Florida Supreme Court

DC# 393789
DOB:  08/27/66

First Judicial Circuit, Escambia County, Case #89-1139
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Nickolas P. Geeker
Attorneys, Trial: Barry W. Deroset and Michael J. Pitts – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Laura E. Keene – Private
Attorneys, Collateral Appeals:  Peter Cannon and Daphney Gaylord – CCRC-M

Date of Offense:  09/20/88

Date of Sentence:  09/26/89

Circumstances of Offense:

Timothy Robinson was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Derek Devan Hill, Michael Alfonso Douglass, Michael Anthony McCormack, and Mildred Jean Baker.

Timothy Robinson, Michael Coleman, Bruce Frazier, and Darrell Frazier were members of the “Miami Boys,” which was a drug organization in Pensacola, Florida.  Members of the Miami Boys moved a safe containing drugs and money to Michael McCormick’s home.  Derek Hill and Michael Douglas stole the drugs and money while it was being stored at McCormick’s home.  They gave the stolen goods to Darlene Crenshaw to keep safe. 

On 08/18/88, Robinson, Coleman, Bruce Frazier, and McCormick forced their way into the residence of Hill and Douglas.  Hill and Douglas were both there, as were Crenshaw and Amanda Merrell. 

Robinson, Coleman, Frazier forced Hill, Douglas, Crenshaw, Merrell, and McCormick to take off their clothes and jewelry and then bound them with electrical cords.  Darrell Frazier, then, brought Mildred Baker, the girlfriend of McCormick to the residence of Douglas and Hill.

Robinson demanded to know the location of the money and drugs.  When no one answered, he started stabbing Hill.  Crenshaw, at this point, agreed to take them to where she had hidden the money and drugs.  She showed the Frazier brothers where the money and drugs were hidden and then she escaped.  During this time, Coleman and Robinson sexually assaulted Merrell and Baker.

The Frazier brothers returned to the apartment.  Coleman and Robinson shot and stabbed the remaining prisoners.  At this point, the Frazier brothers, Coleman, and Robinson left the apartment. 

Amanda Merrell, who had been sexually assaulted, stabbed, and shot, survived and contacted the authorities.  The other remaining prisoners died at the scene.

Additional Information:  

Codefendant Status:  Bruce Frazier (Escambia County # 98-1140) 

On 07/17/91, Bruce Frazier was sentenced for crimes that occurred on 09/20/88.  Frazier received five 50-year sentences for Second-Degree Murder, Attempted First-Degree Murder, Kidnapping, Burglary involving Assault, and Robbery with Deadly Weapon.  He received a 30-year sentence for Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine.

Codefendant Status:  Coleman (Escambia County # 98-1139)

On 09/29/89, Michael Coleman was sentenced for crimes that occurred on 09/20/88.  Coleman was sentenced to Death for First-Degree Murder.  He was sentenced to four Life sentences for Kidnapping, Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon, Armed Burglary, and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon.  Coleman also received a 30-year sentence for Attempted First-Degree Murder.

Trial Summary:

02/28/89          Robinson was indicted on the following counts:

Count I:  First-Degree Murder
Count II:  First-Degree Murder
Count III:  First-Degree Murder
Count IV:  First-Degree Murder
Count V:  Attempted Murder
Count VI:  Armed Kidnapping
Count VII:  Armed Kidnapping
Count VIII:  Armed Kidnapping
Count IX:  Armed Kidnapping
Count X:  Armed Kidnapping
Count XI:  Armed Kidnapping
Count XII:  Armed Sexual Battery
Count XIII:  Armed Sexual Battery
Count XIV:  Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine
Count XV:  Armed Burglary
Count XVI:  Armed Robbery
Count XVII:  Armed Robbery

06/01/89          Robinson was found guilty on all counts charged in the indictment.

06/02/89          Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted 6 to 6 for Life.

09/26/89          Judge Geeker overrode the jury recommendation.

Robinson was sentenced as follows:

Count I:  First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II:  First-Degree Murder – Death
Count III:  First-Degree Murder – Death
Count IV:  First-Degree Murder – Death
Count IX:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count V:  Attempted Murder – 30 Years
Count VI:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count VII:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count VIII:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count X:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count XI:  Armed Kidnapping – Life
Count XII:  Armed Sexual Battery – Life
Count XIII:  Armed Sexual Battery – Life
Count XIV:  Conspiracy to Traffic in Cocaine – 30 Years
Count XV:  Armed Burglary – 30 Years
Count XVI:  Armed Robbery – Life
Count XVII:  Armed Robbery – Life

Case Information:

Robinson filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 10/30/89.  The issues addressed included that the trial court erred in denying motions for a continuance and a change of venue, in not severing the Coleman and Robinson trial, in not suppressing DNA testimony, and in overriding the jury’s recommendation of a life sentence. 

Robinson also argued that prosecutor acted in an inflammatory manner by placing the knives on the bench of the jury box and that his due-process rights were violated because he was shackled during the proceedings. 

The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentence on 06/25/92.  Rehearing was denied on 10/15/92.  A mandate was issued on 11/16/92.

Robinson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court on 12/15/91.  The petition was denied on 02/13/92. 

On 11/08/93, Robinson filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.  The petition was denied on 02/28/94.

Robinson filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 07/03/95.  The motion is currently pending.

Floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us