alaska mosquito execution
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There will be bugs around the lake for sure. Dont know anything about the numbers on spray but anything is better than nothing out there. And never use 95% or more DEET on small children. It was a warm year in 2012, Culler told me, in a phone interview. Learn More >, Alaska Tour & Travel There can be many mosquitoes in Fairbanks and Denali in May. This Anchorage mosquito did not survive the process of natural selection. Will I be safe if I stay around Deadhorse and Barrows? The caribou breeding cycle is timed to the sun, not to temperature. It also usually starts raining steadily in mid-August everywhere from Seward on north to Fairbanks. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Jesse Krause, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis, knows firsthand the horrors of the swarm. Marshal to the Second Judicial District of Alaska, read the death warrant to Hardy. Youll always want at least 20 30% DEET in your repellent. Some Alaskans jokingly refer to the mosquito as "Alaska's state bird." Plus, the earlier ponds melt, the more closely aligned the emergence of mosquitoes is with the birth of caribou calves. What if we could clean them out? Just kidding. They time their growth cycle to the temperature. Hamilton, who spoke no English, was convicted of murdering his cousin due to his cousin domestically abusing his wife. Make sure your will is up to date! Which travel companies promote harmful wildlife activities? While Hurlin died on the day of the shooting, Patterson temporarily survived and was transported to Anvik, Alaska, where he lingered before succumbing to his injuries more than six months later, on April 8, 1899. The most intimate multi-day cruise option. Southern States have a longer persistent season, says Jordan. Be vigilant. [7], The last hanging in Alaska during the 19th century was that of Charlie Green (or Charley Green) and Boxer, two Native American men who were accused of clubbing to death a white rum salesman named Richard Rainey. Dont worry about them. The bugs will come near, and then fly awayas if an invisible shield protects you. These skeletons may have the answer, Scientists are making advancements in birth controlfor men, Blood cleaning? Avoiding Swarms of Mosquitoes in Alaska First and foremost, try and avoid areas where they love to live. If used with a sunscreen, apply the repellent 30 minutes to one hour after the sunscreen. Who knows what itll be next year but yes it can easily get 10 inches. Well be on a cruise in the Inside Passage in July 2017, should we worry about mosquitoes? Krause recently spent 78 days working at the Toolik Field Station on Alaska's North Slope, where the mosquitoes were "pretty god-awful," according to the Alaska Dispatch. How did traditional indigenous people live with mosquitoes when they were bad? This means that female adults deposit eggs during late summer in the habitats mentioned above. You have some good options for bug protection in Alaska: DEET No question, DEET is the most effective method of combating our pesky neighbors. When that happens mosquitoes take wing earlier. There arent a lot of animals for them (mosquitoes) to eat in the Arctic, so when they finally find one, they are ferocious. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. The 20% DEET in it is physically captured inside protein molecules, and as those dissolve on your skin, the DEET is released. No. Alaska Mosquito Repellent: No question, DEET is the most effective method of combating the Alaska Mosquito. Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. 907-474-7468. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! The murders took place on Unimak Island on June 7, 1901. The caribou makes its home on the Arctics tundras, in Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada, and Greenland. Were going to road-trip from Banff to Haines then south via ferry, arriving Haines early July. [15], The next two executions were notoriously botched. Charles was the only person executed in recorded Alaskan history for murdering a woman. If you think that mosquitoes are killed by extreme temperatures, think again. On a trip through Southeast Alaska you wont even remember there were bugs. Empty cart. [10] Like Boyd, newspapers erroneously called Hardy the first person to be legally hanged in the territory. Im taking a cruise inside passage and 2day tour to Danali Park August 23. I will travel by car from July 14th to July 31st. Kill the first hatch and the keep the units running and you can have an almost skeeter free summer. [15][23], Since the death penalty's abolition in 1957, there have been several measures to revive the death penalty, but none have been successful.[15]. How are mosquitos. They can be awakened early. Heres why each season begins twice. I will be cruising the Inside Passage June 5 and then spending 1 week in Alaska sightseeing tour how bad will they be ??? At least 15 of those species are in Denali National Park. I appreciate your words, Im relieved that it sounds like were not going to suffer as much as I feared. We will be kayaking for 4 days, 3 nights going out of Whittier. [1], In 1957, the Alaska Territorial Legislature passed a measure stating simply: "The death penalty is and shall hereafter be abolished as punishment in Alaska for the commission of any crime. And now they face a new menace, from mosquitoes, according to a new paper from a team led by Lauren Culler, a postdoc at the Dickey Centers Institute for Arctic Studies at Dartmouth. We've all seen the cutesy signs, we've all heard the cliche sayings, and some may even partially believe that mosquitoes are in fact the official 'State Bird' of Alaska. Please report any problems or feedback concerning this website to uaf-rcs@alaska.edu. On Facebook, friends of the researcher noted the images were so terrifying, they appeared photoshopped. Two days after the United States Army and Stikine villagers exchanged fire, Scutd-doo was handed over to the United States Army, court-martialed, and publicly hanged in front of his fellow villagers on December 29, 1869, only four days after Smith's murder. The higher, the better. Downtown Fairbanks not so much. The Best Mosquito Repellant To Use in Alaska DEET is by far the best (and most effective) mosquito repellant. But the change could spell trouble for caribou and upend the ecology of the tundra, where mosquitoes pollinate plants and provide food for birds and other insects. Large, blood-sucking mosquitoes already are the bane of people, caribou, reindeer, and other mammals eking out a living in the frozen north. Rising temperatures are steadily encroaching on caribou habitats, and so are roads and pipelines. The mosquitoes can get so thick hikers have been known to walk. Alaska is unpredictable, and while its natural beauty is simply stunning, it also comes with its challenges. Wasilla, Valdez and Fairbanks. Alaskans are no stranger to mosquitoes. The second 20th-century execution in Alaska was that of Homer Bird, the only person to be legally executed in Sitka. One of the better ones is Bite Blocker, an oil-based repellent laced with soybean oil, geranium oil, and coconut oil. These larger, slower mosquitoes survive the winter months through a form of hibernation. Hardly any. Seasonal swarm strength is dictated by the weather, and conditions this year may have been particularly favorable for the state's insects, according to Alaska-based radio station KTNA. Then send it to yourself, or a friend, with a link to retrieve it at any time. Ill be in Alaska mid June -July. Only two of the states 35 species of Alaska mosquito have been found to carry the virus in the Lower 48. The bugs will come near, then fly away-as if you're protected by an invisible shield. There arent a lot of animals for them to eat in the Arctic, so when they finally find one, they are ferocious. The quickly warming Arctic is now forcing caribou to adapt. Yes. The hanging occurred during the daytime; Scutd-doo's body was left hanging until nightfall to serve as a warning. They are a brutal breed! She placed the mosquitoes into water that was slightly warmer, in order to simulate the Arctic ponds of the near future. Like the hangings of Hamilton and Beaver, LaMoore's hanging, which took place on April 14, 1950, was allegedly botched as well. 800-208-0200 or 907-245-0200. As Alaska criminal cases at the time were considered the responsibility of the United States Federal Government, Beaver petitioned President Herbert Hoover for clemency and a commutation to a life sentence, but Hoover denied clemency. Along the rivers at sundown seem to be the worst. Or try Avon's Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard, which contains IR3535, an amino acid. What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body? Its not going to kill them, but theyre just going to have to endure them., Krause and his colleagues tried to prevent bites by dressing up in long sleeves, pants and mesh helmets and covering themselves in bug spray, according to the Dispatch. All but a few of these will feed on humans. The largest of Alaskan mosquitoes, Culiseta Alaskaensis or the snow mosquito, overwinters as an adult under the snow, usually in leaf litter, beneath loose tree bark, or in dead tree stumps. The increase in repellency beyond that is very small. Long COVID patients turn to unproven treatments, Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, This sacred site could be Georgias first national park, See glow-in-the-dark mushrooms in Brazils other rainforest, 9 things to know about Holi, Indias most colorful festival, Anyone can discover a fossil on this beach. 10 inches in Seward in September? You can also buy the chemical itself and treat your own clothing. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/ESPYstate.pdf, "The 1869 Bombardment of aachx an.akw from Fort Wrangell: The U.S. Army Response to Tlingit Law, Wrangell, Alaska", "The Trial of John Boyd for the Murder of Thomas O'Brien", "MUST HANG - Dastardly Murders of the Far North Will Be Avenged", "Sitka's Only Court-Sanctioned Execution Was for a Famous Klondike Crime", "A History of the Death Penalty in Alaska", "Emily Kinni Photographs Former Execution Sites in Her Series "Where Death Dies", "The Trial and Hanging of Nelson Charles", Legislative research report: Capital punishment in the U.S. and in Alaska, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capital_punishment_in_Alaska&oldid=1117868082, Murder and robbery of F.J. Rooney, Florence Sullivan, and Con Sullivan, Murder of J.H. Human beings have wrapped the planet in a sphere of technology, powered by fossil fuels, whose exhaust is pooling in Earths atmosphere, transforming it into a toxic steambath. [10] Hardy was also the first person hanged in Alaska after a lengthy appeals process, as Scutd-doo, John Boyd, Charlie Green, and Boxer were all hanged within mere days of their trials. That's enough to harass a pregnant caribou until she stops worrying about food. How bad are the mozzies in Haines in June? Should we expect lots of mosquitoes late May early June for Fairbanks, Denali and Anchorage? Fewer calves are being born, and fewer are surviving their crucial first few months. The supercooling point varies for different species and life stages of insects. Mosquitoes have a slender segmented body, one pair of wings, one pair of halteres, three pairs of long hair-like legs, and elongated mouthparts. 5. Since it was established by an Act of Congress in 1946, scientists at the Geophysical Institute have studied geophysical processes from the center of the Earth to the surface of the sun and beyond, turning data and observations into information useful for state, Arctic and national priorities. Nelson visited LaMoore while LaMoore waited in jail for his perjury trial and pleaded with LaMoore to save his life, leading to LaMoore writing a document in which he implicated himself in the robbery and murder of Jim Ellen. Thanks Dennis! Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. These eggs then lie dormant throughout the winter until water temperatures are warm enough for hatching to occur the following spring. [10] The brothers had migrated north a month prior to their murders, while Rooney was simply accompanying them on a prospecting expedition when they were waylaid by Hardy, who shot and murdered all three before robbing them. (Nat Herz/Alaska Public Media) In Spenard last week, Mariah Polk was out on. You can find this insect repellent gear at most outdoor recreation retailers. First, there are the big snow mosquitoes, which show up when there is still snow on the. Wake up to the day's most important news. The insect's body temperature is regulated downward as the environmental temperature decreases to a point at which mortality occurs; the insect dies at this supercooling point. Thats four days you dont have to worry about being eaten.. Copyright 2023 AlaskaTrekker | All Rights Reserved. Lots of biology is triggered by these melting events.. They tend to avoid the large ships even when in port. The mesh over their faces serves a dual purpose: to protect from bites and "to filter the air.". In rare cases, WNV can cause severe neurological symptoms such as confusion and paralysis. Culler brought some of the mosquitoes into a lab at the Kangerlussuaq International Science Support building. The bugs will come near, then fly away-as if youre protected by an invisible shield.DEET doesnt smell obnoxious, but its a strong chemical (you can sometimes taste it in your mouth from being absorbed through the skin) so only apply it directly on the skin of your face, hair, neck, and hands. June 29, 2021. Focus on Denali & Kenai Fjords. The largest one I personally ever saw was about an inch wide. The Alaska mosquito population is the stuff of legend. We are determined to protect the public health and quality of life of the communities in which we operate. I want to avoid all or most if them. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Learn more about UAs notice of web accessibility. DEET is a strong chemical. (Nat Herz/Alaska's Public Media) Experts say mosquitoes seem to be buzzing around in higher-than-usual . We were wondering if the electric swatter would short out when all the mosquitoes become imbedded [sic] in the wire mesh.". "We have some electric fly swatters up here. I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. Big ship or small ship? Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance in the summer in northern Alaska; they are a genuine problem. [1] The first recorded execution to occur in the Alaskan Territory was that of a Stikine Native American, only known by the name Scutd-doo, on December 29, 1869. Just be sure when looking at these herbal alternatives that they contain at least 10% of the active, insect-repelling ingredient. Eighteen years after the execution of Homer Bird, Mailo Segura was hanged in Fairbanks on April 15, 1921, for murdering his employer, J.E. If you're taking a multi-day backpacking or float trip, bring a headnet for backup. Many of our clients claimed that they lived in the mosquito capital of the world so we did a little research. They do not stop. Many of us are hesitant to rub harsh chemicals on our skin and prefer natural alternatives. Overwhelmed by choices? Print our checklist of Alaska-specific items you might overlook, The complete rundown of how to pack for aday hike in Alaska, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear. That's a fun but hard-to-answer question that Derek Sikes recently pondered in response to writer and wilderness guide Michael Engelhard . A higher concentration does not mean that the repellant is stronger, but that it lasts longer. Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Climate change, it turns out, may make that even worse. Ive heard that these little bugs are real bad in Alaska in the summer? (Krause told the Dispatch that the bugs are so ruthless, he once saw a pair of mosquitoes feeding from a horsefly.). 2-5 day small ship explorations. It is very satisfying to use them," Krause said on Facebook. If you are near the water the wind is almost always blowing there. More of them survived to adulthood, and thats bad news for caribou. Arctic mosquitoes typically emerge all at once in massive swarms. When the days shorten and temperatures drop, adult females and their larvae are able to enter a low metabolism stage called diapause. [3] LaMoore retracted the confession and stated that he only made it in a futile attempt to save Nelson's life, but LaMoore was convicted of murder and sentenced to death anyway. Does it scare you more, now?" A mans world? Dont worry about mosquitoes. [3], Nelson Charles, a Native American man from Ketchikan, Alaska, was hanged on November 10, 1939, for sexually assaulting and stabbing to death Cecelia Johnson, his 58-year-old mother-in-law. Reilly. In general, applicators who apply pesticides to property other than their own must obtain certification from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Pesticide Program. During two recent field seasons in Greenland, Culler found that with the Arctic already warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, ponds and lakes on the tundra are melting up to several weeks sooner. Krause told one commenter. They are attracted to their hosts by light colors, body heat, humidity released during perspiration, and carbon dioxide. Some of the interior forest lands can also be buzzing pests. In the more commonly traveled areas of Alaska, several environmental factors help keep mosquitoes at bay. But do bring bug spray. Should be a light though. How are mosquitoes around Big Lake mid July? Getting There. Thousands of mosquito species feed on the blood of various hostsvertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish; along with some invertebrates, primarily other arthropods. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. Wear shoes, long sleeves, and long pants with the cuffs tucked into socks. Alaska has 35 species of mosquito, and all but a few will be more than happy to nibble on humans. It doesnt quite capture whats happening in the Arctic, and elsewhere. Hurlin and Robert L. Patterson. Things will likely get worse for the caribou before they get better. We're here to help you make the most of your Alaska trip. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. It makes its home in frigid places, where few mammals can live. It depends where you go. Is there still fish by then? In Anchorage not so bad relatively speaking that is. But what is mostly an annoyance for humans can threaten entire populations of other animals. When these insects attack caribou or reindeer en masse, the mammals run to snowy or icy areas or a windy ridge to escape the onslaught. Alaska Tour & Travel uses cookies to track your trip selections and favorites. You are going all over so bring some bug spray. I guess mosquitoes arent dangerous in Alaska in general? So only apply it directly on the skin of your face, hair, neck, and hands. Going to Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway from 10 to 18 August advisable to bring bug spray? Some Alaskans jokingly refer to the mosquito as Alaskas state bird., The 'extreme cruelty' around the global trade in frog legs, What does cancer smell like? Topical antihistamines or aloe vera may help relieve the itch if these precautions prove unsuccessful. The mosquito life cycle consists of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. I hate mosquitos more than cold. They hatched earlier and grew faster, still. [1], The first recorded execution to occur in the Alaskan Territory was that of a Stikine Native American, only known by the name Scutd-doo, on December 29, 1869. Until we start getting dead birds up here, theres no reason to worry, Kruse said. Like the woolly mammoths, the caribou were among the Pleistocene's most prolific large mammals. Get some bug spray when you get here. What its like and how to get somesleep. We were packing Off spray with around 30 Deet, I assume that will work? [3] Newspapers erroneously called Boyd the first person to be hanged in Alaska. Relatively nonlethal, mosquitoes are the reigning champions in the "Most Annoying Bug" category. [19] Whereas the drop Hamilton received was too long, the drop Beaver received was insufficient to break his neck, leading to Beaver strangling to death. Its not like you have to wear a headnet around in town. Nothing is more effective than a physical barrier to separate you from mosquitoes. Some people believe time-release repellents containing a minimum of DEET can be as effective against Alaska mosquitoes as full-power DEET, without its harshness. Previous studies have shown caribou and reindeer populations drop when insect harassment goes up, and many of those populations are already in decline. It's just a reality of the wilderness in some parts of the world, especially the parts that I have really . Mosquitoes in diapause will live in tree holes, basements, and many survive the winter in semi-hibernation. The spear-wielding primates came for the caribou, too. If you plan to go fishing, camping, or RVing, where youll stay in one place for a long time, look into butane-powered Thermacell units that vaporize a repellent into the air. Grasses and/or mud were rubbed on their bodies. The Talkeetna mountains is the only place they may be thick. This is perhaps my best defense against vicious swarms of mosquitoes. Part of HuffPost Environment. Climate change may make mosquitoes throughout the Arctic more numerous. That is a great time to go. You have some good options for bug protection in Alaska: No question, DEET is the most effective method of combating our pesky neighbors. All life stages except adults are aquatic and can occur in a variety of wet or moist places such as ponds, sloughs, standing pools of water, salt water marshes, artificial containers, hollow trees, low depressions of land, and moist areas of fields, bogs, and forests. Find how many days you need based on what you want to see and do in Alaska. Invertebrate predators of the mosquito wont awake for another month, and the first weeks of spring become the high season for mosquito nursery rhymes, free love and few predators to send them to mosquito heaven. With mild temperatures, regular precipitation, and many marshlands, lakes, and rivers, the environment is well-suited for these pesky insects. The disease has not made it to higher latitudes of Europe and the two mosquito species that have transmitted the virus most often in the Lower 48 dont live in Alaska. A pregnant caribou could count on there being plenty of nutrient-rich vegetation around in May, when she needed it most, to feed the single baby calf growing within her. If you are near the water they can get pretty pesky if the wind isnt blowing. For example, spruce bark beetle adults, which overwinter below snow line in the trunks of infested trees, have a winter supercooling point of -13 degrees F. The larval stage, however, has a slightly lower supercooling point of -24 degrees F since it overwinters in tree trunks above the snow line where it is subjected to lower temperatures. One of the more blood-chilling sights of spring in Alaska: the reappearance of the mosquito. Which one is right for you? [14] Bird's death sentence was passed on February 9, 1900, and after a protracted legal battle, he was hanged more than three years later on March 6, 1903. But unlike the woolly mammoths, the caribou survived the megafauna extinction that coincided with the Pleistocenes melt, and the emergence of modern humans. About. First, there aren't mosquitoes all summer long. With mild temperatures, regular precipitation, and many marshlands, lakes, and rivers, the environment is well-suited for these pesky insects. If conditions are just so, larvae will enter diapause sooner than the egg laying females and dormant eggs will accumulate. Well be completely in the backcountry for the majority of the 30-days. And the arm. It's time for Alaska's mosquitoes to shine. It wont have the same saturation and bonding, but it will still last 2-4 weeks and survive a washing or twolong enough for most Alaska vacations. Every year, they congregate in hordes that are thickest from the Yukon River north to the Arctic Ocean and torment the Caribou and humans relentlessly. And the bugs in that region were mild for the Arctic. Depends on how wet it is that time of year. The wind is always blowing as the ferry is moving. I was on the water, in the forests, and all over town without bug spray on. They really bloom then but thats the only bad time. The mosquito life cycle consists of eggs, larvae or "wrigglers," pupae or "tumblers," and adults. All rights reserved. [8] The execution is reported to have occurred on either July 30, 1883,[1] or August 14, 1883. Hey Dennis!! A 30 percent DEET repellant should protect you for eight to 10 hours. "Those are not edited. Snow melt provides prolonged saturation ideal for breeding. If youre down on the spit in Homer you should be fine. The Mosquito is Alaskas Unofficial State Bird. If youre in the woods or on the river and the wind isnt blowing bring spray for sure. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. When they're at their bloodsucking-best in June, the site recommends bug repellent and light-colored clothing. They're most prevalent after a hatch, with the mosquito population spiking late June through July, and again, briefly, at the beginning of August. How bad will the no seeums and mosquitos be? There are 20 in Interior Alaska, though in any one place you won't see more than ten. The mosquitoes were so thick, death generally occurred by suffocation. Afterward, be sure to spray your clothes vigorously. You can be completely covered in a matter of seconds, Culler says. Mosquito Curtains are offered in various colors such as White, Ivory, and Black as well as a no-see-um mesh for coastal sand flies. Dennis not a mosquito question but sounds like you know what youre talking about. They can't fly in a light breeze, so more blustery areas along coastlines and in the mountains can be relatively mosquito free. The wind ALWAYS blows in Homer and does a great job keeping the bugs away. Theyre moderately effective in a 10-15 foot zone when theres no wind. Mosquito eggs can sometimes lie dormant for several years, particularly when the eggs are deposited in depressions that are not flooded with water each year. Alaska Trekker recommends applying DEET directly to difficult-to-cover areas, like your face, hair, neck, and hands. Horrible Swarms of Mosquitos in Arctic Alaska Nickolas Warner 256 subscribers Subscribe 405 49K views 2 years ago This video shows me and my girlfriend exposing ourselves to the swarms of. You can sometimes taste it in your mouth from being absorbed through the skin. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? At my home in Fairbanks, at the first sign of a hatch; I fire up my Mosquito Magnets: 4 of them at every corner of the house and deck. [21], No executions occurred in Alaska after statehood. Wear long sleeved light colors, mosquitoes are attracted to darks, especially blue. It doesnt smell too good, though. But ask anyone north of Ohio and they will describe concentrated swarms of mosquitoes that would send even Lewis & Clark indoors. Segura's attorney petitioned for a change of venue based on the racial prejudice surrounding Segura's trial, but the motion was denied. The first was the hanging of Fred Hardy, who was convicted of murdering Florence and Con Sullivan, two brothers who were natives of Montana, and F.J. Rooney. We will be in Juneau, Gustavus, and on a 5 night cruise of Glacier Bay ( involving several hikes) from May 24th to June 1st. If Arctic temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius, the study predicts, the probability of juvenile mosquitoes surviving to adulthood could increase 53 percent. They also grew faster, meaning they spent less time in the vulnerable, developmental state that makes them easy prey for birds. Sundown seems to activate them but there were no swarms and I didnt use bug spray and barely noticed them. Mosquito Curtains Inc. makes mosquito netting curtains as alternative to permanent screen porch enclosures. LaMoore testified as an alibi witness for Nelson, stating that he had spent the evening of the murder elsewhere with Nelson, but due to LaMoore lying elsewhere in his testimony about a felony robbery conviction twenty years prior, the jury discounted LaMoore's testimony, convicted Nelson of murder, and recommended the death penalty.