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| Nebraska Executes Man Who Killed 3 Boys July 18, 1996 A man who said he enjoyed the "power and domination" of killing was executed in the electric chair early today for murdering two boys in 1983. The prisoner, John J. Joubert, a former airman, repeatedly stabbed and slashed Danny Jo Eberle, 13, and Christopher Walden, 12, in Bellevue near Offutt Air Force Base, where he was stationed. He was also convicted of stabbing and strangling a boy in Maine. In his final statement, Mr. Joubert apologized for the three murders and added, "I do not know if my death will change anything or if it will bring anyone any peace." In trying to explain the crimes, Mr. Joubert, 33, told The Omaha World-Herald last month: "It was the power and the domination and seeing the fear. That was more exciting than actually causing the harm." Mr. Joubert was caught after he tried to abduct a preschool teacher, who then noted the license plate number of his car. Mr. Joubert confessed later that day. Judy Eberle, Danny's mother, said Mr. Joubert deserved the death penalty not out of vengeance but because "it is the only punishment that can make sure that he will never walk the streets again." on August 22, 1982, 11-year-old Richard "Ricky" Stetson had gone jogging. When he had not returned by dark, his parents called the police. The next day, a motorist saw the boy's body on the side of the I-295. The attacker appeared to have attempted to undress him, and then stabbed and strangled him. A suspect was arrested for the murder, but his teeth did not match a bite mark on Stetson's body, and so he was released after a year and a half in custody. The case would go cold until January 1984. Danny Joe Eberle disappeared while delivering the Omaha World-Herald newspaper on September 18, 1983, near Omaha, Nebraska. His brother, who also delivered the newspaper, had not seen him, but did remember being followed by a white man in a tan car is previous days. It was found that Eberle had only delivered three of the 70 newspapers. At his fourth delivery, his bicycle was discovered along with the rest of the newspapers. There appeared to be no sign of a struggle. Joubert would later describe how he had approached Eberle, drew a knife and then covered the boy's mouth with his hand. He then instructed to boy to follow him and took him to his truck. He then took him to a gravel road outside of town. After three days of searching, his body was finally discovered about four miles (6 km) from where his bike was found. He had been stripped to his underwear, had his feet and hands bound and mouth taped with surgical tape. Joubert had stabbed him nine times. The crime came under the jurisdiction of the federal government of the United States, so the FBI was called in. The investigation followed several leads, including a young man who was arrested for molesting two young boys about a week after the crime. He failed a polygraph test and had a false alibi but did not fit the profile the FBI had created for the murderer. He was released due to a lack of evidence. Other known pedophiles in the area were also questioned but the case went cold due to a sparcity of evidence. , about three miles (5 km) from where Elberle's body was found. Witnesses again said they saw a white man in a tan car. Joubert said that he had driven up to Walden as he walked, showed him the sheath of his knife and ordered him into the car. After driving to some railways lines out of town, he ordered Walden to strip to his underwear which he did. But then Walden refused to lie down. After a brief struggle, Joubert overpowered and then stabbed him. Joubert cut Walden's throat, so deep that he had almost been decapitated. Walden's body was found two days later five miles (8 km) from the town. Although the crimes were similar there were differences. Walden had not been bound, had been concealed better, and was thought to have been killed immediately after being abducted.In 1995, Joubert filed a writ of habeas corpus to the United States federal courts over the death sentences. His lawyers argued that the aggravating factor of "exceptional depravity" was unconstitutionally vague. The court agreed and the state of Nebraska appealed to the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. They overturned the appeal, saying that he had shown sad*stic behavior by torturing Eberle and Walden. He was executed on July 17, 1996 by the electric chair. |
