The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly

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.

DEPARVINE, WILLIAM (W/M)

DC# 256512

DOB: 04/21/52

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County Case #04-00774

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable J. Rogers Padgett

Attorney, Trial: John J. Skye – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Steven L. Bolotin – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Robert T. Strain – CCRC-M

Date of Offense: 11/25/03

Date of Sentence: 01/09/06

Circumstances of Offense:

The bodies of Richard and Karla Van Dusen were found on a dirt road in Hillsborough County on the morning of November 26, 2003. They both died of gunshot wounds to the head. Karla was also stabbed twice in the chest. The couple’s Jeep Cherokee was discovered in a parking lot approximately one mile away. DNA tests confirmed that the blood found on the vehicle’s steering wheel matched that of William Deparvine.

In November of 2003, Richard Van Dusen began advertising his 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup truck for sale for $13,700. On November 25, 2003 Richard received a call on one of his cell phones at 5:45 p.m. near downtown St. Petersburg, where Deparvine resided. He then made two calls on his phone at 5:50 and 5:55 p.m. from downtown St. Petersburg.

Karla Van Dusen’s cell phone indicated that she began a call at 5:33 p.m. near Tierra Verde, and her next two calls used cell towers in downtown St. Petersburg. Karla’s last phone call also used a cell tower in Oldsmar. One of her phone calls during this time was to her mother, Billie Ferris. Ms. Ferris testified that, while speaking with her daughter, she heard a car engine and asked Karla if she was in a car. Karla responded that she was “following Rick and the guy that bought the truck. He knows where to get the paperwork done.” Karla informed her mother that the purchaser was going to pay with cash.

Chris Coviello, testified that he saw the Van Dusens leave their home on November 25, 2003 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Richard was driving the truck and Karla was following in the Jeep Cherokee. There were no other passengers in either vehicle.

The Chevrolet Cheyenne truck was found on November 27, 2003. It was parked outside of Deparvine’s apartment complex. Deparvine had in his possession a signed bill of sale indicating a purchase price of $6,500. Deparvine testified that he obtained the money to buy the truck by selling a Rolex watch that a terminally ill inmate gave to him while he was incarcerated. He said that he sold the watch for $7,000 in cash and stored the cash in his apartment. He said that the Van Dusens dropped off the truck at his apartment at approximately 5:30 p.m. on November 25, 2003. He said that another man in a red truck followed the Van Dusens and then gave Richard Van Dusen a ride afterward.

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Offense Date	Offense	Sentence Date	County	Case No.	Sentence Length
06/19/89	Arson	08/29/90	Pinellas	8909617	7 years
11/07/88	Uttering	08/29/90	Pinellas	8911023	5 years
12/15/89	Uttering	08/29/90	Pinellas	9000985	5 years
12/15/89	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9000985	7 years
10/07/88	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9009351	7 years
01/04/90	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9002446	5 years
01/04/90	Uttering	08/29/90	Pinellas	9002446	5 years
01/03/90	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9002799	5 years
01/03/90	Uttering	08/29/90	Pinellas	9002799	5 years
10/06/89	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9006150	5 years
12/01/88	Grand theft	08/29/90	Pinellas	9009425	7 years
12/01/88	Uttering	08/29/90	Pinellas	9009589	5 years
12/15/89	Grand theft	11/09/90	Hillsborough	9002775	2 years
12/15/89	Uttering	11/09/90	Hillsborough	9002775	2 years
09/14/91	Grand theft	12/11/91	Duval	9110970	4 years 6 months
07/14/93	Firearm possession by a felon	03/14/94	Pinellas	9310397	15 years
07/14/93	Carrying concealed weapon	03/14/94	Pinellas	9310397	10 years

Trial Summary:

01/28/04 Indicted as follows:

Count I: First-Degree Murder

Count II: First-Degree Murder

Count III: Kidnapping

Count IV: Kidnapping

Count V: Carjacking

08/03/05 The defendant was acquitted of the two kidnapping charges, and the jury returned

guilty verdicts on all other counts of the indictment

10/03/05 Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4

01/09/06 Sentenced as follows:

Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death

Count II: First-Degree Murder – Death

Count III: Kidnapping – Acquittal

Count IV: Kidnapping – Acquittal

Count V: Carjacking – Life

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC#06-155

995 So. 2d 351

01/23/06 Appeal filed.

09/29/08 Appeal denied.

12/04/08 Mandate issued.

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 04-774

02/05/10 Motion filed

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

There have been no major delays in the case at this time.

Case Information:

On 01/23/06, Deparvine filed a direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, raising the following issues: hearsay testimony, failure to prove premeditation or felony murder, jury instructions, insufficient evidence of carjacking, victim impact evidence, juror selection, unconstitutionality of Florida’s capital sentencing, and lack of specification of mitigating factors. On 09/29/08, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s conviction and sentence of death.

On 02/05/10, Deparvine filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court, which is pending.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date: 10/20/08 KLH

Approved: 10/21/08 KLH

Updated: 03/18/10 KKR