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.
CHAMBERLAIN, John (W/M)
DOB: 01/17/78
Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County Case # 98-12923
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Marvin Mounts
Attorney, Trial: Gregg Lerman – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Gregg Lerman – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Suzanne Keffer – CCRC-S
Date of Offense: 11/26/98
Date of Sentence: 05/10/02
Circumstances of Offense:
In October and November of 1998, Amanda Ingman began trying to locate her drug supplier and “occasional pimp,” Thomas Thibault, to purchase some cocaine. Thibault contacted Ingman at a house where she was living with her boyfriend, Bryan Harrison, and his roommates, Charlotte Kenyan and Daniel Ketchum. Harrison became upset when he found out that Thibault called Ingman.
In the early morning hours of 11/26/98, Thibault enlisted the help of John Chamberlain and Jason Dascott to deliver some cocaine to Ingman and resolve the argument with Harrison. Thibault told Chamberlain that there might be a confrontation. Chamberlain drove his father’s car and picked up Thibault and Dascott. While stopped at a gas station, Chamberlain showed Thibault a .45 caliber handgun and ammunition that were stored in the trunk of the car.
After the argument between Thibault and Harrison was resolved, Chamberlain, Thibault, Dascott, Ingman, and Harrison snorted cocaine in Ingman’s bedroom. The group then went out to get more cocaine, and upon returning to the house, Harrison and Ingman went inside, while Chamberlain, Thibault, and Dascott remained outside and discussed a plan to rob the residents of the house and steal the electronic equipment from the house.
Either Ingman or Dascott persuaded Ketchum to open a safe in the living room. Thibault then pulled out the .45 caliber handgun and ordered Ketchum and Harrison into the bathroom. Chamberlain helped by striking Ketchum in the leg with an asp, an extendable police baton. Thibault held Ketchum and Harrison in the bathroom, while Ingman, Dascott, and Chamberlain removed the electronic equipment from the house and put them in Chamberlain’s car.
While in the bathroom, Ketchum attempted to overpower Thibault, but he shot and killed Ketchum in the struggle. Thibault left the bathroom and told the others that he had killed Ketchum. According to Thibault and Ingman, Chamberlain then said “no more witnesses” and encouraged Thibault to kill Harrison or else they were “all going to die” and were “all going to the electric chair.”
Ingman and Thibault awakened Charlotte Kenyan, who had been sleeping in a back bedroom and placed her in the bathroom with Harrison. Thibault then “emptied the gun” into Harrison and Kenyan while Chamberlain stood by his side. Harrison was not dead, so Thibault and Chamberlain went to the car, retrieved more bullets, reloaded the gun and Thibault again “emptied the gun” into Harrison and Kenyan.
After going back to Chamberlain’s parent’s house, Ingman later went to the house of Harrison’s father and told him of the murders. Police were alerted to Chamberlain’s involvement by Ingman.
Codefendant Information:
Thomas Thibault, Jason Dascott, and Amanda Ingman all testified against Chamberlain.
Thomas Thibault pled guilty to three counts of First-Degree Murder and was sentenced to death.
Jason Dascott pled guilty to three counts of Second-Degree Murder and was sentenced to a prison sentence of 10 years and probation sentence of 5 years.
Amanda Ingman was not charged with a crime.
Prior Community Supervision History in the State of Florida:
|
Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Community Supervision Length |
|
11/08/1994 |
BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY |
12/11/1995 |
PALM BEACH |
9411756 |
1Y 0M 0D |
|
11/08/1994 |
MISDEMEANOR |
12/11/1995 |
PALM BEACH |
9411756 |
0Y 6M 0D |
|
11/08/1994 |
BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY |
03/13/1997 |
PALM BEACH |
9411756 |
2Y 0M 0D |
Trial Summary:
05/30/00 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Ketchum Count II: First-Degree Murder – Harrison
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Kenyan
Count IV: Armed Burglary with Assault
Count V: Armed Robbery
11/21/00 Jury recommendation waived
02/16/01 Jury returned guilty verdicts on Counts I, II, III, and V.
Judgment of Acquittal ordered on Count IV
05/10/02 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Ketchum – Death
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Harrison – Death
Count III: First-Degree Murder – Kenyan – Death
Count V: Armed Robbery – Life Imprisonment
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 02-1150
881 So. 2d 1087
05/21/02 Direct Appeal filed
06/17/04 Convictions and sentences affirmed
09/01/04 Rehearing denied and Mandate issued
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 04-8361
544 U.S. 930
01/21/05 Petition filed
03/21/05 Petition denied
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 98-12923
03/14/06 Motion filed
05/03/07 Amended motion filed
04/15/08 Sentence vacated; resentenced to life imprisonment
Case Information:
Chamberlain filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 05/21/02, citing the following errors: death qualification of the jury; denying a motion to disqualify the judge; allowing improper comments on Chamberlain’s credibility; allowing out-of-court identification of Chamberlain; violating the rule of sequestration; using prior consistent statements; using a demonstrative aid; constitutionality of the felony-murder jury instruction; failing to have sufficient evidence of First-Degree Murder; constitutionality of the murder in the course of a felony aggravator; failing to have sufficient evidence to support aggravating factors and rejecting mitigating factors. On 06/17/04, the convictions and sentences were affirmed.
Chamberlain filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 01/21/05 that was denied on 03/21/05.
Chamberlain filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on 03/14/06, and was amended on 05/03/07. On 07/16/07, this motion was postponed until State v. Ian Lightbourne (CC#81-170-CF-A-01) was decided.
Chamberlain filed an All Writs Petition in the Florida Supreme Court on 12/14/06, which was denied on 09/10/07.
On 04/15/08 the Circuit Court vacated Chamberlain’s death sentence and resentenced Chamberain to life imprisonment.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 09/23/04 JFL
Updated: 05/14/08 KLH