Ronnie Lee Gardiner Reveals Accomplice before Date with the Firing Squad

Ronnie Lee GardnerLee Gardner, sentenced to death by firing squad, June 18th; revealed the name of the mystery person in this case. 25 years ago, a gun was slipped to Gardiner in a tragic and failed courtroom escape. Attorney Michael Burdell paid for the botched attempt with his life; Guard, Nick Kirk was also struck.

Darcy McCoy, slipped Gardner a gun, on April 2, 1985, at Salt Lake City’s Metropolitan of Justice; before his pre-trial hearing. It was the shootings at the court house that ultimately gave Gardner the death penalty; in which he chose the firing squad as means to that end. He is scheduled to appear before sharp shooters on June 18th, 2010.

The woman who spent eight years behind bars for aiding and abetting Gardner, Carma Hainsworth, was the sister of the true accomplice, Darcy McCoy.

McCoy drove Gardner to and from the murder site at the Tavern, “Cheers” in Salt Lake City, Utah. Gardner was in pre-trial for the murder at the tavern when he planned his dramatic courtroom escape.

McCoy handed him the gun that ultimately led to his stint on death row. Carma Hainsworth, while not aiding in arms, to Gardner; was not innocent in the escape plan. She admitted to running letters with plan of intent to escape and collecting clothing for the venture. There was no evidence at the time to accuse McCoy of wrong doing. There was always speculation that Hainsworth did not act alone in the plan to free Gardner from the courthouse. Hainsworth, never implicated her sister in the crime.

Gardner mentioned McCoy briefly, before the parole board on Thursday. The execution is still scheduled to be carried out before the firing squad at the Utah State Penitentiary. McCoy’s part in the courtroom drama has exceeded the statute of limitations and will not be pursued or prosecuted.