Seburt Nelson Connor

Case information

Seburt Nelson Connor was charged and tried in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County, Florida (Case #92-39548). He was born on 06/05/42. The sentencing judge was The Honorable Maxine Cohen-Lando.

Criminal trial attorneys were Louis Jepeway, Esq. and Eugene Zenobi, Esq. The attorney for direct appeal was Louis Campbell – Assistant Public Defender. Collateral appeals were handled by Israel Encinosa, Esq. The registry date of offense was 11/19/92.

Background

During 1970’s, Seburt Connor was involved in an extramarital relationship with Margaret Bennett. When she discovered that Connor was married, she ended their relationship.

Margaret later married Lawrence Goodine and had two daughters by him, Karen and Jessica.

When Margaret and Lawrence separated in the late 1980’s, she renewed her relationship with Connor, and he became a father figure to her two girls.

In 1992, Margaret told Connor that she did not want to see him anymore.

Connor continued to harass Margaret for several months after that. He reportedly drove by her house shooting a gun. One of Margaret’s neighbors reported receiving a menacing phone call from a man she believed to be Connor. The caller threatened to kill Margaret and her daughter Karen.

Margaret’s home had also been burglarized several times, with the burglar stealing bed sheets, towels and linens.

On 07/28/92, Margaret got an ex parte domestic violence injunction against Connor and a permanent injunction was issued on 08/19/92.

Connor reportedly told one of Margaret’s neighbors that he would stop harassing her if she would get back together with her husband, Lawrence Goodine. As such, Margaret asked Lawrence to move in with her in September 1992. The harassment, however, did not stop.

Connor bought a black Cadillac that was identical to the one driven by Margaret Bennett and was seen numerous times driving slowly through their neighborhood.

The offence

On 11/19/92, Margaret and her daughters left for work and school, respectively, while Lawrence remained at home. He was last seen at home at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Ten year-old Jessica returned home from school that afternoon and immediately went across the street to play with a friend. When Jessica noticed a black Cadillac in her driveway, she went home. Shortly after, Jessica returned to her friend’s house and told her she was leaving. Her friend saw her leave in the black Cadillac with a man who she assumed was Jessica’s father, Lawrence Goodine.

When Karen Goodine returned home that afternoon, neither Lawrence nor Jessica were there. It appeared that someone had been in the house, so Karen alerted her mother.

Margaret called the police and noted that she thought Connor had something to do with the disappearances.

In the late afternoon of 11/20/92, the body of Lawrence Goodine was found in a wooded area near the Ft. Lauderdale airport. He had suffered five severe blows to the head, each of which could have rendered him unconscious and could have been fatal.

When detectives went to the Goodine residence to report the discovery of his body, they noticed blood on the carpet and a broken chair. Detectives hypothesized that Lawrence was bludgeoned to death with the leg of the chair.

A subsequent search of Connor’s cottage uncovered the body of Jessica Goodine, wrapped in a comforter and wedged between the bed and the wall. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation and the time of death was estimated at some time late on 11/20/92.

Investigation

Detectives went to the Connor residence in the early morning hours of 11/20/92. Connor told detectives that he had not seen Lawrence or Jessica that day.

Detectives returned to Connor’s residence on 11/21/92 to question him further. Connor voluntarily agreed to go to the police station.

Detective Tymes asked Connor if she could search his Cadillac and the cottage behind his home, and he agreed, giving written consent. Detective Tymes noticed bloodstains in the back and trunk of the Cadillac, but nothing appeared suspicious in the cottage. Although he was not under arrest, Connor was advised of his Miranda rights, which he waived.

During questioning, detectives noticed blood on Connor’s socks and shoes. Detective Tymes asked Connor if she could take his socks and shoes. Connor agreed and signed a consent form. DNA tests revealed that the blood on his socks and shoes was that of Lawrence Goodine.

Detectives then asked if they could search Connor’s house and the cottage behind it. Connor agreed and signed another consent form. A subsequent search of the Connor’s cottage uncovered the body of Jessica Goodine.

The police obtained a search warrant to impound Connor’s Cadillac for a more extensive examination. The blood found in the car was determined to belong to Lawrence Goodine.

Arrest

Connor was not under arrest when he was advised of his Miranda rights, which he waived, and when he consented to the searches and seizure of his socks and shoes.

Trial

Indictment

The defendant was indicted on the following counts:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Lawrence Goodine)
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Jessica Goodine)
• Count III: Kidnapping
• Count IV: Burglary with Assault

Verdict

On 02/11/98, the jury found the defendant guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

Advisory sentencing

On 02/26/98, upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by an 8 to 4 majority, voted for the death penalty for the murder of Jessica Goodine and recommended life imprisonment for the murder of Lawrence Goodine.

Sentencing

On 06/19/98, the defendant was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Lawrence Goodine) — Life
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Jessica Goodine) — Death
• Count III: Kidnapping — 20 years
• Count IV: Burglary with Assault — 20 years

Appeals

Florida Supreme Court direct appeal

On 08/17/98, Connor filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.

In that appeal, he argued that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence (his socks and shoes, bloody clothing, the body of Jessica Goodine and materials seized from his Cadillac). Connor claimed that his illegal arrest “tainted the subsequent consents that he gave for the searches of his house, his car, and his clothes.”

The Florida Supreme Court found that, even if initial encounter was illegal, subsequent consents for searches had not been tainted.

Connor also claimed that the trial court erred in its application of the “avoid arrest” aggravating factor. The Florida Supreme Court agreed; however, they noted that the application of four other aggravating factors far outweighed the existence of any mitigation, making the error harmless.

Connor additionally argued the consideration and application of other aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and sentence of death on 09/06/01.

United States Supreme Court certiorari petition

Connor next filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 05/28/02.

State collateral proceedings (3.850)

On 05/23/03, Connor filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court, which was denied 06/04/04.

Connor filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 06/30/04 that is pending.

Outcome

Connor received a death sentence for the murder of Jessica Goodine and life imprisonment for the murder of Lawrence Goodine, along with 20-year sentences for kidnapping and burglary with assault.

Other details

• Lawrence Goodine’s body was found in a wooded area near the Ft. Lauderdale airport.
• Detectives noticed blood on the carpet and a broken chair at the Goodine residence.
• Detective Tymes conducted searches after Connor’s written consent.
• DNA tests revealed that the blood on Connor’s socks and shoes was that of Lawrence Goodine.
• Jessica Goodine’s body was found wrapped in a comforter and wedged between the bed and the wall.
• Lawrence Goodine had suffered five severe blows to the head, each of which could have rendered him unconscious and could have been fatal.