Jack Dempsey Ferrell | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Jack Dempsey FERRELL



Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Parricide - Altercations
Number of victims: 2
Date of murders: 1981 / April 18, 1992
Date of arrest: April 18, 1992
Date of birth: August 5, 1940
Victims profile: His former girlfriend / Mary Esther Williams (his girlfriend)
Method of murder: Shooting
Location: Orange County, Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on June 20, 1995




Florida Supreme Court

opinion 81668	opinion SC024-1498 & 03-218





DC# 083905 DOB: 08/05/40 Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County Case # 92-4096 Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Daniel Dawson Attorney, Trial: Michael L. Irwin – Private Attorney, Direct Appeal: Michael S. Becker – Assistant Public Defender Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Robert Strain & Carol Rodriguez – CCRC-M Date of Offense: 04/18/92 Date of Sentence: 04/21/93 Date of Resentence: 06/20/95 Circumstances of Offense: Jack Ferrell and Mary Williams lived together, and their relationship was marked by verbal and physical confrontations, including Ferrell threatening to kill Williams. On 04/18/92, neighbors overheard the couple arguing and observed Ferrell enter and exit the apartment several times. When he left the apartment the final time, he told one of the neighbors that he had killed Williams and the cops should be called. Ferrell then drove away in his car. Williams was found on the apartment floor with two gunshot wounds to the head, and she died ten days later due to hemorrhaging in the brain. At the time of Ferrell’s arrest, his breath smelled of alcohol, and he admitted to drinking heavily that day. Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida: Ferrell was convicted and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for Second-Degree Murder in 1982. He was released in 1987. Trial Summary: 05/11/92 Indicted as follows: Count I First-Degree Murder Count II Possession of a Firearm by a Felon 02/04/93 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment 03/09/93 Jury recommended a death sentence by a vote 10-2 04/21/93 Sentenced as follows: Count I First-Degree Murder – Death Count II Possession of a Firearm by a Felon – 30 years Case Information: Ferrell filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 04/29/93, citing the following errors: admission of evidence of a collateral crime; denial of a motion to appoint co-counsel; denial of penalty phase jury instructions; imposition of a death sentence without making written findings of fact; and death sentence based on one aggravating circumstance and seven mitigating circumstances. The FSC agreed that the court’s failure to document the findings of fact for aggravating and mitigating circumstances in the sentencing order was improper. On 02/16/95, the FSC affirmed Ferrell’s convictions, vacated his death sentence, and remanded the case to the Circuit Court for a new sentencing order. Ferrell filed a Direct Appeal, after a new sentencing order was issued, with the Florida Supreme Court on 01/05/96, citing the following errors: trial court overlooked mitigating mental health testimony and the death sentence was disproportionate compared to other cases with one aggravating circumstance. The FSC affirmed the death sentence on 04/11/96. Ferrell filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 01/02/97 that was denied on 03/17/97. Ferrell filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 01/21/98 and amended the Motion on 06/23/00. On 05/29/02, the Circuit Court denied the Motion. Ferrell filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 07/03/02, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. On 06/16/05, the FSC affirmed the denial of the motion. Ferrell filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 02/10/03, citing Ring, Apprendi, and competency issues. On 06/16/05, the FSC denied the petition. Ferrell filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District, on 01/24/06 that is pending. Floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us