Scott Mansfield

Case identification

Scott Mansfield was sentenced to death.

Timeline

• 10/14/95 — Jesus Alfonso and Sara Robles went to Rosie’s Pub.
• 01:30 a.m. (10/15/95) — Alfonso testified that he left the pub around 1:30 a.m., while Robles stayed behind to play a game of pool with a man matching Mansfield’s description.
• a little after 2:00 a.m. (10/15/95) — Karen Hill, the bartender at the pub, told police that Robles, Mansfield and William Finnerman left the pub.
• around 2:00 a.m. (10/15/95) — Finnerman testified that he left the pub with Mansfield and Robles and last saw them around 3:00 a.m.
• early morning hours of 10/15/95 — A night clerk at Winn-Dixie testified that Robles and Mansfield purchased some items.
• 3:00 p.m. (10/15/95) — The night clerk testified that she saw Robles and Mansfield outside of Winn-Dixie during her break at 3:00 p.m.
• 10/15/95 — Robles’ body was found in a grassy area next to the Winn-Dixie.
• 01/30/98 — Mansfield was sentenced to death after being convicted of first-degree murder.
• 02/28/98 — Mansfield filed a Direct Appeal.
• 03/30/00 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Mansfield’s conviction and death sentence.
• 06/28/00 — Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.
• 04/23/01 — The United States Supreme Court denied the Petition for Writ of Certiorari.
• 06/15/01 — Mansfield filed a 3.851 Motion to the Circuit Court.
• 04/19/02 — An amended Motion was filed.
• 09/06/01 — The 3.851 Motion was denied.
• 08/04/03 — Mansfield filed a 3.851 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 07/07/05 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s denial of the 3.851 Motion because Mansfield failed to raise any issue with any merit.
• 07/21/05 — A motion for rehearing was denied.
• 09/15/05 — The motion for rehearing was denied.
• 10/03/05 — The mandate was issued.
• 02/26/04 — Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 07/07/05 — The Florida Supreme Court denied the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.
• 10/03/05 — Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the United States District Court, Middle District; the petition was pending.

Background and parties

Jesus Alfonso and Sara Robles went to Rosie’s Pub on the night of 10/14/95. Karen Hill was the bartender at Rosie’s Pub. William Finnerman testified about leaving the pub with Mansfield and Robles. A night clerk at Winn-Dixie testified about seeing Robles and Mansfield and about purchases made during the early morning hours of 10/15/95. Mansfield’s brother called the day after Mansfield’s arrest and invited police to the apartment they shared. Mansfield’s ten-year-old niece was questioned by officers.

The offence

Mansfield was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On the morning of 10/15/95, Sara Robles’ body was found in a grassy area next to the Winn-Dixie.

Robles’ cause of death was asphyxia due to airway compression, resulting from blunt force trauma to her neck. The medical examiner explained that the perpetrator straddled Robles on the ground, strangling her with one hand while the other hand pressed an object down on top of her lower neck, causing her trachea to collapse. The medical examiner concluded that Robles was conscious for a few minutes, struggling for air, and then fell unconscious. Robles’ breasts and genitals were mutilated while she was unconscious.

When Robles’ body was discovered, her clothing was moved to reveal her breasts and pelvis area.

Receipts from Winn-Dixie, food stamps, and a pager were found around Robles’ body.

Investigators found that the pager near Robles’ body belonged to Mansfield.

Investigation and evidence

Officers questioned Mansfield as part of the investigation. Investigators discovered fresh scratches on Mansfield’s knees and hands as investigators were questioning him. Mansfield admitted that he went to the pub and Winn-Dixie with Robles.

During Mansfield’s arrest, police noticed Mansfield was wearing a ring with a “Grim Reaper” design. The day after his arrest, Mansfield’s brother invited police to the apartment that Mansfield shared with him. In Mansfield’s room, officers found food stamps, a knife and sheath, some clothing, and a towel.

Mansfield’s ten-year-old niece recalled seeing Mansfield during the early hours of 10/15/95 soaking wet and wearing only his shorts. The niece noticed possible blood stains on his shorts. Mansfield told his niece that he had gone for a swim at a pool complex.

During Mansfield’s indictment on 10/20/95, the medical examiner stated that the injury pattern on Robles’ neck matched the pattern of Mansfield’s “Grim Reaper” ring, which he wore at the time of his arrest.

Mike Derrick, Mansfield’s jail cell roommate, testified that Mansfield confessed to the murder during a conversation between the two.

Arrest

Police arrested Mansfield for the suspected murder of Robles.

Trial

Charges and indictment

On 10/20/95, Mansfield was indicted:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder

Verdict

The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment on 11/10/97. On 11/12/97, the jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0.

Sentencing

On 01/30/98, Mansfield was sentenced:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death

Sentencing judge was The Honorable Belvin Perry, Jr. Trial attorney was Kathleen Flammia (Court-appointed Attorney). Direct appeal attorney was George D.E. Burden (Assistant Public Defender). Collateral appeals attorneys were Eric Pinkard, David Gemmer and James L. Driscoll, Jr. (CCRC-M).

Appeals

Direct appeal

Mansfield filed a Direct Appeal on 02/28/98 and raised numerous issues:

1. Ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to accurately communicate the State’s plea offer after Mansfield was found guilty at trial.
2. Error in denying Mansfield’s motion to suppress statements made by investigators prior to his arrest.
3. Error in finding the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravator.
4. Claim that the death sentence was not proportionate.
5. Error in consideration of mitigating factors.
6. Error in finding no discovery violation for the State’s failure to list demonstrative evidence introduced at trial.
7. Error in admitting the knife and sheath as evidence.
8. Error in admitting photographs of the victim’s body.
9. Error in permitting victim impact evidence.
10. Error in rejecting Mansfield’s special request of jury instruction on the heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravator.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Mansfield’s conviction and death sentence on 03/30/00.

Petition to the United States Supreme Court

Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 06/28/00. The petition was denied on 04/23/01.

Post-conviction proceedings under 3.851

Mansfield filed a 3.851 Motion to the Circuit Court on 06/15/01. An amended Motion was filed on 04/19/02. The Motion was denied on 09/06/01.

Mansfield filed a 3.851 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 08/04/03. On 07/07/05, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s denial because Mansfield had failed to raise any issue with any merit.

Mansfield filed a motion for rehearing on 07/21/05, which was denied on 09/15/05. The mandate was issued on 10/03/05.

Habeas corpus petitions

On 02/26/04, Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court denied the petition on 07/07/05.

On 10/03/05, Mansfield filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the United States District Court, Middle District. The petition was currently pending.

Other details

Case information included:

• Florida Supreme Court opinion SC92412 and opinion SC03-1352.
• DC #124460.
• Date of birth: 05/24/61.
• Ninth Judicial Circuit, Osceola County.
• Case #95-2078.
• Trial judge: The Honorable Belvin Perry, Jr.
• Date of offense: 10/15/95.
• Date of sentence: 01/30/98.

At Rosie’s Pub, Robles stayed behind to play a game of pool with a man matching Mansfield’s description, and Robles, Mansfield and William Finnerman left the pub a little after 2:00 a.m. with Mansfield and Robles last seen together around 3:00 a.m.

Food stamps were found around Robles’ body and were also found in Mansfield’s room after police were invited to the apartment.