Lyndford Blackwood

Case information

Name: Lyndford Blackwood Date of birth: 01/18/57 Court: Supreme Court of Florida Opinion: SC90859; opinion SC03-1553 DC#: 124389 Seventeenth Judicial Circuit: Broward County Case #: 95-1473 Sentencing judge: The Honorable James I. Cohen

People

Defendant: Lyndford Blackwood Criminal trial attorney: Robert Ullman – Special Appointed Public Defender Direct appeal attorney: Gary Caldwell – Assistant Public Defender Collateral appeals attorney: Todd Scher – Registry Victim: Caroline Thomas-Tynes

Timeline

• 01/06/95 — Date of offense
• 02/01/95 — Defendant indicted on Count I: First-Degree Murder
• 12/05/96 — Count I: First-Degree Murder
• 01/23/97 — Advisory sentencing; jury voted for imposition of the death penalty by a 9 to 3 majority
• 05/16/97 — Sentence of death imposed
• 06/26/97 — Blackwood filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court
• 12/21/00 — Florida Supreme Court affirmed conviction and sentence of death
• 10/05/01 — United States Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari
• 10/01/02 — Blackwood filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court
• 11/20/02 — The State’s motion to strike granted
• 12/03/02 — Blackwood re-filed his 3.850 Motion
• 07/23/03 — Final order issued denying the 3.850 Motion in part, reversing the death sentence, and remanding for a new penalty phase proceeding
• 09/02/03 — Blackwood filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court
• 09/05/03 — The State filed a Cross Appeal; both appeals pending
• 05/14/04 — Blackwood filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court; currently pending

The offence

Lynford Blackwood was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1995 strangulation of Caroline Thomas-Tynes.

Blackwood and Caroline Thomas-Tynes had dated on and off for ten years before the relationship ended in late 1994. Shortly after the break-up, Caroline began seeing someone else and became pregnant. On the morning of 01/06/95, Blackwood set out to return a set of sheets to Caroline. After talking for a while, the two had consensual sex.

While lying in bed, Blackwood and Caroline began to quarrel. Caroline told him that she did not want to see him again and that, while they were dating, she had aborted six of his children. Blackwood then reportedly strangled Caroline with his hands.

Blackwood fled Caroline’s home in her car, which he later abandoned. He then hitchhiked to St. Petersburg, where he was later arrested.

Blackwood admitted to choking the victim and placing a bar of soap in her mouth, but claimed that she was still alive and breathing when he left. Blackwood appeared to be surprised and upset when he learned that Caroline was dead.

The body of Caroline Thomas-Tynes was discovered on the evening of 01/06/95. She was found lying naked in her bedroom. A folded washcloth and a bar of soap were found lodged into the back of her throat. There was some discrepancy as to whether a pillow was used in the asphyxiation. Caroline had bruises and marks on her neck that were evidence of manual and ligature strangulation. A speaker wire, found on the floor next to the bed, proved to be consistent with the marks found on her neck.

The medical examiner reported that Caroline Thomas-Tynes could have died from manual or ligature strangulation, from the soap and washcloth lodged in her throat, or from a pillow being placed over her face.

Charges

On 02/01/95, the defendant was indicted on the following charges:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder

Trial

Verdict: The jury found the defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.

Penalty phase: On 01/23/97, upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 9 to 3 majority, voted for the imposition of the death penalty.

Sentencing

On 05/16/97, the defendant was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death

Appeals

Direct appeal

Blackwood filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 06/26/97. He argued that:

• The trial court erred in denying his motion for acquittal because the State’s evidence did not contradict his claim that he never intended to kill Caroline Thomas-Tynes.
• The trial court improperly admitted hearsay evidence.
• In reference to the penalty phase, he contested the consideration and application of aggravating and mitigating circumstances.
• The trial court erred in excluding certain mental health reports.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Blackwood’s conviction and sentence of death on 12/21/00.

United States Supreme Court

Blackwood filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 10/05/01.

State collateral proceedings

Blackwood filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court on 10/01/02. The State filed a Motion to Strike, which was granted on 11/20/02. Blackwood re-filed his 3.850 Motion on 12/03/02.

A final order was issued on 07/23/03, denying the 3.850 Motion in part, but reversing the death sentence and remanding for a new penalty phase proceeding.

Further Florida Supreme Court proceedings

Blackwood filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 09/02/03. The State filed a Cross Appeal on 09/05/03. Both appeals were pending.

Habeas corpus

Blackwood filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on 05/14/04 in the Florida Supreme Court; it was currently pending.

Outcome

A later final order issued on 07/23/03 denied the 3.850 Motion in part, but reversed the death sentence and remanded for a new penalty phase proceeding. Both subsequent 3.850 appeals and the habeas corpus petition were pending.

Other details

Caroline Thomas-Tynes had bruises and marks on her neck consistent with manual and ligature strangulation. A speaker wire found on the floor next to the bed was consistent with the marks found on her neck. A folded washcloth and a bar of soap were lodged into the back of her throat.