Robert Gordon

Case details

• Defendant: Robert Gordon
• Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County
• Case number: 94-02958
• DC number: 123911
• Date of birth: 11/25/62
• Supreme Court of Florida opinion: 86955

Background

Robert Gordon and his codefendant, Meryl McDonald, were hired by Denise Davidson to kill her estranged husband, Dr. Louis Davidson.

The offence

Early on the morning of January 25, 1994, McDonald and Gordon waited in the parking lot of the apartment complex where Dr. Davidson lived. Gordon met with Dr. Davidson and the two walked to Davidson’s apartment. Dr. Davidson’s body was discovered later that day by his fiancée.

Dr. Davidson’s body was blindfolded, bound, gagged, and hogtied, lying face down in a bathtub full of bloody water. The apartment had been ransacked, and Davidson’s watch, camera, and money clip were missing, although $19,300 in cash and some credit cards remained.

The medical examiner testified that Davidson had bruises on his face and shoulders, three broken ribs, and multiple lacerations on the back of his scalp, caused by a blunt object. The cause of Davidson’s death was drowning.

Money transfers from Denise Davidson to Robert Gordon, as well as phone records and physical evidence recovered from the hotel where Gordon was staying during the time of the murder, implicated him in the murder scheme.

Investigation

Money transfers from Denise Davidson to Robert Gordon, phone records, and physical evidence recovered from the hotel where Gordon was staying during the time of the murder implicated him in the murder scheme.

Trial

• 02/28/94: Indicted on the charge of First-Degree Murder
• Trial court sentencing judge: The Honorable Susan R. Schaeffer
• Trial attorney (private): Robert A. Love
• Direct appeal attorney (private): Michael Hursey
• Collateral appeals attorney (private): Linda McDermott

At trial, Gordon was convicted on the sole count of the indictment and was sentenced to death.

• 06/15/95: Jury returned guilty verdict on the sole count of the indictment
• 06/16/95: Jury recommended the death sentence by a vote of 9-3
• 11/16/95: Sentenced to death

Direct-appeal issues raised by Gordon

On 12/04/95, Gordon filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court, citing the following errors:

• denying Gordon’s motion to strike the venire
• denying motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of evidence
• denying request for a separate penalty phase from that of his codefendant and a new penalty phase jury
• disproportional sentencing
• improper finding of the cold, calculated, and premeditated and heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravating factors

Sentencing

Gordon was sentenced to death on 11/16/95.

Codefendant and related individuals

• Meryl McDonald (codefendant): Convicted of First-Degree Murder and sentenced to death.
• Denise Davidson: Convicted in a separate trial of First-Degree Murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Susan Shore: Agreed to testify for the State; charges were reduced to accessory after the fact; sentenced to probation.
• Leonardo Cisneros: Remains a fugitive.

Appeals and collateral proceedings

• 11/26/97: The Florida Supreme Court (FSC) affirmed the conviction and death sentence.
• 02/18/99: Gordon filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court; it was denied on 04/23/02.
• 05/30/02: Gordon filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel.
• 12/18/03: The FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
• 05/17/04: Gordon filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District; it was stricken by the court on 05/26/04.
• 12/16/04: The petition was amended.

Outcome

The conviction and death sentence were affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court on 11/26/97, and later collateral relief proceedings were denied, with the petition for writ of habeas corpus stricken on 05/26/04 and amended on 12/16/04.

Timeline

• 01/25/94 — McDonald and Gordon waited in the parking lot where Dr. Davidson lived; Gordon met Dr. Davidson and they walked to Davidson’s apartment; Dr. Davidson’s body was discovered later that day.
• 02/28/94 — Indicted on the charge of First-Degree Murder.
• 06/15/95 — Jury returned guilty verdict on the sole count of the indictment.
• 06/16/95 — Jury recommended the death sentence by a vote of 9-3.
• 11/16/95 — Sentenced to death.
• 12/04/95 — Filed Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 11/26/97 — FSC affirmed the conviction and death sentence.
• 02/18/99 — Filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court.
• 04/23/02 — The 3.850 Motion was denied.
• 05/30/02 — Filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 12/18/03 — FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
• 05/17/04 — Filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District.
• 05/26/04 — The habeas petition was stricken by the court.
• 12/16/04 — The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was amended.

Other details

• Dr.
• Davidson’s watch, camera, and money clip were missing.
• $19,300 in cash and some credit cards remained.
• The medical examiner testified to bruises on his face and shoulders, three broken ribs, and multiple lacerations on the back of his scalp caused by a blunt object.