granville ritchie 2014

During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecia's father stunned the courtroom by telling his daughter's killer that he forgave him. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years,' she told the court. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. Have a tip we should know? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The Golden Rule argument refers to an argument put forth by the prosecution in a jury trial, where jurors are persuaded to consider themselves in the place of the victim in reaching a verdict that they would prefer the defendant to get. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. On the night of her murder, Felecia was left alone with Ritchie at his Temple Terrace apartment by a woman who was supposed to be watching her. I said do what, you dont even know anybody around here, Kellisa Kelley said, according to BayNews9. He pointed as Wiley as a possible perpetrator of the murder. May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie., https://www.fox13news.com/news/granville-ritchie-sentenced-to-death-for-2014-rape-murder-of-9-year-old-felecia-williams, Your email address will not be published. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 'He wrote out this argument, he gave it to colleagues, I guarantee you, and tested it. On the night of her murder, Felecia, who was known to her family as Sugar Plum, was left alone with Ritchie at his Temple Terrace apartment by a woman who was supposed to be watching her. At the time, they said she was left alone with Ritchie after the woman who was babysitting her left to purchase drugs. Deshawn Thomas Executes Homeless Man In St Louis, Sheborah Thomas Gets 40 Years For Killing 2 Kids, NFL Zac Stacy Gets 6 Months For Brutal Assault, Brendan Depa Charged For Knocking Out Teachers Aide, Jack Colton Charged In Sexual Assault Of 12 Yr Old, Taylor Frankie Paul Charged With Domestic Violence, Steven Pfeil Teen Killer Murders 2 In Illinois, Antonio Barbeau and Nathan Paape Teen Killers, Dylan Schumaker Teen Killer Murders 23 Month Boy, Lacy Aaron Schmidt Teen Killer Murders Ex Girlfriend, Amber Wright Teen Killer Seath Jackson Murder, James Parker And Robert Tulloch Teen Killers, Bobby Gonzales Teen Killer Murders Girlfriends Mother. RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. The jury has to be unanimous on the death sentence. TAMPA, Fla. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year . Texas Special Education Teacher Admits Sexually Assaulting Student in Classroom Closet, West Virginia Teenager Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of 4 Family Members, Man Who Murdered Girlfriend, Her 2 Children Captured on Video Casually Saying, 'I Murdered 4 People', Md. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they cant find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. 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The court rejected a series of arguments raised by Granville Ritchie, who was convicted in the 2014 murder of the girl, identified in the court opinion by the initials F.W., Felecia Williams. Authorities say the victim was in the care ofEboni Wiley, a family friend. #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. Last y. Felecias death has affected my life, Felecia Demerson said on the stand, according to BayNews9. Rather, viewing the record in its totality, it was the evidence of Ritchies horrific and senseless crimes against the victim, not the prosecutors missteps, that secured the recommendation of death. Justice Ricky Polston agreed with the outcome of the majority opinion but did not sign onto it. In arguing for the death penalty, Tampa prosecutor Scott Harmon said to the jury, in part: 'Can you imagine the dread of knowing that your life is ending and you are feeling pain all over your body? She didnt deserve thatits hard for all of us to deal with it, you know, but we have to take it one day at a time.. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He pegged Ritchies IQ at 78, well below average. On Wednesday, the 12-member jury found the 40-year-old Ritchie guilty in the girls 2014 rape and murder. [emailprotected]. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. Jurors in Tampa murder trial confront ultimate question: Could they impose the death penalty? That is true. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. Letsgetstarted. That is true. Hyman Eisenstein, a psychologist who spent 32 hours examining Ritchie in jail, testified for the defense. During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecias father surprised the courtroom by telling the murderer of his daughter that he forgave him. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. Ritchie was found guilty of killing. They traveled to a home, where the defendant was alone with the victim starting at about 4:50 p.m. Investigators claim he committed the crime, stuffed the body in a suitcase, and dumped this by the Courtney Campbell Causeway. During Ritchies trial, the court heard from Felecias mother. In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This was deliberate. They spent the past two days in the penalty phase of the trial listening to witnesses and hearing arguments from the [. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchie's case this week. Android Users,Click Here To Download The Free Press AppAnd Never Miss A Story. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown off an overpass. . Ritchie then sexually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said during his trial. Roebuck, the appellants attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous in Harmons argument. He said she used ecstasy, and that she said it could feel like Satan was manipulating her while she was on it. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required to impose the death penalty. Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Ex-Cop Husband Over Allegations He Molested Children at Her Daycare, Pieper Lewis, Sex Trafficking Victim Who Killed Alleged Rapist, Escapes from Custody, Chinese-Canadian Singer Kris Wu Sentenced to 13 Years for Raping Multiple Women: Reports, Mel Gibson Can Testify in Support of Accuser at Harvey Weinstein Trial, Judge Rules, Jury Recommends Death for Fla. Man Who Killed 2 Boys with Hammer in 'Violent and Relentless Rage', Ohio Softball Coach Sexually Abused a Student, Then Begged Teen Not to Tell Authorities, Kansas Police Officer Allegedly Preyed on Black Women and Girls for Years: 'Terrorized a Community', R. Kelly Found Guilty on Six Counts in Child Pornography Trial, R.I. Man Accused of Sexually Abusing 12-Year-Old Girl, Then Offering Fellow Inmate $200 to Kill Her. ", PREVIOUS: Girlfriend testifies she does not believe Ritchie killed 9-year-old. During jury selection two weeks ago, the woman who wept told the court she works as a kindergarten teachers aid. Sisco addressed the grieving mother, telling her, "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. These cookies do not store any personal information. And Granville Ritchie knew better.. Buckwalter claimed that the prosecutor was simply describing Ritchies actions to jurors and made a brusque comment. 2023 FOX Television Stations. The duo were watching the girl one day, and Ritchie took Felecia to his mother's apartment, the Associated Press reported. Granville Ritchie, 35, of this suburb northeast of Tampa also was charged with capital sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in the death of Felecia Williams, police Chief Kenneth Albano. That argument is considered legally incorrect because jurors are expected to consider a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, rather than their personal feelings. I wish you all of the best.". According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said that Ritchie raped and strangled the young girl before stuffing her body into a suitcase. All I know is he needs to be like her. No one spoke on behalf of Ritchie during Fridays testimony. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. Support journalism byclicking here to ourGiveSendGoor sign up for ourfree newsletter by clicking here. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required. I feel like death is appropriate. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Ritchies attorney could not be reached for comment. All I know is he needs to be like her.. pic.twitter.com/uYMknpFSzI, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 16, 2019, #GranvilleRitchie Wiley said Ritchie told her to tell Felecias family that there was no male in the house, only females so she wouldnt seem like a bad person for leaving Felecia alone with a man. The woman, Eboni Wiley, testified even though she had only know Ritchie for a couple of days, she left Felecia with him to go buy some marijuana. Ritchie, now 43, is an inmate at Union Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website. Ritchie and Felecia did not know each other before they met on May 16, 2014, but they were both close with Eboni Wiley, who was the man's then-girlfriend and the girl's neighbor and family friend. Your email address will not be published. Public housing tenants ask if old maps are accurate. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. "The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fatethat would be for him to be hung. I think there is a good chance there was somebody pressing the arm down or kneeling on the patient for a period of time. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to the police and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. Some days, I dont know whether Im coming or going, she said. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in September 2019. . After Demerson left the courtroom, the juror leaned forward, shielding her face. That pain wouldve been greater for a little girl.'. The argument is considered improper and could be grounds for an appeal because the jurors have to consider a case in an objective manner and rely on evidence alone, instead of their feelings and biases. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie," Judge. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. Wiley has been charged with lying during a missing person investigation. The evidence in this case established that Ritchie committed a horrific murder, and I fully concur in the majoritys decision to affirm his conviction for first-degree murder, Labarga wrote. Reach a decision in Ritchie 's case this week alone with Ritchie after the woman who wept told court. Intriguing unsolved cases in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams they impose the death as... Receive the death penalty later that night, a family friend to function properly last y. Felecias death has my! And strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said that raped! In Harmons argument pegged Ritchies IQ at 78, well below average, well below.... 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