DC#  V01514
DOB:  11/29/76

Seventh Judicial Circuit, Putnam County Case # 98-1315
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable William Parsons
Attorney, Trial: Douglas R. Withee – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Christopher Quarles – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Eric Pinkard & James Driscoll – CCRC-M

Date of Offense: 07/13/98

Date of Sentence: 05/26/99

Circumstances of Offense:

On the evening of 07/11/98, Trelane Floyd and several of her cousins went to a supper club to celebrate her birthday. 

Her husband, Maurice Floyd followed her and observed her drinking and dancing.  Prior to this occasion, Maurice Floyd expressed his disapproval of Trelane Floyd’s alcohol consumption. 

When Trelane returned home around 5:00 a.m. on the morning of July 12^th, Maurice informed her that he would not allow her to sleep and increased the volume on the televisions and radio in their apartment. 

He also threatened to kill her or someone she loved as reprisal for her drinking or if she ever attempted to run or hide from him.  Later that day, Trelane felt a gun being placed beside her head as she was lying in bed.  Floyd pulled the trigger three times, but the weapon did not fire.

On July 13^th, Trelane and Maurice Floyd had a heated argument on a street near their  apartment.  Trelane attempted to flee to the sheriff’s office, but Maurice rammed his car into Trelane’s car. 

After a high-speed chase, Trelane arrived at the sheriff’s office.  Trelane exited the car, screamed for help, and Deputy Dean Kelly responded from his desk in the office.  Trelane was explaining her situation to Deputy Kelly when Maurice began rapidly approaching Trelane on foot. 

Deputy Kelly prevented Maurice from approaching further, and advised him that he would be placed in investigative custody until the situation could be resolved.  Maurice extended his hands into the air and backed up to Deputy Kelly, but Maurice fled the scene before the deputy could place the handcuffs on Maurice.

After giving a statement to sheriff’s office personnel, Trelane called her mother, Mary Goss, to inform her of the fight and confrontation with Maurice.   Ms. Goss told Trelane that her three children were at her [Goss’] home and that she would not allow Maurice to get them. 

At some point during the evening of July 13^th, Maurice went to the house of Ms. Goss, who then told Trelane’s children to run to a neighbor’s house.  Several witnesses, including the children, saw Maurice and Ms. Goss arguing through the door that Maurice had kicked in and saw her run outside onto the porch.  Maurice fired three shots at Ms. Goss with a .357 caliber pistol, striking her once in the face, killing her instantly.

Additionally, Floyd confessed to the murder of Mary Goss to a friend, Tashoni Lamb.  Floyd told her, “I just shot Miss Mary [Goss], the grandmother,” and he explained that he shot her because “she had threatened to call the police.”

Additional Information:

On 05/26/99, Floyd was sentenced to three five year terms for one count of Burglary, (Case# 95-1456) and two counts of Accessory After the Fact (Case# 95-2062).

08/05/98          Indicted as follows:

Count I            First-Degree Murder

Count II           Armed Burglary

Count III          Aggravated Assault

04/07/99          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

04/08/99          Jury recommended death by a vote of 11-1

05/26/99          Sentenced as follows:

Count I             First-Degree Murder – Death

Count II            Armed Burglary – 30 years

Floyd filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 06/18/99, citing errors related to evidence admission and presentation, aggravating circumstances, and the proportionality of the death penalty.  On 08/22/02, the FSC affirmed the First-Degree Murder and Assault convictions and sentences, but reversed the Armed Burglary conviction.

Floyd filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 09/09/03 that was denied on 01/12/04.