Gary Ray Bowles

Case information

Gary Ray Bowles (b. January 25, 1962) was a Florida death row prisoner.

At the time of his arrest for the murder of Walter Hinton, Bowles used the name Tim Whitfield.

Bowles was sentenced to death in Florida on September 6, 1996 and resentenced to death on September 7, 1999.

Timeline

• January 25, 1962 — Gary Ray Bowles was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia.
• March 15, 1994 — Police discovered the body of a caucasian male, age 59, in his Daytona Beach, Florida residence.
• March 25, 1994 — A vehicle taken from the Daytona Beach murder victim was recovered in Nashville, Tennessee.
• April 14, 1994 — Police discovered the body of David Jarman in the basement of his Silver Spring home in Maryland; his credit cards, keys, and vehicle were taken.
• April 14, 1994 — Police discovered the body of 59-year-old John Hardy Roberts in his Daytona Beach residence; he was strangled and had a rag stuffed into his mouth.
• April 22, 1994 — Police recovered the vehicle taken in the Maryland case in Baltimore, Maryland.
• May 5, 1994 — Police found the body of a 72-year-old caucasian male in Savannah, Georgia, behind a golf cart shed at a local golf course.
• May 19, 1994 — Nassau County, Florida police discovered a caucasian male, 38 years old, with a gunshot wound to the head.
• November 22, 1994 — Bowles was arrested for the murder of Walter Jamelle “Jay” Hinton at an employment office in Jacksonville, Florida.
• December 8, 1994 — Bowles was indicted on two counts, including First-Degree Murder of Jay Hinton and robbery.
• September 6, 1996 — Bowles was sentenced to death in Florida (Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death).
• August 27, 1998 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Bowles’ conviction for First-Degree Murder but reversed his death sentence and remanded for a new penalty phase.
• May 27, 1999 — During resentencing, the jury unanimously voted for the death penalty.
• September 7, 1999 — Bowles was resentenced to death (Count I: First-Degree Murder - Death).
• October 11, 2001 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Bowles sentence.
• June 17, 2002 — The United States Supreme Court denied Bowles’s petition for writ of certiorari.
• December 9, 2002 — Bowles filed a 3.851 motion in the State Circuit Court.
• August 15, 2005 — Bowles’s 3.851 motion was denied in the State Circuit Court.
• December 14, 2005 — Bowles filed a 3.851 motion appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, pending.
• August 17, 2006 — Bowles filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the Florida Supreme Court, pending.
• October 22, 1994 — Police apprehended and arrested the alleged assailant at the labor pool at Jacksonville Beach; he admitted his real name was Gary Ray Bowles after interrogation.
• November 18, 1994 — Belinda was celebrating her birthday with her fiancé, William; she was concerned for her brother Jay who failed to contact her as promised.
• November 16, 1994 — Date of offense listed as 11/16/94 for the murder of Walter Hinton.
• 12/08/94 — Bowles was indicted on the following charges: Count I: First-Degree Murder; Count II: Robbery (nolle prossed).
• 05/16/96 — Bowles pled guilty to First-Degree Murder.
• 07/18/96 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the imposition of the death penalty by a 10 to 2 majority.
• 08/27/98 — The Florida Supreme Court remanded for a new penalty phase.
• 05/27/99 — Upon advisory sentencing during resentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 12 to 0 majority.
• 10/13/99 — Bowles filed another direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 11/04/96 — Bowles filed a direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 10/10/96 — Bowles was convicted of First-Degree Murder in Nassau County after killing a man in a fight outside a bar.
• 08/06/97 — Bowles was convicted of First-Degree Murder and Armed Burglary with a Battery in Volusia County.
• 01/25/63 — An alternate date of birth for Gary Ray Bowles was listed as 1/25/63.
• 01/25/59 — An alternate date of birth for Gary Ray Bowles was listed as 1/25/59.
• 09/27/1982 — Bowles’s sentence for sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery (girlfriend) was listed.
• 07/18/1991 — Bowles’s robbery conviction in Volusia County was listed.
• 06/04/1982 — Offense date entries included AGG BATTERY INTENDED HARM and SEX BAT/THREAT W/DEADLY WPN.

Background and other descriptors

Bowles used multiple aliases, including Gary Ray Boles, Gary Ray Bowels, Mark Ray Bowles, Gary Bowle, and Joey Pearson (also used James, Mike, and Mark as first names). He also used the alias Tim Whitfield at the time of the murder arrest.

Aliases and identification details listed included:

• DOB: 1/25/62 (also used 1/25/63 and 1/25/59)
• POB: Clifton Forge, VA
• SSAN: 338-58-7859 (also used 338-56-5709, 338-58-5878, 330-58-7859, 448-58-7859)
• FBI no.: 561 161 V10
• Height: 5'9"
• Weight: 150 pounds
• Tattoos: Heart and ribbon on left arm; cross/star on left wrist
• Scars: Inside of left hand; left side of nose; right wrist; left side of chest

Other descriptors listed included:

• Smoked cigarettes (usually Marlboros or Kools)
• Used marijuana on a regular basis
• Admitted in previous probation reports as having an alcohol problem

Bowles’s occupation was listed as carpenter, construction worker, and agricultural worker.

Education was listed as a grade school dropout who completed GED in 3/83 while incarcerated in a Florida State prison.

Periods of incarceration were listed as:

• 6/5/82 to 12/28/83
• 10/31/85 to 12/28/85
• 10/7/86 to 12/27/86
• 7/10/87 to 4/3/90
• 8/10/90 to 1/30/91
• 2/18/91 to 12/30/93

Early life included the following facts as presented:

• Bowles was born in Clifton Forge, Virginia.
• His father, William Franklin Bowles, died six months before Bowles’s birth date as stated in the summary text; his mother was Frances.
• His mother remarried several times.
• Bowles was abused by his second stepfather, described as a violent alcoholic who also abused Bowles’s mother and older brother.
• At age 13, Bowles fought back and severely injured his stepfather.
• Bowles left home soon after, angered by his mother’s decision to remain in the marriage.
• Bowles was homeless for the next few years and earned money as a prostitute.
• In 1982, Bowles was arrested for beating and sexually assaulting his girlfriend; he received a sentence of six years in prison.
• In 1991, after release from prison, he was convicted of unarmed robbery in the theft of an elderly woman’s purse and was sentenced to four more years in prison; he was released in two.

Prior convictions and incarceration history (Florida)

The prior incarceration and offense history entries listed included:

• 06/04/1982 — AGG BATTERY INTENDED HARM — 09/27/1982 — 3Y 0M 0D
• 06/04/1982 — SEX BAT/THREAT W/DEADLY WPN. — 11/09/1987 — 8Y 0M 0D
• 08/04/1990 — GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE — 07/18/1991 — 5Y 0M 0D
• 02/17/1991 — ROBBERY N/FIREARM OR D/WEAPON — 07/18/1991 — 4Y 0M 0D
• 06/07/1991 — GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 — 07/18/1991 — 5Y 0M 0D
• 03/14/1994 — 1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT. — 08/06/1997 — LIFE
• 03/14/1994 — ROBBERY W/FIREARM OR D/WEAPON — 08/06/1997 — LIFE
• 03/14/1994 — BURGLARY ASSAULT ANY PERSON — 08/06/1997 — LIFE
• 03/14/1994 — GRAND THEFT,300 L/5,000 — 08/06/1997 — 5Y 0M 0D
• 05/18/1994 — 1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT. — 10/10/1996 — LIFE

Additional information included:

• On 09/27/1982, Bowles was convicted of the sexual battery and aggravated sexual battery of his girlfriend at the time.
• On 07/18/91, Bowles was convicted of unarmed robbery in Volusia County for pushing a woman down and stealing her purse.
• On 10/10/96, Bowles was convicted of First-Degree Murder in Nassau County after killing a man in a fight outside a bar; he shot the victim, strangled him and tied a towel around his mouth.
• On 08/06/97, Bowles was convicted of First-Degree Murder and Armed Burglary with a Battery in Volusia County; he strangled the victim and stuffed a rag in his mouth.

The offence (Walter Jamelle “Jay” Hinton)

Bowles was convicted and sentenced to death for the 11/16/94 murder of Walter Hinton.

Gary Bowles met Walter Hinton in November of 1994. Bowles consented to helping Hinton move some of his things from Georgia to his mobile home in Jacksonville and, in exchange, Hinton allowed Bowles to live with him there.

On the evening of 11/16/94, Bowles accompanied Hinton to the train station to drop off a friend. Earlier in the evening, the three men had smoked marijuana and had a few beers. Upon returning home, Hinton went directly to sleep, but Bowles stayed up and continued to drink.

Bowles later confessed that at some point during the night, he “snapped.” Bowles went outside and retrieved a large concrete block, brought the block inside and sat it upon the table. Moments later, he took the block into Hinton’s room and dropped it on his head as he lay sleeping. The block fractured Hinton’s cheek to his jaw. After the blow, Hinton was conscious and fell from his bed. Bowles then began to strangle him. He stuffed toilet paper and a rag down Hinton’s throat.

Medical examiners’ reports indicated that Hinton died from asphyxiation.

In the separate narrative portion, Belinda was celebrating her birthday with her fiancé, William, and was concerned for her brother Jay who failed to contact her. William went to Jay’s mobile home at 13748 Coral Drive in Duval County, Florida to check on him. William broke in by shattering a back window after finding the lights on and finding nobody home and Jay’s Cadillac was nowhere in sight. William and Belinda returned multiple times over the next two days and then entered the residence with the help of William breaking in.

Inside, William found a mound covered by blankets on the bathroom floor. He removed a portion of the blanket and discovered the brutally beaten and decomposing remains of Jay. William and Belinda asked neighbors to call the police.

Investigators examined the scene and obtained forensic evidence. Police discovered the victim’s wallet and personal papers strewn on the bed. Sheets and a large stepping-stone covered in blood were lying beside the bed on the floor. The stepping-stone was likely taken from the front yard and weighed approximately 40 pounds. Investigators found a large concentration of blood splattered on the bathroom floor where the body was discovered. Miniature liquor bottles and beer cans were scattered throughout the home.

A receipt bearing the name Timothy Whitfield was found, and the victim’s car and watch were missing. A medical examination showed that Jay’s forehead and cheekbone had been crushed. The state later maintained that the injuries were “consistent with the victim having been hit with the concrete stepping stone found in the victim's bedroom.” The victim also had five broken ribs and abrasions on one arm and leg, and a struggle was suggested by the wounds.

The narrative stated that Jay was believed to have been dead for more than three days. Jay’s facial fractures were severe but not fatal. The cause of death was asphyxiation from strangulation, which was further facilitated by toilet paper and a rag lodged into the victim’s throat. The narrative stated that the victim may have been unconscious when his mouth was stuffed with the material.

Investigation

Police identified Bowles as a suspect early on. Bowles reportedly confessed under questioning to his true name and reportedly confessed to six murders in four states.

Police had been searching for him for nine months. The Friday before his arrest, he was put on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.

Police had found that Bowles had been living with Hinton for several months and continued to live in his mobile home for two days after the murder. Hinton’s body was in a back room the whole time.

A case profiling and identification narrative included that the case was profiled on America’s Most Wanted in July 1994. At that time, Bowles was sharing a house with several others, who called police when they saw his picture on TV. A change in appearance led police to think he was the wrong man and let him go. It was also stated that they apparently failed to check him for identifying marks, including the presence of three tattoos and old knifing scars.

An FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin described Bowles as a bisexual male fugitive wanted in three states for the murders of homosexual men, with arrest warrants issued for each offense. It also stated Bowles was a suspect in another murder investigation but that no warrant had been issued for that investigation. It further stated that a Federal unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (UFAP) warrant was outstanding. It said his current whereabouts were unknown, but family members lived in Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California.

The Bulletin identified that Bowles was wanted for:

• murders of homosexual men with arrest warrants issued for each of the offenses
• a suspect status in another murder investigation without a warrant

Arrest

Bowles was arrested on Tuesday, November 22, 1994, at an employment office in Jacksonville, Florida, for the strangulation murder of 47-year-old Walter Hinton six days before.

A separate narrative portion stated that on October 22, 1994, police apprehended and arrested the alleged assailant at the labor pool at Jacksonville Beach. After interrogation, police learned that Whitfield was an alias and that the 32-year-old suspect’s real name was Gary Ray Bowles. After intense grilling, he admitted to the violent murder of Jay.

Trial

Bowles was indicted and the court proceedings included the following dated events:

• On 12/08/94, Bowles was indicted on:
  • Count I: First-Degree Murder
  • Count II: Robbery (nolle prossed)
• On 05/16/96, Bowles pled guilty to First-Degree Murder.
• On 07/18/96, upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the imposition of the death penalty by a 10 to 2 majority.

A sentencing narrative described the trial in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, and included the sentencing judge:

• Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Jack M. Schemer
• Attorneys, Sentencing: Charles Cofer & William White – Assistant Public Defenders
• Attorneys, Resentencing: William White & Brian Morrisey – Assistant Public Defenders
• Direct Appeal: David A. Davis – Assistant Public Defender
• Collateral Appeals: Frank Tassone, Jr. – Registry

The state’s prosecution team included Bernardo de la Rionda (Assistant State Attorney).

The proceedings included that:

• The state's prosecution argued that the murder of Jay was motivated by Bowles’s drive for financial gain.
• The state's prosecution argued the crime was sexually motivated and inspired by his hate of homosexuals.
• Bowles’s public defenders were William White and Charles Cofer.
• The defense argued that Bowles suffered from mental instability when he murdered Jay Hinton and that the mental impairment was suggested to have resulted from abuse during early childhood, further exacerbated by marijuana and alcohol on the night in question.
• The defense argued that the murder was not sexually motivated and was not committed for financial gain.

After the presentation of arguments, the jury found Bowles guilty of the first-degree murder and robbery of Jay Hinton and recommended death by a vote of ten to two, agreed to by the court.

The defense filed a direct appeal after the sentence.

Sentencing

Original sentencing

• 09/06/96 — Bowles was sentenced as follows:
  • Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death

Reversal and resentencing

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Bowles’s conviction for First-Degree Murder but reversed his death sentence and remanded to the State Circuit Court for a new penalty phase on 08/27/98.

Bowles was resentenced:

• 09/07/99 — Bowles was resentenced as follows:

A factors contributing to delay entry was included:

• “The most notable source of delay in this case has been the Florida Supreme Court’s remand for resentencing in 1998.”

Additional procedural details

• The trial summary included that Bowles pled guilty only to the charge of first-degree murder.
• It was noted that the jury recommended the death sentence and that it was suggested Bowles be executed by means of the electric chair.

Appeals

Florida Supreme Court direct appeals and remand

• He argued that the trial court erred in allowing the State to present evidence of Bowles’s alleged hatred of homosexual men. He argued the murder of Walter Hinton involved a homosexual victim and the state failed to establish any connection between the alleged hatred and Hinton’s murder, making the evidence irrelevant and making the sentencing proceeding unreliable. The Florida Supreme Court agreed and reversed Bowles’s death sentence.

• 08/27/98 — The Florida Supreme Court remanded the case to the State Circuit Court for a new penalty phase proceeding.

• He argued:

  • the trial court erred in its consideration and application of the heinous, atrocious and cruel aggravating factor, and the pecuniary gain aggravating factor;
  • the Florida Supreme Court found substantial evidence in the record to support the trial court’s findings;
  • the trial court erred in failing to adequately weigh nonstatutory mitigating evidence;
  • the Florida Supreme Court found no error in the trial court’s ruling after review of the trial court’s sentencing order;
  • the trial court erred in allowing hearsay testimony about a prior violent felony conviction.

• The Florida Supreme Court noted that it was “appropriate” to introduce hearsay evidence of a prior felony conviction during the sentencing phase if the defendant was afforded the opportunity to rebut the testimony, and it stated that just because Bowles did not rebut the testimony did not make such evidence inadmissible.

• 10/11/01 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Bowles sentence.

United States Supreme Court

• Bowles filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
• The petition was denied on 06/17/02.

Florida collateral proceedings

• 12/09/02 — Bowles filed a 3.851 motion in the State Circuit Court.
• 08/15/05 — the 3.851 motion was denied.
• 12/14/05 — Bowles filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court that is pending.
• 08/17/06 — Bowles filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court that is pending.

Outcome

He had been convicted for first-degree murder and received the death penalty in the case described.

The alleged series of other murders and facts included

The record presented multiple murder allegations connected to Bowles and included additional case facts about other victims.

Crimes described in law enforcement alerts

The following crimes were described as connected to Bowles:

Daytona Beach, Florida (March 15, 1994)

• Police discovered the body of a caucasian male, age 59, in his Daytona Beach residence.
• The victim sustained a blunt force injury to the head.
• The assailant took the victim’s vehicle, which was recovered in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 25, 1994.
• Bowles was described as a suspect because he resided with the victim at the time of the murder.

Montgomery County, Maryland (April 14, 1994)

• Police discovered the body of a 38-year-old caucasian male in his residence.
• The cause of death was ligature strangulation.
• The victim’s credit cards, keys, and vehicle were taken from the scene.
• Police recovered the vehicle on April 22 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Savannah, Georgia (May 5, 1994)

• Police found the body of a 72-year-old caucasian male.
• The body was located behind a golf cart shed at a local golf course.
• The victim died of strangulation with contributing blunt force injury.

Nassau County, Florida (May 19, 1994)

• Nassau County, Florida police discovered a caucasian male, 38 years old, with a gunshot wound to the head.
• The victim met Bowles at a gay bar and allowed him to live at his residence for 1 week prior to the murder.
• Missing from the residence were the victim’s automobile, wallet, and credit cards.
• On that same day, Bowles attempted to use one of the credit cards at a local store but failed to provide suitable identification.
• Three days later, police found the victim’s automobile in Jacksonville, Florida.

Modus operandi described

Bowles’s modus operandi was described:

• frequented homosexual bars;
• met and befriended patrons;
• two victims permitted him to reside in their homes for a period of time;
• blunt force injury, strangulation, and/or gunshot wounds were causes of death;
• some victims were also gagged;
• when available, credit cards, cash, and automobiles were taken from victims.

ALERT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

An alert requested that law enforcement bring information to patrol, homicide/crimes against persons, vice, and crime analysis personnel. It requested contact information for investigators:

• SA Harold Jones, 912-944-0773 or SA Dennis Regan, 912-232-3716 (both assigned to FBI, Savannah)
• Det. John Best, 912-651-6735/6658 (Savannah, Georgia, Police Department)
• VICAP Lead Crime Analyst, Susan McClure, 703-640-1465
• Major Case Specialist Win Norman, 703-640-1207 (National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia)

Additional narrative facts about other alleged victims (included in the record)

The record included narrative detail about:

• John Hardy Roberts, 59, found strangled with a rag stuffed into his mouth and severe trauma; his finger was almost severed; blood splattered everywhere; coffee table and a glass lamp were shattered; the victim’s car and wallet with cash and credit cards were missing; fingerprints and probation papers were found at the scene; phone records revealed numerous phone calls to family from Roberts’ home.
• David Jarman found in Silver Spring; badly beaten; mouth stuffed with a rag; strangled; car and wallet missing.
• Milton Bradley, 72, found behind a shed at a golf club; savagely beaten; strangled; mouth stuffed with material; asphyxiated.
• Albert Morris, 37, found in his trailer in Nassau County; beaten about the head with a blunt object; shot in the chest and strangled; towel stuffed in his mouth and tied about his head; car and wallet with credit cards missing.
• The record also mentioned that a 47-year-old Alverson Carter Jr.’s body was discovered at his Atlanta residence bearing the same MO and was believed to be Gary’s fifth victim; forensic evidence linked him to the crime and he was later charged.

The record also included that Bowles was suspected early in the series of murders and that police eventually realized the extent of the atrocities he allegedly committed.

Other details

The record listed “Disposition” and some punishment entries:

• “Condemned on one count + life terms on two more, 1997; two life terms for robbery/burglary; five years grand theft.”

The record also included “MOTIVE: CE MO: Robbed/murdered gay men” and “DISPOSITION: Condemned on one count + life terms on two more, 1997; two life terms for robbery/burglary; five years grand theft .”

It also listed the Union Correctional Institute in Raiford, Florida, as the place where Bowles was imprisoned awaiting execution for three counts of first-degree murder.