Murder charges dropped on Ramirez birthday

ANDERSON - Irving "Ernie" Ramirez celebrated his 53rd birthday as prosecutors dropped the charges of murder he had faced since October 2009.

Ramirez was arrested for the beating deaths of Homer and JoAnn Staton, a jewelry-dealing couple from Taylors who were bludgeoned to death with a hammer in October 2009. Their bodies were found about eight miles apart in Anderson County near Iva.

Matthew Fullbright, Ramirez's neighbor at the time in Belton, was convicted in January for the two slayings and is serving two consecutive life sentences.

Wendy Staton, the couple's daughter, told the Independent Mail on Thursday she was upset that Ramirez's charges had been dismissed, also on Thursday.

"I'm trying to understand why, I thought when they arrested somebody for a murder they would try him for it," she said.

Staton said she begrudgingly accepted the decision to drop charges but still believes Ramirez had a role in the killings for which he will not be held accountable.

Prosecutors told Staton Thursday morning they had no evidence and the charges needed to be dropped, she said.

Accused of the same crimes, Fullbright and Ramirez each maintained their innocence and pointed at the other.

Fullbright's defense attorney said in the January trial that Ramirez was the last person to call Homer Staton and when approached by investigators Ramirez seemed informed of some details of the killing.

"What, were they shot or hit with a hammer," Ramirez asked investigators, according to a deputy's report.

Prosecutors at Fullbright's trial said cell phone records indicated Ramirez was miles away from the site of the killing and only became involved when Fullbright called him for a ride after beating the couple to death. Ramirez and Fullbright together shopped for gas cans the morning after the killings and the two went to a Fullbright family property where, investigators determined, evidence was burned.

The 10th Judicial Circuit released a statement Thursday saying that Ramirez's 2009 arrest was "based solely on the written confession of Matthew Fullbright." The statement also said, "The evidence points to Matthew Fullbright acting alone when he robbed and murdered Homer and JoAnn Staton."

There were several pieces of circumstantial evidence presented at the trial but no direct physical evidence that linked either Fullbright or Ramirez to the killings. Fullbright was convicted because of a written confession that he later disputed; he also questioned the testimony of numerous sworn witnesses.

Fullbright was able to direct sheriff's deputies after dark to within 50 feet of where JoAnn Staton's body had been dumped, at least eight miles from where her husband's body was found.

Wendy Staton said she would continue to try to get her life together after her parents' slaying and the clearing of charges against Ramirez did not make it any easier.