Lamar Brooks

Background

Lamar Brooks was indicted in connection with the killings of Rachel Carlson and her three-month-old daughter, Alexis Stuart, in Crestview, Florida.

The offence

In the late night hours of 04/24/96, Rachel Carlson and her three-month-old daughter, Alexis Stuart, were found stabbed to death in Carlson’s running vehicle in Crestview, Florida. Carlson was strangled and stabbed sixty-six times, while Stuart was stabbed four times.

Carlson believed Walker Davis, Jr. was the father of her child, and she called the Florida Department of Revenue and requested that a case be opened against Davis for child support. A DNA test conducted subsequent to the murder revealed that Davis was not the father. Carlson demanded monetary child support from Davis, who already was married and had two children at the time of the Carlson murder.

In the week prior to the murder, Lamar Brooks, Davis’ cousin, traveled to Florida and stayed with Davis during his visit. Mark Gilliam, a friend of Brooks’, later testified to a conversation between Davis, Brooks, and himself, wherein all three discussed various ways they would kill Carlson because of pressure she exerted on Davis for child support.

A plan developed whereby Davis would pay Brooks $10,000 to kill Carlson, and Gilliam would be paid $500 to drive them to Crestview to commit the murder. On two occasions, the plan was attempted, yet failed due to various unforeseen circumstances. Gilliam did not participate in the murder plans after the second failed attempt.

At trial, a bloodstain pattern expert testified that a back-seat passenger stabbed Carlson and no one was in the passenger seat during the murder. Forensic evidence showed that a footprint was found on Carlson’s shoulder, which would be consistent with someone climbing over the body to exit the vehicle. Additional forensic evidence demonstrated that Davis, whose leg was in a cast at the time of the murder, would have been physically unable to climb over the front seat to exit the vehicle.

Terrance Goodman, a cellmate of Brooks after his arrest, testified that Brooks told him that he “offed this broad” and “while anybody could pull a trigger, it takes more heart to stab someone because you can feel the hitting of the bone and the tearing of the tissue.” Brooks also told Goodman that he was in the back seat of the car during the murder.

According to testimony, Davis bought a $100,000 life insurance policy on Stuart in February 1996, naming himself as sole beneficiary. The State argued that Davis planned to pay Brooks and Gilliam with the proceeds from the insurance policy.

Trial

First trial

The first trial began on 05/23/96. Brooks was indicted as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Rachel Carlson)
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Alexis Stuart)

On 04/10/98, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts of the indictment. On 04/19/98, the jury recommended death by votes of 10-2. Brooks was sentenced on 09/29/98 as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Rachel Carlson) – Death
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Alexis Stuart) – Death

Second trial (retrial)

On 01/23/02, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts of the indictment. On 01/30/02, the jury recommended death by votes of 9-3 (Count I) and 11-1 (Count II). Brooks was resentenced on 02/25/02 as follows:

People

• Lamar Brooks — defendant.
• Rachel Carlson — victim.
• Alexis Stuart — victim; three-month-old daughter of Rachel Carlson.
• Walker Davis, Jr. — codefendant.
• Mark Gilliam — friend of Brooks; testified about conversations and the plan.
• Terrance Goodman — cellmate of Brooks after his arrest; testified to statements made by Brooks.
• Walker Davis, Jr.’s — referred to as the father believed by Carlson; DNA test later revealed Davis was not the father.

Other details

Sentencing and legal representation

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Jere Tolton. Attorney, Trial: Berry Beroset – Private Attorney. Retrial: Kepler Funk & Keith Szachacz – Private Attorney. Direct Appeal: Kepler Funk & Keith Szachacz – Private Attorney. Direct Appeal (after retrial): David Davis – Assistant Public Defender Attorney. Collateral Appeals: D. Todd Doss – Registry.

Case information

DOB: 10/26/72. First Judicial Circuit, Okaloosa County. Case # 96-735. DC# 124538.

Codefendants and related proceedings

Walker Davis, Jr. was indicted for the same crimes as Brooks, yet was tried separately. He was also convicted, and on 06/30/97, he was sentenced to two terms of Life Imprisonment.

Appeals

Brooks filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 11/13/98, citing the following errors:

• permitting improper hearsay evidence;
• violating rights to confront witnesses and due process by permitting non-testifying codefendants statements;
• denying motions for new trial;
• permitting the testimony of certain witnesses;
• denying a motion for mistrial after impermissible comments on a right to remain silent;
• determining juror qualifications;
• permitting the admission of photographs taken during a second autopsy;
• denying a motion to strike venire/change venue;
• permitting the admission of statements to law enforcement by codefendant under the hearsay rule;
• denying a motion for judgment of acquittal; and
• erroneously instructing, finding and doubling aggravating factors.

On 04/05/01, the Florida Supreme Court reversed the convictions and vacated the death sentences.

Brooks filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/06/02, citing the following errors:

• admitting the testimony of a life insurance salesman;
• allowing irrelevant testimony;
• admitting notes the police seized from the codefendant;
• allowing the state to impeach the testimony of a witness;
• allowing testimony from a witness;
• denying several defense objections to the closing argument of the state;
• refusing to give a conspiracy instruction;
• denying motions for mistrial;
• denying a motion to change the venue of the trial;
• finding that a death sentence is warranted in the case;
• finding that the murder occurred during the course of an aggravated child abuse and then using that fact to justify imposing a death sentence;
• refusing to require the jury to indicate if they found a verdict of guilty for felony murder, which aggravating factors they found and by what vote;
• finding the pecuniary gain and cold, calculated and premeditated aggravating factors; and
• giving the jury’s death recommendation great weight because of extensive mitigation.

On 06/23/05, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.

Brooks filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 03/10/06 that was denied on 05/22/06.

Outcome

Brooks was sentenced to death on September 29, 1998 and was resentenced to death on February 25, 2002. The Florida Supreme Court reversed the convictions and vacated the death sentences on 04/05/01, and later affirmed the convictions and sentences on 06/23/05.

Timeline

• 04/24/96 — Rachel Carlson and her three-month-old daughter, Alexis Stuart, were found stabbed to death in Carlson’s running vehicle in Crestview, Florida.
• 05/23/96 — First trial began.
• 09/29/98 — Brooks was sentenced to death.
• 11/13/98 — Brooks filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 04/05/01 — The Florida Supreme Court reversed the convictions and vacated the death sentences.
• 03/06/02 — Brooks filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.
• 01/23/02 — Jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts in the retrial.
• 01/30/02 — Jury recommended death by votes of 9-3 (Count I) and 11-1 (Count II).
• 02/25/02 — Brooks was resentenced to death.
• 06/23/05 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences.
• 03/10/06 — Brooks filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.
• 05/22/06 — The U.S. Supreme Court denied the Petition for Writ of Certiorari.

Verbatim statements

Terrance Goodman testified that Brooks told him:

“offed this broad”
“while anybody could pull a trigger, it takes more heart to stab someone because you can feel the hitting of the bone and the tearing of the tissue.”