Adult Time for Adult Crime: Norman Willover

Cully Stimson / November 09, 2009

On November 9th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments challenging the constitutionality of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) sentences. In preparation for oral arguments, JLWOP: Faces & Cases will be an on-going series on The Foundry that will tell real stories about juvenile offenders who are currently serving LWOP sentences.

Defendant: Norman Willover (17)
Victims: Priya Mathews, Jennifer Aninger, Frances Anne Olivo
Crimes: Two counts, first degree murder & other charges
Where: Monterey, California
Crime date: January 31, 1998

Summary
Norman Willover tried to rob two female students and then shot them, killing one and severely injuring the other.

Facts
Friends Priya Mathews and Jennifer Aninger were language students at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Norman Willover, recently escaped from a juvenile rehabilitation center in Utah, had just purchased a semiautomatic handgun at a party and told a friend that he was going to return to Monterey, California, and “cap some people…get some money and live the good life.” (more…)