The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly. This information, however, is subject to change and may not represent the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied on for statistical or legal purposes.
ANDERSON, Richard (W/M)
DC # 042115
DOB: 04/29/48
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Case #87-8047
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable M. Wm. Graybill
Trial Attorneys: William Fuente & Mark Ober – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Paul Helm – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeal: Peter J. Cannon, Robert Strain, & Carol Rodriguez – CCRC-M
Date of Offense: 05/07/87
Date of Sentence: 02/26/88
Circumstances of Offense:
Richard Anderson, the defendant, was convicted and sentenced to death for the May 7, 1987, murder of Robert Grantham.
Robert Grantham reportedly offered Connie Beasley, the defendant’s girlfriend, a large sum of money in exchange for sexual favors. Beasley rejected the proposal and told Anderson of Grantham’s offer. Anderson believed Grantham was a rich man and knew he would be returning home from a gambling trip to Las Vegas with his winnings. Anderson instructed Beasley to agree to spend one night with Grantham for $10,000. Beasley was told to get Grantham intoxicated, and Anderson would then rob him.
On May 7, 1987, after dinner and drinks, Beasley brought Grantham back to Anderson’s apartment. Anderson arrived at the apartment later in the evening under the pretense of returning Beasley’s car and then needing a ride home. Grantham agreed to drive him, but Anderson insisted that Beasley accompany them. While in the car, Anderson shot Grantham four times in the head from the back seat, and then proceeded to dump his body in a wooded area. Connie Beasley was sitting on the front passenger side when Grantham was shot. Anderson abandoned Grantham’s car at the Tampa Airport and returned with Beasley to his apartment. After rummaging through Grantham’s belongings, Anderson and Beasley only found $2,600.
Additional Information:
Richard Anderson was convicted and sentenced to 20 years for First Degree Premeditated or Attempted Murder in Pinellas County on 05/29/74. Anderson was an accomplice in this crime.
Codefendant Information:
Connie Beasley was convicted of Third-Degree Murder, and sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
Trial Summary:
07/15/87 Defendant indicted for First-Degree Murder
02/17/88 The jury found the Defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
02/18/88 Upon advisory sentencing, the trial jury, by an 11 to 1 majority, voted for
the death penalty.
02/26/88 The Defendant was sentenced to death for First-Degree Murder.
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #72,127
574 So. 2d 87
03/21/88 Appeal filed.
01/03/91 FSC affirmed conviction and sentence of death.
02/27/91 Rehearing denied.
04/01/91 Mandate issued.
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #90-8143
502 U.S. 834
05/28/91 Petition filed.
10/07/91 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #87-8047
10/12/92 Motion filed.
10/14/92 Motion dismissed.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #80,844
627 So. 2d 1170
12/04/92 Appeal filed.
10/28/93 Appeal remanded back to the State Circuit Court to pursue Anderson’s
request for public records.
12/28/93 Rehearing denied.
12/28/93 Mandate issued.
State Circuit Court - 3.850 Motion (On remand from FSC)
CC #87-8047
02/28/94 Amended motion filed.
05/27/97 Second amended motion filed.
11/19/99 Third amended motion filed.
08/25/00 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #01-24
822 So. 2d 1261
01/04/01 Appeal filed.
06/13/02 Denial affirmed.
07/15/02 Mandate issued.
U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC #03-1485
07/14/03 Petition filed.
12/05/05 Petition denied.
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal
USCA# 06-10122
462 F. 3d 1319
12/30/05 Certificate of Appealability (COA) filed.
08/31/06 USCA denied COA.
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 06-7985
127 S. Ct. 1269
11/22/06 Petition filed.
02/20/07 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court- 3.850 Motion
CC# 87-8047
07/13/07 Motion filed.
01/10/08 Motion amended.
06/08/09 Motion denied.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence:
Anderson’s Direct Appeal was pending over three years and his initial 3.850 Motion was amended three times, and was pending from 10/12/92 – 08/25/00.
Case Information:
Anderson filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 03/21/88. Anderson’s appeal claimed the court erred when it neglected to dismiss his indictment that was based on the perjured grand jury testimony of Connie Beasley. Anderson also contended that the court erred when it allowed testimony that violated the hearsay rule. All of the claims that Anderson entered were rejected. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death on 01/03/91.
A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed on 05/28/91 in the United States Supreme Court and was denied on 10/07/91.
On 10/12/92, Anderson filed 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court, which was dismissed on 10/14/92.
Anderson filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 12/04/92. On 10/28/93, the appeal was remanded to the Circuit Court to pursue Anderson’s request for public records.
Anderson filed an amended 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court on 02/28/94. The motion was amended a second time on 05/27/97, and again a third time on 11/19/99. The motion was denied on 08/25/00.
On 01/04/01, Anderson filed an appeal of the denial in the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Anderson’s 3.850 Motion on 06/13/02.
On 07/14/03, Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United States District Court that was denied on 12/05/05.
Anderson filed a Certificate of Appealability in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, on 12/30/05 that was denied on 08/31/06.
Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court on 11/22/06 that was denied on 02/20/07.
On 07/17/07, Anderson filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court. This motion was denied on 06/08/09.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
08/14/90 45 UNARMED ASSAULT FSP
12/13/97 0 DISOBEY REGULATIONS UNION C.I.
03/09/06 180 REF. SUB. ABUSE TEST UNION C.I.
________________________________________________________________________
10/16/01 – ew
10/25/01 – approved – ws
06/23/09 – updated – klh