FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
July 19, 2019
For media inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
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Alabama Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Marshall Announces Court of Criminal
Appeals Upholds Capital Murder Conviction in Russell County
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the Alabama
Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the capital murder conviction of Lisa Leane
Graham. Graham, 51, of Phenix City, was convicted in Russell County Circuit Court in
March 2015 for the murder-for-hire contract killing of her daughter, Stephanie “Shea”
Graham.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Lisa Graham arranged for Kenneth Walton
to kill Shea Graham. Walton, who had served time in prison for drug distribution, was
associated with the Grahams through his work for the family’s construction company.
Part of the conflict between Lisa and Shea Graham stemmed from the daughter’s arrest
for a drive-by shooting for which the mother had posted $100,000 bond. On July 5, 2007,
Lisa Graham met Walton and provided him with a 9 mm pistol. That evening, Walton
met with Shea Graham under the pretense of helping her find a vehicle, drove toward
Eufaula and stopped at the end of Highway 165 in Russell County for her to get out of
the vehicle for a few moments. Walton then retrieved the gun and shot her two times in
the head and four times in the chest.
Russell County District Attorney Ken Davis’ office prosecuted this case and obtained a
conviction against Lisa Graham, who was sentenced to death. Walton pleaded guilty to
murder and is serving a sentence of life imprisonment.
The Attorney General’s Capital Litigation Division handled the Graham case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued on July 12. Attorney General Marshall
commended Assistant Attorney General Audrey Jordan and former Assistant Attorney
General Stephen Frisby for their successful work on this case.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
