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 on for statistical or legal purposes.
BANKS, Chadwick (B/M)
DC # 582127
DOB: 06/15/71
Second Judicial Circuit, Gadsden County, Case #92-841-CFA
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable William Gary
Trial Attorney: Stephen Seliger – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Teresa Sopp – Special Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Gary Printy (State) & Terri Backhus (Federal)
Dates of Offense: 09/24/92
Date of Sentence: 04/29/94
Circumstances of Offense:
Chadwick Banks, the defendant, was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Cassandra Banks, and the murder and sexual battery of his 10-year-old stepdaughter, Melody Cooper.
In the early morning hours of 09/24/92, Banks entered his wife’s trailer, proceeded to her bedroom and shot her execution style while she lay sleeping. Reports indicated that Mrs. Banks died without ever gaining consciousness.
The defendant then went to Cooper’s bedroom, brutally raped her for approximately 20 minutes, and then shot her in the head.
Additional Information:
Prior to the instant offense, Banks was charged with two violent felonies in which the adjudication of guilt was withheld. Upon the commission of these murders, however, Banks was adjudicated guilty on the two aggravated assault charges and was sentenced to five years on each charge.
Trial Summary:
09/28/92 Defendant arrested.
10/02/92 Defendant indicted on:
Count I: First-Degree Murder
Count II: First-Degree Murder
Count III: Sexual Battery/Victim Under 12
03/13/94 The defendant entered a plea of no contest on all counts.
03/14/94 The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.
03/18/94 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 9 to 3 majority, voted for
the death penalty for the murder of Melody Cooper.
04/29/94 The defendant was sentenced as followed:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Cassandra Banks) - Life
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Melody Cooper) - Death
Count III: Sexual Battery/Victim Under 12 – Life
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #83,774
700 So. 2d. 363
05/31/94 Appeal filed.
08/28/97 FSC affirmed the convictions and sentence of death.
10/14/97 Rehearing denied.
11/13/97 Mandate issued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #97-7522
523 U.S. 1026
01/12/98 Petition filed.
03/23/98 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #92-841
06/10/99 Motion filed.
04/30/01 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #01-1153
842 So.2d 788
05/22/01 Appeal filed.
03/20/03 3.850 denial affirmed.
04/21/03 Mandate issued.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC #SC02-63
842 So.2d 788
01/11/02 Petition filed.
03/20/03 Petition denied.
04/21/03 Mandate issued.
U.S. District Court, Northern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 03-328
12/01/04 Petition filed.
07/29/05 USDC dismissed petition.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence:
Banks’ Direct Appeal took over three years to complete.
Case Information:
Chadwick Banks filed his Direct Appeal, pertaining only to the penalty phase for the murder of Melody Cooper, in the Florida Supreme Court on 05/31/94. In addition to the issues raised in the appeal, Banks argued the following issues: the trial court erred in instructing the jury on the cold, calculated, and premeditated (CCP) factor when the state did not provide sufficient evidence for the claim; the court erred in its application of the heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC) aggravating factor; and the court doubled the aggravating factors, which could be consolidated into one. Banks also contended that the court did not adequately weigh the mitigating factors presented on his behalf. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence of death on 08/28/97. The mandate was issued on 11/13/97.
The defendant filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari on 01/12/98, which was denied on 03/23/98.
Next, Banks filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 06/10/99. The motion was denied on 04/30/01, and an appeal was filed on that motion in the Florida Supreme Court on 05/22/01. The 3.850 denial was affirmed on 03/20/03.
On 01/11/02, Banks filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court, which was denied on 03/20/03.
Banks filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the U.S. District Court, Northern District, on 12/01/04 that was dismissed on 07/29/05.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
07/28/97 0 UNARMED ASSAULT UNION C.I.
08/27/01 180 UNARMED ASSAULT UNION C. I.
09/19/01 30 POSS OF CONTRABAND UNION C. I.
07/22/02 30 FIGHTING UNION C. I.
07/26/04 0 POSS OF CONTRABAND UNION C. I.
________________________________________________________________________
10/29/01 – ew
11/07/01 – approved – ws
12/11/07 – updated – klh