In 1993, Willie Jerome (“Fly”) Manning was convicted of capital murder in connection with a double homicide committed during an attempted robbery.  The victims were found beaten with their throats cut in their Starkville apartment. After serving more than 20 years on death row for these crimes, Manning was exonerated of these killings but remains on death row for slaying two Mississippi State students in 1994. Manning has continued to appeal his death sentence.