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.
MCKENZIE, Norman Blake (W/M)
DOB: 07/08/1964
7th Judicial Circuit, St. Johns County Case# 06-01864-CF
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Wendy W. Berger
Attorney, Trial: Val Quetti – Public Defender’s Office
Attorney, Direct Appeal: James S. Purdy & Christopher S. Quarles – Public Defender’s Office
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:
Date of Offense: 10/04/06
Date of Sentence: 10/19/07
Circumstances of Offense:
On 10/05/06, Randy Peacock, a respiratory therapist at the Flagler Hospital, did not show up for work. Two of his coworkers became concerned, so they drove to Peacock’s home to check on him. They noticed that Peacock’s green convertible was not present when they arrived at the house. Upon entering the kitchen, they found Peacock dead, lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood.
The St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office was subsequently called. When they arrived, they found the body of Charles Johnston, who also lived with Peacock, in a shed on the property. While looking for evidence relating to Peacock’s and Johnston’s deaths, the deputies found a hatchet with blood on its blade and handle in the shed and a butcher knife in the sink. A gold sport utility vehicle (SUV) registered to Norman Blake McKenzie was found in the driveway.
A neighbor of Peacock and Johnston reported that on 10/04/06 he went to the victims’ house to help Johnston with car repairs. Johnston was not there, but Peacock was. The neighbor noted that, sometime between 4:30 and 7:00 p.m., Peacock was speaking with a man who was later identified by the neighbor in a photo lineup to be McKenzie. He said the gold SUV was also in the driveway while Peacock and McKenzie were speaking.
Later, McKenzie revealed to a sheriff’s deputy from Citrus County that he had Peacock’s wallet in his pocket. Charles Johnston’s wallet was found in a vehicle that McKenzie had recently used. McKenzie then agreed to speak with deputies from the St. John’s County Sheriff’s office on two occasions and confessed to the murders of Peacock and Johnson.
McKenzie stated that, due to his drug addiction, on 10/04/06, he went to the victims’ house to borrow money from Johnston. When he arrived, Johnston was not there, but Peacock and the neighbor were. Johnston arrived at dusk. The neighbor spoke with Johnston briefly and left. McKenzie asked Johnston for a hammer and a piece of wood to knock some “dings” out of the door of his SUV. Johnston could not find a hammer, but he provided McKenzie with a hatchet instead. While walking with Johnston to the shed to get a piece of wood, McKenzie struck Johnston twice in the head with the blade side of the hatchet. McKenzie went back to the house where Peacock was cooking and hit him two times in the head with the hammer side of the hatchet.
McKenzie went back the shed and found Johnston still alive. He struck Johnston one or more times with the hatchet again. McKenzie took Johnston’s wallet and left the hatchet on top of a bucket inside the shed. When he returned to the house, Peacock was attempting to stand up. McKenzie then stabbed Peacock with a knife multiple times, put the knife in the sink, took Peacock’s wallet and car keys, and left the scene in Peacock’s car.
Additional Information:
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
|
Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
|||||||
|
Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Prison Sentence Length |
||
|
04/15/1983 |
GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 |
11/08/1984 |
BROWARD |
8305465 |
7Y 0M 0D |
||
|
04/07/1984 |
BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT. |
11/08/1984 |
BROWARD |
8405520 |
5Y 0M 0D |
||
|
02/22/1984 |
KIDNAP;COMM.OR FAC.FELONY |
11/08/1984 |
BROWARD |
8403709 |
7Y 0M 0D |
||
|
02/23/1984 |
ROBB. GUN/DEADLY WPN |
11/08/1984 |
BROWARD |
8403709 |
7Y 0M 0D |
||
|
02/23/1984 |
BURGLARY,ARMED W/EXP. OR WEAPO |
11/08/1984 |
BROWARD |
8403709 |
7Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/15/1990 |
BURGLARY,ARMED W/EXP. OR WEAPO |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9017445 |
15Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/15/1990 |
TRAFFIC IN STOLEN PROPERTY |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9017445 |
15Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/15/1990 |
GRAND THEFT FIREARM |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9017445 |
10Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/16/1990 |
BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9018646 |
15Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/16/1990 |
GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9018646 |
10Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/04/1990 |
ROBB. NO GUN/DDLY.WPN |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9019206 |
15Y 0M 0D |
||
|
08/04/1990 |
GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE |
05/28/1991 |
BROWARD |
9019206 |
10Y 0M 0D |
||
Trial Summary:
10/17/06 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock)
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Charles Johnston)
08/21/07 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment
08/23/07 Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2
10/19/07 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock) – Death
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Charles Johnston) – Death
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 07-2101
29 So.3d 272
11/05/07 Appeal filed
06/03/09 Oral Arguments held
01/07/10 FSC affirmed conviction and sentence
03/03/10 Mandate issued
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 09-10878
131 S.Ct. 116
05/14/10 Petition filed
10/04/10 Petition denied
Case Information:
On 11/05/07, McKenzie filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, citing the following issues: There was not sufficient evidence for the conviction; the trial court did not show judicial neutrality; The trial court restricted access to standby counsel; The trial court erred in drafting one sentencing order to address both murders; The death sentence is disproportionate to the nature of the crime; The death penalty is unconstitutional. Oral Arguments were held on 06/03/09, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed McKenzie’s conviction and sentence on 01/07/10. A mandate was issued on 03/03/10.
McKenzie filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on 05/14/10. This petition was denied on 10/04/10.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 01/20/10 EMJ
Approved: 01/26/10 RM
Updated: 02/07/11 EMJ