An East Ridge man who raped and murdered a local woman continues to fight against his impending sentence — death by lethal injection — citing “the transformation that he has demonstrated over the last 35 years,” according to a clemency petition.
Harold Wayne Nichols pleaded guilty in May 1990 to first-degree felony murder, aggravated rape and first-degree burglary in connection with Karen Pulley’s death.
Nichols, now 64, broke into the 20-year-old Chattanooga woman’s house Sept. 30, 1988, to rape her, according to court records.
“He did not enter her home intending to kill anyone but, nevertheless, during the assault, Wayne hit Ms. Pulley multiple times in the head with a wooden board he found in the house,” the clemency petition said. “Ms. Pulley succumbed to her injuries and died the following day.”
Shortly after Nichols pleaded guilty, a jury brought from Sumner County to Hamilton County sentenced him to death. He is scheduled to be executed Dec. 11.