On the tragic day of October 12, 1991, in Warren County, Virginia, 69-year-old Lee Hopewell Brinklow was at the residence of his 72-year-old friend, Floyd Jenkins, when their lives were brutally cut short. The two men were the victims of a robbery that escalated into a horrifying double homicide. The events of that day would leave a lasting scar on the community and set in motion a long legal battle that would culminate in the execution of their killer.
The perpetrators were 22-year-old Arthur Ray Jenkins III and his 16-year-old accomplice and younger brother, Kevin Frame. After a period of drinking, the brothers went to the home shared by Floyd Jenkins, who was Arthur's uncle, and Lee Hopewell Brinklow. An argument broke out, prompting Arthur Jenkins to retrieve a. 22-caliber rifle from a bedroom. He then shot both his uncle and Brinklow. Following the shootings, Jenkins proceeded to repeatedly stab his uncle. After the murders, Jenkins broke into his aunt's bedroom, stealing money and other valuables.
The investigation into the double homicide led to the arrest of Arthur Ray Jenkins III. During his trial, a history of violent behavior and mental illness came to light, including years of physical and sexual abuse. Despite these mitigating factors, a jury convicted Jenkins of capital murder and sentenced him to death. The case went through numerous appeals, but the conviction and death sentence were consistently upheld.
Arthur Ray Jenkins III's request for clemency was ultimately denied by Governor Jim Gilmore, who pointed to the brutal nature of the murders and Jenkins' continued violent behavior while on death row as reasons for his decision. On April 20, 1999, Arthur Ray Jenkins III was executed by lethal injection for the murders of Lee Hopewell Brinklow and Floyd Jenkins. The involvement of his 16-year-old accomplice was noted, though fewer details are publicly available regarding the legal consequences he faced.
