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AKA: Alejandro Ramirez or “Lex”
Date of Sentence: 10/15/98
Circumstances of the Offense:
Alex Pagan was convicted for the murders of six-year-old Michael Lynn,
his father, Freddy Jones, and the attempted murders of his mother,
Latasha Jones, and his 18-month-old brother, Lafayette Jones.
Pagan and Willie Graham had previously broken into the victim’s house on
01/23/93 and took clothes, jewelry and cash, which were later found in
Pagan’s possession. Pagan and Graham had learned of the possibility of
obtaining an additional $12,000 to $13,000 in the same house, and they
planned on returning to get the money.
On 02/23/93, Pagan and Graham,
both wearing ski masks, entered the victim’s master bedroom by breaking
the sliding glass door in the room where Freddy and Latasha, and their
baby (Lafayette) were sleeping.
Pagan and Graham demanded that they
give them the money. When Freddy denied having any money, one of the
intruders began searching the house. He found Michael Lynn in another
room and took him to the master bedroom. He then took Latasha at gun
point and searched the rest of the house. When he couldn’t find the
money, he took Latasha back into the bedroom and hit her with the gun.
One of the intruders then began looking in a closet when the door light
turned on. He closed the door immediately fearing that the family had
seen his face. Latasha testified that one of the gunmen’s masks was
partially off, and she could tell he had white skin. One of them then
took the keys to the victim’s car and told the other to go start the
car.
The gunman, Pagan, then tied everybody up. He shot Freddy once
and then said to Michael Lynn, “Shorty, if you live through this, don’t
grow up to be like me.” He then fired several more shots. Latasha was
shot but did not die. She testified to having heard seven or eight
shots.
After Pagan and Graham left, Latasha kicked out of her
restraints and called out to Freddy and Michael. When she did not
receive a response out of either of them, she grabbed her baby and ran
out of the house to find help. Freddy died from a gunshot wound to the
head, and Michael Lynn died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head
with one in the buttocks.
On
02/27/93, Pagan was arrested when search and arrest warrants were issued
by the Circuit Court Judge, Honorable Sheldon M. Shapiro, for the
murders of Freddy and Michael Lynn Jones and the attempted murder of
Latasha and Lafayette Jones. Another Circuit Court Judge, Honorable
Lawrence Korda, found that probable cause existed and that Pagan should
be held to answer to charges surrounding the murders and attempted
murders.
Latasha Jones testified that their house had been burglarized on
01/23/93. She said that about $26,000 worth of clothes, jewelry and
cash had been taken. Some of these items were later found in Pagan’s
residence. Other items were found to have been taken by Graham to be
pawned at two pawn shops.
Antonio Quezada and Keith Jackson, friends of
the defendants, testified that they saw both Pagan and Graham wearing
jewelry that Latasha identified as being taken from her house on
01/23/93.
Quezada also testified that he dropped Pagan and Graham off
at the Jones’ house the night of the murders, and Pagan told him that he
was going to kill everyone inside. He also said that, after the murders
Pagan came to his house and told him they had killed everyone. Jackson
testified that Pagan also admitted to killing everyone, dismantling the
gun and scattering the pieces all over Miami.
Codefendant Information:
Willie Graham (AKA: Shaikwam)
DC#
194678
Graham was charged and found guilty of the same 6 counts as Pagan (CC#
93-3648).
Graham received two life sentences for counts I and II and was sentenced
to 30 years for counts III, IV, V and VI. All sentences are to be
served concurrently. He is currently incarcerated at Hardee
Correctional Institution.
Trial Summary:
03/25/93 Indicted as follows:
Count I: Premeditated
First-Degree Murder (Michael Lynn)
Count II: Premeditated
First-Degree Murder (Freddy)
Count III: First-Degree
Attempted Murder (Latasha)
Count IV: First-Degree
Attempted Murder (Lafayette)
Count V: Burglary with a
Firearm
Count VI: Robbery with a
Firearm
12/20/96
Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment
03/05/97
Jury recommended death by a vote of 7-5
10/15/98 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: Premeditated First-Degree Murder (Michael Lynn) – Death
Count II: Premeditated
First-Degree Murder (Freddy) – Death
Count III: First-Degree
Attempted Murder (Latasha) – Life
Count IV: First-Degree
Attempted Murder (Lafayette) – Life
Count V: Burglary with a
Firearm – Life
Count VI: Robbery with a
Firearm – Life
Case Information:
On
11/08/98, Pagan filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
Pagan claimed that the trial court erred in allowing certain evidence
to be entered, including pictures of the victims and expert testimony.
Pagan argued that the Williams Rule of Evidence, which says evidence
admitted to trial must be similar and relevant to the crimes being
tried, was violated. The State introduced information about the
previous burglary as an explanation and motive for the second break-in
and subsequent murders.
The Court found that the evidence was relevant
to the murder trials. Pagan also contended that the trial court should
have granted his Motion to Suppress Evidence that was recovered during
an illegal search of his residence. He claimed that the search warrant
was issued on false information and that the police surpassed the scope
of the warrant. Among the other claims, Pagan contended that the trial
court erred in not considering or granting various motions, which were
based on numerous violations, for a new trial.
The Court found no merit
to any of his claims and affirmed his convictions and sentences on
04/04/02. Subsequently, his rehearing was denied in light of revised
opinion and the mandate was issued on 11/07/02.
On
03/10/03, Pagan filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United
States Supreme Court, which was denied on 06/09/03.
On
05/07/04, Pagan filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, which was
denied on 02/07/06.
On
02/27/06, Pagan filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which
is also pending.
FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us
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