DC#
124389
DOB: 01/18/57
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit,
Broward County, Case #95-1473
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable
James I. Cohen
Attorney, Criminal Trial: Robert
Ullman – Special Appointed Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Gary
Caldwell – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:
Todd Scher – Registry
Date of Offense: 01/06/95
Date of Sentence: 05/16/97
Circumstances of Offense:
Lynford Blackwood was convicted
and sentenced to death for the 1995 strangulation of Caroline
Thomas-Tynes.
In his confession to police,
Lynford Blackwood revealed that he and Caroline Thomas-Tynes had dated
on and off for ten years before the relationship ended in late 1994.
Shortly after the break-up, Caroline began seeing someone else and
became pregnant.
On the morning of 01/06/95, Blackwood set out to
return a set of sheets to Caroline and after talking for a while, the
two had consensual sex. While lying in bed, Blackwood and Caroline
began to quarrel. She told him that she did not want to see him again
and that, while they were dating, she had aborted six of his children.
Blackwood then reportedly strangled Caroline with his hands.
Blackwood fled Caroline’s home
in her car, which he later abandoned. He then hitchhiked to St.
Petersburg, where he was later arrested. Blackwood admitted to choking
the victim and placing a bar of soap in her mouth, but claimed that she
was still alive and breathing when he left. Blackwood appeared to be
surprised and upset when he learned that Caroline was dead.
The body of Caroline
Thomas-Tynes was discovered on the evening of 01/06/95. She was found
lying naked in her bedroom. A folded washcloth and a bar of soap were
found lodged into the back of her throat. There was some discrepancy as
to whether a pillow was used in the asphyxiation.
Caroline had bruises
and marks on her neck that were evidence of manual and ligature
strangulation. A speaker wire, found on the floor next to the bed,
proved to be consistent with the marks found on her neck.
The medical
examiner reported that Caroline Thomas-Tynes could have died from manual
or ligature strangulation, from the soap and washcloth lodged in her
throat, or from a pillow being placed over her face.
Trial Summary:
02/01/95 Defendant
indicted on the following charges:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder
12/05/96 The jury found
the defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
01/23/97 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury,
by a 9 to 3 majority, voted for the imposition of the death penalty.
05/16/97 The defendant was sentenced as
followed:
Count I:
First-Degree Murder - Death
Case Information:
Blackwood filed a Direct Appeal
in the Florida Supreme Court on 06/26/97. In that appeal, he argued
that the trial court erred in denying his motion for acquittal as the
State’s evidence did not contradict his claim that he never intended to
kill Caroline Thomas-Tynes. Blackwood also contended that the trial
court improperly admitted hearsay evidence.
In reference to the penalty
phase, Blackwood contested the consideration and application of
aggravating and mitigating circumstances. He also claimed that the
trial court erred in excluding certain mental health reports.
The
Florida Supreme Court affirmed Blackwood’s conviction and sentence of
death on 12/21/00.
Blackwood then filed a Petition
for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was
denied on 10/05/01.
Blackwood next filed a 3.850
Motion in the State Circuit Court on 10/01/02. The State filed a Motion
to Strike that was granted on 11/20/02. Blackwood re-filed his 3.850
Motion on 12/03/02. A final order was issued on 07/23/03, denying the
3.850 Motion in part, but reversing the death sentence and remanding for
a new penalty phase proceeding.
Blackwood filed a 3.850 Appeal
in the Florida Supreme Court on 09/02/03. The State filed a Cross
Appeal on 09/05/03. Both Appeals are currently pending.
Blackwood filed a Petition for
Writ of Habeas Corpus on 05/14/04 in the Florida Supreme Court that is
currently pending.
Floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us
