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.
PITTMAN, David (W/M)
DC# 351997
DOB: 12/10/61
Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Case# CF90-2242A1-XX
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Tim J. Strickland
Trial Attorney: Robert A. Norgard – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: A. Anne Owens – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Martin J. McClain – Registry
Date of Offense: 05/15/90
Date of Sentence: 04/25/91
Circumstances of the Offense:
David Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie Knowles.
Clarence and Barbara Knowles’ daughter, Marie, was married to Pittman. Marie initiated a divorce, which Pittman did not want. During the course of the divorce, Pittman had threatened to harm both Marie and her family.
In the early morning hours of 05/15/90, witnesses phoned the fire department to report that the residence of Clarence and Barbara Knowles, Marie’s parents, was on fire. It was discovered, after the investigation, that the perpetrator had cut the phone line and after setting the fire stole the car of Bonnie Knowles, the couple’s other daughter.
The bodies of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie were found in the home. The cause of death for all three was attributed to multiple stab wounds, which resulted in massive bleeding. Additionally, Bonnie Knowles’ throat had been slit.
Another witness testified that on the same morning of 05/15/90, he saw a car similar to Bonnie Knowles’ in a ditch on the side of the road close to the Knowles’ home. This witness saw a truck, determined to belong to Pittman, pull beside the car. The witness later noticed the car on fire. Another witness saw a man running from the burning car, and later identified the man as Pittman in a photo line-up.
A jailhouse informant testified that Pittman confessed to the aforementioned crimes.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
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Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
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Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Prison Sentence Length |
|
|
|
08/31/1981 |
BURGUNOCCSTRUC/ CV OR ATT. |
01/14/1982 |
POLK |
|
4Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
08/25/1985 |
AGG ASSLT-W/ WPN NO INTENT TO K |
03/12/1986 |
POLK |
8503584 |
2Y 6M 0D |
|
|
|
11/06/1988 |
GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 |
04/07/1989 |
LEE |
8802430 |
4Y 6M 0D |
|
|
|
Prior Community Supervision History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of community supervision with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
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|
Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Community Supervision Length |
|
|
|
08/31/1981 |
BURGUNOCCSTRUC/ CV OR ATT. |
01/14/1982 |
POLK |
|
2Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
11/06/1988 |
GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 |
04/07/1989 |
LEE |
8802430 |
0Y 0M 90D |
|
|
Trial Summary:
07/12/90 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Clarence Knowles)
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Barbara Knowles)
Count III: First-Degree Murder (Bonnie Knowles)
Count IV: Arson
Count V: Burglary
Count VI: Grand Theft
Count VII: Arson
04/19/91 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment with the
exception of Count V
04/25/91 Jury recommended death by a vote of 9-3
04/25/91 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count IV: Arson – 15 years
Count VI: Grand Theft – 5 years
Count VII: Arson – 15 years
FSC# 78,605
646 So. 2d 167 (Fla. 1994)
09/16/91 Appeal filed
09/29/94 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence
12/19/94 Rehearing denied
01/23/95 Mandate issued
USSC# 94-8589
514 U.S 1119; 115 S. Ct. 1982; 131 L. Ed. 2d 870 (US 1995)
03/20/95 Petition filed
05/15/95 Petition denied
CC# CF90-2242A1-XX
03/24/97 Motion filed
11/02/01 Amended motion filed
09/15/05 Second Amended Motion filed
05/08/06 Evidentiary hearing held
03/08/07 Amended to 09/15/05 Motion
06/01/07 Second Amendment to Second Amended Motion filed
07/27/07 Evidentiary hearing held
11/05/07 Motion denied.
11/27/07 Motion for Rehearing filed.
12/17/07 Motion for Rehearing denied.
FSC# 08-146
(Pending)
02/04/08 Appeal filed.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence:
Pittman filed a 3.850 Motion on 03/24/97, which was dismissed one month later. He then filed an interlocutory appeal on 06/01/99, which was denied on 11/02/01. Also on 11/02/01, Pittman filed an amended 3.850 Motion. On 09/15/05, Pittman filed a second amended motion (under a new presiding Judge Kornstein), which has since been pending while public records requests are handled.
On 09/16/91, Pittman filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. In his appeal, he contended that the court incorrectly admitted evidence of his past crimes. Pittman also claimed that the trial court admitted identification testimony that was manipulated by suggestive procedures. Some of Pittman’s other claims included hearsay evidence of someone else’s involvement in the murder was not admitted and the judge rendered an insufficient sentencing order, which imposed three death sentences. The Court found no merit in any of Pittman’s claims and affirmed his convictions and sentences on 09/29/94.
On 03/20/95, Pittman filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was subsequently denied on 05/15/95.
On 03/24/97, Pittman filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court. The motion was dismissed on 04/24/97. Subsequently, he filed an amended 3.850 Motion on 11/02/01. On 09/15/05, Pittman filed a second amended 3.850 Motion. On 05/08/06, the evidentiary hearing was held. The second motion was amended on 03/08/07, which is currently pending. On 06/01/07, a second amendment to the second motion was filed, which is currently pending. An evidentiary hearing was held on 07/27/07. The order denying Pittman’s Second amended motion was entered on 11/05/07. Pittman filed a Motion for Rehearing on 11/27/07, which was denied 12/17/07.
On 02/04/08, Pittman filed a 3.851 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. This appeal is currently pending.
On 12/29/08, Pittman filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus. This petition is currently pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
12/12/93 0 POSS OF CONTRABAND UNION C. I.
06/17/98 180 REF. SUB. ABUSE TEST UNION C. I.
11/29/98 0 DISOBEYING ORDER UNION C. I.
Report Date: 07/14/03 EMC
Approved: 09/02/03 WS
Updated: 12/31/09 CAR