Ernest Whitfield

Case record: Ernest Whitfield

Background

Ernest Whitfield was convicted and sentenced to death for the June 19, 1995 murder of Claretha Reynolds.

In June of 1995, Ernest Whitfield visited the home of Claretha Reynolds. While there, he asked Reynolds, Willie Mae Brooks (who lived with Reynolds) and Estella Pierre for money. Estella Pierre was Whitfield’s former girlfriend.

When all three women refused, Whitfield attempted to grab Pierre’s purse. Reynolds put Whitfield into a headlock and proceeded to throw him out of her house. Before leaving, Whitfield exclaimed, “I am going to kill all three of you bitches.”

Whitfield fled the scene after attacking Reynolds, and Reynolds died soon after the police arrived. After his arrest, Whitfield confessed to stabbing Reynolds and showed authorities to the murder weapon. Whitfield also admitted to being high on crack cocaine at the time of the crime.

The offence

In the early morning of June 19, 1995, Whitfield tried to get Brooks to let him into Reynolds’ home. Brooks turned him away and went back to sleep in the room she shared with her one-year-old child.

Whitfield then broke into Reynolds’ home armed with a large knife.

Whitfield proceeded into the bedroom where Brooks and her child lay sleeping. He raped Brooks and motioned that he would stab her if she made any noise.

Whitfield left Brooks and went into the bedroom where Reynolds and her five children were sleeping. A few moments later, Reynolds staggered into Brooks’ room, asking her to lock her door. Whitfield had stabbed Reynolds numerous times and she told Brooks that she was dying.

Brooks and one of Reynolds’ daughters escaped through the bedroom window and ran to a neighbor’s house to call for help. Whitfield fled the scene, and Reynolds died soon after the police arrived.

Investigation

Trial

Charges and indictment

On 07/07/95, the defendant was indicted on the following charges:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder
• Count II: Armed Burglary
• Count III: Sexual Battery w/Deadly Weapon

Verdict

On 09/28/95, the defendant was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

Advisory sentencing

On 09/28/95, upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 7 to 5 majority, voted for the imposition of the death penalty.

Sentencing

On 10/20/95, the defendant was sentenced as followed:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder — Death
• Count II: Armed Burglary — Life
• Count III: Sexual Battery w/Deadly Weapon — Life

People

• Claretha Reynolds — victim
• Willie Mae Brooks — victim
• Estella Pierre — former girlfriend of Whitfield; involved at the time Whitfield asked for money and when Whitfield attempted to grab Pierre’s purse
• Whitfield — defendant

Timeline

• 06/19/95 — Ernest Whitfield asked Claretha Reynolds, Willie Mae Brooks, and Estella Pierre for money; he attempted to grab Pierre’s purse; Reynolds put Whitfield into a headlock and threw him out; Whitfield said, “I am going to kill all three of you bitches.”
• 06/19/95 — Whitfield tried to enter Reynolds’ home; Brooks turned him away; Whitfield broke into the home armed with a large knife, raped Brooks, motioned he would stab her if she made any noise, stabbed Reynolds numerous times, and Reynolds died soon after police arrived.
• 07/07/95 — Whitfield was indicted on Count I (First-Degree Murder), Count II (Armed Burglary), and Count III (Sexual Battery w/Deadly Weapon).
• 09/28/95 — Whitfield was found guilty on all counts.
• 09/28/95 — Advisory sentencing resulted in a 7 to 5 vote for the death penalty.
• 10/20/95 — Whitfield was sentenced: Count I death; Count II life; Count III life.
• 11/02/95 — Whitfield filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 09/11/97 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence of death.
• 10/05/98 — The United States Supreme Court denied Whitfield’s petition for writ of certiorari.
• 11/09/98 — Whitfield filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court.
• 03/17/04 — The court denied relief on the 3.850 Motion.
• 11/03/05 — The Florida Supreme Court denied all claims and affirmed the Circuit Court’s denial of postconviction relief.

Appeals

Direct appeal (Florida Supreme Court)

On 11/02/95, Whitfield filed a direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.

Whitfield argued that the trial court erred in removing him from the courtroom during jury selection. The Florida Supreme Court noted that Whitfield asked to be removed from the courtroom. Despite Whitfield’s counsel’s request to send him back to his cell because his behavior was instilling prejudice in his case, the trial judge made extraordinary efforts to convince Whitfield to stay. The Florida Supreme Court found that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion on the issue.

Whitfield also contended that the trial court erred in admitting testimony regarding the incident where Whitfield attempted to snatch Pierre’s purse and that the prosecutor introduced irrelevant evidence during the penalty phase.

Whitfield additionally argued the consideration and application of aggravating and mitigating circumstances.

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence of death on 09/11/97.

Petition for writ of certiorari (United States Supreme Court)

Whitfield next filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 10/05/98.

Postconviction motion (3.850) and appeal

Whitfield filed a 3.850 Motion in the State Circuit Court on 11/09/98. Whitfield raised 21 claims in the motion all of which the court denied relief. The motion was denied on 03/17/04.

Whitfield then filed an appeal of the 3.850 Motion decision in the Florida Supreme Court. Whitfield raised six claims in his appeal, five of which related to ineffective assistance of counsel.

Whitfield argued that his trial defense counsel failed to do the following:

• adequately present the voluntary intoxication defense to first-degree murder
• provide a speedy trial
• call additional witnesses to corroborate his background information
• request jury instruction
• object to the prosecutor’s presentation of nonstautory aggravators

Whitfield’s final claim was that his rights were violated under Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985), by failing to obtain an adequate mental health examination.

On 11/03/05, the Florida Supreme Court denied all of Whitfield’s claims and affirmed the Circuit Court’s denial of postconviction relief.

Outcome

Whitfield was convicted on all counts charged in the indictment and was sentenced to death on 10/20/95 for the first-degree murder of Claretha Reynolds.

The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari on 10/05/98.

The Circuit Court denied relief on the 3.850 Motion on 03/17/04, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed that denial on 11/03/05.

Other details

• Name: Ernest Whitfield
• Date of birth: 04/09/67
• Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota County
• Case number: 95-1588, 95-1951
• Sentencing judge: The Honorable Harry Rapkin
• Trial attorney: Charles Williams — Assistant Public Defender
• Direct appeal attorney: Douglas S. Connor — Assistant Public Defender
• Collateral appeal: Peter Cannon & Daphney Gaylord — CCRC-M
• Date of offense: 06/19/95
• Date of sentence: 10/20/95

“I am going to kill all three of you bitches.”