Nelson Shelton

Wilson Mannon Jr. (January 5, 1928 – January 16, 1992) was an American man who was robbed and murdered by three career criminals in Delaware.

Wilson Mannon Jr. was born in Delaware on January 5, 1928, to Wilson Cummins Mannon and Mary Hanifee.

He worked at Wall Board Distributions in Newark, Delaware.

Mannon previously delivered drywall for 30 years.

Mannon had three sons, Bobby Lee Mannon, Steven Allen Mannon and Dennis Wayne Mannon, a stepson, Patrick D. Norton, a stepdaughter, Nora S. Norris, and five grandchildren.

He also had a brother, Paul, and a sister, Betty Butler.

The Shelton brothers and Outten all grew up in dysfunctional households.

The Shelton brothers were raised in a three bedroom house with 10 other half-brothers and sisters.

The family suffered from serious financial problems due to the father losing his legs in an industrial accident.

The father of the Shelton brothers was an alcoholic, who was physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive to the children.

Because of this abuse, the children were taken away from home and placed in foster care numerous times.

According to Steven, he could never do anything right in his father's eyes and was never able to gain his approval.

Steven was regularly whipped with a belt or a paddle.

Their mother, Vessa Shelton, was also an alcoholic, and frequently abused them and the other children.

All of Steven's older brothers became involved in criminal activity as juveniles or adults and went to a reform school or prison.

They were raised in a racially mixed neighborhood with severe racial tension, and Steven was often assaulted in his neighborhood.

Steven was reportedly happy when he was younger before he began experiencing great difficulty in school.

He was a target of bullying since he wore glasses, and started to become a truant regularly at the age of 10.

When Steven was 13, he was sent to a reform school for truancy.

Despite their issues, Nelson and Steven maintained close and positive relationships with their mother and all of their siblings.

When Vessa became ill from a kidney transplant, they took care of her.

During his trial, Outten described his as a close family, but said he was "semi-abused."

The perpetrators were brothers Nelson Shelton (July 20, 1967 – March 17, 1995) and Steven W. Shelton (born July 11, 1965), and their cousin Jack Foster Outten Jr. (born March 23, 1966).

All three men were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death.

He said his father, who was beaten during a robbery in 1974 and suffered communication problems as a result, was not affectionate and was abusive when he was drunk, resulting in him running away.

Outten said he'd lived in foster care, but left after he was accused of stealing.

As his father's health deteriorated, Outten cared for him until his death.

When Steven was 15, he was charged with second degree rape.

Overall, Nelson was arrested 11 times between 1976 and 1985.

In 1982, he was found guilty and sentenced to 8 years in prison.

In 1985, Steven's sentence was increased after he was convicted of assaulting a fellow inmate.

In 1985, Nelson was charged with second degree rape.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was sentenced to five months in jail and a year of probation.

In 1985, Nelson and another man stole a customer's car from a convenience store.

He went on the run for two weeks before being arrested in Tennessee.

Nelson pleaded guilty to first degree robbery, second degree forgery, and three counts of theft, and was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, followed by two years of probation.

Nelson was executed in 1995 after waiving his appeals, while Steven and Outten eventually won appeals, and had their sentences reduced to lengthy prison terms in plea agreements years later.

The case drew attention after Steven donated one of his kidneys to his ailing mother, Vessa Shelton.

Nelson had wanted to donate his own kidney, but his was found to be incompatible.

Steven donated one in his brother's place.