Date of Sentence: 10/26/01
Circumstances of Offense:
On 02/09/99, Kenneth Dessaure
called 911 to report that he found a naked, dead woman in her apartment
hallway.
Dessaure told the 911 operator that he went to the apartment
of his neighbor, Cindy Riedweg, to borrow some ice, and he discovered
the body. Riedweg’s body was lying face down with her arms tucked under
her body.
The body had fifty-three wounds, including three bruises,
fifteen scrapes and pick marks; sixteen superficial cuts; fifteen deeper
cuts; and four stab wounds. Multiple stab wounds to the torso and neck
were the cause of death.
In a statement to police,
Dessaure stated that he saw Riedweg sunbathing as he took out the
trash. When he returned to his apartment, he began washing dishes but
cut his palm while washing a knife.
Dessaure’s ice cube tray was empty,
so he went next door to Riedweg’s apartment for some ice. He knocked on
the door and yelled for “Cindy,” but the door was unlocked, so he
entered the apartment. He found Riedweg lying on the floor and left the
apartment.
Forensic analysis of Dessaure’s
clothing yielded blood stains that matched Riedweg’s DNA profile, and a
towel and comforter from Riedweg’s apartment tested positive for semen
that was matched to Dessaure. A blood-stained knife was found in
Dessaure’s kitchen.
According to two of Dessaure’s
fellow inmates at the Pinellas County Jail, Valdez Hardy and Shavar
Sampson, Dessaure admitted to the rape and murder of Cindy Riedweg.
Trial Summary:
08/26/99 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder
09/05/01 Jury returned a guilty verdict
09/06/01 Jury recommendation waived
09/11/01 Penalty phase held
10/26/01 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder – Death
Case Information:
On
02/07/02, Dessaure filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court,
citing the following trial court errors: denying a motion for mistrial
based on the prosecutor’s opening statement; refusing to allow evidence
that two marijuana cigarettes were found in Riedweg’s apartment;
refusing to allow the defense to present evidence that Riedweg’s
boyfriend smoked marijuana; allowing the State to argue that Dessaure
was the source of the cigarette ash found in Riedweg’s sink; allowing
the State to impeach the testimony of two defense witnesses; denying a
motion to exclude evidence regarding Dessaure’s argument with his
fiancée; allowing the defendant to waive a penalty phase jury without a
valid waiver; failing to allow a jury to make a sentencing
recommendation; failing to charge aggravating circumstances in the
indictment; failing to have sufficient evidence to convict; and failing
to sentence proportionately.
On 12/02/04, the FSC affirmed the
conviction and sentence.
On
02/28/06, Dessaure filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court that is
pending.
Floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us
