Sonny Ray Jeffries

Case information

Sonny Ray Jeffries was sentenced to death on January 22, 1999.

Background

Wilma Martin worked as a property manager and her responsibilities included collecting rent money from tenants. Martin established a landlord-tenant relationship with Kevin Jeffries, Roxanne Jeffries, and Tammy Avant, who were all related to Sonny Jeffries. In the summer of 1993, Sonny Jeffries moved to Florida from New Jersey and became acquainted with Tammy Jeffries’ boyfriend’s brother, Harry Thomas.

The offence

Martin’s body was found on 08/20/93. She had been stabbed several times and kicked or stomped to death. A bloody footprint and fingerprint were left at the crime scene. Several pieces of jewelry were taken and later pawned.

Roxanne Jeffries testified to overhearing Sonny Jeffries and Harry Thomas talk about going out, robbing and killing someone. After Jeffries and Thomas returned from an alleged trip to Disney World, Roxanne noticed that Jeffries had rings in his possession that he did not have in the past. Dennis Thomas, the brother of Harry Thomas, testified to overhearing Thomas and Jeffries talk about robbing Martin. Dennis Thomas also overheard the pair saying that Martin would be a good target because she collected rent money.

Investigation

Laboratory analysis determined that the shoe print left at the crime scene could have been left by the same type of shoes as worn by Jeffries, but was not conclusive as to whether Jeffries’ shoes were the ones that left the print. Further analysis of the fingerprint left at the crime scene determined that the fingerprint matched those of Jeffries.

Arrest

Sonny Ray Jeffries filed a direct appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/01/99.

Trial

Sonny Ray Jeffries was indicted on 10/18/93 as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Armed Robbery
• Count III: Armed Burglary

On 04/23/98, a jury returned guilty verdicts on Counts I and II and a not guilty verdict on Count III. On 09/09/98, the jury recommended death by a vote of 11-1.

Jeffries represented himself during the trial. He was tried with the assistance of counsel listed for trial.

After conviction, Jeffries admitted killing Martin but said the sexually transmitted disease drove him mad.

Codefendant information

Harry Thomas was charged under the same indictment as Jeffries. Thomas pled nolo contendere to Count I of the indictment, and was sentenced to a prison term of 20 years. The State nolle prosequied Counts II and III of the indictment. Thomas was conditionally released on 12/10/03 and returned to New Jersey.

Sentencing

On 01/22/99, Jeffries was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death
• Count II: Armed Robbery – Life Imprisonment

Appeals

Jeffries filed a direct appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/01/99, citing the following errors:

• denying a motion to suppress shoes as evidence;
• overruling an objection to the State’s use of a peremptory challenge;
• denying a motion for judgment of acquittal;
• improperly evaluating mitigating evidence;
• disproportionality of the death sentence.

On 08/23/01, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.

Collateral proceedings and competency

Jeffries filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 12/03/02. On 11/26/02, the Circuit Court determined that Jeffries was incompetent to proceed. On 10/21/03, the Circuit Court denied all claims except competency.

Prior to trial, Jeffries was found incompetent to proceed on 07/19/94 and 06/12/96. On 11/26/02, the Circuit Court again determined that Jeffries was incompetent to proceed.

On 03/18/04, the State filed a motion for treatment to restore competency, and a hearing was held on 10/05/04. On 10/08/04, the court issued an order of commitment. Durocher hearings were held on 04/08/05 and 05/26/05, and on 12/15/05, the court issued an order declaring Jeffries competent.

On 02/13/06 and 06/08/06, the motion was amended.

Other details

Court and case identifiers

• Florida Supreme Court opinion: SC94994
• DC# X18736
• DOB: 09/04/63
• Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County
• Case # 93-9667
• Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Robert C. Wattles

Counsel

• Trial: Pro Se, Leticia J. Marques & Francis Blankner – Private Attorney
• Direct Appeal: Michael S. Becker – Assistant Public Defender
• Collateral Appeals: Daphney Gaylord – CCRC-M

Verbatim statements

Jeffries told Wattles at the time:

"County jail administrations, prison administrations and hospital administrations are all responsible because they should have helped and treated me years ago," Jeffries told Wattles at the time.

Jeffries repeatedly objected during a death-penalty-related hearing:

"This is not a hearing. This is ludicrous, the questions she is asking," said Jeffries, interrupting Gaylord's cross-examination of a state doctor who says Jeffries is competent to make his own decisions.

Gaylord reminded Thornton of Jeffries’ mental-health history; Jeffries called Gaylord’s questioning:

"repetitive" and "an insult to my character."

Jeffries argued during the hearing:

"is racist toward me."

Jeffries said:

"I want a lawyer change,"

Mental health evaluation

Dr. Joe Thornton testified that he evaluated Jeffries in January and determined that he was competent and could make decisions about his capital case. Another state doctor was set to testify that he had come to the same conclusion. Thornton said Jeffries exhibited an "anti-social personality" and noted that he could beat odds with his attorney but was mentally competent to assist in his own defense. Thornton also testified:

"I felt he was competent"

Mental-health experts in 1998 questioned Jeffries and said he was schizophrenic, and the experts did not connect his mental illness with gonorrhea. Jeffries claimed untreated gonorrhea drove him mad before he killed Martin.

Date-linked hearing narrative included in the case record

A three-hour hearing in Orlando was held before Orange County Circuit Judge Bob Wattles. The hearing ended abruptly when Gaylord became ill and could not continue. The hearing was scheduled to continue later in the month.