Kaupp v. Texas
United States Supreme Court
538 U.S. 626 (2003)
- Written by Liz Nakamura, JD
Facts
Robert Kaupp (plaintiff), a 17-year-old boy, was implicated in the murder of a 14-year-old girl by the girl’s half-brother, who had confessed to fatally stabbing the girl and dumping her body in a ditch. Kaupp had previously voluntarily taken, and passed, a polygraph test during which he denied any involvement in the girl’s murder. Detectives attempted, but failed, to obtain a warrant to arrest Kaupp. Detectives acknowledged that they did not have probable cause to arrest Kaupp. Regardless, detectives went to Kaupp’s house at approximately 3:00 a.m., woke Kaupp up, handcuffed him, and marched him out to a patrol car, shoeless and dressed only in his underwear. The police first took Kaupp to the crime scene and then to the police station. After arriving at the station, detectives removed the handcuffs, read Kaupp his Miranda warnings, and interrogated him. After 10 to 15 minutes of interrogation, Kaupp confessed to being involved in the girl’s murder but denied stabbing or murdering her. At trial, Kaupp moved to suppress the confession as the product of an unlawful arrest. The trial court admitted the confession. Kaupp was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 55 years in prison. Kaupp appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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