Oscar Ray Bolin

Case overview

Oscar Ray Bolin was convicted in Florida of first-degree murder and false imprisonment in the November 1986 death of Stephanie Collins, 17. Collins had disappeared from a suburban shopping center and sparked a massive monthlong search. Bolin was sentenced to death. His convictions were reversed on appeal by the Florida Supreme Court for evidentiary and juror-related errors, and he was retried.

Bolin was retried in 1996 and was sent to death row for murdering Natalie Blanche Holley, 25, of Tampa. In February, a jury of Hillsborough County recommended the death penalty for killing Holley. A judge was to formally sentence Bolin in May in the Holley and Collins cases.

In prosecutors’ account, Bolin abducted Collins after she stopped by the drugstore where she worked to see about picking up extra work over the holidays. Collins was on her way to chorus practice. Jurors were told that Bolin took the teenager to his north Tampa travel trailer and bludgeoned and stabbed her to death. A hair found on Collins matched Bolin, according to FBI analysts’ testimony. Bolin’s wife at the time of the murders, who later was dead, testified on videotape that he admitted killing Collins. Bolin did not take the stand. Bolin’s attorneys argued that he merely helped conceal the crime of an unnamed person and that multiple issues would provide a basis for appeal, including allegedly poor cross-examination of Bolin’s ex-wife by his previous attorneys.

Bolin’s case included multiple separate murder trials connected by the involvement of the Florida Supreme Court reversing convictions based on spousal privilege, pretrial publicity, and jury selection issues. The case also involved a relationship that generated extensive media attention, including Bolin’s telephone marriage to Rosalie Martinez while he was on death row.

Bolin was convicted of three first-degree murder cases in Florida in 1991-92 and received death sentences; later, those death sentences and convictions were reversed and retrials occurred. In 2005, Bolin was convicted of Second-Degree Murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in one of the Hillsborough County cases described in the case information.

Timeline

• 11/05/86 — The body of Stephanie Collins was found off the side of the road in Hillsborough County; she had last been seen riding on the passenger’s side of a white van on 11/05/86.
• 12/05/86 — A jogger found the body of Teri Lynn Matthews in the woods near his home; her body was beside railroad tracks in Pasco County; authorities also found the body of Stephanie Collins on the same day.
• 12/28/01 — Bolin was resentenced as followed: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per the trial summary provided).
• 02/09/95 — The Florida Supreme Court granted a motion for rehearing and issued a revised opinion reversing convictions and sentence of death (in one of the Direct Appeal matters described in the case information).
• 02/05/04 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death (in a Direct Appeal described in the case information for Circuit Court case 91-521).
• 04/21/94 — The Florida Supreme Court reversed Bolin’s conviction and sentence and ordered a new trial (in a Direct Appeal described in the case information).
• 06/04/99 — Bolin was resentenced as followed: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death (including multiple resentencing references across the separate cases described).
• 07/13/01 — The Florida Supreme Court reversed Bolin’s convictions and sentence on a Direct Appeal and ordered a new trial (in Circuit Court case 90-11833, per the case information provided).
• 10/03/05 — Bolin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court that was described as pending.
• 10/09/96 — Bolin was resentenced to death (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per the case information).
• 10/30/92 — Bolin was sentenced as followed: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per the trial summary provided).
• 10/11/91 — Bolin was sentenced as followed: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death; Count III: False Imprisonment — 5 years (in Circuit Court case 90-11833, per the trial summary provided).
• 10/11/91 — Bolin was sentenced to death for a third murder in Hillsborough County on 10/11/91 (Circuit Court case #90-11833) per the case information provided.
• 10/11/05 — Bolin was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment following a retrial where he was convicted of Second-Degree Murder (Circuit Court case #90-11832, per the trial summary provided).
• 10/07/05 — Bolin was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder (Circuit Court case #90-11832, per the trial summary provided).
• 10/24/01 — The jury found Bolin guilty as charged and Bolin waived a jury advisory sentencing recommendation (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per the trial summary).
• 01/07/02 — Bolin filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court (described in the case information for Circuit Court case 91-521).
• 01/25/86 — A body of Natalie Holley was found in the woods near where a jogger lived; Holley’s abandoned car was discovered approximately five miles away from where her body was found; this date was given as the date of offense in one case information block.
• 01/25/86 — Bolin was charged in 1990 with all three murders; one of the three trials described was for Natalie Blanche Holley.
• 11/19/92 — Bolin filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court (in connection with Circuit Court case 91-521, per the case information).
• 11/22/96 — Bolin filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court (after the second resentencing described in the case information).
• 06/30/04 — Bolin filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court that was described as denied on 10/04/04.
• 08/01/90 — Defendant indicted on: Count I: First-Degree Murder; Count II: Armed Robbery; Count III: Kidnapping (in Circuit Court case 90-11832, per the trial summary).
• 08/30/01 — The Florida Supreme Court reversed Bolin’s conviction and sentence and ordered a new trial (in the direct appeal described for Circuit Court case 90-11832).
• 10/14/92 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per trial summary).
• 10/24/01 — Bolin waived a jury advisory sentencing recommendation (in Circuit Court case 91-521, per trial summary).
• 06/14/99 — Bolin filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court (described for Circuit Court case 90-11833 in the case information).
• 11/08/91 — Bolin filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court (described for Circuit Court case 90-11833 in the case information).
• 01/25/86 — Date of offense in the Natalie Holley case information block.
• 07/31/91 — Date of sentence for Natalie Holley case information block.
• 06/04/99 — Resentencing in Natalie Holley case information block and multiple references across the case information.

The offence

Stephanie Collins (17)

Stephanie Collins disappeared after being seen last in a drugstore parking lot. Her body was eventually found near a rural road about a month later in the Collins case described. Prosecutors stated Collins was abducted after she stopped at the drugstore where she worked to see about picking up extra work over the holidays, and that she was on her way to chorus practice. Jurors were told that Bolin took Collins to his north Tampa travel trailer and bludgeoned and stabbed her to death.

A hair found on Collins was matched to Bolin, and FBI analysts testified about that hair evidence. Bolin’s ex-wife testified on videotape that Bolin admitted killing Collins. Bolin did not take the stand. Bolin’s attorneys said they expected multiple issues for appeal.

The case information block for Oscar Ray Bolin in the Pasco-related offense described the victim as Teri Lynn Matthews; however, the overall case summary ties the November 1986 disappearance and death of Stephanie Collins to the first-degree murder and false imprisonment conviction.

Natalie Blanche Holley (25)

Natalie Blanche Holley was abducted after she left the north Tampa Church’s Chicken where she worked. Her stabbed body was found the next day in a Lutz orange grove. Bolin was charged in 1990 with all three murders and underwent three trials, one for each victim. In each case, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for each of the convictions. The Florida Supreme Court reversed all three convictions in 1995 and ordered new trials, and after retrials he was again convicted and again sentenced to death, with later reversals described in the case history.

In the case information block tied to Circuit Court case 90-11832, Holley was found in the woods near a jogger’s home, and her abandoned car was discovered about five miles away.

Teri Lynn Matthews (26)

On the morning of 12/05/86, Teri Lynn Matthews’ body was discovered in the woods near a jogger’s home. The body was beside railroad tracks in Pasco County. Matthews was beaten and stabbed, and authorities believed she was abducted in the vicinity of the Land O’ Lakes post office, where she had a post office box. Her car was found in the parking lot of the post office with the engine running and the driver’s door open, and her mail was found scattered on the ground.

Authorities reportedly found that Matthews’ body was raped, stabbed, and bludgeoned to death. The investigation into Matthews’ murder uncovered no significant leads until the summer of 1990.

The case information block also described that Matthews was last seen alive on 12/05/86, and that the victim’s clothing and wetness were noted, despite it not having rained for several days.

Investigation

Investigators learned that Matthews worked until about 11:00 p.m. the previous evening in Tampa, visited her boyfriend Gary McClelland, went out to dinner, and returned to the home McClelland shared with his parents. She then left Tampa and headed back to Pasco County around about 2:00 a.m., roughly 30 miles away.

After Matthews did not call her boyfriend when she got home, McClelland phoned Matthews’ mother, who informed him that Teri had never returned. McClelland started driving to Pasco County looking for traces of Matthews or her red Honda along the way. As he passed a post office in Land O’ Lakes, Florida, he noticed what appeared to be Matthews’ Honda in the parking lot with the parking lights still on and pieces of mail strewn on the ground nearby addressed to Matthews and her parents.

Police were baffled for years. DNA testing on three semen stains found on Matthews’ slacks eliminated McClelland as a suspect, and authorities had no other leads.

In 1990, investigators got a break after a former Florida woman living in Ohio, who identified herself as Cheryl Coby, told her spouse that her former husband, Oscar Ray Bolin, had confessed to her that he killed Matthews. Cheryl Coby’s second husband contacted authorities, who went to Ohio to interview Bolin’s ex-wife. That interview led police to a key witness. According to Coby, Bolin told her his half-brother, Phillip, helped get rid of Matthews’ body after the killing. Phillip Bolin, then 13 in 1986, confirmed Coby’s story, which led to Bolin’s arrest.

The case information block described a different lead source for the Matthews investigation: Danny Coby contacted Crime Stoppers in Fort Wayne, Indiana with information about the murder, and Danny Coby was married to Cheryl Coby. Following that call, Cheryl Coby gave investigators a statement regarding the murder of Mathews, after which Bolin was indicted for her murder.

Arrest and extradition

At the time Bolin was charged with the Matthews murder, he was in an Ohio prison serving a 25- to 75-year sentence for kidnapping and raping a 20-year-old waitress. The arrest occurred after authorities questioned Phillip Bolin, who confirmed the story relayed by Cheryl Coby.

Subsequent to the information provided by Cheryl Coby, Oscar Ray Bolin was extradited from Ohio to Hillsborough County to await his trial for the murder of Natalie Holley and for the murder of Stephanie Collins, according to the case information blocks.

Trial

Evidence in the Matthews prosecution

A hair was matched to Bolin in the Collins case, and FBI analysts testified in that matter. In the Matthews case, the evidence included semen stains and blood type testing as well as witness accounts.

Three semen stains found on Matthews’ pants revealed the presence of type A blood. Bolin’s blood type was described as AB. The prosecution experts stated that deterioration before the sample could be collected may have caused identifiable A blood cells to remain while leaving no trace of B cells. The blood testing alone was described as unable to prove Bolin was the source of the semen but not excluding him as a possible source.

More complex testing of semen stains produced five bands of DNA information. Prosecutors’ statistical testimony described a “match” where the five bands from the semen stain appeared to match five of Bolin’s six bands, and it was stated that this meant there was only a one in two thousand chance the found DNA belonged to someone other than the defendant.

Witness accounts included Michele Steen, described as the ex-wife of Bolin’s first cousin. Steen claimed Bolin confessed to her about the 1986 Matthews murder while they were drinking and after she asked him if he had ever killed anyone.

The best prosecution witness described was Bolin’s half-brother, Phillip Bolin. Phillip testified that Bolin woke him early on the morning of December 5 and said he needed help. Phillip described hearing moaning and seeing a person wrapped in a sheet, still alive and making gurgling noises. Phillip alleged Bolin raised a “tire buddy” with a metal end over his head and struck the head repeatedly until the gurgling stopped. Phillip described that Bolin ordered him to get a garden hose and turn it on, which Phillip said he refused. Phillip alleged Bolin then turned on the hose and attempted to shove the other end into Matthews’ mouth in an attempt to drown her. Phillip stated Bolin ordered him to help dump the body and that he refused, but that he helped load the sheet-covered body onto the back of Bolin’s wrecker with dual wheels. Phillip said he was afraid and did not tell anyone except his best friend Danny Ferns at school. Phillip and Ferns were described as losing touch after Phillip moved to Kentucky. Phillip said he later told authorities his version of events after Cheryl Bolin Coby told detectives that Bolin had informed her of Phillip’s participation.

The trial narrative also described the defense’s challenges to the prosecution evidence, including that the post office videotape showed Matthews entering the facility at 2:48 a.m. without showing Bolin, that there was disagreement about access to the sheet used to wrap Matthews’ body, and that defense experts challenged whether tire tracks proved a dual-wheel wrecker.

Other evidence details tied to Matthews

The trial narrative described the Land O’ Lakes post office: Bolin and his then-wife Cheryl maintained a post office box, and Cheryl was described as being a patient at Tampa General Hospital. Bolin visited Cheryl on December 4 and delivered a Social Security check on the following day, described as December 5.

The narrative described a sheet taken from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa as the sheet used to wrap Matthews’ body. It also stated that Cheryl Bolin had been a patient at St. Joseph’s and had told authorities she often took home items such as latex gloves and hospital blankets.

Tracks at the scene were described as suggesting a large dual-wheel vehicle, such as a vehicle wrecker. A tire expert determined that at least one treads had been made by a Cooper-brand tire, and it was stated that Rosemary and Robert Kahles regularly purchased Cooper tires. The defense contested that the tracks were dual-wheel vehicle tracks and also contested that even dual-wheel tracks proved the vehicle was a wrecker, noting other dual-wheel vehicles exist.

The narrative described Bolin working as a trainee for a wrecker company in Tampa. It described that Bolin begged for a chance to take a wrecker on his own on the day of the murder, after a call about a stranded car in Pasco County. Robert Kahles did not think Bolin was ready, but Rosemary Kahles convinced her husband to give Bolin a chance. Bolin left for Pasco County on his first solo run, was heard from once, but then he did not return when expected. Rosemary Kahles was awakened by a CB radio next to her bed, described as static-filled, and when she told Bolin to go to a pay phone and call back, he did not. The next day he arrived late, described as dirty and disheveled and wearing the same clothes as the previous day, with an explanation that he got lost. Later that afternoon, she saw a news report about Matthews’ body and said it excited Bolin, who was described as “pumped up.”

Robert Kahles’ suicide in 1991 was described in connection with his believed guilt for his connection to the case; it included the quoted statement: “I shouldn't have had that boy working for us.”

Defense position in the Matthews case

Bolin’s attorneys acknowledged that the case evidence appeared against him, but argued that much of it was circumstantial or unreliable. The defense stated there was no proof Bolin was present at the post office at the same time as Matthews, because the post office videotape showed Matthews entering at 2:48 a.m. with no image of Bolin. The defense also argued that the sheet could not be linked to Cheryl’s hospital items taken from St. Joseph’s, stating that the ex-wife’s item list did not include a sheet. They challenged the tire-track interpretation, arguing that the tracks did not necessarily prove a wrecker and that no vegetation damage was noted. They disputed the DNA argument regarding semen blood types, asserting it was more likely semen came from someone with type A blood rather than Bolin’s type AB, and they argued that Cheryl Coby and Michele Steen’s accounts were hearsay and that Phillip Bolin was not credible due to changing his account multiple times.

The narrative described Phillip Bolin’s story as changing in multiple trials, with recantation and then recantation of recantation described, and it stated that a recorded telephone conversation with Rosalie Bolin included Phillip rejecting his original story again, saying he had been coerced.

Sentencing and procedural history

Circuit Court case 91-521 (Teri Lynn Matthews)

Trial summary described in the provided case information for Circuit Court case 91-521 included:

• 02/19/91 — Defendant indicted on: Count I: First-Degree Murder.
• 10/12/92 — The jury found the defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
• 10/14/92 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority.
• 10/30/92 — The defendant was sentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death.
• 08/21/96 — At retrial, the jury found the defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
• 08/23/96 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority.
• 10/09/96 — The defendant was resentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death.
• 10/24/01 — The jury found the defendant guilty as charged and Bolin waived a jury advisory sentencing recommendation.
• 12/28/01 — The defendant was resentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death. The case information also described factors contributing to delay as including two reversals of Bolin’s death sentence stemming from Circuit Court Case #91-521, with resentencing to death for a third time on 12/28/01.

The Direct Appeal history for Circuit Court case 91-521 included multiple Florida Supreme Court reversals and one affirmation:

• The Florida Supreme Court reversed Bolin’s conviction and sentence and ordered a new trial on 02/09/95.
• After a retrial, the defendant was resentenced to death on 10/09/96, then a Direct Appeal was filed on 11/22/96.
• The Florida Supreme Court reversed the conviction and sentence of death on 06/10/99 and ordered a new trial.
• After a second retrial, Bolin was resentenced to death on 12/28/01, and a Direct Appeal was filed on 01/07/02.
• The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death on 02/05/04.
• A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on 06/30/04, denied on 10/04/04.
• A 3.851 Motion was filed on 10/03/05 and described as pending.

The case information also described legal issues on appeal involving spousal privilege, a letter written prior to attempting suicide in 1991, and juror voir dire and publicity related to pretrial publicity.

Circuit Court case 90-11832 (Natalie Holley)

For Circuit Court case 90-11832, the provided trial summary included:

• 08/01/90 — Defendant indicted on: Count I: First-Degree Murder; Count II: Armed Robbery; Count III: Kidnapping.
• 07/11/91 — The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.
• 07/12/91 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by an 11 to 1 majority.
• 07/31/91 — The defendant was sentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death; Count II: Armed Robbery — 30 years; Count III: Kidnapping — Life imprisonment.
• 02/18/99 — At retrial, the jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.
• 02/19/99 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by an 11 to 1 majority.
• 06/04/99 — The defendant was resentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death; Count II: Armed Robbery — 30 years; Count III: Kidnapping — Life imprisonment.
• 10/07/05 — At retrial, the jury found the defendant guilty of Second-Degree Murder.
• 10/11/05 — The defendant was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment.

The case information said Bolin’s death sentence in this Circuit Court case had been reversed twice by the Florida Supreme Court, and it stated the case was pending a retrial before the 2005 outcome described in the trial summary.

Circuit Court case 90-11833 (Stephanie Collins)

For Circuit Court case 90-11833, the provided trial summary included:

• 08/01/90 — Defendant indicted on: Count I: First-Degree Murder; Count II: Attempted Robbery; Count III: Kidnapping.
• 10/11/91 — The jury found the defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder and the lesser offense of False Imprisonment; he was acquitted of the Attempted Robbery charge.
• 10/11/91 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority.
• 10/11/91 — The defendant was sentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death; Count III: False Imprisonment — 5 years.
• 04/08/99 — At retrial, to prevent a violation of double jeopardy protection, Bolin was only tried for First-Degree Murder and False Imprisonment; the jury found him guilty on both counts.
• 04/08/99 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority.
• 06/04/99 — The defendant was resentenced: Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death; Count II: False Imprisonment — 5 years.

The case information described that Florida Supreme Court reversals occurred, including:

• Reversal of convictions and sentence of death after issue involving spousal privilege was described as reversed and ordered a new trial on 02/09/95.
• Another reversal on 07/13/01 with a new trial ordered, and that Bolin was awaiting retrial at that time on Circuit Court case 90-11833.

Appeals

Across the case descriptions, the Florida Supreme Court reversed convictions and death sentences based on:

• Spousal privilege protected communications between Bolin and Cheryl Coby, with the high court finding errors in admitting testimony protected by Florida spousal privilege rules.
• A dispute about whether a letter written prior to attempting suicide in 1991 constituted a voluntary waiver of spousal privilege.
• Limitations on defense voir dire regarding publicity and issues with juror selection and excusal. In the most recent appeal described for the Pasco County conviction in Matthews’ death, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected defense arguments about jurors improperly excused from duty.

The procedural history described included multiple reversals and retrials in each case, with Bolin being convicted multiple times and death sentences being imposed multiple times, before reversals and later outcomes including a 2005 conviction for Second-Degree Murder with a life sentence in one of the Hillsborough County cases described.

Outcome

Bolin’s death sentences and convictions were reversed multiple times by the Florida Supreme Court, and the case history included retrials and resentencing to death.

In one of the Hillsborough County cases described (Circuit Court case 90-11832), Bolin was convicted of Second-Degree Murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on 10/11/05.

The overall status reflected in the provided status field was: “Sentenced to death. Sentenced to life in prison.”

Other details

Personal relationships and media-related details

The case narrative described that Bolin married Rosalie Martinez by telephone in 1996 while he was on Death Row. Rosalie left her attorney-husband and her four young daughters and married Bolin. It was stated that Rosalie met Bolin every Saturday in the cafeteria of the state prison in Starke, Florida; they kissed, hugged, and held hands, and they had not consummated their union.

Rosalie Martinez worked for the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office as a death penalty mitigation expert. The public defender’s office removed Rosalie Bolin from Oscar Ray Bolin’s case because she was spending too much time on it, at the expense of other cases. She also was banned from the Hillsborough County Jail after deputies saw her caressing Bolin’s neck and Bolin was found with a love note from her, prosecutors said. Rosalie later worked as a private investigator specializing in death penalty mitigation.

Rosalie’s comments included quotations:

• Rosie said: “We were married Oct. 5, over the phone.”
• Rosie said: “I was in my apartment in Gainesville, and he was in the county jail.”
• Rosie said: “I... desire to be passionate with him,” adding: “but we have to be strong.”
• Rosie said: “I never wanted him to think that I would abandon him,” and “He's given me a purpose. I'm on a crusade.”
• A quoted letter dated October 26, 1997 stated: “My name has never been "Rosie" and I am not 'strangely idiotic' -- Oscar has one conviction -- and has not been tried on other two cases -- he is not a suspected serial killer -- he has been kicked out of the club! I want my husband's name taken off (The Serial Killer Hit List) -- Rosalie Bolin.”
• A visitor quoted as “Cupcake” provided commentary including: “support” and “trying” and included the quoted words: “I feel pretty” (in reference to 20/20), “I feel pretty” when asked what she could be thinking marrying Oscar Ray Bolin, and “Perhaps THAT is why Martinez is hopping around making noise? She's safe. Sit down and shut up sweetheart. Your 15 minutes are over, and I will say an extra prayer tonight that your soon to be dearly departed will get a "date" soon.”

Murder victims’ family members

A separate narrative described the three mothers of the alleged murder victims as trying to stay in touch and sitting together through trials and sentencing hearings. The mothers were identified as:

• Kathleen “Kay” Reeves, 67
• Natalie Holley, 80
• Donna Witmer, 56 They were described as losing daughters to violent deaths and as supporting each other through multiple trials and appeals.

That narrative included a quote from Reeves: “Nothing about the case subsides with us.” Reeves said: “It's as though it is imprinted on your mind, like a child's mind at birth.”

It also included a quote from Reeves: “You just fortify yourself with the fact that this is another nail in the coffin,” and “His coffin.” Another quote said: “The mothers will lean on each other, Reeves said, until Bolin is executed.”

Another quote from Natalie Holley said: “There's no way I can prepare for it,” and “I just have to grit my teeth and keep a straight face.” It also quoted Holley as saying: “They are providing strength for me,” and: “I didn't know either of them at my daughter's trial, the first one. That's where we met, and we've been together ever since.”

Additional biographical and case-record details

The case information blocks included:

• Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. (W/M)
• DC #519220
• DOB: 01/22/62
• Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pasco County, Case 91-521; a sentencing judge named as The Honorable Stanley Mills; resentencing judge as The Honorable William R. Webb
• Trial attorneys listed in Circuit Court case 91-521: Douglas J. Loeffler & David Siar — Assistant Public Defenders; attorneys for direct appeal: Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender; retrial attorneys: Paul Firmani & Dean N. Livermore — Assistant Public Defenders; direct appeal resentencing: Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender; second retrial attorneys: Samuel Williams & John Swisher — Registry Attorney; collateral appeals: Andrea Norgard — Registry Attorney
• Date of offense for case 91-521: 12/05/86
• Dates of sentence and resentencing for case 91-521: Date of Sentence 10/30/92; Date of Resentencing 10/09/96; Date of Second Resentencing 12/28/01
• In Circuit Court case 90-11832: sentencing judge The Honorable M. Wm. Graybill; resentencing judge The Honorable J. Rogers Padgett; trial attorneys Paul Firmani & Charles O’Connor — Assistant Public Defenders; direct appeal attorney Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender; retrial attorneys Brian J. Donerly & Mark A. Ober — Private Attorney; direct appeal resentencing Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender
• In Circuit Court case 90-11833: sentencing judge The Honorable M. Wm. Rogers Padgett; similar trial attorney lists provided: Paul Firmani & Charles O’Connor — Assistant Public Defenders; direct appeal Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender; retrial Brian J. Donerly & Mark A. Ober — Private attorneys; direct appeal (RS): Andrea Norgard & Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defenders
• Date of sentence and resentencing for case 90-11832: Date of Offense 01/25/86; Date of Sentence 07/31/91; Date of Resentencing 06/04/99
• Date of offense and resentencing for case 90-11833: Date of Offense 11/05/86; Date of Sentence 10/11/91; Date of Resentencing 06/04/99

Prosecutors and court personnel referenced in the narrative

The narrative named prosecutor Michael Halkitis as an assistant state attorney from Pasco County. It stated local prosecutors recused because Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober had previously represented Bolin.

Administrative outcome summary described for “most recent trial”

The narrative stated that in the most recent appeal, for his Pasco County conviction in Matthews’ death, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected defense arguments that some jurors were improperly excused from duty. It also stated that retrials would take place in Hillsborough County, with one trial to seek to convict Bolin for the death of Holley and another to seek to convict Bolin for the death of Witmer’s daughter. The narrative included that Reeves, fulfilling a pledge she made years ago, would sit next to Holley and Witmer throughout both trials.

Drugstore, car, and post office details

The narrative tied Collins’ abduction to a drugstore where she worked and her plan to pick up extra work over the holidays. It tied Matthews’ disappearance to the Land O’ Lakes post office, and it described a car found at the post office with the engine running and the driver’s door open, along with mail scattered on the ground.

Counts and verdict outcomes explicitly stated

In Circuit Court case 90-11833, the jury found Bolin guilty of First-Degree Murder and the lesser offense of False Imprisonment, and Bolin was acquitted of the Attempted Robbery charge.

In Circuit Court case 90-11832, the provided trial summary stated that at retrial in 2005 the jury found the defendant guilty of Second-Degree Murder and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.