Williams v. State

622 So. 2d 456, 1993 WL 122618
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedApril 22, 1993
Docket78249
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 622 So. 2d 456 (Williams v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. State, 622 So. 2d 456, 1993 WL 122618 (Fla. 1993).

Opinion

622 So.2d 456 (1993)

Ronald Lee WILLIAMS, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Florida, Appellee.

No. 78249.

Supreme Court of Florida.

April 22, 1993.
Rehearing Denied July 1, 1993.

*458 Spiro T. Kypreos, Court-Appointed Atty., Pensacola, for appellant.

Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen. and Carolyn M. Snurkowski, Asst. Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

Ronald Lee Williams appeals his convictions of four counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and six counts of armed kidnapping, and his corresponding sentences, including a sentence of death. We have jurisdiction[1] and affirm his convictions. We also affirm the trial judge's override of the jury's life recommendation and his imposition of the death penalty. Because the enhancement factors were not properly established, we must vacate Williams' concurrent life sentences for the attempted murder and kidnapping convictions, and remand this cause with instructions that he be sentenced to concurrent thirty-year terms.

The evidence establishes that Williams ran a drug trafficking ring from Miami that extended from Miami to Pensacola. In September of 1988, Bruce Frazier, who oversaw Williams' Pensacola operation, became concerned that his ex-girlfriend would alert the police to the drug ring. Bruce Frazier and Michael McCormick, a street-level employee, moved a safe containing cocaine and money from one of the apartments used in the drug business to Michael McCormick's apartment. During a telephone conversation, Williams told Bruce Frazier to go to McCormick's apartment to obtain other money that McCormick owed Williams. Upon reaching the apartment, McCormick informed Bruce Frazier that the money he owed Williams and the safe they had just moved from Bruce Frazier's apartment had been stolen. Bruce Frazier called Williams and informed him of the situation and the fact that there were no visible signs of a forced entry into McCormick's apartment. Bruce Frazier testified that Williams allegedly stated that he was sending some people up to Pensacola to get the money and drugs back.

On September 19, 1988, Williams sent Timothy Robinson, Bruce Frazier's brother Darrell Frazier, and Michael Coleman from Miami to Pensacola to begin a search for the missing cocaine and money. These individuals met McCormick and Bruce Frazier at a hotel in Pensacola and went to McCormick's apartment. After obtaining several weapons from McCormick, they went to the apartment next door and forced their way in. In the apartment were Darlene Crenshaw, Amanda Merrill, Derek Hill, and Morris Alfonso Douglas. Mildred Baker, McCormick's girlfriend, was brought in shortly thereafter. Hill, Merrill, Baker, and Douglas were ordered to take their clothes off. They were then bound and gagged, and made to lie on the floor. The four men then began interrogating the prisoners. After his demands regarding the whereabouts of the money and cocaine went unanswered, Robinson began stabbing Hill. Meanwhile, the other accomplices physically assaulted some of the other hostages with kitchen knives found in the apartment.

At this point, Darlene Crenshaw stated that she knew where the stolen contraband was and that McCormick was involved in the theft. After Crenshaw's revelation, McCormick was also stripped, tied up, and stabbed several times. The Fraziers took Crenshaw to her apartment where they retrieved the cocaine and cash. The Fraziers left Crenshaw at her apartment and returned to Hill's apartment.

Meanwhile, at Hill's apartment, Mildred Baker and Amanda Merrill were repeatedly raped by Robinson and Coleman. The men were apparently stabbed and slashed several more times. Once the Frazier brothers returned, Coleman and Robinson systematically began killing the prisoners. All of the prisoners except Merrill died at the scene. Coleman first slashed Merrill's throat several times. Someone then shot Merrill in the back of the head. After the men left, Merrill was miraculously able to free herself and call 911.

*459 At the trial, Darlene Crenshaw, Amanda Merrill, and Bruce and Darrell Frazier testified for the State. It was undisputed that Williams was in Miami at the time the crimes were committed and did not shoot or stab any of the victims himself.

Darlene Crenshaw testified that Hill and Douglas had taken the safe, left it at her house, and returned on the morning of September 19, 1988, in order to open it. A portion of the money and drugs in the safe was left at her house. She testified that, later that evening while she was at Hill's apartment with Merrill, Douglas, and Hill, three armed men forced their way into the apartment and demanded the return of their "stuff." A fourth man brought in Mildred Baker a few minutes later. Crenshaw stated that one of the Fraziers kept demanding his "stuff." After telling the Fraziers that she knew where the money and drugs were, she was allowed to dress. On the way to her house, one of the Fraziers stated that he only wanted his "stuff" and that Crenshaw would not be hurt. One of the Fraziers then allegedly stated that he would "take care of the guys." She testified that, once they had located the stolen contraband, the Fraziers left her at her house.

Amanda Merrill testified that after Crenshaw had been taken away by the Fraziers, Robinson began physically and verbally abusing Douglas and Hill, and that she was repeatedly raped. She testified that soon thereafter she heard someone come into the apartment and say, "We got what we want. Come on, let's go." She stated that another person then said, "No, I'm going to do this." Merrill then stated that she heard a gunshot and heard Mildred Baker begging not to be killed. She stated that she heard Robinson say, "Get down, bitch," and that a shot rang out. Coleman then entered the room and cut Merrill's throat. Coleman later cut her throat two more times. Finally, she stated that someone entered the room and shot her in the back of the head.

Bruce Frazier testified that in February, 1988, he established a drug operation for Williams in Pensacola. He rented an apartment where he kept a safe containing money and drugs. He testified that the entire episode began when he suspected that his ex-girlfriend would alert the police to the operation. Bruce Frazier testified that, after going to McCormick's apartment, they went next door and forced their way in. Frazier also stated that, as he and Darrell were leaving with Darlene Crenshaw, Robinson told him to "kill the girl" if the police got behind them. He testified that, upon returning to McCormick's apartment, he saw a girl lying on the bed with her throat cut and Derek Hill lying on the floor with his throat cut, and that McCormick had been stabbed in the back. Bruce Frazier testified that his brother Darrell stated that they had gotten what they came for. Robinson commented that they had one more thing to take care of before they left. Bruce Frazier stated that Coleman then shot McCormick in the head. Bruce stated that he then left the apartment, followed shortly afterwards by his brother Darrell. Bruce Frazier explained that, at this point, he heard two more shots and then saw Coleman and Robinson leave the apartment. He testified that, upon returning to Miami, he met with Williams, Darrell Frazier, and Gwen Cochran; that Cochran stated that she could be charged as an accessory to murder; and that Williams replied that he could "get the most time" because he ordered the people to be killed. Bruce Frazier concluded his testimony by stating that his intent had been to merely investigate the theft, and get the money and drugs back.

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Bluebook (online)
622 So. 2d 456, 1993 WL 122618, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-state-fla-1993.