The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly. This information; however, is subject to change and may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon for statistical or legal purposes.
GILL, RICARDO (W/M)
DC# 105559
DOB: 07/02/69
Eighth Judicial Circuit, Union County Case #02-00028
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Robert P. Cates
Attorney, Trial: Pro Se
Attorney, Direct Appeal: W.C. Mclain – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Todd Doss – Registry
Date of Offense: 07/24/01
Date of Sentence: 06/30/06
Circumstances of Offense:
Ricardo Gill was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Orlando Rosello.
On July 20, 2001, Gill was sentenced to life in prison for the unrelated murder of Beverly Moore. He was then incarcerated in the Department of Corrections Reception and Medical Center in Union County, Florida. During the trial for the Moore murder, Gill informed the judge that, if he did not receive a death sentence, he would kill someone else in order to receive the death penalty.
On the morning of July 21, 2001, inmate Orlando Rosello was moved into Gill’s cell. The following day Gill wrote three letters describing the murder he planned on committing. One was addressed to the prison security supervisor, one to the Gainesville Sun newspaper, and one to the trial judge in the Moore murder case.
At approximately 5:00 A.M. on July 24, 2001, Gill woke up and decided to kill Rosello. He used a piece of torn sheet to strangle Rosello to death. He then flushed the piece of torn bed sheet down the toilet. When a corrections officer came into the cell and discovered Rosello’s body, Gill said, “Yeah…I strangled him.”
The medical examiner concluded that Rosello died as a result of ligature strangulation. Rosello’s body also exhibited head abrasions, a right periorbital hematoma, and acute pulmonary congestion and edema.
Additional Information:
Gill has been diagnosed with a brain lesion known as an arteriovenous malformation, which is an overgrowth of veins and arteries in the brain.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
|
Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Prison Sentence Length |
|
07/27/86 |
Burglary with assault |
12/19/1986 |
Orange |
8605568 |
7 years |
|
07/20/86 |
Burglary |
12/19/1986 |
Orange |
8605598 |
5 years |
|
07/24/86 |
Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle |
12/19/1986 |
Orange |
8606011 |
5 years |
|
07/24/86 |
Armed Robbery |
12/19/1986 |
Orange |
8606240 |
7 years |
|
07/24/86 |
Burglary with assault |
12/19/1986 |
Orange |
8606240 |
7 years |
|
10/28/87 |
Arson |
1/25/1988 |
Sumter |
8700585 |
5 years |
|
06/22/99 |
First-Degree Murder |
07/20/01 |
Alachua |
9902277 |
Life |
|
11/25/99 |
Battery |
07/20/01 |
Alachua |
9904240 |
5 years |
|
11/25/99 |
Battery |
07/20/01 |
Alachua |
9904240 |
5 years |
|
07/04/00 |
Battery |
07/20/01 |
Alachua |
2185 |
5 years |
|
02/04/99 |
Attempted Murder |
05/23/05 |
Gilchrist |
7 |
30 years |
Trial Summary:
02/06/02 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder
07/08/05 The defendant pled guilty to the charge
06/30/06 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 06-1572
08/07/06 Appeal filed
07/09/09 Appeal denied
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 02-00028
(Pending)
10/04/10 Motion filed
02/24/11 Motion dismissed
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:
This case was pending in the trial court for three years prior to Gill’s guilty plea. The delay was due to Gill making numerous motions to remove his various attorneys. Gill’s mental health was also an issue, resulting in numerous mental health evaluations and competency hearings prior to sentencing. The direct appeal was also pending in the Florida Supreme Court for nearly three years.
Case Information:
On 08/07/06, Gill filed a direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court citing the following issues: the disproportionate nature of the death sentence; the inappropriate application of the cold, calculated, and premeditated aggravating factor; and, the unconstitutional nature of Florida’s death-sentencing procedures. The appeal was denied on 07/09/09.
On 10/04/10, Gill filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court. That motion was dismissed on 02/24/11.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 07/10/09 KLH
Approved: 07/10/09 RM
Updated: 04/13/11 JJK