Richard Harold Anderson

Case identification

Richard Harold Anderson (W/M) was the defendant in a Florida capital case. His date of birth was 04/29/48 and his DC# was 042115. The case was in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Case #87-8047. The sentencing judge was The Honorable M. Wm. Graybill.

Timeline

• 05/07/87 — Date of offense: Richard Anderson was convicted and sentenced to death for the May 7, 1987, murder of Robert Grantham.
• 07/15/87 — Defendant indicted for First-Degree Murder.
• 02/17/88 — The jury found the Defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
• 02/18/88 — Upon advisory sentencing, the trial jury, by an 11 to 1 majority, voted for the death penalty.
• 02/26/88 — The Defendant was sentenced to death for First-Degree Murder.
• 03/21/88 — Anderson filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
• 01/03/91 — The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death.
• 05/28/91 — A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed in the United States Supreme Court.
• 10/07/91 — The Petition for Writ of Certiorari was denied.
• 10/12/92 — Anderson filed 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court.
• 10/14/92 — The 3.850 Motion was dismissed.
• 12/04/92 — Anderson filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 10/28/93 — The appeal was remanded to the Circuit Court to pursue Anderson’s request for public records.
• 02/28/94 — Anderson filed an amended 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court.
• 05/27/97 — The motion was amended a second time.
• 11/19/99 — The motion was amended a third time.
• 08/25/00 — The motion was denied.
• 01/04/01 — Anderson filed an appeal of the 3.850 Motion denial in the Florida Supreme Court.
• 06/13/02 — The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Anderson’s 3.850 Motion.
• 07/14/03 — Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court.
• 12/05/05 — The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was denied.
• 12/30/05 — Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, that is pending.

The offence

Richard Anderson was convicted and sentenced to death for the May 7, 1987, murder of Robert Grantham.

Robert Grantham reportedly offered Connie Beasley, the defendant’s girlfriend, a large sum of money in exchange for sexual favors. Beasley rejected the proposal and told Anderson of Grantham’s offer. Anderson believed Grantham was a rich man and knew he would be returning home from a gambling trip to Las Vegas with his winnings. Anderson instructed Beasley to agree to spend one night with Grantham for $10,000. Beasley was told to get Grantham intoxicated, and Anderson would then rob him.

On May 7, 1987, after dinner and drinks, Beasley brought Grantham back to Anderson’s apartment. Anderson arrived at the apartment later in the evening under the pretense of returning Beasley’s car and then needing a ride home. Grantham agreed to drive him, but Anderson insisted that Beasley accompany them.

While in the car, Anderson shot Grantham four times in the head from the back seat, and then proceeded to dump his body in a wooded area. Connie Beasley was sitting on the front passenger side when Grantham was shot.

Anderson abandoned Grantham’s car at the Tampa Airport and returned with Beasley to his apartment. After rummaging through Grantham’s belongings, Anderson and Beasley only found $2,600.

Investigation and arrest

No separate investigation or arrest details were provided in the material.

Trial

Indictment and verdict

The defendant was indicted for First-Degree Murder on 07/15/87. On 02/17/88, the jury found the Defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.

Advisory sentencing

On 02/18/88, upon advisory sentencing, the trial jury, by an 11 to 1 majority, voted for the death penalty.

Sentencing

On 02/26/88, the Defendant was sentenced to death for First-Degree Murder.

Parties and legal representation

Trial Attorneys: William Fuente & Mark Ober – Private Attorney. Direct Appeal: Paul Helm – Assistant Public Defender Attorney. Collateral Appeal: Robert Strain & Carol Rodriguez – CCRC-M.

Prior conviction and additional information

Richard Anderson was convicted and sentenced to 20 years for First Degree Premeditated or Attempted Murder in Pinellas County on 05/29/74. Anderson was an accomplice in this crime.

Codefendant information

Connie Beasley was convicted of Third-Degree Murder and sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

Appeals

Direct appeal

Anderson filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 03/21/88. His appeal claimed the court erred when it neglected to dismiss his indictment based on the perjured grand jury testimony of Connie Beasley. Anderson also contended that the court erred when it allowed testimony that violated the hearsay rule. All of the claims that Anderson entered were rejected. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death on 01/03/91.

Federal certiorari

A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed on 05/28/91 in the United States Supreme Court and was denied on 10/07/91.

State collateral proceedings (3.850)

On 10/12/92, Anderson filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court, which was dismissed on 10/14/92. Anderson filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 12/04/92. On 10/28/93, the appeal was remanded to the Circuit Court to pursue Anderson’s request for public records. Anderson filed an amended 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 02/28/94. The motion was amended a second time on 05/27/97, and again a third time on 11/19/99. The motion was denied on 08/25/00. On 01/04/01, Anderson filed an appeal of the 3.850 Motion denial in the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial on 06/13/02.

Federal habeas proceedings

On 07/14/03, Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court that was denied on 12/05/05. Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, on 12/30/05 that is pending.

Outcome and case status

Anderson was sentenced to death on February 26, 1988. The subsequent procedural history included denial of a state 3.850 motion and federal habeas proceedings, with a pending petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, as of 12/30/05.