Michael Lambrix

Case information

Michael Lambrix was indicted in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Glades County, Florida, in Case #83-12CF.

He was also known as Cary Michael Lambrix. The record listed:

• Direct Appeal: J. L. LeGrande & Barbra LeGrande – Private Attorneys
• Collateral Appeals: William Hennis & Dan D. Hallenberg – CCRC-S
• Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Richard M. Stanley
• Attorneys, Trial: Robert Jacobs & Kinley Engvalson – Assistant Public Defenders
• Date of birth: 03/29/60
• Date of offense: 02/06/83
• Date of sentence: 03/22/84

Victims

Clarence Moore (AKA: Lawrence Lamberson)

Clarence Moore was a victim of first-degree murder.

Aleisha Bryant

Aleisha Bryant was a victim of first-degree murder.

The offence

On the evening of 02/05/83, Cary Michael Lambrix and his roommate, Frances Smith, met Clarence Moore (AKA: Lawrence Lamberson) and Aleisha Bryant at a tavern and then took them back to their trailer to eat.

Lambrix first took Moore outside. Twenty minutes later he asked for Bryant to come outside. After 45 minutes, Lambrix returned to the trailer alone with a bloody shirt and tire iron in his hand.

He informed Smith that he had killed both Moore and Bryant. Lambrix killed Moore by hitting him in the head and killed Bryant by strangulation.

Smith then helped Lambrix clean up, bury the bodies, and throw the bloody shirt and tire iron into a nearby stream.

Investigation

On 02/08/83, Frances Smith was arrested on an unrelated charge. On 02/10/83, she informed the police about the two buried bodies.

The police investigation led to the discovery of the bodies, Lambrix’s bloody shirt, and the tire iron.

The medical examination of the bodies confirmed Lambrix’s statements regarding the incident.

Trial

Indictment

At trial, Lambrix was indicted as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Bryant)
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Moore)

Verdict

On 02/27/84, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.

Recommendations and sentencing hearing

On 02/29/84, the jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2 (Bryant) and 8-4 (Moore).

On 03/22/84, Lambrix was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Bryant) – Death
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Moore) – Death

Appeals

Florida Supreme Court (Direct Appeal)

On 04/18/84, Lambrix filed a Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.

He contended that errors occurred during the guilt phase of his trial, including:

• The lack of a representative jury due to the exclusion of members opposed to the death penalty
• Restricted cross-examination of an investigator

The Court affirmed Lambrix’s convictions and sentence on 09/25/86.

United States Supreme Court (Certiorari)

A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed on 10/02/87 to the United States Supreme Court and was denied on 08/18/88.

Florida post-conviction (3.850 motion)

Lambrix filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court on 10/27/88, which was denied on 11/18/88.

On 11/21/88, a 3.850 Appeal was filed to the Florida Supreme Court. On 11/30/88, the Court affirmed the denial of Lambrix’s motion.

Habeas petitions (Circuit Court and Florida Supreme Court)

On 12/01/88, a Petition for Writ of Habeas was filed to the Circuit Court and was denied on 06/26/89.

On 07/04/89, Lambrix filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court. The petition was denied on 04/26/90.

A mandate was issued on 05/29/90.

Federal habeas litigation

A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was filed to the United States District Court, Middle District on 12/01/88; it was denied on 05/12/92.

A Habeas Appeal was filed to the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit on 06/17/92.

On 01/03/96, the United States Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Lambrix’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.

Florida Supreme Court habeas (additional petition)

A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was filed to the Florida Supreme Court on 06/16/93 and was denied on 06/16/94.

Lambrix raised the issue of Espinosa, which was procedurally barred since it was not presented in his direct appeal. Lambrix argued ineffective counsel, which was also barred due to the fact that it had previously been considered and rejected in another Habeas petition.

Additional 3.850 motion and appeal

Lambrix filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court on 10/07/94, which was denied on 03/23/95.

On 07/21/95, a 3.850 appeal was filed to the Florida Supreme Court, and the petition was denied on 09/12/96.

Lambrix contended that he should have been allowed to represent himself in trial. The argument was dismissed based on the finding that he waited six years to present the issue, which was past the two-year limit stated in the 3.850 rule.

Lambrix also argued ineffective counsel, which was also barred.

United States Supreme Court certiorari (grant and subsequent actions)

A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed to the United States Supreme Court on 08/16/96. The petition was granted on 11/01/96.

A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed to the United States Supreme Court on 12/06/96. The petition was affirmed on 05/12/97.

A mandate was issued on 06/11/97.

On 11/17/97, a Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed to the United States Supreme Court and was denied on 02/23/98.

3.850 motion (amended and pending)

On 01/20/98, Lambrix filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, amended on 01/20/01. The motion was currently pending.

Outcome

Lambrix was convicted of first-degree murder on two counts and was sentenced to death on 03/22/84.

Aftermath

Lambrix was sent to Florida’s death row after sentencing on 03/22/84.