Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A convicted child rapist and murderer is appealing his death sentence in Florida arguing that the prosecutor violated the so-called Golden Rule by asking the jury to imagine his victims suffering. 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During jury selection two weeks ago, the woman who wept told the court she works as a kindergarten teachers aid. Prosecutors believe it was Felecia calling for help. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. Wiley was witness in Ritchie's trial, and was charged with lying during a missing person investigation. As the states case continued, the jury was presented with photos showing Felecias injuries as they were during the first phase of the trial. Granville Ritchie, right, sits with defense attorneys during his trial Monday at the Hillsborough County Courthouse. 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. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Instead, it becomes a first step of a never-ending nightmare you never wake from. Open in Our App By Fallon Silcox Hillsborough County. . And Granville Ritchie knew better.. Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. Testimony is expected to continue Friday. Some days I dont know if Im coming or going.. In September 2019, all 12 jurors agreed Ritchie, who grew up in Jamaica,should face the death penalty. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. He then is believed to have hid her body in a suitcase, which he dumped into Tampa Bay. When the rest of the jurors were brought in, Sisco told them that, as human beings, it is normal to feel emotional in cases of such magnitude. Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Authorities say the victim was in the care ofEboni Wiley, a family friend. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. [. Fridays sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-olds mother. I do still see the humanity in you,"Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. That is true. #GranvilleRitchie GUILTY on all counts 1st degree murder, Rape & Sexual Battery and Aggravated Child Abuse. L'anne suivante, soutenant financirement le couturier depuis ses dbuts, Marcel Boussac [n 1] fonde la Socit Christian Dior parfums, SARL nomme alors plus communment Dior Parfums [n 2].Serge Heftler-Louiche, ami du couturier et natif . According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said that Ritchie raped and strangled the young girl before stuffing her body into a suitcase. Wiley was a witness at Ritchies trial and was accused of lying during the missing person investigation. Android Users,Click Here To Download The Free Press AppAnd Never Miss A Story. I feel like death is appropriate. On the day of the murder, Felecia left home with Wiley and went to Ritchie's mother's apartment at the Doral Oaks Apartment complex. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A PEDO was given the death penalty for raping and strangling a nine-year-old girl and hiding her body in suitcase. 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Mother works to preserve memory of daughter who was slain at age 9. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Crime Library | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Hyman Eisenstein, a psychologist who spent 32 hours examining Ritchie in jail, testified for the defense. "Important to be was the fact that there was a pattern, where it wasn't a typical neck strangulation, where you got a lot of injury to all of the muscles up here in the neck," explained Dr. William Anderson, a pathologist. Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death Florida Death Row Inmate List Follow Us OnFacebook HereOrTwitter Here. By ", Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. 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. The sentencing hearing began Thursday and continued Friday. Ritchie did poorly in school, repeating 9th grade before dropping out in 10th, jurors were told. In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. He grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, plagued with crime and violence, and endured beatings from a father who had 18 children by several different mothers. Felecias death has affected my life, Felecia Demerson said on the stand, according to BayNews9. Wiley is charged in an ongoing case with allegedly providing false information to law enforcement. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Copyright 2022The Free Press, LLC,tampafp.com. I dont know what your spiritual leanings arehowever, if you do everpray to a higher power, either now or at some point, and you truly seek forgivenessI hope that it is granted. James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. Authorities said she originally lied to them during the investigation into Williams disappearance. I know you're a woman of deep faith. Ritchie instructed Wiley, who was baby sitting Felecia, to leave the home to buy marijuana. Granville Ritchie, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, rape and sexual battery, and aggravated child abuse. She will have her own trial next month, The Associated Press reported. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 'He wrote out this argument, he gave it to colleagues, I guarantee you, and tested it. All I know is he needs to be like her. The duo were watching the girl one day, and Ritchie took Felecia to his mother's apartment, the Associated Press reported. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. Demerson showed poise on the witness stand, her voice never breaking as she talked about Felecias birth, how she liked to feed ducks in the neighborhood pond, and how she sang in her church youth choir. 3 Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl Credit: Hillsborough County Jai 3 Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014 Credit: Facebook Still, she said, she can put her feelings aside and continue hearing the case. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. She met Ritchie in May of that year and the two began dating. A key part of the Supreme Court opinion involved whether Ritchie should receive a new sentencing hearing because of improper comments made by a prosecutor during the case. STATE OF FLORIDA V. GRANVILLE RITCHIE WWW.CQINVESTIGATIONS.COM The body of Felecia Williams was found off the Courtney Campbell Causeway five . Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found. Ritchie has difficulty completing complicated tasks, the result of head trauma he suffered during incidents including car accidents, Eisenstein said. TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A jury of his peers has found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Published: 4:25 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Updated: 8:35 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Almost two weeks after his trial began, Granville Ritchie has been found guilty of the sexual battery and. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. It is unreasonable to think, in light of the facts of this case, that any juror would be able to avoid all signs of emotion, Sisco said. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesn't. Last y. Public housing tenants ask if old maps are accurate. 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. On the day of the murder, Felecia left home with Wiley and went to Ritchies mothers apartment in the Doral Oaks apartment complex. Ritchie was found guilty of killing. 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. During a hearing in Florida Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Jamie Grosshans closely scrutinized Harmon's remarks and signaled she was leaning towards the position of the defense. The jury voted unanimously to recommend a death sentence for the murder, and the trial court sentenced Ritchie to death. TAMPA, Fla. A year after his trial, Granville Ritchie has been sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Historique L'entreprise. In October 2020, she pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement and was later sentenced to 75 days in jail and five years of probation. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. Court is being held in Hillsborough County. Prosecutor Scott Harmonsaid in closing arguments on Wednesday that Ritchie was a master manipulator, who lied and used Wiley and his mother to cover up what really happened. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care. Ritchie may have suffered brain damage, Eisenstein said. Rick Buckwalter, the Florida appeals attorney, admitted it was a close call, but argued that Harmon did not cross the line. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. "I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they can't find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. "The only thing I regret today is I cannot ask for his fatethat would be for him to be hung. Ritchie was convicted in 2019 of first degree murder, s*xual assault and aggravated child abuse in connection with Felecias death. She left 9-yr-old Sugarplum with Ritchie. No one spoke on behalf of Ritchie during Friday's testimony. I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. "That would indicate to me that a force was applied across the upper chest. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. . 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. 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. Jurors had a lot of evidence to review in the trial, which has . Support journalism byclicking here to ourGiveSendGoor sign up for ourfree newsletter by clicking here. When Wiley returned almost an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money for her to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and that she had not returned. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. My heart breaks for you.". Im trying to figure out how thats not a violation of the Golden Rule, she said Grosshans, referring to the prosecutors speech. It was the same jury who on Wednesday convicted him of killing the child in 2014. The girls body was found washed up on a shoreline a day after she had been left alone with Ritchie. TAMPA, Fla. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year . This was deliberate.'. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years,' she told the court. The juror, a woman, wept as Felecia Demerson read a statement from the witness stand about her daughter and the devastating effects of her death. I wish you all of the best.. Wiley went to buy marijuana and Ritchie then strangled and assaulted the nine-year-old, prosecutors claimed. Ritchie was convicted of the first-degree murder of nine-year-old F.W., who was strangled to death in 2014. Im on seven different types of medication trying to cope with this new normal called life. Convicted child killer, rapist wants off death row. Bailiffs led the jury out of the courtroom. VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. 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. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. To her family, Felecia was known as Sugar Plum. She loved animals and her family. She quoted a Bible verse, Matthew 18:6. A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care . Ritchie then s*xually assaulted and strangled the girl while Wiley was away, prosecutors said during his trial. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required. 11/4/21 Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments: Granville Ritchie v. State of Florida SC20-1422. 'May God have mercy on your soul.' On Friday morning, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville. My heart breaks for you. 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