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John
Steven HUGGINS
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Kidnapping - Robbery
Number of victims: 1
Date of murder: June 10,
1997
Date of birth: February 16,
1962
Victim profile:Carla
Larson
Method of murder: Strangulation
Location: Orange County, Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on February 26, 1999. Resentenced to
death on September 19, 2002
Ninth Judicial Circuit,
Orange County Case # 98-7190
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable
Belvin Perry, Jr.
Attorney, Trial: Bob Wesley &
Tyrone King – Public Defender & Asst. Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal:
Christopher Quarles – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:
Eric Pinkard – CCRC-M
Date of Offense: 06/10/97
Date of Sentence: 02/26/99
Date of Sentence: 09/19/02
Circumstances of Offense:
On the morning of 06/10/97,
Carla Larson took her daughter to day care and went to work. Prior to
lunch, Larson told a coworker that she was going to a grocery store to
pick up food for an afternoon meeting.
A receipt indicated that she
purchased food, but Larson never returned to work. Numerous witnesses
saw a Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) that matched a
description of Larson’s SUV in a wooded area off the Osceola Parkway.
Two days later, while being led
by witnesses who saw the SUV in the woods, coworkers found the body of
Larson. The cause of death was strangulation and Larson’s jewelry,
clothing, and purse were missing.
On the day of Larson’s
disappearance, John Huggins, his wife Angel and their five children were
visiting the Orlando area. John Huggins’ mother-in-law, Fay Blades,
testified at trial that, when she came home from work on 06/10/97, she
noticed an unfamiliar, white SUV in her carport. Blades’ neighbors also
noticed a white, Ford SUV in Blades’ carport, but noted that the vehicle
was spray-painted black later in the week.
On 06/26/97, police were called
to investigate a burning truck on a vacant lot in Cocoa Beach. An
investigation revealed the truck was Larson’s white Ford Explorer SUV,
which had been partially painted black.
On 06/27/97, John Huggins fled
Florida with his sister-in-law, with whom he had begun a relationship.
Shortly thereafter, Angel Huggins saw a television show, America’s Most
Wanted, which featured Larson’s murder. Angel Huggins suspected her
husband of committing the murder and called police.
In late June and
July 1997, police conducted three searches of Blades’ house and a shed
on her property, but no incriminating evidence was found. Blades
conducted a search of her own and found jewelry, later found to belong
to Larson, hidden in her shed.
02/03/99 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the
indictment
02/10/99 Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4
02/26/99 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree
Murder – Death
Count II: Carjacking – 30
Years
Count III: Robbery – Life
Count IV: Kidnapping – Life
04/11/02 Retrial venue changed to Hillsborough County
07/25/02 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all Counts I, II, and
IV, and the lesser included charge of Petit Theft for Count III
07/26/02 Jury recommended death by a vote of 9-3
09/19/02 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II: Carjacking – 30
Years
Count III: Petit Theft – 60
Days Count IV: Kidnapping – Life
Case Information:
Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Circuit
Court on 03/25/99, alleging a Brady violation by the State. On
05/21/99, an Evidentiary Hearing was held, and, on 07/21/99, the Circuit
Court granted the petition. A retrial was ordered in the case.
Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on
04/05/99. On 08/09/99, a Motion to Dismiss was filed and the appeal was
dismissed on 07/13/00.
On
08/09/99, the State filed an appeal of the granting of the Habeas
Petition by the Circuit Court. On 06/07/01, the FSC affirmed the
granting of the petition.
Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on
10/31/02, alleging the following trial court errors: admitting certain
evidence and testimony, granting a juror challenge, admitting
prejudicial evidence, introducing medical examiner’s testimony,
admitting victim evidence and victim-impact evidence, denying a motion
for acquittal, denying a request for a jury instruction regarding
circumstantial evidence, denying motions to disqualify the prosecutor,
finding aggravating circumstances, sentencing based on a
disproportionate penalty, and Ring claims. On 12/02/04, the FSC
affirmed the convictions and sentences.
Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme
Court on 03/22/05 that was denied on 06/06/05.
Huggins filed a 3.851 Motion with the
Circuit Court on 06/05/06 that is pending.
