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.
COOPER, Richard (W/M)
DC# 087442
DOB: 09/28/63
Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Case #83-00678
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable William L. Walker
Trial Attorney: Ky M. Koch, Esq. & Ronnie G. Crider, Esq.
Attorney, Direct Appeal: John E. Swisher, Esq. & Robert H. Dillinger, Esq.
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Mark Gruber & David Hendry – CCRC-M
Stephen Hanlon, Esq. – Private
Date of Offense: 06/18/82
Date of Sentence: 03/14/84
Circumstances of Offense:
Richard Cooper was convicted and sentenced to death for his part in three murders that occurred during the course of a robbery on 06/18/82.
Eight-year-old Chris Fridella contacted police in the early morning hours of 06/18/82, notifying them that his father and two of his father’s friends had been shot. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found Steven Fridella, Bobby Martindale, and Gary Petersen dead, lying face down on the floor with their hands bound behind them. The victim’s wallets had been rummaged through, and the house had been scoured in an apparent search for valuables.
Approximately six months later, Robin Fridella, Steven Fridella’s ex-wife, furnished police with information that pointed to Richard Cooper and his accomplices: Terry Van Royal, Jason Dirk Walton and Jeff McCoy. During an interview, Cooper confessed to the murders and relayed the following information in his statement. The four men had planned the robbery for over a week and, on the evening of 06/17/82, they went to the Fridella residence. Jeff McCoy stayed in the car while the other three men entered the house. Cooper, Royal, and Walton rounded up the adults in house, tied their hands and laid them down on the living room floor. Eight-year-old Chris Fridella was ushered into the bathroom. Walton searched the house while Cooper and Royal guarded the captives. One of the captives was able to identify Walton, so, Walton pronounced that all three men must be shot. Walton commanded Cooper and Royal to open fire on the captive men when his own gun misfired. Upon leaving the house, Walton told Cooper that one of the men was still alive, at which time Cooper re-entered the house and shot Fridella again.
Additional Information:
Richard Cooper was convicted of a burglary (Case# 82-00221) that occurred on 07/24/82, after the aforementioned murders. He was subsequently sentenced to one year and one month imprisonment for that crime.
Codefendant Information:
Jason Dirk Walton was convicted and sentenced to death for his part in the murders that occurred on 06/18/82.
Terry Van Royal Jr. and Jeff McCoy were sentenced to three life sentences for their parts in the murders.
Trial Summary:
08/17/82 Defendant arrested.
04/06/83 Defendant indicted on the following:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Gary Petersen)
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Bobby Martindale)
Count III: First-Degree Murder (Steven Fridella)
04/14/83 The defendant entered a plea of “not guilty”.
01/13/84 The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.
01/14/84 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted for the death penalty by a 9 to 3
majority for the murder of Gary Petersen, by a 7 to 5 majority for the murder of Bobby Martindale, and by a 7 to 5 majority for the murder of Steven Fridella.
03/14/84 The defendant was sentenced as followed:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Gary Petersen) - Death
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Bobby Martindale) - Death
Count III: First-Degree Murder (Steven Fridella) - Death
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #65,133
492 So. 2d 1059
04/06/84 Appeal filed.
07/17/86 FSC affirmed the convictions and sentences of death.
09/10/86 Rehearing denied.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #86-5958
479 U.S. 1101
12/05/86 Petition filed.
02/23/87 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #83-00678
02/22/89 Motion filed.
08/30/01 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC #74,171
743 So. 2d 11
05/18/89 Petition filed.
09/07/99 Petition dismissed without prejudice.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #SC01–2285
856 So.2d 969
10/15/01 Appeal filed.
06/26/03 Denial affirmed.
10/27/03 Mandate issued.
Florida Supreme Court - Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC #SC02-623
856 So.2d 969
03/20/02 Petition filed.
06/26/03 Petition denied.
10/27/03 Mandate issued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #03-8093
540 U.S. 1222
12/24/03 Petition filed.
03/01/04 Petition denied.
U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 04-1447
06/22/04 Petition filed.
12/17/08 Petition denied.
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit – Habeas Corpus Appeal
USCA# 09-12977
(Pending)
06/05/09 Appeal filed.
Warrants:
04/18/89 Warrant signed by Governor Bob Martinez.
06/20/89 Scheduled execution date.
06/07/89 Stay of execution granted by the State Circuit Court.
Clemency:
12/07/87 Clemency hearing held. (Denied)
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence:
The principle delay in this case is the lengthy disposition of Cooper’s Motion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence (3.850). That particular motion was filed on 02/22/89 and was amended several times. The disposition, however, took over 12.5 years to reach a denial on 08/30/01.
Case Information:
Cooper filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 04/06/84. In that appeal, he argued that the trial court erred in the admission of evidence that was seized in an unlawful search and in the application of aggravating and mitigating circumstances. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with Cooper that the murder was not committed during the course of a kidnapping; however, they affirmed the application of all other aggravating factors found by the trial court. On 07/17/86, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentences of death.
Cooper next filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 02/23/87.
The defendant then filed a Motion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence (3.850) in the State Circuit Court on 02/22/89. While that motion was pending, Governor Bob Martinez signed a death warrant for Richard Cooper, and the execution was scheduled for 06/20/89. On 06/07/89, the State Circuit Court granted a stay of execution. Twelve and a half years after its original filing date, the Circuit Court denied Cooper’s 3.850 Motion. Cooper filed an appeal of that decision in the Florida Supreme Court on 10/15/01, which was affirmed on 06/26/03.
During the deliberation on Cooper’s 3.850 Motion, he filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court. The petition was dismissed without prejudice on 09/07/99 to be re-filed under Florida Rule of Appellant Procedure 9.140 (b) (6) (e).
On 03/20/02, Cooper filed another Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court which was denied on 06/26/03.
On 12/24/03, Cooper filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied 03/01/04.
On 06/22/04, Cooper filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District, that was denied on 12/17/08. On 06/05/09, Cooper filed a Habeas Corpus Appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. This appeal is pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
12/12/84 0 FIGHTING FSP
05/11/85 0 POSS OF CONTRABAND FSP
06/11/98 0 POSS OF NARCOTICS UNION C. I.
02/23/99 0 POSS OF NEGOTIABLES UNION C. I.
09/22/99 0 GAMBLING OR POSS. UNION C. I.
03/11/00 0 POSS OF CONTRABAND UNION C. I.
03/31/03 0 MAIL VIOLATIONS UNION C. I.
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02/12/02 – ew
02/13/02 – approved – ws
09/25/09 – updated – kkr