Jeffrey Hutchinson

Case record

Jeffrey Hutchinson was born on 11/06/62.

Background

On May 24, 1999, Hutchinson was diagnosed with Gulf War Illness (Syndrome).

The offence

On the evening of 09/11/98, Jeffrey Hutchinson and his live-in girlfriend, Renee Flaherty, had an argument. After the argument, Hutchinson packed some of his clothes and guns into his truck, left, and went to a bar. Hutchinson told the bartender, who knew both Hutchinson and Flaherty, “Renee is pissed off at me.” Hutchinson drank one and a half glasses of beer and left, muttering to himself. Witnesses noted that Hutchinson drove recklessly as he left the bar. Approximately 40 minutes after Hutchinson left the bar, there was a 911 call from Hutchinson’s home. The caller stated, “I just shot my family” and “There were some guys here.” Friends identified the caller’s voice as Hutchinson’s.

Deputies arrived within 10 minutes of Hutchinson’s call and found him on the ground in the garage. Deputies found the bodies of Renee Flaherty, Amanda Flaherty (7 years old), and Logan Flaherty (4 years old) in the master bedroom. Each had been shot once in the head with a shotgun. Geoffrey Flaherty (9 years old) was found in the living room, shot once in the chest and once in the head with a shotgun. Hutchinson had gunshot residue on his hands and Geoffrey’s body tissue on his leg.

Hutchinson alleged that two men came into the house, and he struggled with them. They then shot Renee and the children and fled. Hutchinson was examined at the scene and at the jail and had no injuries.

Trial

On 10/05/98, Hutchinson was indicted on the following counts:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder – Renee Flaherty
• Count II: First-Degree Murder – Logan Flaherty
• Count III: First-Degree Murder – Amanda Flaherty
• Count IV: First-Degree Murder – Geoffrey Flaherty

Trial dates as listed:

• 01/18/01: Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment
• 01/21/01: Jury recommendation waived
• 02/06/01: Sentencing

Trial personnel as listed:

• Sentencing Judge: The Honorable G. Robert Barron
• Attorney, Trial: Stephen Cobb – Private Attorney
• Direct Appeal: Kepler Funk, Jack Platt, Keith Szachacz – Private Attorney
• Collateral Appeals: Jeffrey Hazen – Registry

Sentencing

On 02/06/01, Hutchinson was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder – Renee Flaherty – Life
• Count II: First-Degree Murder – Logan Flaherty – Death
• Count III: First-Degree Murder – Amanda Flaherty – Death
• Count IV: First-Degree Murder – Geoffrey Flaherty – Death

Appeals

Hutchinson filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/07/01, citing the following errors:

• failing to properly instruct the jury
• admitting excited utterances as testimony
• overruling objections to the State’s closing argument
• denying motions for mistrial, acquittal, and new trial
• finding aggravating circumstances
• the proportionality of the death sentence

On 07/01/04, the convictions and sentences were affirmed.

Hutchinson filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 10/20/05 that is pending.

Other details

• Florida Supreme Court opinion: SC01-500; opinion SC08-99
• Case information as listed: DC# 124849; First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County; Case # 98-1382
• Date of offence: 09/11/98
• Direct appeal and collateral appeal counsel as listed above
• Case summary also included repeated boilerplate fragments: “FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us” and “Jeffrey Hutchinson home last updates contact” (non-case navigation text removed)