Roderick Michael Orme

Case identification

• Name: Roderick Michael Orme
• DOB: 11/24/61
• Case information: Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, Bay County, Case# 92-442-I
• DC#: 726848
• Registry date: (as provided in case summary)
• Sentencing judge: The Honorable Judy M. Pittman

Timeline

• 03/03/92 — Orme called Ms. Redd to Lee’s Motel where he was staying.
• 03/04/92 — Orme showed up at a recovery center in Panama City, Florida, and wrote “LEE’S MOT RM15.”
• 03/06/92 — Orme was released from the hospital and then arrested.
• 03/26/92 — Orme was indicted: Count I First-Degree Murder; Count II Robbery; Count III Sexual Battery with Physical Force.
• 03/27/92 — Orme entered a written plea of not guilty.
• 02/06/93 — The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.
• 03/01/93 — The jury recommended death by a vote of 7-5.
• 03/25/93 — Orme was sentenced: Count I First-Degree Murder — Death; Count II Robbery — 15 years; Count III Sexual Battery with Physical Force — 22 years.
• 04/23/93 — Orme filed a direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 05/02/96 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Orme’s conviction and sentence.
• 10/11/96 — Orme filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.
• 01/13/97 — The petition was denied.
• 12/17/97 — Orme filed a 3.850 motion to the Circuit Court.
• 03/08/02 — The 3.850 motion was denied.
• 12/10/02 — Orme filed a 3.850 appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 02/24/05 — The Florida Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s denial of the 3.850 motion and remanded for resentencing.
• 03/17/05 — The mandate was issued.
• 08/07/03 — Orme filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 02/24/05 — The habeas corpus petition was denied.
• 07/24/2005 — A death row pen-pal notice described Orme’s request for pen pals from Wales and included a quoted letter from Orme.

Background

Roderick Orme had known Ms. Redd, the victim, for a period of time prior to the offense. Orme had been treated at the same recovery facility one year prior to 03/04/92 for an extensive substance abuse history.

The offence

On 03/03/92, Orme called **Ms. Orme stated that he had been freebasing cocaine and was having a “bad high,” and he called because Ms. Redd was a nurse. Orme stated that Ms. Redd arrived at his hotel room sometime between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., according to his first statement, and between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., according to his second statement.

According to Orme, Ms. Redd knocked the crack pipe out of his hand, causing the loss of his drugs. Orme stated that she also placed several pieces of crack into the toilet. Orme then left, took Ms. Redd’s purse, and used her car keys to drive her car to “go partying.”

Orme stated that he returned to the hotel a number of times. He stated that it was still dark outside when he realized something was wrong, but he could not enter the room because he had left the motel key in the room. In both of Orme’s statements to the police, he did not admit to any part of the murder to Ms. Redd.

On the morning of 03/04/92, Orme showed up at a recovery center in Panama City, FL, disoriented and unable to respond to questions. He managed to write “LEE’S MOT RM15.” His face was flushed and he displayed symptoms of delirium tremors, which were described as indicative of acute cocaine withdrawal. His blood tested positive for cocaine, and he was placed in intensive care for approximately thirty hours. Orme was also in possession of illegal barbiturates. An individual at the recovery center placed a telephone call to Lee’s Motel to have room 15 checked.

When the owner of the motel checked the room, he found the body of Lisa Redd. The body had been badly beaten. The cause of death was strangulation. Semen samples were taken. Semen samples from the orifices of the victim’s body were not matched, but a sample from the victim’s underpants matched Orme’s DNA. Orme’s underpants had blood that matched Orme’s and the victim’s. Orme’s fingerprints were found in the motel room. Orme’s wallet was found in the victim’s car, which was parked outside the motel.

Investigation and arrest

On 03/06/92, Orme was released from the hospital and then arrested. The evidentiary basis described included DNA from the victim’s underpants matching Orme, blood on Orme’s underpants matching Orme and the victim, Orme’s fingerprints found in the motel room, and Orme’s wallet found in the victim’s car parked outside the motel.

Trial

Charges and indictment

On 03/26/92, Orme was indicted on:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Robbery
• Count III: Sexual Battery with Physical Force

Plea

On 03/27/92, Orme entered a written plea of not guilty.

Verdicts and recommendation

On 02/06/93, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment. On 03/01/93, the jury recommended death by a vote of 7-5.

Sentencing

On 03/25/93, Orme was sentenced:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death
• Count II: Robbery — 15 years
• Count III: Sexual Battery with Physical Force — 22 years

Counsel

• Trial attorney: Walter B. Smith — Assistant Public Defender
• Direct appeal attorney: David A. Davis — Assistant Public Defender
• Collateral appeals: D. Todd Doss

Appeals

Orme filed a Direct Appeal on 04/23/93 to the Florida Supreme Court. Orme raised eight issues on the direct appeal. The main issue argued that the trial court should have directed a judgment of acquittal on grounds that the case against him was circumstantial and the State failed to disprove all reasonable hypotheses of innocence.

The Florida Supreme Court found there was competent substantial evidence supporting the conclusion that the State presented adequate evidence refuting Orme’s theory, including that an unknown assailant killed Ms. Redd in his absence, creating inconsistency between the State and defense theories. The Court affirmed Orme’s conviction and sentence on 05/02/96.

Orme filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 10/11/96. The petition was denied on 01/13/97.

Orme filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court on 12/17/97. The motion was denied on 03/08/02.

Orme filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 12/10/02. The Court reversed the trial court’s denial of the 3.850 Motion and remanded the case for resentencing on 02/24/05. The decision was based on ineffective assistance of counsel during the penalty phase for the failure to investigate and present Orme’s bipolar disorder diagnosis. On all other claims raised in Orme’s appeal, the Court affirmed. The mandate was issued on 03/17/05.

Orme filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court on 08/07/03, which was denied on 02/24/05.

Outcome

Orme was sentenced to death on March 25, 1993. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Orme’s conviction and sentence on 05/02/96. Later, on 02/24/05, the Court reversed the trial court’s denial of the 3.850 motion and remanded for resentencing based on ineffective assistance of counsel during the penalty phase for failure to investigate and present Orme’s bipolar disorder diagnosis.

Aftermath and statements

A death row pen-pal notice included information about Orme’s request and a quoted letter.

The notice stated that Orme was sentenced to death in 1993 for strangling nurse Lisa Redd while high on cocaine at a motel in Panama City, Florida. It stated that Orme denied first degree murder, robbery and sexual battery, but was found guilty after a jury heard how he subjected Miss Redd to a savage beating on March 4, 1992. The notice also described that Orme was “snared by DNA evidence,” and that Orme strangled Miss Redd to death after he called her to his room because he was having a “bad high” after freebasing cocaine. It stated that prison chiefs said Orme did not have an active death warrant and no date of execution had been set.

Verbatim letter from Orme

I am forty two years old and from Welsh descent. I have been on Death Row for almost twelve years. During that time I have gone through many changes. From total shock and disbelief of where I am to finally understanding and accepting the reality all things have purpose. As a so-called 'Freeperson' I was a slave to pleasures of the flesh. Whether it was for booze, drugs or sex etc...Now as a death row prisoner I am totally physically locked down, but find myself mentally freer than I've ever been. As a result I believe I have become someone worthy of another's friendship, while I still struggle with my many flaws, one thing I have come to hold to strongly is a sense of honesty. I hope to find a good friend now on the outside that I can share what time I have left engaged in real discussions and happiness. Hope t hear from you soon. Thank you, Roderick M Orme 726848 P5202 Union Correctional Institution 7819 N.W. 228th St. Raiford, FL 32026

Other details

• A Florida Supreme Court opinion was referenced as 81645 opinion SC02-2625 DC# 726848.
• The docket listed Date of Offense: 03/03/92 and Date of Sentence: 03/25/93.
• The notice included that Orme was nicknamed the Florida Strangler and described him as having a tattoo of a winged Welsh dragon on his left arm.
• The notice stated that Orme “will have to choose between the electric chair or lethal injection.”
• The notice quoted Orme saying:

  "I am 42 years old and from Welsh descent. I have been on death row for almost 12 years. "During that time I have gone through many changes. From total shock and disbelief of where I am to finally understanding and accepting the reality all things have purpose. "As a so-called free person, I was a slave to pleasures of the flesh. Whether it was for booze, drugs or sex. "Now as a death row prisoner I am totally physically locked down, but find myself mentally freer than I've ever been. "As a result, I believe I have become someone worthy of another's friendship, while I still struggle with my many flaws, one thing I have come to hold to strongly is a sense of honesty. "I hope to find a good friend now on the outside."