From Russel Winstead’s appeal:
On the night Ann Branson was stabbed to death, a witness reported seeing her nephew, Russell Winstead, at or near Branson’s driveway. No eyewitnesses to the murder ever came forward. No scientific evidence was ever produced linking Winstead to the crime. But Winstead was the immediate object of suspicion because he was known to have recently borrowed substantial sums of money from Branson to cover his gambling debts.
As the investigation progressed, two developments sharpened the focus on Winstead. First, police found hidden under Winstead’s mattress at home a knife consistent with that used to stab Branson. Second, Winstead’s wife contacted police and changed her initial statement to them concerning a critical piece of the investigation: the time Winstead arrived home on the night of Branson’s murder.
Winstead was charged with murdering Branson and with robbing her of a check he had allegedly written to her. He then fled to Costa Rica but was eventually extradited to the United States. The charges proceeded to a jury trial resulting in his convictions and sentences
Find-A-Grave: Anna Mae Winstead Branson
Man wanted in Kentucky slaying is captured in Costa Rica
Man sentenced to life after conviction here
Russell Winstead v Commonwealth of Kentucky 2010
New sentencing hearing for man who killed Ann Branson
Discovery Channel will tell the story of a Hopkins Co murder
Books
Murder in Mayberry: Greed, Death and Mayhem in a Small Town
Movies/Documentaries
Nightmare Next Door: North Main Street Mystery
INMATE INFORMATION
Name: WINSTEAD, RUSSELL EARL
Active Inmate
PID # / DOC #: 256085 / 214708
Institution Start Date: 10/08/2007
Expected Time To Serve (TTS): LIFE WITH PAROLE AFTER 25 YEARS
Classification: Medium (Level 3)
Minimum Expiration of Sentence Date (Good Time Release Date): LIFE WITH PAROLE AFTER 25 YEARS
Parole Eligibility Date: 4/17/2030
Maximum Expiration of Sentence Date: LIFE WITH PAROLE AFTER 25 YEARS
Location: Kentucky State Reformatory
Age: 49
Race: White
Gender: M
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Gray or Partially Gray
Height: 6′ 01″
Weight: 175
Risk Assessment Rating: Assessment Pending
Aliases
Alias Name
RUSSELL WINSTEAD
RUSSELL EARL WINSTEAD
Conviction Information
Offense 1
Time service requirement: MURDER (Violent Crime)
Life With Parole
Indictment #: 03-CR-253
<>Crime Date: 1/12/2003
Conviction Date: 10/09/2007
Conviction County: Hopkins
Indictment Count: 001
KRS Code: 507.020
Felony Class: X
LIFE WITH PAROLE AFTER 25 YEARS
Offense 2
Time service requirement: ROBBERY, 1ST DEGREE (Violent Crime)
Must serve minimum of 85% of Sentence (Violent Offense)
Indictment #: 03-CR-253
<>Crime Date: 1/12/2003
Conviction Date: 10/09/2007
Conviction County: Hopkins Indictment Count: 002
KRS Code: 515.020
Felony Class: B
Sentence Length: 20 years 0 months 0 days
Historic Percentage of Time Served for Similar Offenders: 82 %
( 16 year(s) 4 month(s) )
Parole Information
(Parole Hearings are conducted 60 days prior to Parole Date)
No parole information found for this offender
