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Troy Michael Kell (born June 13, 1968[1]) is an inmate on death row in Utah. Kell was sentenced to life in prison by the State of Nevada for the 1986 murder of James "Cotton" Kelly. He was transferred to the Utah State Prison as part of a prisoner exchange program shortly after his conviction and on July 6, 1994, Kell attacked and killed inmate Lonnie Blackmon at the Utah Department of Corrections Gunnison facility. Kell stabbed Blackmon a total of 67 times while his associate, Eric Daniels, held Blackmon down. Kell was sentenced to death by firing squad for the murder.[2]

Key Information

Trial

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Due to security concerns, the state won the right to hold Kell's trial for the death of Blackmon in a courtroom within the Utah State Prison facility. Convicted of aggravated murder, the state pushed for and secured a death sentence from the jury. Prosecutors said the murder of Blackmon, an African American, by Kell, a white supremacist, was racially motivated.[3] In 2003, Kell came within a month of execution by firing squad after initially dropping his appeals,[4] but eventually chose to file an appeal. As of April 2024 Kell remains on death row, as his appeals process continues.

Previous murder conviction

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Kell was originally imprisoned in the state of Nevada for the murder of 21-year-old James "Cotton" Kelly. Although tried for killing "Kelly," the victim's real name was James Thiede, a Canadian citizen who was under investigation for drug smuggling by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[citation needed] Some years later, Thiede's mother, father, and uncle were federally indicted both in Las Vegas and Toronto for drug smuggling, all using the same alias, "Kelly." In 1986, Kell, then age 18, was asked by his 15-year-old long-time friend, Sandy Shaw, to beat Cotton Kelly for stalking her. Her mother had gone to the police earlier, but there were no stalking laws on the books at that time.

Cotton Kelly drove with Shaw, Kell, and a third young man (William "Billy" Merritt) into the desert, where Kell shot Kelly six times in the face, killing him. The murder was dubbed the "Show and Tell Murder" by Las Vegas media because Shaw and another teen (David Fletcher)[5] allegedly returned to the scene of the crime with their friends, to see the corpse.[6] One of the friends eventually reported the incident to the police, which led to the arrests and convictions of Shaw, Kell, and Merritt.

In the affidavit that helped free Shaw after many years of incarceration, Fletcher said that Shaw never went back to the scene or took friends to see the body. Fletcher also admitted that District Attorney Dan Seaton got Fletcher to change his testimony and commit perjury at Shaw's trial because Seaton threatened him with prosecution for grand theft for taking the victim's expensive watch and ring. Fletcher further stated that he believed that his testimony was what convicted Shaw and expressed "deep regret" but also "relief" for coming forward after all those years.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Shaw's words: "I made a horrible, immature decision to ask a friend to rough this man up so he would leave me alone," Sandy says. "Cotton Kelly had been hassling me and pestering me to go out with him and to pose for nude pictures. He would call our house at all hours of the day and was so persistent that my mom phoned the police to request that they keep him away from me. But they didn't have stalking laws in place then like we have today."[6]

For her part in the crime, Shaw was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In 2004, the State Board of Pardons and Parole commuted her sentence making her eligible for parole. She served 21 years of her sentence and was released on parole in December 2007. William Merritt, who testified against Kell, was released from prison after serving only 4 years of an 8-to-12-year, plea-bargained sentence. He later returned for subsequent crimes [7] and is now serving life in prison without parole for raping and kidnapping his girlfriend in 2008.[8] Troy Kell was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2022, Shaw was granted a pardon by the state Board of Pardons.[9]

Documentary production

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HBO, in cooperation with Blowback Productions, filmed a documentary, entitled Gladiator Days: Anatomy of a Prison Murder, released in 2002. It tells the story of Troy Kell and Eric Daniels' murder of Lonnie Blackmon, and shows footage of the initial trial in 1986; statements from Kell, Daniels, guards, the state attorney, Blackmon's brother, and Sandra Shaw (who was serving time elsewhere as the instigator of Kell's first murder, for which Kell was originally incarcerated); and footage of the attack captured by the CCTV within the Utah Prison in Gunnison, Utah.[10]

See also

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References

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Troy Kell

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Troy Michael Kell (born June 13, 1968) is an American convict currently on death row at the Utah State Prison for the aggravated murder of fellow inmate Lonnie Blackmon. Kell was convicted of first-degree murder in Nevada for the 1986 killing of James "Cotton" Kelly, a crime tied to gang affiliations, and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Transferred to the Central Utah Correctional Facility under an interstate compact, he continued to exhibit violent behavior, including race-related conflicts consistent with his white supremacist associations. On July 11, 1994, while serving his sentence, Kell, assisted by inmate Eric Daniels, stabbed Blackmon 67 times in a recreation area, an attack captured on security video. Charged with aggravated , Kell's 1996 featured on the premeditated nature of the assault, leading to a conviction and death sentence; he elected , a method then available in . The affirmed the verdict in 2002, rejecting claims of mental impairment and ineffective counsel. Kell's post-conviction challenges, including allegations of and challenges to execution protocols, have been denied repeatedly, most recently by the in 2023. The case drew attention through the 2002 documentary Gladiator Days: Anatomy of a Murder, which examined prison dynamics and the killing. No execution date has been set as of 2025.

Early Life

Childhood and Family Background

Troy Michael Kell was born on June 13, 1968, in Nevada. He grew up in a Las Vegas neighborhood, where he formed early associations that later contributed to his criminal involvement. Details regarding Kell's family background, including parents and siblings, are not extensively documented in public records or trial proceedings. By his mid-teens, Kell had developed a longtime friendship with Sandy Shaw, whom he first met around 1977 when she was six years old and had recently relocated to Las Vegas from Minnesota; the two grew up together in the same community. This association foreshadowed his entry into violent crime, as at age 18 in September 1986, Kell participated in the murder of James "Cotton" Kelly on the outskirts of Las Vegas, an incident stemming from Shaw's request for assistance in confronting the victim.

Initial Criminal Activities

Troy Kell's initial criminal activities occurred in 1986, when, at age 18, he collaborated with 19-year-old William Merritt and 15-year-old Sandy Shaw to orchestrate a targeting Kelly, a 20-year-old man wearing visible gold chains in . The group devised a scheme to lure Kelly to a remote area outside the city under the pretense of a sexual "" encounter, with the intent to steal his jewelry once isolated. On September 29, 1986, in , the plan unfolded as Kelly was enticed to the location via Shaw, who had initially met him at a club. Kell and Merritt arrived armed, positioning themselves to execute the robbery after Kelly disrobed expecting the arranged activity. This marked Kell's entry into recorded , driven by opportunistic theft rather than prior documented offenses.

First Conviction

Murder of James "Cotton" Kelly

In 1986, 18-year-old Troy Kell became involved in a confrontation with 21-year-old James "Cotton" Kelly after 15-year-old Sandy Shaw, who had been persistently approached by Kelly with propositions for nude photographs and in exchange for , asked Kell to beat up Kelly for the unwanted advances. On September 29, Shaw lured Kelly to a remote area beyond by pretending she needed medication for a faked leg injury, with Kell and accomplice Billy Merritt accompanying her in Kelly's vehicle. Once isolated, Kelly grabbed Shaw's arm, at which point Kell shot him six times in the face at close range with a handgun, motivated by anger over Kelly's propositions to Shaw; the shooting was described in trial testimony as unprovoked beyond that context. Kell, Shaw, and Merritt then robbed Kelly of approximately $1,000 from his wallet, divided the money, and fled the scene in his car, leaving the body in the desert. The murder gained notoriety as the "Show and Tell" killing after Shaw and others reportedly returned to the site to view the body and show it to witnesses, though this occurred post-homicide and did not directly involve Kell in the return. Kelly's body was discovered shortly thereafter, leading to investigations that implicated the group; Kell's role as the shooter was established through accomplice testimony and evidence presented in his trial.

Nevada Sentencing and Imprisonment

Kell was convicted of first-degree for shooting James "Cotton" Kelly six times in the face at close range on September 29, 1986, in a remote area outside . A court sentenced him to without the possibility of . He served this sentence in Nevada Department of Corrections facilities for approximately seven years. In June 1993, pursuant to an , Kell was transferred to the , closer to his family in and amid ongoing disciplinary issues in custody. The transfer allowed Nevada to retain jurisdiction over his life sentence while housing him out-of-state.

Second Murder

Prison Transfer and Conditions

Following his 1986 conviction in Nevada for the first-degree murder of James "Cotton" Kelly, where he received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, Troy Kell was transferred to the Utah State Prison in June 1993 pursuant to an interstate compact agreement between the states. The transfer occurred amid Kell's documented history of violent altercations with other inmates and affiliations with prison gangs in Nevada, prompting the interstate arrangement to manage his incarceration. In March 1994, Kell was relocated from the to the (CUCF) in Gunnison, a medium-security operated by the Department of Corrections. CUCF housed general population inmates, including those transferred from other states like Kell and victim Lonnie Blackmon (from ), in shared living and activity areas that facilitated interactions among individuals with rival and racial affiliations. Kell, a self-identified white supremacist and leader within prison networks, engaged in prior race-based conflicts with Black inmates at the facility, exacerbating tensions in an environment where correctional oversight during group details—such as the barber shop area where the subsequent occurred—proved insufficient to prevent coordinated attacks. These conditions reflected broader challenges in 1990s , including inadequate segregation of ideologically opposed groups despite known risks from disciplinary records and .

Killing of Lonnie Blackmon

On July 6, 1994, Troy Kell stabbed fellow inmate Lonnie Blackmon to death in the recreation room of the in Gunnison, . Kell, then 26 years old and serving a life sentence from for a prior murder, used a prison-manufactured shank to inflict multiple stab wounds on Blackmon, an African American inmate convicted of robbery in and transferred to . The attack occurred amid heightened racial tensions in the facility, with Kell—a self-identified white supremacist—targeting Blackmon in what authorities described as a premeditated driven by affiliations and interracial animosities. Surveillance cameras captured the graphic , showing Kell repeatedly stabbing Blackmon while other inmates were present in the room. Blackmon succumbed to his injuries shortly after , marking Kell's second homicide while incarcerated. The incident highlighted ongoing in 's prison system, where makeshift weapons and factional rivalries contributed to such attacks.

Trial for Aggravated Murder

Prosecution Case and Evidence

The prosecution charged Troy Kell with aggravated murder under Utah Code § 76-5-202 for the July 6, 1994, stabbing death of inmate Lonnie Blackmon at the in Gunnison. The case centered on evidence of premeditation, racial animus, and , establishing that Kell committed the killing while confined in a correctional facility and inflicted unnecessary suffering on the victim. Central to the evidence was a recording the attack, which captured Kell the handcuffed and unarmed Blackmon 67 times over approximately 2.5 minutes in a treatment room during a medical visit. The footage depicted Kell using a shank fashioned from a razor blade, attacking Blackmon from behind after freeing himself with a modified handcuff key, straddling the victim methodically, pausing to wipe blood from his face, and returning twice to resume the assault while Blackmon whimpered and bled out. An eyewitness described Kell's demeanor as "very business like, as cold as cold gets," underscoring the deliberate nature of the act. Forensic analysis by the confirmed 67 wounds, including 26 to Blackmon's face and eyes that caused prolonged suffering rather than immediate death, with only two potentially fatal stabs to the chest and back; this supported the aggravation factor of . Accomplices Eric Daniels and Paul Payne assisted by restraining Blackmon—Daniels holding his legs and Payne choking and punching him—while a third inmate, John Cannistraci, acted as lookout. of planning included Kell and his associates submitting coordinated medical request forms on July 5, 1994, with Daniels forging one in Blackmon's name to ensure their simultaneous transport to the treatment area. Racial motivation was evidenced by Kell's documented white supremacist affiliations and a letter he wrote to another expressing to target an African-American , corroborated by Kell shouting racial epithets during and after the attack on Blackmon, who was . This premeditated group effort against a defenseless victim, absent any imminent threat—Blackmon was handcuffed, conversing with others, and made no aggressive moves—directly rebutted Kell's claim. The prosecution presented up to 40 witnesses and emphasized the rarity of such violence in the facility, which had operated six years without prior murders.

Defense Claims

In the trial for the aggravated murder of Blackmon, Kell's defense primarily argued that the killing occurred in , asserting that Blackmon had repeatedly threatened Kell's life and possessed within the prison environment. Defense counsel presented evidence of Blackmon's dangerous reputation among inmates, ongoing racial tensions at the , and inadequate protection from guards, including instances where weapons and handcuff keys were accessible to prisoners. Kell himself testified that he acted under an imminent threat, claiming to have overheard Blackmon and associates discussing an attack on him, such as statements like "Yeah man . . . it’s on," which heightened his fear in the volatile prison setting. The defense further sought to mitigate the charge by requesting a jury instruction on imperfect self-defense manslaughter, contending that Kell held an honest but unreasonable belief in the necessity of deadly force due to extreme emotional disturbance provoked by Blackmon's actions and the broader institutional conditions. This argument emphasized a lack of premeditated malice, portraying the stabbing—despite its severity with 67 wounds—as a spontaneous response to perceived provocation, including unverified claims that Blackmon wore a bandana symbolizing gang affiliation shortly before the incident. Counsel challenged the prosecution's emphasis on racial animus by highlighting inconsistencies in witness testimonies and the spontaneous nature of the altercation, aiming to reduce the conviction from aggravated murder. However, the trial court rejected the imperfect self-defense instruction, ruling that the evidence did not support a reasonable basis for Kell's belief in justification, given indicators of premeditation such as the coordinated attack with fellow inmates and post-attack statements. The defense's narrative was undermined by video evidence of the assault and testimony regarding Kell's prior violent incidents, though these claims persisted in appellate arguments as grounds for instructional error.

Verdict and Death Sentence

On June 21, 1996, following a in the Fifth District Court of , a unanimous convicted Troy Kell of aggravated for the stabbing death of fellow Lonnie Blackmon on , 1994. The conviction was based on evidence including a video recording of the attack, , and Kell's own admissions, establishing premeditation and intent to kill while Kell was serving a life sentence for a prior . In the subsequent penalty phase, the same jury deliberated and unanimously recommended a death sentence, citing aggravating factors such as the murder's commission in a correctional facility, Kell's prior involving use of a dangerous weapon, and the especially heinous nature of the crime, which involved approximately 40 stab wounds to Blackmon's head, neck, and torso. Utah law at the time required the trial judge to impose death if the jury so recommended, absent a valid basis for override, which the found none. On August 1, 1996, Judge George E. Ballif formally sentenced Kell to death by or, at the inmate's election, firing squad; Kell selected the firing squad method during the proceedings. This made Kell, then aged 28, the youngest person on Utah's at the time. The later affirmed the conviction and sentence in 2002, finding no reversible errors in the trial process.

Early Appellate Challenges

Kell appealed his August 1, 1996, conviction for aggravated murder and death sentence directly to the , raising multiple challenges to proceedings for the stabbing death of inmate Lonnie Blackmon on July 6, 1994, at the . Primary among these was the contention that conducting in a located within the violated his constitutional to a public trial, a fair trial, the , and equal protection, as the setting inherently suggested guilt and compromised impartiality. The court rejected this argument, holding that security concerns justified the venue on a case-by-case basis and that juror questionnaires revealed minimal , with only 10 of 113 potential jurors affected and none ultimately selected. Kell further challenged the trial court's handling of jury , asserting abuse of discretion in dismissing two for cause due to bias concerns, but the found no error in the dismissals, as the record supported the trial judge's assessments of impartiality. He argued for a instruction on as a lesser included offense of , claiming evidence warranted it; the majority upheld the denial for lack of supporting evidence, while Justices Durham and Howe dissented, viewing the omission as harmless error. Additional evidentiary claims targeted the admission of a graphic of the scene and items like a "Dear Luther" letter and post-incident statements, which Kell deemed prejudicial; the court affirmed their admissibility under Rule of Evidence 403, citing substantial probative value outweighing any unfair . Allegations of in closing arguments were raised, but the discerned no plain error warranting reversal. In the penalty phase, Kell contested the exclusion of and evidence and the inclusion of victim impact statements; these were deemed properly handled, with any potential issues deemed harmless. Broader statutory attacks on 's death penalty provisions under Utah Code § 76-5-202 as vague and unconstitutional were dismissed, consistent with prior precedents affirming their validity. A claim, based on prior prison disciplinary proceedings barring criminal prosecution, was rejected, as civil and criminal sanctions for the same act do not implicate protections. On November 1, 2002, the unanimously affirmed the conviction and sentence in State v. Kell, 2002 UT 106, 61 P.3d 1019.

Post-Conviction Petitions

Following his 1996 conviction and death sentence for the aggravated murder of Blackmon, Kell filed an initial petition for post-conviction relief in state court on May 16, 2003, primarily alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel in failing to investigate and present mitigating evidence, such as issues and . The district court dismissed portions of the petition as procedurally barred or successive under Utah's Post-Conviction Remedies Act, and the affirmed in part in 2008, holding that claims previously litigated or reasonably available earlier could not be reasserted without showing cause and prejudice. Kell's appeals emphasized that prior counsel's deficiencies excused procedural defaults, but the court rejected most claims, remanding only limited issues for evidentiary hearing on whether trial counsel adequately investigated Kell's . In subsequent proceedings, Kell pursued a second state post-conviction filed January 16, 2018, claiming ineffective assistance by his initial post-conviction , who allegedly conducted minimal investigation, failed to jurors or witnesses, and omitted key claims like juror bias or withheld of racial animus influencing the verdict. The district court granted for the state in 2018, deeming the claims successive and untimely, as bars relitigation of issues from prior petitions absent exceptional circumstances. On appeal, the affirmed the dismissal on December 21, 2023, ruling that Kell failed to demonstrate his second petition's claims could not have been raised earlier or that prior 's performance met the Strickland standard for prejudice, emphasizing the petition's overlap with exhausted federal habeas grounds. Concurrently, Kell initiated federal proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 in the U.S. District Court for the District of (Kell v. Crowther, No. 2:07-cv-00359) around 2007, later amended on January 14, 2013, to include claims of errors, insufficient of aggravating factors, and cumulative prejudice from counsel's failures. The case was stayed multiple times under Rhines v. Weber to allow exhaustion of unexhausted state claims, including those related to post-conviction counsel's ineffectiveness, with the Tenth Circuit in 2019 dismissing mixed petitions and remanding for resolution of procedural posture issues. As of 2024, the federal petition remains partially unresolved, with recent orders directing briefing on remaining claims after state exhaustion, though no merits ruling has issued, reflecting ongoing disputes over procedural bars under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA).

Recent Rulings and Developments

In December 2023, the denied Troy Kell's appeal for the fourth time, affirming the district court's dismissal of his second petition for post-conviction relief. Kell's petition alleged during sentencing, based on 2012 interviews in which three jurors reported communications with the trial judge, including statements placing the burden on Kell to prove he deserved mercy. The court ruled the claim procedurally barred, as the petition was filed in 2018—over five years after the evidence surfaced—and lacked justification for the delay. On December 22, 2023, Third District Judge Coral Sanchez dismissed a filed by Kell and four other inmates—Ralph Menzies, Taberon Honie, Douglas Carter, and Michael Archuleta—challenging the constitutionality of the state's firing squad execution protocol. The plaintiffs argued the protocol violated Eighth Amendment protections against , but the court upheld 's statutes authorizing the method, clearing the path for its potential use. This ruling preserved Kell's 1996 election of death by firing squad, one of only two such preserved under state law changes. In late December 2024, the Utah Supreme Court signaled interest in reviewing a broader challenge to the state's capital punishment framework, filed by the same group of inmates including Kell, targeting execution methods and procedures under Utah Code provisions. The court's order to the parties to submit briefing on the merits indicated potential substantive engagement, though no final decision had been reached by October 2025. Kell's involvement stemmed from claims that the protocols fail to ensure a painless death, despite his preference for firing squad over lethal injection. As of October 2025, Kell remained on death row at the Utah State Correctional Facility, with no execution date scheduled and ongoing litigation delaying implementation.

Ideological Associations

White Supremacist Involvement

Troy Kell identified himself as a white supremacist during his incarceration, with evidence establishing his adherence to racially motivated ideologies that influenced his violent actions. Prior to the stabbing of Lonnie Blackmon, Kell had a documented history of race-based conflicts, including an on a inmate in an prison earlier that year. Prosecutors presented a note recovered from Kell stating, "I’m going to kill the next I see," as of his intent driven by racial animus. During the penalty phase of his trial, evidence was admitted regarding Kell's membership in the , a white supremacist known for promoting racial and against non-whites. A letter attributed to Kell, addressed "Dear Luther," expressed supremacist sentiments, including the phrase: "Looks like I'll have to show me a nappy headed what some of this white power is all about. They seem to never learn." Immediately after the Blackmon attack, Kell reportedly shouted racial epithets and stated, "I hate with big mouths... I’ve got to do all I can to save our race," reinforcing the ideological basis for the crime. In the broader context of Utah prisons, white supremacist groups such as maintained a significant presence, comprising the largest affiliation among inmates during the mid-1990s, though official investigations into the Blackmon killing initially downplayed explicit racial motives despite inmate accounts suggesting otherwise. Kell's supremacist involvement extended beyond , as his actions aligned with patterns of racial violence common in such prison subcultures, though no formal leadership role in specific gangs was detailed in court records beyond the affiliation.

Racial Motivations in Crimes

Troy Kell's 1994 aggravated murder of fellow inmate Lonnie Blackmon at the exemplifies racial motivations in his crimes. On July 6, 1994, Kell, a self-identified white supremacist, stabbed the African-American Blackmon 67 times in the prison gymnasium, causing fatal blood loss. Court records detail that Kell had conspired with other white supremacists to target Blackmon specifically because of his race, reflecting Kell's ideological commitment to racial violence. Prosecutors emphasized Kell's extensive white supremacist affiliations, including leadership roles in prison gangs that orchestrated attacks on minority inmates, as evidence of animus-driven intent. Kell's body was adorned with supremacist tattoos symbolizing hatred toward racial minorities, and he admitted to prior involvement in racially charged prison assaults. The upheld the conviction, noting the attack's circumstances—unprovoked and excessive—aligned with racial targeting rather than . Kell testified that he acted in response to a race-motivated conspiracy against him by Blackmon and Black inmates, framing himself as the victim of reverse racial threats. However, jurors rejected this claim after less than two hours of , convicting him based on forensic evidence of premeditation and Kell's supremacist history. No appeals have overturned the racial motivation finding. In Kell's pre-incarceration crimes, such as the 1986 murder of Kelly—a white male shot in a gang-related dispute—racial elements are absent from documented accounts, which describe personal vendettas rather than ideological targeting. Kell's white supremacist views, which intensified during , appear to have catalyzed the explicit racial dimensions observed in the Blackmon killing and subsequent directives.

Execution Preferences

Selection of Firing Squad

Troy Kell elected death by firing squad shortly after his 1996 conviction for the murder of fellow inmate Barry Kirk Nation, explicitly stating his preference during a court hearing on August 1, 1996, before 6th District Judge David L. Mower. Kell articulated his choice by saying, "I prefer to die by the bullet than by poison," rejecting due to his aversion to chemicals entering his veins. Under Utah law applicable to inmates sentenced to death before May 3, 2004, condemned prisoners retain the right to select firing squad as an alternative to , a provision rooted in the state's historical use of the method, including executions as recent as 2010. Kell's timely election preserved this option despite subsequent legislative changes that made the default for newer sentences and temporarily restricted firing squad availability. Among 's death row population as of July 2025, Kell remains the sole inmate who pre-selected firing squad. Kell's choice aligned with a small number of death row inmates who opted for firing squad, viewing it as a quicker and less invasive end compared to intravenous drugs prone to procedural failures in other states. This preference nearly led to his execution by the method on June 28, 2003, following a dropped appeal, though he later reinstated challenges, postponing the process. 's firing squad protocol involves five volunteer marksmen firing .30-caliber from approximately 25 feet, with one rifle loaded with a blank to obscure the shooter's identity, ensuring reliability through . Recent state preparations, including ammunition procurement in 2025, indicate readiness to honor Kell's selection if his appeals conclude.

Challenges to Lethal Injection Protocols

Troy Kell elected death by firing squad shortly after his 1996 sentencing, explicitly stating his preference to "die by the bullet than by " during a court hearing before 6th District Judge David L. Mower. This choice reflected his aversion to as a method involving intravenous chemicals, which he and his attorney described as undesirable due to the introduction of "" into his veins. Under law at the time, inmates could select firing squad as an alternative to the default protocol, which typically employed a three-drug sequence aimed at inducing , paralysis, and . In October 2023, Kell joined four other inmates—Ralph Menzies, Michael Archuleta, Douglas Carter, and Taberon Honie—in filing a against the Department of Corrections and state officials, challenging the constitutionality of the state's execution protocols under both the and the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. . The plaintiffs contended that 's dual-method system— as primary, with firing squad as backup—forced inmates into selecting between two forms of execution that risked unnecessary , specifically alleging that drugs frequently failed to render the condemned fully unconscious before subsequent paralytics and heart-stopping agents caused death. They argued this created a substantial risk of the inmate experiencing excruciating awareness during the process, citing empirical evidence from botched executions in other states where inmates exhibited signs of distress post-injection. On December 22, 2023, Third District Judge Amber Mettler dismissed the suit, ruling that the protocols did not violate constitutional prohibitions against and upholding Utah's statute as enacted by the legislature. The inmates appealed, and in December 2024, the indicated potential interest in reviewing aspects of the challenge, though no final ruling had been issued by October 2025. An attempt to amend the in 2024 to propose alternative methods like gas was rejected by the court in May 2024. Utah's protocol, updated in June 2024 to incorporate for sedation, for pain suppression, and for , faced scrutiny in the litigation for ongoing risks related to vein access difficulties and drug efficacy variability, though these changes occurred after the initial filing.

Media Portrayals

Documentary Production

Gladiator Days: Anatomy of a Prison Murder, a one-hour documentary directed by , was released in as part of HBO's series. Produced by Nancy Abraham in association with Blowback Productions, the film centers on the 1994 murder of inmate Lonnie Blackmon by Troy Kell and accomplice Eric Daniels within . The production incorporated unedited camera footage capturing the attack, in which Kell stabbed Blackmon approximately 67 times, highlighting the raw institutional dynamics of . Filmmakers gained rare, unrestricted access to the facility and conducted direct interviews with Kell, who participated as himself, providing insights into his prior for the 1986 murder of James Thiede in and the racial animosities fueling the Blackmon killing. The documentary traces Kell's trajectory from his initial life sentence without parole to the events precipitating the capital offense, emphasizing the persistence of gang affiliations and personal vendettas behind bars. Originally aired on on March 10, 2002, it was later distributed on DVD by Warner Home Video in June 2004. No additional major documentary productions specifically focused on Kell have been identified, though the film's graphic use of real-time and testimonies has positioned it as a key visual record of the case.

Public Reception and Critiques

The 2002 HBO documentary Gladiator Days: Anatomy of a Prison Murder, which detailed Troy Kell's background, white supremacist affiliations, and the 1994 of Lonnie Blackmon captured on , elicited strong reactions emphasizing its graphic depiction of . Viewers frequently described the film as profoundly disturbing, with the unedited attack —showing Kell inflicting over 60 stab wounds—provoking visceral responses and prompting reflections on the dehumanizing effects of incarceration. The documentary holds a 7.3/10 average user rating on based on 416 reviews, with many praising its raw authenticity in exposing dynamics and the failure of rehabilitation efforts for like Kell, who entered at age 18 already convicted of . Public discourse highlighted the film's success in humanizing the consequences of unchecked , as one noted it underscores how facilities like foster environments where survival often requires alignment with racial gangs, contributing to cycles of brutality rather than reform. forums and viewer accounts recalled the content as among the most shocking depictions of real-life criminality, with the cited for its unrelenting gore and Kell's apparent lack of in interviews, reinforcing perceptions of him as . Some reactions critiqued the system itself for breeding such killers, arguing that Kell's progression from a Nevada life sentence to orchestrating a racially motivated illustrates systemic inadequacies in segregation and oversight, rather than inherent individual alone. Critiques of were limited but centered on its potential ; individual reviews questioned whether the title's gladiatorial framing romanticized barbarity, suggesting alternatives like "Psycho Daze" to better capture Kell's premeditated savagery without evoking spectacle. No widespread accusations of bias emerged, though some viewers disputed minor portrayals, such as claims that the Blackmon murder lacked explicit racial animus despite Kell's documented ties and trial evidence of supremacist motives. Overall, the film faced little professional scrutiny, with its reliance on verified footage lending credibility, though user feedback occasionally lamented the absence of deeper analysis into Kell's pre-prison influences beyond surface-level gang recruitment.

Current Status and Impact

Ongoing Incarceration

Troy Kell has been held at the since his 1996 conviction for the first-degree of fellow Lonnie Blackmon. As of August 2024, he was 56 years old and among six inmates awaiting execution in . No execution date has been scheduled for Kell as of October 2025. Kell's post-conviction appeals have been repeatedly denied by state courts. In December 2023, the rejected his appeal for the fourth time, affirming the dismissal of his second petition for post-conviction relief, which alleged and other procedural issues. Federal petitions have similarly failed, including a 2019 dismissal by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals due to unexhausted state claims. Kell participated in a 2023 lawsuit with four other inmates challenging the state's protocol and seeking to preserve alternative methods like firing squad, which he had elected prior to its legislative repeal; the was dismissed by a state district court judge. In December 2024, the indicated interest in reviewing a broader challenge to the state's statutes filed by inmates, potentially affecting Kell's case, though no ruling has been issued. These ongoing legal efforts have prolonged his incarceration without altering his death sentence.

Broader Implications for Capital Punishment

Kell's 1996 election of over , citing a preference for "bullet than ," exemplified inmate concerns over the potential unreliability of intravenous administration, particularly for those with histories of that damage and complicate sedation. This choice, permitted under law for sentences imposed before May 2004, highlighted systemic challenges in protocols, including risks of prolonged suffering from inadequate anesthesia or failed vein access, which have led to multiple botched executions nationwide since the method's in the . Utah's retention of the firing squad option for pre-2004 cases like Kell's has fueled debates on execution method efficacy, with proponents arguing it provides a near-instantaneous death—targeting the heart for rapid unconsciousness within seconds—contrasting with 's documented failures, such as convulsions or extended awareness reported in post-mortem analyses of cases like Joseph Wood's 2014 execution. Kell's near-execution in 2003, halted by appeals, underscored how method preferences can intersect with Eighth Amendment claims, prompting state legislatures to refine statutes; Utah's 2015 designated lethal injection as primary but retained firing squad as a contingency for drug unavailability, influencing similar policy considerations in states like and facing pharmaceutical shortages. More recently, Kell joined four other death row inmates in a 2023 lawsuit asserting that both and firing squad violate prohibitions against , citing risks of pain and psychological distress; the suit's dismissal by Third District Court Judge Coral Sanchez affirmed the protocols' but perpetuated scrutiny of capital punishment's implementation, revealing how individual cases amplify national discourse on method reform versus abolition. This litigation pattern, evident in Kell's multiple appeals—including a fourth rejection by the in 2023—illustrates capital punishment's procedural complexities, where challenges to execution mechanics often extend incarceration, raising questions about retributive justice's practicality and the empirical deterrent value of swift versus delayed penalties.

References

  1. https://www.ksl.com/article/50830932/utah-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-from-death-row-inmate-for-4th-time
  2. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ut-supreme-court/1221445.html
  3. https://www.deseret.com/1996/8/2/19257897/prison-killer-chooses-to-die-by-firing-squad/
  4. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ut-supreme-court/1321790.html
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359332/
  6. https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/utah-prepares-firing-squad-execution/
  7. https://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/mar/17/after-21-years-hold-shes-ready-life/
  8. https://universe.byu.edu/2001/10/11/murderers-come-from-ordinary-people-experts-say/
  9. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/27/19251113/kell-s-partner-in-crime-describes-86-murder/
  10. https://people.com/show-and-tell-killer-dubbed-sandy-shaw-speaks-out-pardoned-11826955
  11. https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/maybe-its-time-to-show-and-tell-that-teenage-mistakes-can-be-forgiven/
  12. https://murderpedia.org/male.K/k/kell-troy-michael.htm
  13. https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2008/may/22/man-convicted-in-vegas-show-and-tell-case-faces-ch/
  14. https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/man-guilty-in-86-killing-faces-trial-in-sex-assault/
  15. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/22/19250263/kell-convicted-of-aggravated-murder/
  16. https://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/2002/kell-tm.html
  17. https://www.facebook.com/61550806026496/posts/122267432432026867/
  18. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/9/19247450/trial-in-grisly-prison-slaying-to-feature-graphic-footage/
  19. https://legacy.utcourts.gov/utc/appellate-briefs/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2020/02/Appellants-Brief-20180788.pdf
  20. https://statecourtreport.org/sites/default/files/fastcase/additionalPdfs/processed/Troy%2520Michael%2520Kell%2520-Brief%2520-03.21.2019.pdf
  21. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/10/4/22684978/men-utah-death-row-capital-punishment-deaht-penalty-murder-inmates-killers/
  22. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/27/19251116/kell-becomes-the-youngest-on-death-row/
  23. https://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/2012/20090998.html
  24. https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-239/120327/20191025144322844_Brief%2520In%2520Opposition%2520-%2520refile%252010-25-19.pdf
  25. https://statecourtreport.org/sites/default/files/fastcase/converted/Kell%2520v.%2520State%252C%2520Utah%252020180788.pdf
  26. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ut-supreme-court/115645235.html
  27. https://law.justia.com/cases/utah/supreme-court/2023/20180788.html
  28. https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4520&context=byu_sc2
  29. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca10/17-4191/17-4191-2019-05-28.html
  30. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/utah/utdce/2:2007cv00359/61906/321/
  31. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-utd-2_07-cv-00359/USCOURTS-utd-2_07-cv-00359-0
  32. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/utah-judge-clears-the-way-for-use-of-the-firing-squad
  33. https://www.ksl.com/article/50828720/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-by-5-death-row-inmates-upholds-utahs-death-penalty-statute
  34. https://www.yahoo.com/news/utah-begins-preparations-first-firing-180542026.html
  35. https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/utah-supreme-court-signals-interest-in-death-penalty-challenge
  36. https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/tag/troy-kell
  37. https://www.deseret.com/1994/7/27/19122019/inmates-say-racism-played-role-in-fatal-stabbing/
  38. https://www.deseret.com/1996/6/20/19249800/accused-killer-testifies-he-was-the-real-victim/
  39. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/74-show-and-tell-troy-kell-sandy-shaw/id1328036628?i=1000489890810
  40. https://www.police1.com/archive/articles/utah-officials-look-for-firing-squad-7WaIiY5Bq9X37XMu/
  41. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/condemned-men-face-firing-squad/
  42. https://www.deseret.com/2003/4/30/19719193/kell-execution-set-for-june-28/
  43. http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/03/04/ctv.execution/
  44. https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/judge-to-decide-future-of-utahs-death-penalty
  45. https://www.fox13now.com/news/politics/judge-rejects-efforts-to-revive-lawsuit-over-utahs-death-penalty
  46. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/06/07/utahs-lethal-injection-cocktail/
  47. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/468376/gladiator-days-anatomy-of-a-prison-murder
  48. https://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Days-Anatomy-Prison-Murder/dp/B00006SFKG
  49. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359332/reviews/
  50. https://www.corrections1.com/jail-management/videos/gladiator-days-prison-documentary-R2N5co1iO9AuYgPt/
  51. https://octopusoverlords.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12274
  52. https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Gladiator-Days-Anatomy-Of-A-Prison-Murder-1D0ABA874A5204DB
  53. https://kslnewsradio.com/crime-police-courts/who-are-utahs-other-death-row-prisoners-awaiting-execution/2124085/
  54. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2023/12/27/24001929/utah-death-penalty-explained/
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