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. 

 

DEPARVINE, WILLIAM (W/M)

DC#    256512           

DOB: 04/21/52

 

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County Case #04-00774

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable J. Rogers Padgett

Attorney, Trial: John J. Skye – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Steven L. Bolotin – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Robert T. Strain – CCRC-M

 

Date of Offense:         11/25/03

Date of Sentence:       01/09/06

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

The bodies of Richard and Karla Van Dusen were found on a dirt road in Hillsborough County on the morning of November 26, 2003. They both died of gunshot wounds to the head. Karla was also stabbed twice in the chest. The couple’s Jeep Cherokee was discovered in a parking lot approximately one mile away. DNA tests confirmed that the blood found on the vehicle’s steering wheel matched that of William Deparvine.

 

In November of 2003, Richard Van Dusen began advertising his 1971 Chevrolet Cheyenne pickup truck for sale for $13,700. On November 25, 2003 Richard received a call on one of his cell phones at 5:45 p.m. near downtown St. Petersburg, where Deparvine resided. He then made two calls on his phone at 5:50 and 5:55 p.m. from downtown St. Petersburg.

 

Karla Van Dusen’s cell phone indicated that she began a call at 5:33 p.m. near Tierra Verde, and her next two calls used cell towers in downtown St. Petersburg. Karla’s last phone call also used a cell tower in Oldsmar. One of her phone calls during this time was to her mother, Billie Ferris. Ms. Ferris testified that, while speaking with her daughter, she heard a car engine and asked Karla if she was in a car. Karla responded that she was “following Rick and the guy that bought the truck. He knows where to get the paperwork done.” Karla informed her mother that the purchaser was going to pay with cash.

 

Chris Coviello, testified that he saw the Van Dusens leave their home on November 25, 2003 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Richard was driving the truck and Karla was following in the Jeep Cherokee. There were no other passengers in either vehicle.

 

The Chevrolet Cheyenne truck was found on November 27, 2003. It was parked outside of Deparvine’s apartment complex. Deparvine had in his possession a signed bill of sale indicating a purchase price of $6,500. Deparvine testified that he obtained the money to buy the truck by selling a Rolex watch that a terminally ill inmate gave to him while he was incarcerated. He said that he sold the watch for $7,000 in cash and stored the cash in his apartment. He said that the Van Dusens dropped off the truck at his apartment at approximately 5:30 p.m. on November 25, 2003. He said that another man in a red truck followed the Van Dusens and then gave Richard Van Dusen a ride afterward.

 

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

  

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Sentence Length

06/19/89

Arson

08/29/90

Pinellas

8909617

7 years

11/07/88

Uttering

08/29/90

Pinellas

8911023

5 years

12/15/89

Uttering

08/29/90

Pinellas

9000985

5 years

12/15/89

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9000985

7 years

10/07/88

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9009351

7 years

01/04/90

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9002446

5 years

01/04/90

Uttering

08/29/90

Pinellas

9002446

5 years

01/03/90

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9002799

5 years

01/03/90

Uttering

08/29/90

Pinellas

9002799

5 years

10/06/89

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9006150

5 years

12/01/88

Grand theft

08/29/90

Pinellas

9009425

7 years

12/01/88

Uttering

08/29/90

Pinellas

9009589

5 years

12/15/89

Grand theft

11/09/90

Hillsborough

9002775

2 years

12/15/89

Uttering

11/09/90

Hillsborough

9002775

2 years

09/14/91

Grand theft

12/11/91

Duval

9110970

4 years 6 months

07/14/93

Firearm possession by a felon

03/14/94

Pinellas

9310397

15 years

07/14/93

Carrying concealed weapon

03/14/94

Pinellas

9310397

10  years

 

Trial Summary:

 

01/28/04          Indicted as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder

                                    Count III:        Kidnapping

                                    Count IV:        Kidnapping

                                    Count V:         Carjacking

08/03/05          The defendant was acquitted of the two kidnapping charges, and the jury returned

guilty verdicts on all other counts of the indictment

10/03/05          Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4

 

01/09/06          Sentenced as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder – Death

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder – Death

                                    Count III:        Kidnapping – Acquittal

                                    Count IV:        Kidnapping – Acquittal

                                    Count V:         Carjacking – Life

 

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC#06-155

995 So. 2d 351 

 

01/23/06          Appeal filed.

09/29/08          Appeal denied.

12/04/08          Mandate issued. 

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 04-774

 

02/05/10          Motion filed

 

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

 

There have been no major delays in the case at this time.

 

Case Information:

 

On 01/23/06, Deparvine filed a direct appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, raising the following issues: hearsay testimony, failure to prove premeditation or felony murder, jury instructions, insufficient evidence of carjacking, victim impact evidence, juror selection, unconstitutionality of Florida’s capital sentencing, and lack of specification of mitigating factors. On 09/29/08, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s conviction and sentence of death.

 

On 02/05/10, Deparvine filed a 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Court, which is pending.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:   10/20/08          KLH

Approved:       10/21/08          KLH

Updated:         03/18/10          KKR