Florida

Dane Abdool – white, age 19

Sentenced in Orange County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: February 24, 2006

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Abdool bound his girlfriend, Amelia Sookdeo (age 17), with duct tap, doused her with gasoline and set her on fire after the two got into an argument.

Prosecutor(s): Robin Wilkinson

Defense lawyer(s): Kelly Sims, Trish Cashman

Sources: South Florida Sun-Sentinel 2/21/08 (2008 WLNR 3377922); Orlando Sentinel 2/26/08 (2008 WLNR 3744099), 5/13/08 (2008 WLNR 8998638); dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420680847

  

Andrew Allred – white, age 21

Sentenced in Marion County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: September 24, 2007

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Allred murdered his estranged girlfriend, Tiffany Barwick (age 19), and their mutual friend, Michael Ruschak (age 22). Allred cyberstalked Barwick, forced his way into Ruschak’s house and shot Ruschak four times. Then, he searched for Barwick, who was hiding in a bathroom, and shot her six times. Ruschak also wounded a third person, Eric Thomas Roberts, when he tried to wrestle the gun from Allred.

Prosecutor(s):

Defense lawyer(s): Tim Caudill

Sources: Orlando Sentinel 9/5/08 (2008 WLNR 16837824), 9/23/08 (2008 WLNR 18066271), 11/20/08 (2008 WLNR 22151008); www.seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/09/24/48daba472b989; www.ocala.com/article/20070927/NEWS/209270350?Title=West-Port-graduate-slain-in-Oviedo; www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2007/9/26/allred_held_without_bond_in_oviedo_murders.html; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681037

  
Roy P. Ballard – white, age 65

Sentenced in Polk County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: September 13, 2006

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Ballard murdered his step-daughter, Autumn Traub (age 33). Her body has not been found. However, DNA evidence, found in Ballard’s car, helped lead to a conviction. The prosecution argued Ballard beat Traub to death with an 18-inch metal pipe and then diposed of her body. Further, the prosecution argued that Ballard killed Traub because she opposed Ballard regaining custody of a 14-year-old female relative. They argued Traub believed Ballard wanted custody so he could continue a sexual relationship with the girl. During the penalty phase, the defense argued that Ballard can carry out plans, but suffers from significant brain damage.

Prosecutor(s): Cass Castillo

Defense lawyer(s): Byron Hileman

Sources: Tampa Tribune 6/15/07 (2007 WLNR 11308903); Orlando Sentinel 9/7/08 (2008 WLNR 16966683); www.theledger.com/article/20080717/NEWS/807170488?Title=Roy-Ballard-s-Lawyer-Wants-Murder-Verdict-Tossed; www.theledger.com/article/20080724/NEWS/807240552?Title=Killer-Roy-Ballard-Suffers-Brain-Injury-Experts-Say; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681170

  
Donald L. Banks – black, age 32

Sentenced in Duval County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: March 9, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Banks murdered Linda Sue Volum (age 47) by repeatedly stabbing Volum in her home.

Prosecutor(s):

Defense lawyer(s):

Sources: The Florida Times-Union 5/31/08 (LexisNexis – Man convicted in woman’s stabbing); dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681703

  
Tiffany Cole – white, age 23 (see also Alan Lyndell Wade)

Sentenced in Duval County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: July 8, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Cole and her boyfriend, Michael Jackson, along with Alan Lyndell Wade and Bruce Kent Nixon, robbed, kidnapped and murdered James “Reggie” and Carol Sumners (both age 61). Prosecutors argued that Cole was the linchpin because she befriended the Sumners and then set them up. The couple was robbed of jewelry and cash, kidnapped at gunpoint and driven to Georgia in the trunk of their car. Their bodies were found in shallow graves in Georgia near the Florida state line. Prosecutors argued the couple had been buried alive. Cole was given two death sentences, one for each murder.

Prosecutor(s): Jay Plotkin

Defense lawyer(s): Greg Messore

Sources: Orlando Sentinel 10/21/07 (2007 WLNR 20663566); South Florida Sun-Sentinel 12/3/07 (2007 WLNR 23832609); Miami Herald 12/3/07 (23817321); AP Alert 3/5/08 – GA 07:08:36; AP Alert 3/6/08 – FL 22:27:03; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=14&From=list&SessionID=420681706; www.news4jax.com/news/14378135/detail.html; www.news4jax.com/news/15946213/detail.html

  
Wadada Delhall – black, age 24

Sentenced in Miami-Dade County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: November 29, 2001

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Delhall killed the one eyewitness in his brother’s murder trial. Delhall shot Hubert McCrae, the eyewitness, at least 11 times. Police investigators said Delhall confessed to driving to the garage, where McCrae worked, with the intent to kill and using two guns.

Prosecutor(s): Gail Levine

Defense lawyer(s): Terence Lenamon

Sources: Miami Herald 6/21/08 (2008 WLNR 11699188), 8/16/08 (2008 WLNR 15392794); 12/16/08 (2008 WLNR 24034254) dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681782

  
Gary Bernard McCray, Jr. – black, age 24

Sentenced in Clay County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: May 23, 2004

Prosecution’s case/defense response: McCray was convicted of the drug-related shooting deaths of four people. McCray shot John Ellis, Jr. (age 51), Phillip Perrotta (age 53), Robin Selkirk (age 45) and John Whitehead (age 37). Witnesses said a masked man, dressed in black chased Ellis out of the house and shot him in the yard. The man went back into the house and shot Whitehead and Perrotta. Then, he shot Selkirk in the carport. Three of the shooting victims were arrested with McCray during a drug bust several months earlier. Witnesses testified McCray had been trying to ascertain who triggered the drug bust and why the others received lesser sentences. McCray received four deaths sentences, one for each murder.

Prosecutor(s): Dan Skinner

Defense lawyer(s): Frank Tassone, Refik Eler

Sources: AP Alert 9/7/08 – FL 08:15:35; AP Alert 9/26/08 – FL 23:10:20; 12/10/08 – FL 19:10:39; www.news4jax.com/news/17400853/detail.html; www.claytoday.biz/content/314_1.php; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681885

  
Renaldo McGirth – black, age 18

Sentenced in Marion County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: July 21, 2006

Prosecution’s case/defense response: McGirth fatally shot Diana Miller (age 63) in her home, in a retirement community. Her husband, James Miller (age 70), was also shot in the head, but survived. The defense argued that it was unfair for McGirth to face death while Sheila Miller, the Miller’s 40-year-old child, was not even charged. Defense lawyers argued Sheila Miller was involved in planning the crime because she would have inherited her parents’ estate if both parents had died. McGirth had two accomplices, Jarrod Roberts (age 19) and Theodore Houston (age 16).

Prosecutor(s): Anthony Tatti

Defense lawyer(s): Candace A. Hawthorne

Sources: Orlando Sentinel 2/15/08 (2008 WLNR 2992433), 4/4/08 (2008 WLNR 6357947), 5/7/08 (2008 WLNR 8527474); dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420681995

  
Lionel Michael Miller – white, age 58

Sentenced in Orange County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: April 16, 2006

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Miller fatally stabbed Jerry Smith (age 72), a woman with Alzheimer’s disease, and attacked her neighbor, Larry Haydon, who tried to save her. Miller attempted to rob Smith while she was in her home. Haydon was walking his dog and heard screams coming from Smith home and saw her struggling with Miller through a window. When Haydon tried to help Smith, Miller stabbed Haydon. Smith ran out the back door yelling, followed by Miller. He caught up to her, stabbed her multiple times and then fled.

Prosecutor(s): Robin Wilkinson, Ken Lewis

Defense lawyer(s): Gerod Hooper

Sources: Orlando Sentinel 11/21/07 (2007 WLNR 23050638), 11/28/07 (2007 WLNR 23482049), 2/2/08 (2008 WLNR 2008591); dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682095

  
Phillup Alan Partin – white, age 37

Sentenced in Pasco County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: July 31, 2002

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Partin murdered Joshan Ashbrook (age 16). He beat her, slashed her throat, broke her neck and dumped her in the woods. Partin picked up the teenager on the morning of July 31, 2002, as she hitchhiked along U.S. 19. They then went fishing and swimming before returning to the house where Partin was staying. The two remained in Partin’s room until that night. In addition to circumstantial evidence, the prosecution offered DNA evidence taken form a hair embedded in a cut on Ashbrook’s hand which belonged to Partin.

Prosecutor(s): Mike Halkitis

Defense lawyer(s): Bill Bennett, Bjorn Brunvand

Sources: Tampa Tribune 3/19/08 (2008 WLNR 6132938), 12/3/08 (2008 WLNR 23401898); St. Petersburg Times 3/19/08 (2008 WLNR 5351785), 5/17/08 (2008 WLNR 9359267); dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682194

  
Khalid Ali Pasha – black, age 58

Sentenced in Hillsborough County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: August 23, 2002

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Pasha beat and fatally stabbed his new wife, Robin Candy (age 43) and step-daughter, Ranesha Singleton (age 20). Pasha received a death sentence for each murder.

Prosecutor(s): Jalal Harb

Defense lawyer(s): Robert Fraser, Nick Sinardi

Sources: St. Petersburg Times 11/1/07 (2007 WLNR 21552591), 5/31/08 (2008 WLNR 10323209); Tampa Tribune 11/3/07 (2007 WLNR 22262615), 5/31/08 (11175072); blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/05/hillsborough-ma.html; www.sptimes.com/2007/10/31/Hillsborough/Double_murder_goes_to.shtml; www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/30/man-sentenced-death-killing-wife-stepdaughter/; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682308

  
Tai Pham – Asian, age 32

Sentenced in Seminole County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: October 22, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Pham stabbed his wife, Phi Ai “Amy” Pham (age 32), to death for “the things she let her three girls get away with.” He was concerned the girls were becoming too American. Deltona, Amy Pham’s oldest daughter, testified that Pham showed up at Amy Pham’s apartment with two butcher knives. Pham grabbed Deltona by the hair, pulled her into her bedroom and tied her up. Then, Pham prayed and waited until her mother returned. When Amy Pham returned, about an hour later from a night out with her new boyfriend, Pham stabbed her at least six times. Amy Pham’s boyfriend, Christopher Higgins, was also attacked. Pham has been charged with physically abusing the girls twice, and twice he pleaded guilty and was placed on probation. Child-welfare workers took the children away from Tai and Amy Pham. Additionally, a judge ordered Pham to stay away from the girls. The night of the slayings, he showed up at the apartment anyway. Prosecutors asked for the death penalty, arguing the murder was premeditated and especially cruel. Pham was sentenced to death for the murder of Amy Pham.

Prosecutor(s): Gino Feliciani

Defense lawyers(s): James Figgatt, Tim Caudill

Sources: Orlando Sentinel 3/8/08 (2008 WLNR 4619462), 5/23/08 (2008 WLNR 9786438), 11/15/08 (2008 WLNR 21843135); www.wftv.com/news/17983563/detail.html; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682380

  
Galante Romar Phillips – black, age 26

Sentenced in Duval County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: October 18, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Phillips fatally shot Christopher Aligada (age 40) when Aligada attempted to intervene during a robbery. Phillips was holding up Wilbert Sweet, a co-worker of Aligada’s. When Aligada attempted to come to his co-worker’s aid, Phillips shot and killed him.

Prosecutor(s): Bernie de la Rionda

Defense lawyer(s): Jerry Shea

Sources: www.news4jax.com/news/15827788/detail.html; www.news4jax.com/news/17512439/detail.html; news.jacksonville.com/justin/2008/04/09/phillips-charged-with-murder/; www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/040908/met_266541175.shtml; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682513

  
James D. Turner – white, age 33

Sentenced in St. Johns County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: September 30, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Turner, who had escaped from a South Carolina prison, stabbed Renee Howard 15 times in a hotel room in front of her children. Turner also attacked her friend, Stacia Raybon, who locked herself in the bathroom to get away. Police said Turner was looking for a new car to steal and targeted Howard and Raybon. He followed Howard, her three children and Raybon as they left the swimming pool and went back to their room. Raybon testified that she saw Turner stab Howard several times before he turned toward her. Turner stabbed Rabyon in the elbow, breaking her elbow, before she locked herself in the bathroom. After the attacked, Turner was captured following a police chase during which he intentionally crashed Howard’s stolen truck into a deputy’s cruiser.

Prosecutor(s): Angela Corey

Defense lawyer(s):

Sources: www.news4jax.com/news/14785599/detail.html; www.news4jax.com/news/14775586/detail.html#; www.news4jax.com/news/14719810/detail.html; www.news4jax.com/news/14707726/detail.html; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=9&From=list&SessionID=420682592

  
Alan Lyndell Wade – white, age 19 (see also Tiffany Cole)

Sentenced in Duval Count, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: July 8, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Wade, Tiffany Cole, Michael Jackson and Kent Nixon robbed, kidnapped and murdered James “Reggie” and Carol Sumners (both age 61). The couple was robbed of jewelry and cash, kidnapped at gunpoint and driven to Georgia in the trunk of their car. Their bodies were found in shallow graves in Georgia near the Florida state line. Prosecutors argued the couple had been buried alive. Wade was given two death sentences, one for each murder.

Prosecutor(s): Jay Plotkin

Defense lawyer(s):

Sources: AP Alert 3/5/08 – GA 16:46:02; AP Alert 3/5/08 – GA 07:08:36; www.news4jax.com/news/15486320/detail.html; www.news4jax.com/news/15947503/detail.html#; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682675

  
Todd Zommer – white, age 34

Sentenced in Osceola County, Florida

By: a judge upon jury recommendation

Date of crime: April 9, 2005

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Zommer beat and stabbed to death his next door neighbor L. Corinne Robinson (age 77) at her home. During a jailhouse interview, Zommer said that he killed Robinson because she saw him steal a boat and he feared she might report him. According to Zommer’s testimony and court documents, he beat Robinson with a wooden instrument until it broke into pieces, while taunting her for potentially reporting him to the police. He then found a hurricane lamp and used it to continue beating her. Zommer beat Robinson with the lamp until he believed she was unconsciousness. Next, Zommer said he used the cord of a computer mouse to try to strangle her and kicked her twice in the face. He testified he took a short break, got a drink from Robinson’s refrigerator and saw some kitchen knives. Pulling the victim’s head back by her hair, he slashed her throat. The defense argued that Zommer suffered from borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

Prosecutor(s):

Defense lawyer(s): Patricia Cashman

Sources: Orlando 9 WFTV-FL 12/20/07 (2007 WLNR 25195440); Orlando Sentinel 12/20/07 (2007 WLNR 25094944); aroundosceola.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1089&Itemid=6; www.liveleak.com/view?i=2ee_1203754534; www.wftv.com/news/14892436/detail.html; www.clickorlando.com/news/14813847/detail.html; dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=420682769