The Murder of Deborah Groseclose

I was surprised with so many participants in this crime, as well as several different court proceedings that I found so little about this case in my research. This is allegedly one of the biggest cases in Memphis Tennessee's history and yet there seemed so few details. I will admit that the one appeal that I read was extremely long and I did little more than skim through it.

On June 29, 1977 William Groseclose went to the police department to report his twenty-four year old wife, Deborah, missing. The couple had a one year old son together and it appears that both William, and his wife Deborah each had a daughter from previous relationships. Five days later, on July 4^th, Deborah's car was found abandoned in what has been described as a parking lot of a former library. Deborah's body would be found in the trunk of the vehicle. Now, I have read a lot of true crime books; I have seen the documentaries; I have even watched all the “forensic” shows like CSI and Criminal Minds. But, when I read one description of Deborah's body I admit even my own stomach churned. Considering the heat, not just weather wise but also from the trunk of the vehicle, her body had decomposed as a much faster rate than normal. Maggots, which are common with bodies had begun to infest the body and they had entered her eye sockets. That picture alone seems gruesome. Then when you add to the fact that the coroner determined that Deborah was still alive when she was left in that trunk and despite injuries, had died from the heat in the trunk.

It is unclear just how investigators were able to determine who was involved in Deborah's death but by the time it was over William, and three other men would be arrested, tried and convicted for her murder. It appears that the other three men, Barton Mount, Ronald Rickman and Phillip Britt would at least at some point admit their roles and tell what happened to Deborah, and why. Barton Mount would eventually plead guilty to second degree murder. He would receive a ten year sentence but my research says that he “served half” of that time and would die himself in 1993 at the age of thirty-six of a drug overdose. Whether his overdose occurred while he was still incarcerated is unclear. The other three men were all charged with first degree murder and tried together in February of 1978.

William was a Navy recruiter and according to Mount, William had approached him about finding someone to kill his wife. It appears later that the prosecution did not seem to have one single motive as to why William would want this but gave the jury several different reasons as to why William would want his wife dead. It was theorized that Deborah was considering divorce, something for one reason or another William apparently did not want. There were rumors that William was having an affair and wanted out of the marriage, but not through a divorce. The biggest motive theory was the more than $32,000 in life insurance on Deborah. At any rate Mount told investigators that he introduced William to Phillip Britt who then brought Ronald Rickman into the fold. It was said that William first wanted to pay a paltry amount of $50 for the murder but apparently even criminals have standards. Where are the eye roll emoji's? Eventually it seems that the amount settled on was $700. Two hundred was to be given up front and the remaining would be given after Deborah was killed. It was indicated that this $700 would be divided between the three men. Mount would testify being with William as he gathered the initial money from ATM's and loans from friends. He stated William then gave him the money to give to Britt.

While the date in which the attack (because remember, she did not die) took place seems to be difficult to determine for sure but it appears to have happened on June 29^th, the day that later William would report his wife missing. Britt and Rickman would eventually tell their story as to what happened. Just when this happened is unclear because all three men would plead not guilty at their trial in 1978. But, my research stated that everyone but William would eventually admit guilt and tell the story of what happened. Just how close the prosecutors were in their theory is not completely clear. But, for information purposes I am going to tell what Rickman and Britt say happened since apparently forensically it fit.

According to Rickman and Britt the day was predetermined by William and he left the back door of his home unlocked. The two men entered the home and approached Deborah. They would say that in the midst of things she had called out for her husband (who was not there) for help, or at the very least mentioned his name and that the two men laughed, telling her they were there because William had sent them. Both men admitted to continually raping Deborah. At some point they repeatedly stabbed her and when she had not died they proceeded to strangle her. Believing that she was dead at that time they put her body in the trunk of her convertible. They lowered the top and drove her car out to the old parking lot of the library where they left it. According to the medical examination there was evidence of the rape, the stabbing and the strangulation. But again, that is not what ultimately killed her.

In February of 1978 William Groseclose, Phillip Britt, and Ronald Rickman were all three convicted of first degree murder. It is unclear as to their reasoning but William and Rickman were sentenced to death while Phillip Britt was given a life sentence. Throughout the years William repeatedly appealed his case, often on the basis of ineffective counsel and for years his motions were denied. Then in 1997 he finally won his appeal, this is the one that I skimmed through but truthfully should have read it a little better. Once again the main argument in the appeal was based on inefficient counsel. Throughout most of the appeal they seemed to be denying this claim, arguing that this attorney had given him adequate representation. Then suddenly in the end they seemed to lean toward a particular area it which they agreed with William and his attorney's. The way I understood it they felt as if the attorney's had basically worked more in conjunction with each other (at least William and Ronald Rickman's attorneys) to present a solid defense as a whole for all three defendants rather than each attorney represent their client solely. Then it seemed a bit unclear if they had in turn done the same for Ronald Rickman and whether they ordered new trials or just new sentencing. In the end in 1999 both William Groseclose and Ronald Rickman were sentenced to life instead of having received the death penalty.

This of course angered many. The men had already sat on death row for twenty years awaiting execution and now, with this ruling they were in essence eligible for parole the following year. Deborah's sister, Rebecca had become a huge victims rights advocate. In fact, many consider her to be the first and most ardent in the state of Tennessee. For the family, this seemed to be a slap in the face. William and Deborah's son, Nathan, who was only a year old when his mother was killed, and had changed his last name had fought to see his father, a man he did not know really, sentenced once again to death.

Despite being eligible for parole within a year or so, none of the three men have received a favorable review from the board. In August of 2015 William Groseclose died in prison at the age of 67. It was said to have been “natural causes.” Deborah's sister Rebecca, the victims advocate was upset because her work had attempted to ensure that she would have been contacted when this happened but she did not find out for several months. William had been in front of the parole board in 2007. It is said that generally the board listens to all of the evidence presented and will issue a result in a day or two. That was not the case for William. Not only was his parole rejected outright but the board voted to ensure that his next visit would not be for another six years, the maximum allowed. Once again he was obviously denied.

In 2016 Phillip Britt had his fourth hearing in front of the parole board. He was denied once again. Both he and Ronald Rickman having hearings in 2019. It seems unlikely that the odds “will forever be” in their favor.