Ronald Lee Williams

Case record

Background

Ronald Lee Williams was the leader of the “Miami Boys,” a drug-trafficking ring that ran from Miami to Pensacola. One of his Pensacola employees, Bruce Frazier, had broken up with his girlfriend and was afraid that she would inform police about the drug ring.

The offence

Frazier and Michael McCormick, a street-level employee, moved a safe containing drugs and money from the apartment used by the drug ring to McCormick’s apartment.

Shortly after the safe was moved, Williams called Frazier from Miami and instructed him to get the money that McCormick owed him. Frazier went to McCormick’s apartment and was told by McCormick that both the money and the safe had been stolen, despite the absence of any visible signs of forced entry.

On 09/18/88, Williams ordered three of his Miami-based employees—Timothy Robinson, Darrell Frazier (brother of Bruce Frazier), and Michael Coleman—to go to Pensacola to recover money and drugs stolen from McCormick.

McCormick and Bruce Frazier met the three men from Miami at a hotel in Pensacola. The five men obtained weapons from McCormick and broke into his neighbor’s apartment looking for the missing goods. Darlene Crenshaw, Amanda Merrill, Derek Hill and Morris Alfonso Douglas were all inside the apartment when the men broke in. Mildred Baker, McCormick’s girlfriend, was brought in soon after.

The five men ordered Hill, Merrill, Douglas and Baker to undress and lie on the floor, where they were bound and gagged. The five men began interrogating them about the whereabouts of the safe. When no one would answer his questions, Robinson began stabbing Derek Hill.

Darlene Crenshaw spoke up that she knew where the safe was and that McCormick was involved in the theft. After hearing this, the four men instructed McCormick to undress, and he was bound along with the others. McCormick was then stabbed several times.

Bruce and Darrell Frazier took Darlene Crenshaw to her apartment, where the safe, money and drugs were hidden. The Frazier brothers recovered the stolen goods and returned to Hill’s apartment, leaving Crenshaw alive.

Meanwhile at Hill’s apartment, Robinson and Coleman repeatedly raped Mildred Baker and Amanda Merrill. They also stabbed and slashed McCormick, Hill, and Douglas. When the Frazier brothers returned, Robinson and Coleman began to kill the prisoners.

Amanda Merrill survived after having her throat slit several times and being shot in the head. Douglas, Baker, Hill, and McCormick were pronounced dead at the scene. Williams remained in Miami while the murders were carried out. It was undisputed that he never stabbed or shot any of the victims himself.

Codefendants and their outcomes

Michael Coleman was sentenced to death for his part in the murders. Coleman was convicted of First-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Sexual Battery, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary and Conspiracy to Traffic.

Bruce Frazier was convicted of Second-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, and Conspiracy to Traffic. Frazier was sentenced to 30 years for Trafficking and 50 years for each of the other convictions.

Darrell Frazier was convicted and sentenced to life for First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and Armed Burglary. He was sentenced to 30 years for Second-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Traffic.

Timothy Robinson was sentenced to death for his part in the murders on 09/20/89. Robinson was convicted of First-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Sexual Battery, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary and Conspiracy to Traffic.

Timeline

• 09/18/88 — Williams ordered Timothy Robinson, Darrell Frazier, and Michael Coleman to go to Pensacola to recover money and drugs stolen from McCormick.
• 07/24/90 — The defendant was indicted on the charges listed in the indictment.
• 05/10/91 — The jury found the defendant guilty of all counts charged in the indictment.
• 05/11/91 — Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for life imprisonment.
• 06/21/91 — The defendant was sentenced; Williams later resentenced to 30 years on Counts VI–XI, each count to run concurrent.
• 07/10/91 — Ronald Lee Williams filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 04/22/93 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Williams’ convictions and sentence of death.
• 09/29/93 — Williams filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
• 11/29/93 — The petition for Writ of Certiorari was denied.
• 03/24/97 — Williams filed a 3.850 Motion in Florida.
• 01/10/05 — The 3.850 Motion was denied.
• 02/02/05 — Williams filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court; it was currently pending.
• 08/31/05 — Williams filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court; it was currently pending.
• 09/20/89 — Timothy Robinson was sentenced to death for his part in the murders.

Trial

Indictment and counts

The defendant was indicted on the following charges:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Derek Hill)
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Morris Douglas)
• Count III: First-Degree Murder (Michael McCormick)
• Count IV: First-Degree Murder (Mildred Baker)
• Count V: Attempted Murder (Amanda Merrell)
• Count VI: Kidnapping (Derek Hill)
• Count VII: Kidnapping (Morris Douglas)
• Count VIII: Kidnapping (Michael McCormick)
• Count IX: Kidnapping (Mildred Baker)
• Count X: Kidnapping (Amanda Merrell)
• Count XI: Kidnapping (Darlene Crenshaw)

Verdict and advisory sentencing

The jury found the defendant guilty of all counts charged in the indictment.

Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for life imprisonment.

Sentencing

On 06/21/91, the defendant was sentenced as follows:

• Count I: First-Degree Murder (Derek Hill) — Death
• Count II: First-Degree Murder (Morris Douglas) — Death
• Count III: First-Degree Murder (Michael McCormick) — Death
• Count IV: First-Degree Murder (Mildred Baker) — Death
• Count V: Attempted Murder (Amanda Merrell) — Life
• Count VI: Kidnapping (Derek Hill) — Life
• Count VII: Kidnapping (Morris Douglas) — Life
• Count VIII: Kidnapping (Michael McCormick) — Life
• Count IX: Kidnapping (Mildred Baker) — Life
• Count X: Kidnapping (Amanda Merrell) — Life
• Count XI: Kidnapping (Darlene Crenshaw) — Life

The sentencing judge was The Honorable Nicolas P.

Williams was later resentenced to 30 years on Counts VI–XI, each count to run concurrent.

Appeals

Direct appeal

On 07/10/91, Ronald Lee Williams filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. In that appeal, he argued that the trial judge erred by rebuking defense counsel’s attempt to impeach witness Darrell Frazier and by admitting evidence regarding two attempted murders in Jacksonville, which Williams allegedly ordered.

Williams also claimed that the trial court erred by allowing the State to peremptorily challenge a potential black juror solely on the basis of race.

The Florida Supreme Court found no merit to the claims Williams raised regarding the guilt phase.

Pertaining to the penalty phase, Williams claimed that the trial court erred in its application of several aggravating circumstances. The Florida Supreme Court agreed that the avoid-arrest factor and the heinous, atrocious and cruel factor were unsupported by the record.

Lastly, Williams argued that the trial judge erred in overriding the jury recommendation of a life imprisonment. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed Williams’ convictions and sentence of death on 04/22/93.

Williams’ sentences for attempted murder and kidnapping were vacated and remanded with instructions that he be resentenced to 30 years on each count.

Petition to the United States Supreme Court

Williams filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United State Supreme Court on 09/29/93. The petition was denied on 11/29/93.

Collateral proceedings

Williams filed a 3.850 Motion on 03/24/97, which was later denied on 01/10/05.

On 02/02/05, Williams filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. The appeal was currently pending.

On 08/31/05, Williams filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court. The petition was currently pending.

Other details

• Registry date of offense: 09/20/88
• Date of sentence: 06/21/91
• Case number: 90-3515
• DC#: 076275
• Date of birth: 02/26/63
• Trial attorney: Randall J. Etheridge, Esq.
• Direct appeal attorney: Spiro T. Kypreos, Esq.
• Collateral appeals attorney: Joseph McDermott, Esq.
• The murders involved bound and gagged victims and included stabbing, slashing, repeated rape, and killing of the prisoners after the Frazier brothers returned.