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.
CRUSE, William Jr. (W/M)
DC # 117051
DOB: 11/21/27
Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Brevard County, Case #87-1763
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable John Antoon II
Trial Attorneys: Marlene Alva & Paul Arlt – Assistant Public Defenders
Attorney, Direct Appeal: James Wulchak – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Linda McDermott - Registry
Date of Offense: 04/23/87
Date of Sentence: 07/28/89
Circumstances of Offense:
William Cruse was convicted of six murders, resulting in two death sentences for a killing spree he ignited on 04/23/87.
Prior to the day of the killings, Cruse obtained a semiautomatic assault rifle and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition. On 04/23/87, he loaded the assault rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol into his car and headed in the direction of Palm Bay Shopping Center. Cruse stopped at his neighbor’s house, the Rich residence, and opened fire, striking 14 year-old John Rich, IV, who was playing basketball outside his home. John’s family rushed outside when they heard the gunshots, and Cruse fired at them as well.
Cruse continued to the Publix grocery store in the Palm Bay Shopping Center, where he gathered his firearms and ammunition, and approached the entrance to the store. Cruse shot and killed Nabil Al-Hameli and Emad Al-Tawakuly as they exited the Publix and wounded their friend Faisel Al-Mutairi. Cruse wounded Eric Messerbauer and Douglas Pollack in a spray of bullets, and he killed Ruth Green, who was shot as she pulled her car into the parking lot of the shopping center. Cruse then walked over to the bodies of Al-Hameli and Al-Tawakuly, who were lying on the ground, and shot them again.
As authorities approached the scene, Cruse drove over to the Sabal Palm Shopping Center, where he again opened fire on the customers of the Winn Dixie grocery store. Cruse reloaded the rifle and fired numerous shots into Officer Ronald Grogan’s police car as he approached, killing him.
Officer Gerald Johnson was the next officer on the scene. Cruse targeted him, wounding him in the leg. As Johnson scrambled for cover, Cruse followed him into the parking lot. Cruse stalked the wounded officer and shot him several more times, killing him. Cruse also fired at the rescue team who were attempting to help the fallen officers.
Cruse then went into the Winn Dixie, and hunted down a stream of people who were attempting to escape through the back door of the grocery store. He began firing, wounding many people, and killing Lester Watson with a shot to the back.
Cruse re-entered the Winn Dixie and found Judy Larson and Robin Brown hiding in the women’s restroom. Cruse released Larson with orders to tell the police to turn off the lights, while he held Brown hostage in the store. Cruse tried to negotiate with police to bring his car around and let him to leave Brevard County. If they agreed, he would then allow police to kill him. Cruse released Brown several hours later, at which time police fired tear gas and stun grenades into the store. Cruse was arrested when he was forced to leave the store.
Additional Information:
At trial, Cruse pled not guilty by reason of insanity. He claimed to suffer from delusions that people were talking about him, trying to test his sexuality and attempting to turn him into a homosexual.
On 03/20/02, Cruse was found mentally incompetent to proceed in his postconviction relief.
Cruse had no prior incarceration history in the state of Florida.
Trial Summary:
04/24/87 Defendant arrested.
05/03/87 The defendant was indicted as followed:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Al-Hameli
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Al-Tawakuly
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Green
Count IV: First-Degree Murder – Grogan
Count V: First-Degree Murder – Johnson
Count VI: First-Degree Murder – Watson
Count VII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count VIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count IX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count X: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXVI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXVIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXV: Kidnapping
Count XXXVI: Kidnapping
01/11/88 Notice of intent to rely on the insanity defense.
12/19/88 Motion for change of venue granted and the case was transferred to Polk County.
04/05/89 The jury found the defendant guilty on the following counts:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Al-Hameli
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Al-Tawakuly
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Green
Count IV: First-Degree Murder – Grogan
Count V: First-Degree Murder – Johnson
Count VI: First-Degree Murder – Watson
Count VII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count VIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count IX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count X: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XVIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXI: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXX: Attempted Second-Degree Murder
Count XXXI: Attempted Second-Degree Murder
Count XXXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder
Count XXXV: False Imprisonment
Count XXXVI: Kidnapping
04/25/89 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury voted by the following counts:
Count I: Murder – Al-Hameli 11 to 1 - Death
Count II: Murder – Al-Tawakuly 11 to 1 - Death
Count III: Murder – Green 10 to 2 - Death
Count IV: Murder – Grogan 11 to 1 - Death
Count V: Murder – Johnson 12 to 0 - Death
Count VI: Murder – Watson 11 to 1 – Death
07/28/89 The defendant was sentenced as followed:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Al-Hameli - Life
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Al-Tawakuly - Life
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Green - Life
Count IV: First-Degree Murder – Grogan - Death
Count V: First-Degree Murder – Johnson - Death
Count VI: First-Degree Murder – Watson - Life
Count VII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count VIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count IX: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count X: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XI: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XV: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XVI: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XVIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XX: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXI: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXV: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXVII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXIX: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXX: Attempted Second-Degree Murder – 30 years
Count XXXI: Attempted Second-Degree Murder – 30 years
Count XXXIII: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXXIV: Attempted First-Degree Murder - Life
Count XXXV: False Imprisonment – 15 years
Count XXXVI: Kidnapping – Life
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #74,656
588 So. 2d 983
09/01/89 Appeal filed.
10/24/91 FSC affirmed the convictions and sentences.
01/13/92 Rehearing denied.
02/12/92 Mandate issued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #91-7998
504 U.S. 976
04/13/92 Petition filed.
06/08/92 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #87-1763
08/25/93 Motion filed.
08/25/00 Amended motion filed.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence:
Cruse’s 3.850 Motion has been pending since 1993, making it the most significant delay thus far in the post-conviction relief process. On 03/20/02, Cruse was found incompetent to proceed in his postconviction relief efforts. On 07/09/08, Cruse was again found incompetent to proceed.
Case Information:
Cruse filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 09/01/89. In that appeal, he argued that the State committed a Brady[1] violation when it withheld psychiatric information and that the trial court erred in failing to allow the cross-examination of a State’s expert. Cruse also claimed the trial judge gave an improper insanity instruction and that the trial court erred in failing to allow him to present surrebuttal evidence. In regard to the penalty phase, Cruse argued the application of certain aggravating factors. The Florida Supreme Court rejected Cruse’s arguments and affirmed the convictions and death sentences on 10/24/91.
Next Cruse filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 06/08/92.
He filed a 3.850 Motion on 08/25/93, which is currently pending in the State Circuit Court. On 03/20/02, Cruse was found incompetent to proceed in his postconviction relief efforts. No disposition was ever reached on his 3.850 Motion.
________________________________________________________________________
02/25/02 – ew
04/05/02 – approved – ws
02/05/09 – updated – jfl
[1] Brady v. Maryland – Case law dictating that the State must disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense.