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.
GRIM, Jr. Norman (W/M)
DC# 282008
DOB: 06/29/60
First Judicial Circuit, Santa Rosa County Case # 98-510
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Kenneth Bell
Attorney, Trial: B.B. Boles & Spiro Kypreos – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: David Davis – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Harry Brody – Registry
Date of Offense: 07/27/98
Date of Sentence: 12/21/00
Circumstances of Offense:
On 07/27/98, at approximately 5:00 a.m., a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to a disturbance call at the house of Cynthia Campbell. Campbell reported a disturbance behind her home, and when the deputy investigated, he found a broken window and a chrome lug nut in the bushes below the window. Campbell’s neighbor, Norman Grim, Jr., invited her over for coffee before Deputy Lynch left.
Two workers from Campbell’s law office went to her house later that morning and found Campbell’s car in the driveway, but no sign of Campbell in the house. The Sheriff’s Office was called and deputies responded to the scene. When deputies questioned Grim about Campbell’s disappearance, they noticed that Grim’s shoulder and cut-off blue jean shorts had reddish-brown stains on them. Grim explained that the stains were primer paint from his car.
In the afternoon of 07/27/98, two fishermen hooked a human body, later determined to be Campbell, wrapped in a sheet, shower curtain, and masking tape. Campbell’s body had deep abrasions and contusions around her shoulders, eyes, forehead, chin, and lips, which were consistent with the blunt force trauma of a hammer. Campbell’s body also had eleven stab wounds to the chest, which, in conjunction with the blunt force trauma, caused her death.
Earlier that afternoon, a former coworker of Grim’s spotted him in his parked car on the Pensacola Bay Bridge, with the car doors and trunk open. Surveillance camera videotape showed Grim entering a convenience store at the foot of the bridge shortly after he was seen parked on the bridge.
Additional forensic evidence was found in Grim’s house: two damp, bloody mops in the kitchen; small areas of blood on the kitchen floor and cabinets; two bloody fingerprints on a box of trash bags; a striped pillow case with blood on it in the kitchen trash; blood spots in the dining room; a pair of blue-jean shorts with blood stains in the living room; bloody athletic shoes; and rope consistent with the rope used on Campbell’s body. On Grim’s back porch, further forensic evidence was found: a green carpet, which matched the carpet used to wrap Campbell’s body; a pair of prescription glasses (with Campbell’s prescription); and a cooler that contained more forensic evidence. In the cooler a steak knife, a piece of cloth with blood stains, a pair of men’s underwear, a tampon with blood stains, masking tape, and a blood-stained hammer were recovered. All forensic evidence contained Campbell’s unique genetic markers.
Trial Summary:
08/26/98 Indicted as follows:
Count I First-Degree Murder
Count II Armed Sexual Battery
11/01/00 Jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts of the indictment
11/02/00 Jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 12-0
12/21/00 Sentenced as follows:
Count I First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II Armed Sexual Battery – 390.5 months
Additional Information:
At the time of the murder, Grim was on parole for a 1990 Burglary conviction in Texas.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
Prior to the murder, Grim had an extensive criminal history. The following is a summary of Grim’s Florida prison history since 1983:
|
Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Prison Sentence Length |
|
09/13/1981 |
ROBBERY N/FIREARM OR D/WEAPON |
04/14/1983 |
DUVAL |
8109506 |
8Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
KIDNAP;COMM.OR FAC.FELONY |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204213 |
25Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
KIDNAP;COMM.OR FAC.FELONY |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204200 |
25Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
ROBBERY N/FIREARM OR D/WEAPON |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204200 |
15Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
CARRYING CONCEALED FIREARM |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204201 |
5Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
BURGLARY,ARMED |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204214 |
25Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
GRAND THEFT FIREARM |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204214 |
5Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
BURG/N/ASSLT/OCC.STRUCT. |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204215 |
15Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204216 |
25Y 0M 0D |
|
09/09/1982 |
AGG BATTERY/W/DEADLY WEAPON |
03/16/1983 |
ESCAMBIA |
8204216 |
15Y 0M 0D |
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 01-256
841 So.2d 455
02/02/01 Appeal filed
10/03/02 FSC affirmed convictions and sentences
03/20/03 Rehearing denied and revised opinion issued
04/10/03 Mandate issued
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 03-5160
540 U.S. 892
06/12/03 Petition filed
10/06/03 USSC denied Petition
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 98-510
10/05/04 Motion filed
04/14/05 Evidentiary Hearing held
09/01/05 Evidentiary Hearing held
12/20/05 CC denied Motion
Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal
FSC# 06-122
971 So. 2d 85
01/24/06 Appeal filed
10/04/07 Appeal denied
01/02/08 Mandate issued
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC# 06-1575
971 So. 2d 85
08/08/06 Petition filed
10/04/07 Petition denied
01/02/08 Mandate issued
United States District Court, Northern District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 08-00002
(Pending)
01/02/08 Petition filed
03/31/11 Petition denied
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:
The case progression appears to be within acceptable time parameters.
Case Information:
Grim filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 02/02/01, citing the following trial court errors: improper presentation of mitigating evidence and testimony and failure to allow the introduction of hearsay statements made by the victim prior to the murder. On 10/03/02, the FSC affirmed the convictions and sentences, and on 03/20/03 issued a revised opinion, again affirming the convictions and sentences.
Grim filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 06/12/03 that was denied on 10/06/03.
Grim filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 10/05/04. On 04/14/05 & 09/01/05, an Evidentiary Hearing was held. On 12/20/05, the Circuit Court denied the motion.
Grim filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 01/24/06 that was denied on 10/04/07.
Grim filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 08/08/06 which was denied on 10/04/07.
Grim filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the United States District Court on 01/02/08. That petition was denied on 03/31/11.
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
01/27/04 0 DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS UNION C.I.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 07/15/03 JFL
Approved: 09/02/03 WS
Updated: 04/13/11 JJK