John Steven Huggins

Case information

John Steven Huggins was sentenced to death on February 26, 1999 and was resentenced to death on September 19, 2002.

Timeline

• 02/16/62 — Date of birth
• 06/10/97 — Date of offense
• 02/26/99 — Date of sentence (first sentencing)
• 03/25/99 — Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Circuit Court
• 04/05/99 — Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court
• 05/21/99 — Evidentiary Hearing was held
• 07/13/00 — Appeal was dismissed
• 07/21/99 — Circuit Court granted the Habeas Petition and a retrial was ordered
• 08/09/99 — Motion to Dismiss was filed; State filed an appeal of the granting of the Habeas Petition by the Circuit Court
• 06/07/01 — Florida Supreme Court affirmed the granting of the Habeas Petition
• 12/02/04 — Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences
• 03/22/05 — Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court
• 06/06/05 — Petition for Certiorari was denied
• 06/05/06 — Huggins filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court (pending)
• 11/27/06 — Huggins was declared incompetent
• 09/19/02 — Date of sentence (resentencing)

Background

On the day of Carla Larson’s disappearance, John Huggins, his wife Angel Huggins, and their five children were visiting the Orlando area.

Carla Larson took her daughter to day care and went to work. Prior to lunch, Larson told a coworker that she was going to a grocery store to pick up food for an afternoon meeting. A receipt indicated that she purchased food, but Larson never returned to work.

Numerous witnesses saw a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) that matched a description of Larson’s SUV in a wooded area off the Osceola Parkway. Two days later, while being led by witnesses who saw the SUV in the woods, coworkers found the body of Larson.

The cause of death was strangulation. Larson’s jewelry, clothing, and purse were missing.

Fay Blades, Huggins’ mother-in-law, testified at trial. Blades testified that when she came home from work on 06/10/97, she noticed an unfamiliar, white SUV in her carport. Blades’ neighbors also noticed a white, Ford SUV in Blades’ carport, but noted that the vehicle was spray-painted black later in the week.

On 06/26/97, police were called to investigate a burning truck on a vacant lot in Cocoa Beach. The investigation revealed the truck was Larson’s white Ford Explorer SUV, which had been partially painted black.

On 06/27/97, John Huggins fled Florida with his sister-in-law, with whom he had begun a relationship. Shortly thereafter, Angel Huggins saw a television show, America’s Most Wanted, which featured Larson’s murder. Angel Huggins suspected her husband of committing the murder and called police.

In late June and July 1997, police conducted three searches of Blades’ house and a shed on her property, but no incriminating evidence was found. Blades conducted a search of her own and found jewelry, later found to belong to Larson, hidden in her shed.

The offence

John Huggins was indicted on charges arising from the murder of Carla Larson and related offenses:

• First-Degree Murder
• Carjacking
• Robbery
• Kidnapping

Investigation

Witnesses saw a Ford Explorer SUV matching the description of Larson’s SUV in a wooded area off the Osceola Parkway, and coworkers later found Larson’s body while being led by witnesses.

Police investigated a burning truck on a vacant lot in Cocoa Beach on 06/26/97 and determined it was Larson’s white Ford Explorer SUV, which had been partially painted black.

In late June and July 1997, police conducted three searches of Blades’ house and a shed on her property, but no incriminating evidence was found until Blades found jewelry in her shed that was later found to belong to Larson.

Arrest / flight

Trial

The trial date shown was 05/28/98 for indictment and 12/28/98 for trial venue change.

Indictment and venue

On 05/28/98, Huggins was indicted as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Carjacking
• Count III: Robbery
• Count IV: Kidnapping

Trial venue was changed to Duval County on 12/28/98.

First trial verdicts and sentencing

On 02/03/99, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.

On 02/10/99, the jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4.

On 02/26/99, the sentencing judge was The Honorable Belvin Perry, Jr. Huggins was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death
• Count II: Carjacking — 30 Years
• Count III: Robbery — Life
• Count IV: Kidnapping — Life

Retrial venue change and second verdicts and sentencing

On 04/11/02, retrial venue changed to Hillsborough County.

On 07/25/02, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all Counts I, II, and IV, and the lesser included charge of Petit Theft for Count III.

On 07/26/02, the jury recommended death by a vote of 9-3.

On 09/19/02, Huggins was sentenced as follows:

• Count II: Carjacking — 30 Years
• Count III: Petit Theft — 60 Days
• Count IV: Kidnapping — Life

Legal representation

At trial, Attorney, Trial: Bob Wesley & Tyrone King — Public Defender & Asst. Public Defender.

Direct Appeal: Christopher Quarles — Assistant Public Defender.

Collateral Appeals: Eric Pinkard — CCRC-M.

Case information and procedural history

Habeas corpus and retrial

Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Circuit Court on 03/25/99, alleging a Brady violation by the State.

On 05/21/99, an Evidentiary Hearing was held. On 07/21/99, the Circuit Court granted the petition, and a retrial was ordered.

Direct appeal and dismissal

Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 04/05/99. On 08/09/99, a Motion to Dismiss was filed and the appeal was dismissed on 07/13/00.

State’s appeal of habeas grant

On 08/09/99, the State filed an appeal of the granting of the Habeas Petition by the Circuit Court.

On 06/07/01, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the granting of the petition.

Florida Supreme Court direct appeal and U.S. Supreme Court

Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 10/31/02, alleging trial court errors including:

• admitting certain evidence and testimony
• granting a juror challenge
• admitting prejudicial evidence
• introducing medical examiner’s testimony
• admitting victim evidence and victim-impact evidence
• denying a motion for acquittal
• denying a request for a jury instruction regarding circumstantial evidence
• denying motions to disqualify the prosecutor
• finding aggravating circumstances
• sentencing based on a disproportionate penalty
• Ring claims

On 12/02/04, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.

Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 03/22/05 that was denied on 06/06/05.

Huggins filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 06/05/06 that is pending.

Huggins was declared incompetent on 11/27/06.

Outcome

Huggins was convicted on the charges and lesser included charge reflected in the verdicts at the first trial and the retrial, and he was sentenced to death on 02/26/99 and resentenced to death on 09/19/02.

Other details

• Florida Supreme Court case references included: SC96216 and opinion SC02-2364.
• The Circuit case number was: DC# 059121; Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County.
• Trial venue changes were to Duval County on 12/28/98 and to Hillsborough County on 04/11/02.
• The jury recommended death twice: on 02/10/99 by a vote of 8-4 and on 07/26/02 by a vote of 9-3.