

Samuel Little: Samuel Little.

Judge: Would you please state your date of birth?

Samuel Little: 6-7-40.

Judge: Mr. Little, are you waiving, are you giving up your right to be physically present in Ohio?

Samuel Little: Yes, ma'am.

Judge: Are you subjecting yourself to this jurisdiction and to the authority of this court?

Samuel Little: Yes, ma'am.

Judge: Let the record reflect the following. The defendant has, in open court, with counsels present, waived his physical body presence today and submitted to the authority of the State of Ohio. And thus, at this time, Mr. Samuel Little, by Skype, you have entered into the State of Ohio. You are currently in Hamilton County, Ohio, in the city of Cincinnati, at the Hamilton County Courthouse. You are in a room in the law library, which is now a Court of Common Pleas courtroom, in my presence, Judge Melba Marsh, judge of the Common Pleas Court, General Division. Mr. Little, you are in my courtroom as though you are physically standing in front of me. Do you understand, sir?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Madam Clerk, the arraignment.

Clerk: [inaudible] [B19]02957, Samuel Little, also known as Samuel McDowell, you've been indicted with one count [unclear: "runner"; probably "murder"]. And also in case B1902543, Samuel [inaudible], also known as Sam [inaudible], you've been indicted with one count murder. Have you received copies of your indictments?

Defense Counsel: Your Honor, for the purposes of arraignment, [we] would plead not guilty, but then we would move on to actually tendering a plea of guilty, which we've executed today.

Judge: All right, thank you very much. And I have a set of forms, counsel. At this particular point in time, the arraignment will be accepted, and you waive any defects in regards to the arraignment at this time, Mr. McKenna?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. Aubin?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Thank you very much. And also, I will sign the entry authorizing the arraignment, the guilty plea and sentence of the defendant via remote video pursuant to Criminal Rule 43 at this time. Any objections, counsel?

Counsel: No, Your Honor.

Judge: All right, Mr. McKenna, in front of you, you should have a set of forms. One of them is captioned B1902543, and one copy, one document is entry waiving jury trial, and the other companion is entry withdrawing plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty. Do you have both of those documents for that particular case number?

Defense Counsel: I will walk them up to the camera. I will represent to the court that this is the entry waiving jury trial with Mr. Little's signature that I personally witnessed, as well as mine. And I also hold up the plea form on case number B1902543, and will represent to the court that Mr. Little has initialed and signed it [unclear: "as he and I" / "SMI"], and I witnessed him sign it.

Judge: All right, let's proceed with the entry waiving jury trial. It reads, Mr. Little: "I, Samuel Little, the defendant in the above cause, hereby knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waive and give up my right to a trial by jury." Is that correct, sir?

Samuel Little: [unclear: "Is no" (Whisper; probably "Yes, ma'am") / nothing (captions)]

Judge: Now, Mr. Little, you fully understand that under the laws of this state you have a constitutional right to a trial by jury, which you are giving up. Is that also correct?

Samuel Little: [unclear: "Is no" (Whisper; probably "Yes, ma'am") / nothing (captions)]

Judge: Mr. McKenna, do you concur with your decision, with your client's decision to waive the jury?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. Aubin, do you also concur with your client's decision to waive the jury?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Thank you. The jury waiver will be accepted in case number B1902543. Let's move on to the next document, if we can: entry withdrawing plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty in case number B1902543. And [the] caption is entry withdrawing plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty. And on the last page, there's a signature line. Mr. McKenna, will you point that out to your client?

Assistant Prosecutor: Your Honor, can you [have him] hold that up to the camera so [we] can see the signatures?

Judge: All right.

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. McKenna, there's been a request by the prosecutor that you hold that up so we can also see from here.

Speaker: He has to go to the camera.

Judge: And would you mind walking to the camera, Mr. McKenna?

Defense Counsel: I'll represent to the court that's his signature.

Judge: All right, thank you very much. Mr. Prosecutor?

Assistant Prosecutor: Thank you.

Judge: And let's move to the second case, Mr. McKenna, which is B1902957, and it also has two documents. One is an entry waiving jury trial, and the other one is an entry withdrawing plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty. Let's look at the entry waiving jury trial first. It reads that "I, Samuel Little, the defendant in the above cause, hereby knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waive and give up my right to a trial by jury." Is that correct, Mr. Little?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: And, Mr. Little, you fully understand that under the laws of this state you have a constitutional right to a trial by jury on this charge. Is that your understanding as well, sir?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Mr. McKenna, do you concur with your client's decision to waive the jury on this case number?

Defense Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. Aubin, do you concur with your client's decision to waive the jury on this case number?

Defense Counsel: I do, Your Honor.

Judge: And, Mr. McKenna, would you show your client the entry withdrawing plea of not guilty and entering a plea of guilty, and turn to the last page of that document. And is there, and is there a signature on that page? Yes? Please.

Defense Counsel: This is the second plea form. I'll represent to the court that is his signature. I watched him sign it.

Judge: Thank you. Mr. Little, you have signed both of these guilty finding pleas, haven't you?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Let's go through the documents at this time. [unclear: "Papered, they both know" (captions)] Thank you. They both begin the same, as in B1902957, as in B1902543. They start: "I, Samuel Little, the defendant in the above cause, hereby freely and voluntarily withdraw my former plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty." Mr. Little, on the first indictment, B1902543, what is your plea to the charge of murder?

Samuel Little: [inaudible; "Guilty" in the 60 Minutes excerpt of this moment, V150]

Judge: It is a special felony. Potential sentencing range is 15 years to life. Mandatory time: yes. Maximum fine is $15,000. Let's move to the other indictment, B1902957. It reads the same as the first: "I, Samuel Little, the defendant in the above cause, hereby freely and voluntarily withdraw my former plea of not guilty and enter a plea of guilty to murder." Mr. Little, is your plea to the charge of murder one of guilty?

Samuel Little: Yes.

Judge: And that is count one, murder, 2903.02, special felony, potential sentence 15 years to life, mandatory prison time: yes. And the maximum fine, I incorrectly said $15,000 for the first charge. It should be $25,000 maximum fine. Am I correct, counsels?

Counsel: $25,000. $25,000. $25,000.

Speaker: [unclear: "So"] Thank you, Your Honor. I agree.

Judge: Thank you very much. And let's proceed with the plea, Mr. Little. I am not reading the post-release control information from the State of Ohio, since you will not be subject to post-release control in this state. I am not reading the community control probation information on this plea form, since you're not going to be subject to community control probation. I will pick up the form at this particular point. Are you satisfied with your attorneys' advice and counsel on both indictments?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Are you satisfied, Mr. Little, on both indictments?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Are you under the influence of drugs or alcohol at this time?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Have you been forced or threatened in any way to cause you to sign and offer these pleas to the indictment today?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: You understand, by pleading guilty to both indictments, you give up your constitutional right to a jury trial. By pleading [guilty] to both indictments, you give up your right to confront witnesses against you. By pleading guilty to both indictments, you give up the right to have subpoenaed witnesses [unclear: "walk in"] this courtroom in your favor. By pleading guilty to both indictments, you give up the right to require the State of Ohio to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial at which you cannot be compelled to testify against yourself. Do you understand your rights of pleading guilty to both indictments?

Samuel Little: [unclear: "Mm-hmm" (captions only)]

Judge: Mr. Little, you understand that these pleas of guilty to both indictments are a complete admission of your guilt to the charges. Do you understand that, sir?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: And you understand, sir, that you must give your DNA. I'm sure you have given it to the State of Ohio as well as to the State of California. My last question: are you a citizen of the United States of America?

Samuel Little: [inaudible]

Judge: Counsels, Mr. McKenna, Mr. Aubin, I know you've explained to your client, prior to signing these plea forms in both cases involving both indictments to the charge of murder, I know you've spoken to him about the penalties involved as well as his constitutional rights in both cases. Is that correct, counsel?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: And is it your opinion, do you represent that it is your opinion, that Mr. Samuel Little, your client, is competent to enter these pleas to both indictments and is doing so knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily?

Counsel: Yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. Prosecutor, Mr. Piepmeier, what are the facts?

Assistant Prosecutor: Your Honor, first of all, [with] reference to a victim [unclear: "education" / probably "notification"]: earlier this week I spoke with the family of Anna Stewart. I spoke with a daughter (name withheld), who lives in Tennessee, also a sister (name withheld), who lives in Ohio, and [unclear: "you know one of them" / probably "neither of them"] wanted to attend the hearing in your courtroom today. Both of them expressed a lot of gratitude for the work of Jim Holland from the Texas Rangers, Kelly Best from the Cincinnati Homicide Squad, and the [unclear: "Henry County prosecutor, Jim Peters" / probably "Hamilton County Prosecutor, Joe Deters"], and Franklin County prosecutor [unclear: "Roger Bryant" / possibly "Ron O'Brien"], for their efforts on these cases.

Assistant Prosecutor: With reference to the facts: B1902543, the murder of Anna Stewart. This happened on October 11, 1981, in Cincinnati, Ohio. On that date, [unclear: "it had been in perfect and" / probably "he did purposely"] caused the death of Anna Stewart. She was a 33-year-old, an unmarried mother of three. She had a drug problem, and she did engage in prostitution from time to time. She was last seen approximately October 6, 1981, and her body was found in Grove City, just south of Columbus, on Monday, October 12, 1981. Within a couple of days she was identified as Anna Stewart, but little else was known about her. The cause of death was [unclear: "wrong to me"] strangulation, manual strangulation. The manner of death was homicide.

Assistant Prosecutor: It wasn't until the defendant came forward late last year, and then earlier this year, when Detective Best and myself interviewed Mr. Little, [that he] actually admitted that he was the one that [unclear: "crossed" / probably "caused"] her death. [He] indicated he was in downtown Cincinnati, in the Over-the-Rhine area, looking for a prostitute, didn't find [one] on the street. She voluntarily got in a car with him and voluntarily was the one who engaged in sex. At that point, he did cause her death by strangling her. [He] did not want to leave the body in that area because there were a lot of people around. He went north on I-71 and gave very specific details on where he left her and how he left her, and all of the details he gave on this case [unclear: "didn't match" / probably "did match"].

Assistant Prosecutor: The second case, B1902957, was listed as a Jane Doe, and Detective Best [unclear: "reported a" / "is working"] tirelessly, still trying to [unclear: "do an issue"], and she's confident at some point [we] will have a positive identification. On that case, again, the defendant was in downtown Cincinnati, was on a hillside, and we're not sure exactly where. We think it might have been Sycamore Hill or one of the hills going up to Mount Adams. [He] saw a lady standing in the doorway of a building with stairs that led up to a second story. She motioned for him to come in. He went upstairs with her. There was another female there that he identified as a heavyset Puerto Rican, and they did agree, [unclear: "Mexican, I'm sorry, Mr. Wilberg to me said, Mexican" / "Mexican, I'm sorry, Mr. Little agreed that he said a Mexican"]. They agreed to do some drugs together and left to do that.

Assistant Prosecutor: Again, she voluntarily got in the car with him, voluntarily left with him, had agreed to have sex with him, and again, he ended up strangling her [unclear: "throat"]. Some distance away, but we believe close, somewhere in the downtown Cincinnati area, [he] left her body on a hillside. He thinks it might have been under a billboard, possibly for Kool cigarettes.

Assistant Prosecutor: The other thing Mr. Little told myself and Detective Best back in May, when we interviewed him, is that he never raped [unclear: "ladies and"] women, he never kidnapped any of these women, they always voluntarily went with him. His purpose in picking them up was to kill them. And he described it as the, his sexual gratification was [unclear: "an actual" / "once an actually"] manual strangulation, the actual, his bare hands on [unclear: "the very next" / probably "their neck"]. That's what actually got him sexually aroused, and that's why he did this. It wasn't for any other reason.

Assistant Prosecutor: He also said he specifically looked for people that would not be missed. He said he wasn't gonna pick up a teenager or a housewife, because they would probably be missed pretty quickly and he might be caught. He looked for people that appeared to be homeless, possibly a prostitute, people that, if they went missing for a couple days, the family members would probably not immediately notify the authorities, and that's what happened in these cases. He also, once he [unclear: "included" / probably "concluded"] what he was doing, would leave town as quickly as he could.

Assistant Prosecutor: And one other note: we met again last night with Texas Ranger James Holland. Mr. Little has admitted to 93 murders, and the Texas Rangers and other law enforcement authorities to date have actually been able to corroborate over [unclear: "six" / possibly "sixty"] of those, and they're confident that at some point they will corroborate each and every one of them, you know? And that basically, Judge, is our statement of facts.

Judge: Thank you very much. Mr. McKenna, any statement?

Defense Counsel: Nothing on the facts, Judge.

Judge: Mr. Aubin, any statement?

Defense Counsel: Nothing on the facts, Your Honor.

Judge: Mr. Prosecutor, any statement?

Prosecutor: No, ma'am.

Judge: Thank you very much. There'll be a finding of guilty to count one, B1902543, murder, and in regards to B1902957, count one, [there will] be a conviction of murder. And, Mr. McKenna, Mr. Aubin, anything that you would like to say at this particular point in time?

Defense Counsel: Your Honor, in mitigation, on behalf of Mr. Little: 79 years old, he is in very poor health, he's in a wheelchair, he has diabetes. He is a very intelligent person. However, I think the best thing in mitigation is that he came forward and confessed on these unsolved murders. He informed me at this stage of his life he would like to do what he can to make it as right as he can by cooperating on these murders. And beyond that, Judge, we would submit.

Judge: Thank you. Mr. Aubin, anything?

Defense Counsel: Only, Your Honor, that he's doing three consecutive life sentences in California now.

Judge: Thank you very much. And finally, Mr. Little, Mr. Samuel Little, is there anything that you wish to say before I pronounce sentence?

Samuel Little: No. [unclear: "No, Your Honor, you sit down" (Whisper) / "your honor" (captions)]

Judge: Thank you. The sentence for each one of the indictments carries a sentence of 15 years to life imprisonment, and that will be the sentence of this court. As you're well aware, the court has the opportunity, if the law provides it, to make a finding of consecutive sentence. And if so, I must articulate my sentencing findings and my considerations for imposing consecutive sentences.

Judge: I hereby make the following factual findings, per the defendant's own confessions. Mr. Little has spent decades traveling the United States and strangling women along the way. Mr. Little has confessed to [unclear: "a dozen" / "dozens"] of other killings, like Cincinnati's Jane Doe, and many of his victims remain unidentified, except for sketches that he has drawn to help or assist law enforcement to find his victims and their whereabouts. In Cincinnati, during the '80s, the prosecutor said that he killed two: Anna Stewart, a mother, and a still unidentified Jane Doe. If every one of his 90 confessions, per the state, the Texas Ranger, is accurate, Mr. Little could be the most prolific serial killer in the history of the United States.

Judge: That, I hereby make the following findings: that consecutive sentences are necessary to protect the public from future crime or punish the offender; and the consecutive sentence is not disproportionate to [the] seriousness of conduct and danger [the] offender poses to the public; and the final factor, [the] offender's criminal history makes consecutive sentences necessary to protect the public. Therefore, the sentences will be 15 years to life on each, running consecutive to each, and consecutive to any time that he is currently serving in the California court system. Anything further from Mr. McKenna?

Defense Counsel: [inaudible]

Judge: Anything further from Mr. Aubin?

Defense Counsel: No, Your Honor.

Judge: Anything from Mr. Piepmeier? Anything further from Mr. Deters?

Joseph Deters: No, ma'am.

Judge: Mr. Samuel Little, I have to give you the right to an appeal for these proceedings. If you cannot afford counsel, counsel will be provided. If you cannot afford all transcripts, all transcripts will be provided. Counsels, Mr. McKenna as well as Mr. Aubin, do you anticipate an appeal, and if you do so, tell me who you would like to appoint, have appointed, I should say.

Speaker: All right.

Defense Counsel: That's my understanding.

Judge: All right. And counsel, at this particular point in time, on this 100th anniversary of this very courthouse that we're standing in, the Hamilton County Courthouse, this has been another first in the history of this building, another moment for history. [I'd] like to thank Mr. Piepmeier, Mr. McKenna, [unclear: "Mr. Foskier" / "Mr. Prosecutor"], Mr. Aubin, for their cooperation in making this happen, as well as the Hamilton County Law Library. [If] there's nothing further, end of record. ---