Laisha Landrum

Case record: Laisha Landrum

Offence

Laisha Landrum, 18, was convicted in January 2006 and sentenced on February 20, 2006 for killing Emily Ann Clemons, 16.

In 2004, Landrum and a teenage boy beat Clemons to death with a hammer, kitchen pots and a boom box. They hit Clemons at least 34 times. Investigators said the hammer’s claw was used on her face. After the beating, they wrapped Clemons’ body in a blanket and tossed it into a garbage bin.

Neighbors called 911 when they heard Clemons kicking and moaning from inside the bin. She was barely alive when she was found and later died at a hospital.

Prosecutors said the couple used two pots, a hammer and a radio to beat Clemons on her head, with blows landing at least 34 times.

Background

Clemons was Almestica’s ex-girlfriend. Landrum gave birth to his daughter and lived with him.

Clemons had allegedly been seeing Rocky Almestica Jr. behind Landrum’s back. Donna Clemons testified that her daughter had been pregnant with Almestica’s baby but had a miscarriage. The defence said Clemons was obsessed with Almestica and wished she had had his child.

Landrum and Almestica, then 16, were living together with their infant and Almestica’s father at the time of the killing.

Brett Clemons, Emily Clemons’ father, said he had warned his daughter to stay away from Landrum.

Brett Clemons described the murder to the judge as having been “vicious and hateful persons.”

Before the murder, Landrum left a voicemail on Clemons’ voice mail saying: “Listen, b----. You stay away from my man, or I'll kill you,” Brett Clemons told the judge.

Timeline

• June 9, 2004 — Landrum and Rocky Almestica Jr. lured Clemons to the Amaretto Apartments on N 22nd Street; investigators said they later pummeled Clemons there, wrapped her body in a blanket, and tossed her into a garbage bin.
• June 10, 2004 — Hillsborough sheriff’s Cpl. Daniel Luvinski arrived first at the Amaretto Apartments and found Clemons unresponsive inside the trash bin; Clemons died hours later at a hospital.
• November 2004 — Rocky Almestica Jr. was found guilty of second-degree murder in Clemons’ death and was later sentenced to life in prison.
• January 2005 — A judge sentenced Rocky Almestica Jr. to life in prison.
• January 11, 2006 — Landrum went to trial after being charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
• February 20, 2006 — Landrum was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• February 21, 2006 — Landrum apologized for killing Clemons at sentencing.

Investigation

Hillsborough County sheriff’s homicide detectives hauled away the trash bin and its contents as possible evidence in a homicide investigation.

Investigators said Clemons was bludgeoned on her head so badly that a piece of her skull was missing.

Hillsborough sheriff’s Lt. Rod Reder said the initial charges against Almestica and Landrum were for tampering with evidence, and that those charges would likely upgrade to first-degree murder if the teenager died.

Arrest and charges

At the time of the initial investigation, Landrum and Rocky L. Almestica Jr., both 16, were arrested and charged with tampering with evidence by moving Clemons’ body and trying to hide the bloody pot.

Landrum and Almestica were booked into the county jail on felony charges that they tampered with evidence by moving Clemons’ body and trying to hide the bloody pot.

When Almestica was arrested, he admitted to authorities that he and Landrum threw Clemons and the pot into the Dumpster at about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Reder said: “They assumed she was dead when they threw her in there. They just thought they were moving a dead body. This was very, very vicious.”

Landrum was later charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Trial

Landrum’s trial proceeded in January 2006.

Landrum faced conviction for second-degree murder and evidence tampering at trial, and she was sentenced to life in prison without parole in February 2006.

Prosecution theory

Prosecutors said the couple used two pots, a hammer and a radio to beat Clemons on her head. Prosecutors said the blows landed at least 34 times.

Prosecutors called Marshall Watson, a friend to Almestica and Landrum. Watson testified that he saw Clemons’ bloodied body at the young couple’s apartment. Landrum had asked him to help Almestica get rid of the body, but he refused and insisted that they call 911.

The jury also heard videotaped testimony from a man who lived at the Amaretto and said he saw Landrum and Almestica making several trips to the trash bins that night.

Defence theory and testimony

Landrum’s attorney was Brian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez told jurors that Landrum and Clemons did fight that night, but that Landrum did not kill Clemons.

Gonzalez said Clemons went to the Amaretto Apartments around 9:30 p.m. June 9, 2004, where Almestica and Landrum lived with their infant and Almestica’s father.

Gonzalez said Landrum told investigators that when she opened the door, Clemons barged in with an object and cut her on the arm. Gonzalez said Clemons threatened to kill Landrum and her baby, then headed for the crib; Gonzalez said the infant was not home.

Gonzalez said that when the two teen girls came face to face, Clemons kicked Landrum in the stomach and legs. Gonzalez said Landrum fought back at first with her fists.

Gonzalez said that when Clemons began to attack Almestica, Landrum grabbed a pot from the kitchen and hit Clemons once in the head. Gonzalez said Clemons fell to the ground, then got up and walked out the apartment. Gonzalez said Landrum heard a “thud” outside after Clemons left but did not check what caused it.

Gonzalez told jurors: “There was only one person responsible for this murder, and he's not on trial before you this week. Laisha Landrum is,”

Sentencing

At the sentencing hearing, Landrum stood before Emily Clemons’ parents and apologized for killing their daughter.

Landrum said: “If I could, I would bring her back,” and “But I can't, and I apologize.”

Brett Clemons told Hillsborough Circuit Judge J. Rogers Padgett: “Any tears shed by the defendant have been crocodile tears,”

The sentencing was for life in prison without parole.

After the prosecutor and defence statements, Padgett gave Landrum the same life sentence her boyfriend, Rocky Almestica Jr., received in January 2005.

Landrum sprang from her seat to defend her composure during the January trial, where she was convicted of second-degree murder and evidence tampering. Padgett did not respond to Landrum’s statement. Landrum said: “Sir, I'm trying to be strong for my family,”

Prosecutor and defence arguments at sentencing

Prosecutor Donna Hanes said: “Emily Clemons is never going to have a child,” and “Mr. and Mrs. Clemons are never going to have a granddaughter.”

Brian Gonzalez asked the judge to spare Landrum a life sentence not because of the baby, but because she was still young enough to turn her own life around.

Gonzalez told Padgett that when Landrum was pregnant, Landrum worked at Wendy's. He said her run-ins with the law had been minimal and that she had completed her high school studies with a GED.

Gonzalez said: “Laisha Landrum is not a throw-away,”

Gonzalez also argued that while she was involved in the murder, Landrum did not deliver the fatal blows that killed Clemons.

Gonzalez said: “Because two people are found guilty of the same crime, they need not be sentenced to the same,”

Padgett sentenced Landrum to life in prison without parole with no parole.

Both the Landrum and Clemons families left the courtroom without commenting on the sentencing.

Outcome

Laisha Landrum was sentenced to life in prison without parole on February 20, 2006.

Aftermath and other related details

Landrum’s mother, Kchelle Landrum, stood at the lectern to plead for mercy. She showed the judge photos of Landrum as a sweet-faced middle schooler and said: “Although I look at my daughter in that orange uniform there, this is the child that I raised,”

Kchelle Landrum showed a photo of Landrum and Almestica’s 2-year-old daughter, who had been apart from her mother since she was 4 months old. Kchelle Landrum said: “I can't tell you what to do, but I can ask you to be soft and compassionate for my granddaughter,”

Landrum’s mother, father and grandmother begged the judge to allow Laisha Landrum a chance to be a mother.

People mentioned

• Laisha Landrum — defendant; convicted of second-degree murder and evidence tampering; sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• Emily Ann Clemons — victim, age 16.
• Rocky Almestica Jr. — Clemons’ ex-boyfriend; convicted of second-degree murder; sentenced to life in prison in January 2005.
• Brett Clemons — Emily Clemons’ father.
• Donna Clemons — Emily Clemons’ mother.
• Donna Hanes — prosecutor.
• Brian Gonzalez — Landrum’s attorney.
• J. Rogers Padgett — Hillsborough Circuit Judge.
• Kchelle Landrum — Landrum’s mother.
• Marshall Watson — friend to Almestica and Landrum; witness.
• Daniel Luvinski — Hillsborough sheriff’s Cpl.; first to arrive.
• Rod Reder — sheriff’s Lt.
• J.R. Burton — sheriff’s Sgt. mentioned in connection with residents’ noise reports.
• Susan Emerson — neighbor who described Emily as “grandma.”