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.
SHERE, Richard E. (W/M)
DC # 116320
DOB: 07/07/66
Fifth Judicial Circuit, Hernando County, Case #88-028-CF
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Raymond T. McNeal
Attorney, Trial: Jennie Toner – Assistant Public Defender
Attorneys, Direct Appeal: Edward L. Scott and Don Gleason – Specially Appointed Public Defenders
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Pro Se; Frank Bankowitz (standby counsel) -- Registry
Date of Offense: 12/25/87
Date of Sentence: 04/17/89
Circumstances of Offense:
Richard Shere was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Drew Snyder.
Drew Snyder, the victim, was reported missing in December of 1987. The investigation into Snyder’s disappearance led police to speak with Richard Shere on 01/13/88. Shere was a friend of Snyder. Shere waived his Miranda rights, spoke with the police about the murder, and took them to several locations where portions of Drew Snyder’s murder occurred.
According to Shere, Bruce Demo, the codefendant and a friend of both Shere and Snyder, called Shere on 12/24/87, the night before the murder. Demo said that Snyder had “ratted” on illegal activities committed by both Demo and Shere. Demo threatened to kill Shere if he did not help him kill Snyder. Demo and Shere went to Snyder’s home early on the morning of 12/25/87 and convinced Snyder to go hunting with them. Shere said that he left his .22-caliber rifle on the roof of the car when he went to relieve himself. He claimed that Demo took the rifle and shot Snyder, who was still in the car, several times. Shere stated that he wanted to take Snyder to the hospital, but Demo pulled out his own pistol and shot Snyder in the head and chest.
Bruce Demo provided a different testimony about the murder. Demo said that he was the one who went to relieve himself and heard shots. He said that Shere was the one who delivered the first couple of shots. According to Demo, Shere then pointed the firearm at him and ordered him to shoot Snyder. Demo then shot Snyder in the head and chest.
Demo and Shere put Snyder’s body in the trunk and drove a short distance. Demo made Shere dig the hole and bury Snyder’s body because, according to Demo, he was too upset by the events that had transpired. Demo suggested that Shere take a few of Snyder’s belonging and dump them in Clearwater to make it look like Snyder had left town in a hurry, which Shere did with the help of his girlfriend, Heidi Greulich.
Shere also traded the firearm, which the police recovered later and determined that the gun was the same one used to kill Snyder. The police were able to determine that shots had been fired in Shere’s automobile and that there was human blood on a pair of Shere’s boots. Snyder was shot a total of ten times. Shots were fired into his head, chest, back, buttocks, an arm, and one leg. The two shots to the head were determined to be from a pistol and one shot to the leg was from a rifle.
Heidi Greulich, who married Shere after the murder, testified to seeing blood on Shere’s clothing and in his car the day of the murder. She also testified that Shere told her that he killed Snyder alone. According to Shere, if Demo found out that Greulich knew Demo was involved in the murder, then she would have been in danger from Demo.
Ray Pruden, a friend of Shere, testified that Shere told him that he killed Snyder while they were hunting. Shere did not indicate to Pruden whether Demo was involved in the murder.
Codefendant Information:
Bruce Demo (Hernando County Circuit Court #89-0021, #89-0512)
Bruce Demo was convicted and sentenced on 05/04/89. He received a life sentence for the Second Degree Murder of Drew Snyder (#89-0021). On 09/01/89, he received two three-and-a-half year sentences for Possession of Firearm by a Felon and Carrying a Concealed Firearm (#89-0512).
Trial Summary:
02/02/88 Indicted on the following charge:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Drew Snyder)
04/21/89 Adjudicated guilty for Count I of the indictment.
04/26/89 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 7 to 5 majority, voted for the death penalty.
04/17/89 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Drew Snyder) – Death
Appeals Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 74,352
579 So. 2d 86 (Fla. 1991)
06/12/89 Appeal filed.
04/04/91 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence.
06/04/91 Rehearing denied.
07/11/91 Mandate issued.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 88-028-CF
02/02/93 Motion filed.
08/18/97 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 91,614
742 So. 2d 215 (Fla. 1999)
10/16/97 Appeal filed.
06/24/99 FSC denied the Appeal.
08/24/99 Rehearing denied.
09/23/99 Mandate issued.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 88-028-CF
04/15/98 Motion filed.
05/07/98 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC# 00-1960
830 So. 2d 56 (Fla. 2002)
09/25/00 Petition filed.
09/12/02 Petition denied.
10/28/02 Rehearing denied.
United States District Court, Middle District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 00-cv-01996
2007 WL 2021950
09/26/00 Petition filed.
10/20/00 Administratively closed.
06/07/05 Reopened.
09/29/05 Amended petition filed.
07/11/07 Petition denied.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 88-028-CF
02/25/03 Motion filed.
10/20/03 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 03-1969
903 So.2d 936 (2005)
11/12/03 Appeal filed.
04/01/05 FSC affirmed the denial of Shere’s 3.850 Motion.
United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Habeas Petition Appeal
USCA# 07-13768
01/23/08 Appeal filed.
08/07/08 Judgment affirmed.
09/16/08 Mandate entered.
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 88-0028-CF
12/04/07 Motion filed
03/25/08 Amended Motion filed.
07/01/08 Order filed to hold case in abeyance pending disposition of USCA Case# 07-13768.
05/04/10 Faretta Hearing held; Pro se motion granted; Frank Bankowitz appointed as standby counsel.
03/28/11 Amended motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal
FSC# 11-809
(Pending)
04/27/11 Appeal filed
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:
The first 3.850 Motion was pending for four years prior to being denied.
Case Information:
Richard Shere filed his Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 06/12/89. He raised several issues on Direct Appeal. These issues included that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial, denying his motion to suppress statements that he made to detectives, calling Greulich to testify, and denying post-trial motions for a jury interview. The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warranted reversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentence on 04/04/91. Rehearing was denied on 06/04/91. A Mandate was issued on 07/11/91.
Shere filed a 3.850 Motion in the Hernando County Circuit Court on 02/02/93. This Motion was denied on 08/18/97.
Shere filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 10/16/97. The Florida Supreme Court denied the appeal on 06/24/99. Rehearing was denied on 08/24/99. A Mandate was issued on 09/23/99.
Shere filed a 3.850 Motion in the Hernando County Circuit Court on 04/15/98. This motion was denied on 05/07/98.
Shere filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida State Supreme Court on 09/25/00. Shere claimed that counsel was ineffective because counsel did not certain issues on appeal. Shere also argued that he is incompetent, thus executing him would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The Florida Supreme Court denied the petition on 09/12/02. Rehearing was denied on 10/28/02.
On 09/26/00, Shere filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court, Middle District. The petition was denied on 07/11/07.
Shere filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 02/25/03. The motion was denied on 10/20/03.
Shere filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 11/12/03. On 04/01/05, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Shere’s 3.850 Motion.
On 01/23/08, Shere filed a Habeas Appeal in the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. On 08/07/08, the USCA affirmed the judgment of the lower court and on 09/16/08, entered a mandate of their decision.
Shere filed a 3.851 Motion in the Circuit Court on 12/04/07. On 03/25/08, Shere filed an amended pro se motion. On 07/01/08, an order was entered holding this motion in abeyance until the USCA reaches a decision in case# 07-13768. A Faretta Hearing was held on 05/04/10, where a pro se motion was granted, and Frank Bankowitz was appointed was standby counsel. The amended motion was denied on 03/28/11.
On 04/27/11, Shere filed a 3.851 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. This case is currently pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
01/27/92 30 POSS OF UNAUTH BEV. FSP
09/06/94 0 POSS OF UNAUTH BEV. UNION C. I.
03/01/95 0 UNAUTH USE OF DRUGS UNION C. I.
12/10/00 360 POSS OF ESCAPE PARA. UNION C. I.
04/09/04 90 ATTEMPT TO CONSPIRE UNION C. I.
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Report Date: 02/06/02 S.Q.
Approved: 07/01/02 W.S.
Updated: 05/09/11 EMJ