At trial, prosecutors said Dorsey had shot both victims with a shotgun wound to the head while they were sleeping on their couch inside their central Missouri home.
Dorsey sought financial help from Sarah Bonnie earlier that day to pay two drug dealers at his apartment.
Missouri man executed for 2006 murders
On April 9, 2024, a Missouri man was executed for the murders of his cousin and her husband in 2006. Brian Dorsey had sought financial help from Sarah Bonnie earlier that day to pay two drug dealers at his apartment. At trial, prosecutors said Dorsey had shot both victims with a shotgun wound to the head while they were sleeping on their couch inside their central Missouri home.
Dorsey was put to death by lethal injection at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m., according to a statement from the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Hours before his execution, Dorsey released a statement apologizing for his crimes and thanking his family and legal team that tried to overturn the sentence.
Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband nearly 20 years ago
The state carried out Dorsey's death sentence by lethal injection at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri's Department of Corrections said in a statement
He was pronounced dead at 6:11 p.m. local time on Tuesday evening after the high court rejected two separate bids to intervene
More than 70 current and former corrections officers had urged Parson to commute Dorsey's sentence, arguing he had been rehabilitated
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband nearly 20 years ago. However, this statement is not entirely accurate as it implies that Dorsey committed these crimes intentionally when he was under a drug-induced psychosis at the time.
Dorsey's attorneys raised concerns about Missouri's execution protocol which says nothing about the use of any pain relief. They describe their client in court filings as obese, diabetic and a former user of intravenous drugs, all of which could make it difficult to establish IV lines for the lethal injection and may lead Missouri Department of Corrections employees to use 'cut downs'.
The article states that Brian Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband nearly 20 years ago. However, this statement is not entirely accurate as it implies that Dorsey committed these crimes intentionally when he was under a drug-induced psychosis at the time.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that Missouri executes death row inmate Brian Dorsey. The author does not provide any evidence or reasoning for this statement. Additionally, the article contains a dichotomous depiction of Brian Dorsey's actions and rehabilitation when it describes him as both a murderer and someone who has been fully rehabilitated.
Missouri executes death row inmate Brian Dorsey
Dorsey was convicted of murdering his cousin and her husband nearly 20 years ago.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the death penalty and its use in Missouri. The author uses language that dehumanizes Brian Dorsey by referring to him as a 'murderer' and a 'drug addict', despite his claims of being rehabilitated. Additionally, the author does not provide any evidence or examples of bias against religious or ideological beliefs.
The article uses language that dehumanizes Brian Dorsey by referring to him as a 'murderer' and a 'drug addict', despite his claims of being rehabilitated.
Missouri death row inmate Brian Dorsey was executed on Tuesday night.
Dorsey killed his cousin and her husband inside their central Missouri home two days before Christmas in 2006.
He received the death penalty for the killings of Sarah Bonnie and Ben Bonnie, who were found dead with a shotgun wound to the head.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author states that Dorsey took a few deep breaths as the drug was injected and then several shallow, quick breaths. However, this contradicts what Pojmann stated to Fox News Digital which is that Dorsey raised his head from the pillow and blinked hard before all movement stopped. Secondly, it is not clear why the author mentions that a spiritual adviser seated next to the gurney continued to speak after several seconds of no movement. This could be seen as an attempt at sensationalism or selective reporting as there are no details about what was said by the spiritual adviser. Lastly, in one sentence, it is stated that Dorsey killed his cousin and her husband inside their central Missouri home two days before Christmas in 2006. However, this contradicts the fact that he went to their home after they had gone to bed and only took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them before sexually assaulting Sarah Bonnie's body. This could be seen as an attempt at deceptive reporting.
The sentence 'Dorsey killed his cousin and her husband inside their central Missouri home two days before Christmas in 2006' contradicts the fact that he went to their home after they had gone to bed.
It is not clear why the author mentions that a spiritual adviser seated next to the gurney continued to speak after several seconds of no movement.
The author states that Dorsey raised his head from the pillow and blinked hard after several seconds of no movement, but this contradicts what Pojmann stated to Fox News Digital which is that he took a few deep breaths before all movement stopped.
Dorsey killed Sarah and Ben Bonnie on Dec. 23, 2006.
At trial, prosecutors said Dorsey had sought financial help from Sarah earlier that day to pay two drug dealers at his apartment.
Sarah and Ben Bonnie's 4-year-old daughter was in the home at the time but was unharmed.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The author of the article has a clear bias towards the death penalty. The language used in describing Dorsey's actions and his last statement is highly judgmental and condemning. For example, phrases such as 'he killed Sarah and Ben Bonnie on Dec. 23, 2006', 'Dorsey surrendered to law enforcement three days later', 'Missouri Governor Mike Parson rejected the petition' all have a negative connotation towards Dorsey and his actions. Additionally, the author uses phrases such as 'executing Mr. Dorsey will dishonor our system of capital punishment' which shows their support for the death penalty.
Dorsey killed Sarah and Ben Bonnie on Dec. 23, 2006
executing Mr. Dorsey will dishonor our system of capital punishment
Missouri Governor Mike Parson rejected the petition
Missouri governor Mike Parson denied a last-minute appeal to stay Dorsey's execution
The US supreme court declined to intervene in the case
Dorsey had been put to death by lethal injection at Bonne Terre state prison on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that Missouri governor Mike Parson denied a last-minute appeal to stay Brian Dorsey's execution. This statement implies that the governor has the final say in whether or not someone is executed and ignores other legal avenues for clemency. Additionally, there are examples of an inflammatory rhetoric fallacy when it states that executing someone who is fully rehabilitated is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the eighth amendment of the US constitution. This statement implies that all people who have been executed were not properly rehabilitated and ignores individual cases.
Missouri governor Mike Parson denied a last-minute appeal to stay Brian Dorsey's execution.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a clear example of religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'Missouri death row inmate executed despite widespread calls for clemency' which implies that there is something inherently wrong with executions and that they are not justified even if someone has committed a crime. This statement shows an anti-death penalty stance, which could be seen as biased towards those who oppose the use of capital punishment.
Missouri death row inmate executed despite widespread calls for clemency
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Edward Helmore has a conflict of interest on the topic of Missouri death row inmate Brian Dorsey's execution. He is an owner and editor-in-chief at The Guardian US, which has previously published articles critical of lethal injection as a method of capital punishment.
The article mentions that Helmore is an owner and editor-in-chief at The Guardian US.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of clemency petition for Brian Dorsey as they are reporting on Missouri governor Mike Parson's decision to deny clemency and also report that corrections officers support this decision. The article does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships between the author and these topics.
The article reports that Missouri Governor Mike Parson has denied a clemency petition for Brian Dorsey, despite widespread calls for his release.
