Manuel Antonio Rodriguez

Case information

Manuel Antonio Rodriguez (Dade #93-25817) was convicted of three counts of Second-Degree Murder and one count of Armed Burglary. Rodriguez was sentenced to four life sentences on 04/25/96.

The offence

Rodriguez was charged in an indictment with:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Bea Sabe Joseph)
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Sam Joseph)
• Count III: First-Degree Murder (Genevieve Marie Abraham)
• Count IV: Armed Burglary with Assault

Timeline

• 09/15/93 — Rodriguez was indicted on Count I (First-Degree Murder of Bea Sabe Joseph), Count II (First-Degree Murder of Sam Joseph), Count III (First-Degree Murder of Genevieve Marie Abraham), and Count IV (Armed Burglary with Assault).
• 10/24/96 — Rodriguez was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.
• 12/12/96 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted 12 to 0 for the death penalty for each of the three counts of First-Degree Murder.
• 01/31/97 — Rodriguez was sentenced as follows: Count I (First-Degree Murder of Bea Sabe Joseph) — Death; Count II (First-Degree Murder of Sam Joseph) — Death; Count III (First-Degree Murder of Genevieve Marie Abraham) — Death; Count IV (Armed Burglary with Assault) — Life.
• 03/20/97 — Rodriguez filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 02/03/00 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence.
• 03/23/00 — Rehearing was denied.
• 04/26/00 — A Mandate was issued.
• 06/20/00 — Rodriguez filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court.
• 10/02/00 — The petition was denied.
• 09/14/01 — Rodriguez filed a 3.850 Motion with the circuit court.
• 04/16/04 — Rodriguez filed an Amended 3.850 Motion.
• 05/03/05 — The 3.850 motion was denied.
• 05/16/05 — Rodriguez filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court; the appeal was currently pending.

Trial

Rodriguez was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment on 10/24/96.

Sentencing

On 12/12/96, upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted 12 to 0 for the death penalty for each of the three counts of First-Degree Murder.

On 01/31/97, Rodriguez was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Bea Sabe Joseph) — Death
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Sam Joseph) — Death
• Count III: First-Degree Murder (Genevieve Marie Abraham) — Death
• Count IV: Armed Burglary with Assault — Life

Appeals

Rodriguez filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 03/20/97. The issues addressed included:

• the prosecution improperly commenting on Rodriguez’s right not to testify at the trial
• the trial court mishandling peremptory challenges during jury selection
• the trial court improperly admitting evidence beneficial for the prosecution and improperly denying admitting evidence beneficial for the defense
• the trial court mishandled assessing mitigation and aggravating factors
• the trial court erred in finding the murders to be cold, calculating and premeditated

The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentence on 02/03/00. Rehearing was denied on 03/23/00. A Mandate was issued on 04/26/00.

Rodriguez filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari on 06/20/00 with the United States Supreme Court; the petition was denied on 10/02/00.

Rodriguez filed a 3.850 Motion on 09/14/01 with the circuit court. Rodriguez filed an Amended 3.850 Motion on 04/16/04. The motion was denied on 05/03/05. On 05/16/05, Rodriguez filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court; the appeal was currently pending.