DC#  097707
DOB:  01/26/59

Third Judicial Circuit, Columbia County Case # 00-897
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable E. Vernon Douglas
Attorney, Trial: M. Blair Payne – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Steven Seliger – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Michael Reiter – Registry

Date of Offense: 07/03/00

Date of Sentence: 10/11/01

Circumstances of Offense:

Charles Globe was an inmate in Columbia Correctional Institution in July of 2000.  He and a fellow inmate, Andrew Busby, planned to kill an inmate or correctional officer. 

For two weeks, Globe and Busby created a list of seven potential victims, one of which was Busby’s cellmate, Elton Ard. 

Globe and Busby talked for days about killing Ard and developed a plan to do so.  Using part of a linen sheet and broken ballpoint pens, Globe made two garrotes to strangle Ard.

On the morning of 07/03/00, Globe slipped into Ard’s and Busby’s cell.  After locking the cell door and covering the window, Globe grabbed Ard around the neck and they struggled. 

Globe placed one of the garrotes around Ard’s neck, but it broke as Globe and Busby strangled Ard. 

Ard pled for his life, offering money to Globe, but he struck Ard in the face, causing him to bleed.  Globe flushed the broken garrote down the toilet and tied the second garrote around Ard’s neck. 

Globe lit a cigarette and watched Ard gasp for air six times before he finally died.  After Ard’s death, Globe tied the garrote around Ard’s wrist, lit a cigarette and put it in Ard’s mouth, and placed a lighter in Ard’s hand.

During a prisoner count later that morning, a correctional officer found Globe locked inside Ard and Busby’s cell.  Ard had a cigarette in his mouth but appeared to be dead.  Abrasions and other marks were visible on Globe’s face. 

Evidence recovered from the crime scene included photographs of writing on the prison wall, photographs of bloody fingerprints, the cigarette lighter and cigarette found on Ard, and a magic marker used to write on the wall.  In handwriting determined to be Globe’s, the words “Call FDLE,” and “Remember Andy and K.D., 7/3/2000,” and “Don’t forget to look on the door” were written on the cell walls.

Several hours after the murder, Globe and Busby were read their Miranda warnings and gave a tape recorded statement to FDLE agents, confessing to the Ard murder.  On 07/07/00, Globe was again read his Miranda warning by Department of Corrections officials and again confessed to the Ard murder. 

Codefendant Information:

Andrew Busby was tried separately, convicted, and sentenced to death.

Trial Summary: