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. 

 

ELLEDGE, William D. (W/M)

DC#     046625

DOB:   06/27/50

 

Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County Case # 75-0087

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable M. Daniel Futch, Jr.

Attorney, Trial: Robert S. McCain – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeals:

(1977): Daniel T. O’Connell – Assistant Public Defender

            (1981): Craig S. Barnard, Jerry L. Schwarz, Richard B. Greene, Assistant Public

                        Defenders

            (1993): Eric M. Cumfer & Richard B. Greene – Assistant Public Defenders

            (1998): Richard B. Greene – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Hilliard Moldolf – Registry

 

Date of Offense:           08/24/74

Date of Sentence:         03/27/75

Dates of Resentence:    08/03/77, 08/28/89, 02/04/94

 

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

Elledge rented an efficiency apartment at the Normandy Hotel in Hollywood, Florida on 08/24/74.   On the afternoon of the 24th, Elledge visited a bar, where he met the victim, Margaret Strack.  After drinking and talking for about an hour, the two went to Elledge’s room at the Normandy Hotel, where they smoked marijuana. 

 

According to Elledge, Strack sexually teased him, but she refused to participate in sexual intercourse.  Elledge began to strangle Strack while having intercourse with her.  After fifteen minutes, Elledge realized that she was dead. 

 

Elledge dragged the body out of the room and threw it down the back porch stairs.  He then dragged the body to Strack’s car, drove it to a church parking lot, and dumped the nearly nude body in the parking lot. The body had a pair of panties around the ankles and had been bound around the ankles with an electric cord.

 

 

Additional Information:

 

Elledge is also serving two life sentences for the murders of Edward Gaffney in Broward County (Case# 74-3157) and Paul Nelson in Duval County (Case# 74-3811).  The Gaffney and Nelson murders were committed on the same weekend as the Strack murder. 
Trial Summary:

 

03/17/75          Pleaded guilty to charges of Rape and First-Degree Murder.

03/18/75          Jury recommended sentence of death by a vote of 11-1.

03/27/75          Sentenced to 50 years for Rape and death for First-Degree Murder.

08/03/77          Resentenced to death.  The jury recommended a death sentence by majority vote.  

08/28/89          Resentenced to death.  The jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 8-4. 

02/04/94          Resentenced to death.  The jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 9-3. 

 

 

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 48,081

346 So. 2d 998

 

04/21/75          Appeal filed

04/07/77          FSC upheld conviction, but vacated sentence

06/30/77          Rehearing denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (After Resentencing)

FSC# 52,272

408 So. 2d 1021

 

08/22/77          Appeal filed

10/22/81          FSC affirmed death sentence

02/24/82          Rehearing denied

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 81-6813

459 U.S. 981

 

05/25/82          Petition filed

11/01/82          USSC denied Petition

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 75-0087

 

03/09/83          Motion filed

03/10/83          Circuit Court denied Motion

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal & Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 63,388 & 63,344

432 So. 2d 35

 

03/03/83          Petitions filed

03/11/83          Appeal filed

04/14/83          FSC denied Petitions and affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion

06/22/83          Rehearing denied

 

U.S. District Court, Southern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 83-6176

 

03/09/83          Petition filed

09/05/85          USDC denied Petition

02/07/86          Rehearing denied

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 83-5463

464 U.S. 986

 

09/23/83          Petition filed

11/14/83          USSC denied Petition

 

U.S. Court of Appeal, 11th Circuit – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal

USCA# 86-5120

823 F. 2d 1439

 

03/06/86          Appeal filed

07/20/87          USCA vacated death sentence

11/10/87          Rehearing denied

04/21/88          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari (filed by State)

USSC# 87-1234

485 U.S. 1014

 

01/23/88          Petition filed

04/18/88          USSC denied Petition

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (After Resentencing)

FSC# 74,789

613 So. 2d 434

 

09/25/89          Appeal filed

01/14/93          FSC vacated death sentence

03/05/93          Rehearing denied

04/05/93          Mandate issued

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (After Resentencing)

FSC# 83,321

706 So. 2d 1340

 

03/09/94          Appeal filed

09/18/97          FSC affirmed sentence

03/05/98          Rehearing denied

04/06/98          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 98-5410

525 U.S. 944

 

07/23/98          Petition filed

10/13/98          USSC denied Petition

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 75-0087

 

09/23/99          Motion filed

03/27/00          Motion amended

06/01/01          Motion amended

04/03/03          Trial Court denied Motion

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal

FSC# 03-1201

911 So. 2d 57

 

07/07/03          Appeal filed

06/09/05          FSC affirmed denial of Motion

09/19/05          Mandate issued

 

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 04-998

911 So. 2d 57

 

06/10/04          Petition filed

06/09/05          FSC denied Petition

09/19/05          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 05-8002

126 S. Ct. 1173

 

11/28/05          Petition filed

01/23/06          USSC denied petition

 

U.S. District Court, Southern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 06-60592

(Pending)

 

04/28/06          Petition filed

 

 

Death Warrant Information:

 

02/15/83          Governor Graham signed death warrant

03/10/83          Stay of execution granted by USDC

 

 

Clemency Hearing:

 

01/25/83          Clemency hearing held (denied)

 

 

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

 

The delay in the imposition of sentence appears to result from the multiple resentencings of Elledge and the resulting necessary court time to resolve legal issues and have a new sentencing phase of the trial.  The most current delay arises from the 3.850 Motion that was pending from 09/23/99 – 04/03/03.

 

 

Case Information:

 

Elledge filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 04/21/75, citing multiple issues, but the only issue acknowledged by the court as significant was whether the trial court erred in allowing testimony concerning two other murders committed by Elledge after the Strack murder.  The FSC upheld the conviction, but vacated the death sentence of Elledge. 

 

Elledge filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 08/22/77, citing five issues: testimony of other murders violated the previous ruling of the FSC, the jury was prejudiced by Elledge’s appearance in leg irons for sentencing, one aggravating circumstance was unsupported by the evidence, improper negation of a mitigating circumstance, and improper jury instruction that limited consideration of non-statutory mitigating circumstances.  The FSC affirmed the death sentence on 10/22/81.

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 05/25/82 that was denied on 11/01/82.

 

Governor Graham signed a death warrant on 02/15/83, but the execution was stayed by the USDC on 03/10/83.

 

Elledge filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 03/09/83 that was denied on 03/10/83.

 

Elledge filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal and Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus and Quo Warranto with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/03/83 and 03/11/83, which were consolidated.  Elledge’s Appeal and Petition revolved around claims of improperly admitted confession and guilty plea, as well as ineffective assistance of counsel.  The FSC denied the 3.850 Motion Appeal and Petitions on 04/14/83.

 

Elledge filed a federal Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court on 03/09/83 that was denied on 09/05/85.

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 09/23/83 that was denied on 11/14/83.

 

On 03/06/86, Elledge filed an Appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Habeas Petition that was denied by the USDC.  The USCA vacated the judgment of the USDC and on 07/20/87 ordered Elledge to be resentenced. 

 

The State of Florida filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 01/23/88 that was denied on 04/18/88.

 

Elledge filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 09/25/89, citing thirty issues in the appeal.  The FSC vacated the death sentence on 01/14/93.

 

Elledge filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 03/09/94, citing twenty-seven issues in the appeal.  The FSC affirmed the sentence on 09/18/97.

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 07/23/98 that was denied on 10/13/98.

 

Elledge filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 09/23/99 and amended the Motion on 03/27/00 and 06/01/01.  The Circuit Court denied the Motion on 04/03/03.

 

Elledge filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 07/07/03, citing allegations of Brady and Giglio violations and ineffective assistance of counsel.  On 06/09/05, the FSC affirmed the denial of the Motion. 

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 06/10/04, citing Ring issues and allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel.  On 06/09/05, the FSC denied the Petition.   

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 11/28/05 that was denied on 01/23/06. 

 

Elledge filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Southern District on 04/28/06 that is pending.

 

On 04/22/08, Elledge died of natural causes.

 

 

Institutional Adjustment:

 

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE

FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.

                                                                    

DATE     DAYS                     VIOLATION                                        LOCATION      

 

03/04/76     30                        UNKNOWN                          CENTRAL OFFICE     

02/04/78      0                         SPOKEN THREATS                            FLORIDA STATE PRISON

02/13/78      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         FLORIDA STATE PRISON

02/22/78     60                        DEST. OF STATE PROP.                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

12/25/78     15                        POSS OF NEGOTIABLES                   FLORIDA STATE PRISON

05/17/79     30                        DISOBEYING ORDER                         FLORIDA STATE PRISON

07/13/80      0                         SPOKEN THREATS                            FLORIDA STATE PRISON

10/06/81      0                         POSS OF ESCAPE PARA.                  CENTRAL OFFICE     

01/22/82     30                        SPOKEN THREATS                            CENTRAL OFFICE     

04/13/82      0                         DEST. OF STATE PROP.                    CENTRAL OFFICE     

04/14/82      0                         DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                   CENTRAL OFFICE     

04/14/82      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         CENTRAL OFFICE      

10/13/82      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         CENTRAL OFFICE     

01/21/83      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         CENTRAL OFFICE     

07/02/84      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         FSP - WORK CAMP    

03/08/86     30                        DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                   FLORIDA STATE PRISON

03/14/91     20                        DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                   FLORIDA STATE PRISON

07/16/91     30                        DISOBEYING ORDER                         FLORIDA STATE PRISON

01/14/96      0                         DISORDERLY CONDUCT                  UNION C. I.        

03/21/98      0                         DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                   UNION C. I.        

04/27/99      0                         DISOBEYING ORDER                         UNION C. I.        

01/07/00      0                         POSS OF CONTRABAND                 UNION C. I.        

05/09/02      0                         POSS OF CONTRABAND                 UNION C. I.         

12/29/04     90                        SPOKEN THREATS                            UNION C. I.

 

 

Report Date:     06/15/01          JFL

Approved:        09/24/01          WS

Updated:          05/01/08          KLH