Distressing news out of the Montana/Wyoming area today:

Dale Wayne Eaton's death penalty sentence has been overturned by a federal judge, who ruled Eaton was not properly represented.

Full story here: http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/federal-judge-overturns-death-penalty-for-man-who-killed-billings/article_f343b744-e2e5-5562-87e9-c1ede75b654a.html

I don't intend for this to be a debate about death penalty vs. life sentences. My outrage is more for the family of Lisa Marie Kimmel, the victim of Eaton. Many of you will remember this as the "Lil' Miss murder." I just wish whatever comes of Eaton, it happens quickly so this family doesn't have to continually suffer and can finally get some closure.

I'll be sure to update as the story progresses.

He's had more years to live in prison then Lisa had to live her entire life.

I've never heard of a ruiling like this ...

Disgusting.

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe they've got concrete evidence of him killing others, so they're overturning this to put him on trial for those murders.

When I saw the thread title, I thought maybe they've got concrete evidence of him killing others, so they're overturning this to put him on trial for those murders.

Yeah, Eaton has always been looked at as a potential suspect in the disappearance of Amy Bechtel, another UM case, so if he remains alive, I suppose there's always a chance of discovering if he was responsible for other unsolved murders.

Disgusting.

:lol: well thats the Law :)

While still on Eaton , he kinda looks a little bit fat ....I wonder what he is eating in the slammer :lol:

From the link:

Instead, they argued that his previous attorneys from the Wyoming Public Defender’s Office failed to present factors that might have given jurors a reason to consider sparing his life, such as his low intelligence and abuse he suffered as a child.

It's ridiculous that they're putting the family through even more torment over this.

I don't care if his attorney was Bozo the clown. Among all the horrible things he did, this disgusting creature kept a teenager as a sex slave for a week and murdered her. He dug a giant hole in his yard and buried her car in it. He positioned his trailer house over it and put a pipe from his toilet into the car, intending to use the car as a septic tank. (Yeah, he's a real charmer.)

Knowing that, along with all the other disgusting things the jury learned about this guy, I don't think they would have cared about the "my mommy didn't give me enough hugs" defense.

From the link:



It's ridiculous that they're putting the family through even more torment over this.

I don't care if his attorney was Bozo the clown. Among all the horrible things he did, this disgusting creature kept a teenager as a sex slave for a week and murdered her. He dug a giant hole in his yard and buried her car in it. He positioned his trailer house over it and put a pipe from his toilet into the car, intending to use the car as a septic tank. (Yeah, he's a real charmer.)

Knowing that, along with all the other disgusting things the jury learned about this guy, I don't think they would have cared about the "my mommy didn't give me enough hugs" defense.

Yep I agree with you 100%.

I'm so sick of hearing about cases like this where the "I was abused as a child so I deserve some mercy". What mercy did Lisa get when she was begging for her life? None.

My mother had a very abusive childhood but she didn't become a murderer.

But I know that Lisa's parents will fight for the justice she deserves.
I hope/pray that more evidence comes to light of his other crimes because I truly believe he is a serial killer.

Ms Kimmell,
If you are reading this, I'm sorry you have to go through even more of this in an effort to get justice for Lisa. Sending you love, light and strength during this difficult time.
-necco

There should be a time limit on appeals so that these animals can't keep revictimizing the families.

Ms Kimmell,
If you are reading this, I'm sorry you have to go through even more of this in an effort to get justice for Lisa. Sending you love, light and strength during this difficult time.
-necco

There should be a time limit on appeals so that these animals can't keep revictimizing the families.
Agree 100%

Is he actually isolated on death row? (There was one other guy on DR too, but he was recently removed.)

If his sentence is commuted to life he will be placed with the general prison population. He's an old man and not likely to be able to defend himself against the younger guys when fights break out or if he's targeted.

If I were him, in solitary, I think I'd rather stay there and be bored or read a book or something, than be out mixing with the guys in general pop. It isn't just poker games and checkers that those fellas engage in for amusement. Eaton's likely to live longer waiting for the death sentence to be carried out than bunking with god knows who, and having to sleep with one eye open.

At least the alternative is life without parole, so if the authorities keep their word on that, the family won't have to keep attending parole hearings every few years in an effort to keep him off the streets.

I'm generally not a huge death penalty supporter but I do see in a case like this where it would be the best decision. Someone evil like that serves the world with no purpose or value. Either way I feel bad for the family to have to go through it. Ive always felt that in cases like this once the facts are known and the court does their thing, the decision for penalty vs life should take heavily into consideration(under the law of course) what the family wants to help with closure. If I had a family member go through that I'm not sure which path I would choose. It's such a hard thing to comprehend.

NOOOOOOOOO!!!! THAT MAN SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH FOR WHAT HE DID TO LISA KIMMELL!!!!

Such an injustice to her family and his other alleged victims. I don't know if anyone else thinks this, but do you think police should have searched his property after the Kimmell investigation to see if there was any evidence of other alleged victims at his residence? Not sure if they looked, but if Amy Bechtel was in his house before Lisa's family had it destroyed, there's no telling of it now. :/

NOOOOOOOOO!!!! THAT MAN SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH FOR WHAT HE DID TO LISA KIMMELL!!!!

Such an injustice to her family and his other alleged victims. I don't know if anyone else thinks this, but do you think police should have searched his property after the Kimmell investigation to see if there was any evidence of other alleged victims at his residence? Not sure if they looked, but if Amy Bechtel was in his house before Lisa's family had it destroyed, there's no telling of it now. :/

I'm pretty certain a thorough investigation was done of Eaton's property, including the trailer, before LE gave Mr. and Mrs. Kimmell the go ahead to torch the property. They dug up his property to find the car and must have checked every inch of his residence and trailer to find tell tale signs of Lisa or any other victim.

UPDATE: The Wyoming Attorney General is asking the court deny Eaton's motion to remove the death penalty option. Read about it here. (http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming-opposes-eaton-s-push-to-remove-death-penalty-option/article_e3f58ed8-f6e1-5f56-b3e8-39d9480c1bc8.html)

With the exception of Texas and a few other others, the death penalty in most states is a joke. Most inmates will probably die in prison long before they are executed. Meanwhile, with all the appeals and court preceding that come with the death penalty, it drags on for years for the victims family.

With the exception of Texas and a few other others, the death penalty in most states is a joke. Most inmates will probably die in prison long before they are executed. Meanwhile, with all the appeals and court preceding that come with the death penalty, it drags on for years for the victims family.

Absolutely. Unfortunately, it's just not applied in a way that makes it an effective punishment or deterrent.

Kind of surprised. I've heard that this person is believed to have killed multiple people and was even theorized as a suspect in the Annette shee(spelling) Bobbi oberholtzer murders. I might have read that here can't recall.

Kind of surprised. I've heard that this person is believed to have killed multiple people and was even theorized as a suspect in the Annette shee(spelling) Bobbi oberholtzer murders. I might have read that here can't recall.


he also tried to abduct a family but the mother hit him with a tool (I don' recall specifics but it is recounted in the Murder of Lil Miss book

Dale Wayne Eaton is despicable.

I doubt he committed the orange sock murders. I'm pretty sure they ran the DNA in that case. I even think they have some suspects that were from that area. And yes Dale Wayne Eaton is a monster who doesn't deserve to breathe the same air we do. I believe he deserves a death sentence. He has put Lisa's family through hell and I'm sure he has committed other heinous crimes.

Researching online, I'm seeing multiple stories from 2020 and one as recently as April 15, 2021 that states there's a possibility that Eaton could be given his death row sentence back but he must go through a 30 day mental evaluation first. WTF? There's been no info since of the results or if it's even taken place...

https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/wyomings-lil-miss-killer-ordered-to-undergo-mental-evaluation

Last night, I watched the 'On the Case with Paula Zahn' episode they did of Lisa Kimmel. The episode was from 2011 but I never knew until recently that they covered it. I felt sick to my stomach when they showed a picture of the inside of Eaton's little trailer where Lisa was held captive for multiple days before being killed. It's so creepy and heartbreaking to think of the terror she must have felt all those days. It's no wonder the Kimmels had it burned to the ground.

Researching online, I'm seeing multiple stories from 2020 and one as recently as April 15, 2021 that states there's a possibility that Eaton could be given his death row sentence back but he must go through a 30 day mental evaluation first. WTF? There's been no info since of the results or if it's even taken place...

https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/wyomings-lil-miss-killer-ordered-to-undergo-mental-evaluation

Last night, I watched the 'On the Case with Paula Zahn' episode they did of Lisa Kimmel. The episode was from 2011 but I never knew until recently that they covered it. I felt sick to my stomach when they showed a picture of the inside of Eaton's little trailer where Lisa was held captive for multiple days before being killed. It's so creepy and heartbreaking to think of the terror she must have felt all those days. It's no wonder the Kimmels had it burned to the ground.

I did not know there was an on the case with Paula Zahn for Lisa Kimmel. I know that Eaton is also implicated in Amy Bechtel's disappearance, by his own brother, but that lead was disregarded when Lander, WY detectives opted to clear it with an alibi provided by a different family member in Colorado. I don't know why anyone would ignore a Dale Eaton lead. Imagine if the FBI ignored the Unabomber's brother....

I listened to the the "junkyard dale" podcast and IIRC they mention that dale refused to speak with current detectives regarding Amy's disappearance and there is nothing that they can legally do to make Dale meet with them. I think that is a crock of dog S