Ray Lamar Johnston

Case details

Ray Lamar Johnston was convicted in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Florida. His date of birth was 10/24/54. The case was numbered 97-13379. A Florida Supreme Court opinion was issued as SC00-979 and SC01-1914, with a referenced DC# 927442.

Timeline

• 08/19/97 — Leanne Coryell left work at 8:38 p.m., went to a grocery store, and left the store at 9:23 p.m.
• 08/19/97 — Leanne Coryell’s body was discovered at 10:30 p.m. floating in a pond on the property of St. Timothy’s Church.
• 09/10/97 — Johnston was indicted on five counts: Count I First-Degree Murder; Count II Kidnapping; Count III Robbery; Count IV Sexual Battery; Count V Burglary of a Conveyance.
• 06/17/99 — The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.
• 06/17/99 — The jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0.
• 03/13/00 — Johnston was sentenced: Count I First-Degree Murder—Death; Count II Kidnapping—Life Imprisonment; Count III Robbery—15 years; Count IV Sexual Battery—Life Imprisonment; Count V Burglary of a Conveyance—Life Imprisonment.
• 05/03/00 — Johnston filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 12/05/02 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.
• 03/16/04 — Johnston filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court.
• 06/11/04 — Johnston amended the Motion.
• 12/08/05 — Johnston amended the Motion again.

The offence

Leanne Coryell was a clinical orthodontist assistant. She left work at 8:38 p.m. on the evening of 08/19/97 and then went to a grocery store and left the store at 9:23 p.m. Her body was discovered at 10:30 p.m. Timothy’s Church.

Forensic investigation determined that Coryell died from manual strangulation. Her body had wounds suggesting impact from a blunt weapon. Vertical scrapes on her back suggested that she was dragged to the pond. Two unusually shaped bruises on Coryell’s buttocks led forensic experts to conclude that she was beaten with her own belt prior to death.

Coryell’s body also showed internal and external injuries to the vagina, consistent with penetration.

Her clothes were found on a nearby embankment, and impressions were taken of shoe prints found near the clothing.

Coryell’s black Infiniti was in the church’s parking lot with the keys in the ignition and the engine still warm.

Investigation

Police were able to life a fingerprint, later matched to Ray Johnston, from the exterior of the car.

ATM surveillance photos showed a person withdrawing $500 from Coryell’s bank account. These photos were given to the news media and aired them. A friend of Ray Johnston saw the photos and called police.

Based on telephone calls identifying Johnston, police obtained a search warrant for Johnston’s apartment and found a pair of wet tennis shoes and shorts. The imprints from the tennis shoes matched three partial impressions from the crime scene.

Arrest and statement

Johnston saw his photo on television and volunteered to give a statement to police. He told police that he was a friend of Coryell and that they had gone out to dinner a few times. He said that he withdrew the money from Coryell’s account to repay a loan she had obtained from him.

He justified the wet shoes found by police by saying that he had jumped in a hot tub, shoes and all, after a run.

Johnston also called a pen pal and asked her to provide a false alibi for him, by telling his attorneys that she was working out with Johnston on the night of the murder.

Trial

Charges (indictment)

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Kidnapping
• Count III: Robbery
• Count IV: Sexual Battery
• Count V: Burglary of a Conveyance

Verdicts and penalty phase

The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment on 06/17/99. During the penalty phase in the Coryell murder trial, the State introduced testimony from three victims of prior violent felonies committed by Johnston. Each testified that Johnston grabbed them, placed a hunting knife to their throats, and forced them to undress, bound, or beat them with a belt.

The jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0 on 06/17/99.

Sentencing

On 03/13/00, Johnston was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death
• Count II: Kidnapping — Life Imprisonment
• Count III: Robbery — 15 years
• Count IV: Sexual Battery — Life Imprisonment
• Count V: Burglary of a Conveyance — Life Imprisonment

Appeals and collateral proceedings

Johnston filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 05/03/00, citing the following errors: juror misconduct; failing to ascertain the effect of pretrial publicity; failing to instruct the jury and failing to address the mitigating factors of extreme mental or emotional disturbance.

On 12/05/02, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.

Johnston filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 03/16/04 and amended the Motion on 06/11/04 and 12/08/05. The Motion was pending.

Other details

Johnston was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1997 murder of Janice Nugent (Case # 99-11338).