Lieth Von Stein

Lieth Von Stein (sometimes spelled Leith Von Stein) (March 16, 1946 - July 25, 1988) was an American man whose murder launched a well-known trial in North Carolina.

An executive at National Spinning, a textile factory in Washington, North Carolina, Von Stein was stabbed and bludgeoned to death by James Bartlett Upchurch III as the result of a plot masterminded by his stepson Chris Pritchard, with whom Von Stein reputedly had had an antagonistic relationship. His wife, Bonnie, was also attacked, but survived. The subsequent trial revealed that Pritchard was motivated by the potential of inheriting his stepfather's fortune, which was derived from his family's dry cleaning chain, Camel City Dry Cleaners in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The case and ensuing trial were the subject of several books and TV films. The 1991 book "Cruel Doubt" by Joe McGinniss was released on TV in May 1992 as a 2-part miniseries of the same name. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104031/ Cruel Doubt] on IMDb] The 1992 book "Blood Games" by Jerry Bledsoe was released on TV in April 1992 under the name "Honor Thy Mother". [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104441/ Honor Thy Mother] on IMDb] The case was considered particularly lurid because of the involvement of the three conspirators with the role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, which both films heavily emphasized. [http://www.theescapist.com/faq_encyclopedia.htm#cruel Cruel Doubt] on The Escapist's FAQ] [http://surge.ods.org/idle_other/attacks.htm The Attacks on Role-Playing Games] , by Paul Cardwell, Jr., originally published in "Skeptical Inquirer", 18:2, 1994 (157-165).]

Upchurch was convicted of first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure, conspiracy to commit murder, and burglary in the first degree. For these crimes, he was sentenced on January 30,1990, respectively, to death, 20 years, 6 years and life. Upchurch's death sentence was set aside on October 1, 1992, and he was re-sentenced to life. [http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/sc/dsheets/089-90-1.htm Full Docket: State vs. Upchurch] ]

Co-conspirators Pritchard and Gerald Neal Henderson, who confessed to driving Upchurch to and from the scene, were both convicted of murder in the second degree (aiding and abetting) and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure. Henderson began parole on December 11,2000. It was completed on February 27, 2005, and he is a free man. Pritchard was paroled on June 2, 2007.

References

ources

*Citation
title = "Henderson, Gerald N." North Carolina Department of Correction Public Access Information System
url=http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/apps/offender/offend1?DOCNUM=0178076&SENTENCEINFO=yes&SHOWPHOTO=yes
accessdate = 2007-06-17
*Citation
last = McGinnis
first = Joe
title = Cruel Doubt
place= USA
publisher = Pocket Star Books
year = 1991
isbn = 0671775391
*Citation
title = "Pritchard, Christopher W." North Carolina Department of Correction Public Access Information System
url =http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/apps/offender/offend1?DOCNUM=0178076&SENTENCEINFO=yes&SHOWPHOTO=yes
accessdate = 2007-06-17
*Citation
title = "Upchurch, James B." North Carolina Department of Correction Public Access Information System
url =http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/apps/offender/offend1?DOCNUM=0415745&SENTENCEINFO=yes&SHOWPHOTO=yes&numtimesin=2
accessdate = 2007-06-17