Donald Dillbeck

Case information

Donald Dillbeck (May 24, 1963) was also known as “Dill Dillbeck” and “Robert Larry Greenwood.”

Timeline

• June 6, 1979 — Dillbeck was sentenced to life imprisonment.
• June 1990 — Dillbeck escaped.
• June 24, 1990 — Dillbeck purchased a paring knife and approached a woman sitting in her vehicle in the parking lot of the Tallahassee Mall.
• July 18, 1990 — Dillbeck was indicted on first-degree murder, armed robbery, and armed burglary.
• March 1, 1991 — The jury recommended the defendant be sentenced to death for the murder conviction by a vote of 8 to 4.
• March 15, 1991 — Dillbeck was sentenced to death for first-degree murder and received life imprisonment for armed robbery and armed burglary.
• April 17, 1991 — Dillbeck filed a direct appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• April 21, 1994 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence.
• January 17, 1995 — Dillbeck filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• March 20, 1995 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition.
• April 23, 1997 — Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion with the circuit court.
• September 5, 2002 — The 3.850 Motion was denied.
• September 18, 2002 — Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• June 23, 2003 — Dillbeck filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court.
• August 26, 2004 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of ineffective assistance of counsel claims and remanded other claims to the Circuit Court for findings of fact and conclusions of law; it also denied the habeas corpus petition.
• July 15, 2005 — The Circuit Court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
• August 9, 2005 — Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.

Background

On April 11, 1979, Dillbeck was the subject of a suspicious person complaint in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

At the time of the Tallahassee Mall murder, Dillbeck was serving a life sentence for killing a police officer in 1979.

Dillbeck was currently on Death Row at the Union Correctional Institution located in Raiford, Florida.

The offence

April 11, 1979 — killing of a deputy

Dillbeck was observed sitting inside a vehicle at a closed park at the beach by a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy. While being questioned, Dillbeck exited the vehicle and fled. The deputy pursued Dillbeck on foot; after apprehending Dillbeck, a brief struggle ensued. During the struggle, Dillbeck pulled out a gun and shot the deputy, fatally wounding him.

June 24, 1990 — stabbing and murder in Tallahassee Mall parking lot

In June 1990, Dillbeck was working with other prison inmates at a catering function in Quincy, Florida. During the event, Dillbeck walked away from the area and eventually ended up in nearby Tallahassee, Florida.

On June 24, 1990, Dillbeck purchased a paring knife and approached a woman sitting in her vehicle in the parking lot of the Tallahassee Mall. Dillbeck attempted to carjack the vehicle while armed with the knife. The driver resisted his attempts to do so. This caused Dillbeck to stab the driver repeatedly, causing her death.

Dillbeck then fled in the vehicle, and crashed a short time later. Dillbeck was subsequently arrested by police.

The woman in the Tallahassee Mall parking lot was Faye Vann.

Investigation and arrest

A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy observed Dillbeck inside a vehicle at a closed park at the beach in Fort Myers Beach, Florida on April 11, 1979, questioned him, and was shot fatally during a struggle after Dillbeck fled and was apprehended.

Dillbeck was subsequently arrested by police after the June 24, 1990 carjacking attempt and stabbing in the Tallahassee Mall parking lot.

Trial

Indictment and charges

On July 18, 1990, Dillbeck was indicted on:

• Count I: First-degree murder
• Count II: Armed robbery
• Count III: Armed burglary

Verdicts

On February 26, 1991, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.

Sentencing recommendation

On March 1, 1991, upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a vote of 8 to 4, recommended the defendant be sentenced to death for the murder conviction.

Sentencing

On March 15, 1991, Dillbeck was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-degree murder — death
• Count II: Armed robbery — life imprisonment
• Count III: Armed burglary — life imprisonment

Sentencing (prior sentence)

Dillbeck was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 6, 1979.

Appeals

Florida Supreme Court — direct appeal

Dillbeck filed a direct appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on April 17, 1991, raising ten trial court errors. The Florida Supreme Court chose to address only the following error claims:

• refusing to excuse three jurors for cause
• failure to allow evidence of inability to form specific intent
• requiring Dillbeck to submit to examination by the State’s mental health expert
• improper finding of the escape aggravating circumstance

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence on April 21, 1994.

U.S. Supreme Court — certiorari

Dillbeck filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on January 17, 1995. The petition was denied on March 20, 1995.

3.850 motion and appeal — circuit court

Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion with the circuit court on April 23, 1997. The motion was denied on September 5, 2002.

Florida Supreme Court — 3.850 appeal

Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on September 18, 2002, citing ineffective assistance of counsel and other claims. On August 26, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the ineffective assistance of counsel claims, but remanded the other claims to the Circuit Court to enter findings of fact and conclusions of law.

On July 15, 2005, the Circuit Court filed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the denial of the 3.850 Motion.

Dillbeck filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on August 9, 2005. The appeal was pending.

Habeas corpus

Dillbeck filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on June 23, 2003, citing Ring claims. On August 26, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court denied the Petition.

Outcome

Dillbeck was convicted of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and armed burglary.

He was sentenced to death on March 15, 1991 and was also sentenced to life imprisonment for armed robbery and armed burglary.

Other details

• The case number listed was “90-2795” in the Second Judicial Circuit, Leon County.
• The sentencing judge was The Honorable F.E. Steinmeyer III.
• The trial attorney was Randy P. Morrell – Assistant Public Defender.
• The direct appeal attorney was David A. Davis – Assistant Public Defender.
• The collateral appeal counsel listed was George Blow, III – Registry.
• Trial summary dates included: 07/18/90 (indicted), 02/26/91 (guilty verdicts), and 03/01/91 (advisory sentencing recommendation).
• Dillbeck was described as “currently on Florida’s Death Row.”