The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly.  This information; however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

EVANS, Wydell J. (B/M)

DC#     113416

DOB:   05/19/70

­­Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, Brevard County Case #98-25245

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable JereLober

Attorney, Trial: Kenneth Studstill– Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Michael Becker – Assistant PublicDefender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Richard Kiley & James Viggiano –CCRC-M

Date of Offense:          10/21/98

Date of Sentence:        02/15/00

Circumstances of Offense:

On 10/21/98, two days after being released from prison, Wydell Evans was riding in a car with Angel Johnson, hisbrother’s 17-year-old girlfriend, Erica Foster, Sammy Hogan, and Lino Odenat.  Evans washaving an argument with Johnson over her alleged unfaithfulness to Evans’brother.  At some point during the argument, Johnson laughed, to whichEvans responded, “You think it’s funny?  You think it’s funny?”  Hethen pulled a gun and shot Johnson in the chest.  After the shooting, Odenat tried to exit the vehicle, but Evans told him to getback in the car.  Evans threatened Foster and Hogan not to tell who shotJohnson or he would kill them and their families, before exiting thevehicle. 

Foster and Hogan rushed Johnson to the hospital, but shelater died of her wounds.  At the hospital, Foster and Hogan werequestioned by police, and told police that Johnson was shot during a drug dealby a white man driving a cream-colored car.  They later changed their storyand reluctantly identified Evans as the shooter. 

Prior Incarceration and Community Supervision History inthe State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

11/10/98         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I First-Degree Murder

                                   Count II           Kidnapping

                                   Count III          AggravatedAssault

                                   Count IV          Possession of aFirearm by a Convicted Felon

10/25/99         Count IV severed from the other counts of the indictment

11/01/99         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

11/03/99         Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2

02/15/00         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count II           Kidnapping– Life Imprisonment

                                   Count III          AggravatedAssault – 9 years

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 00-468

838 So. 2d 1090

03/02/00         Appeal filed

11/14/02         FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

02/27/03         Rehearing denied and Mandate issued

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 02-10972

540 U.S. 846

05/28/03         Petition filed

10/06/03         USSC denied petition

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 98-25245

02/24/04         Motion filed

08/31/04         Motion amended

02/14/05         CC denied motion

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 05-632

946 So. 2d 1

04/14/05         Appeal filed

10/03/06         FSC affirmed denial of motion

12/19/06         Rehearing denied

01/04/07         Mandate issued

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus

FSC# 05-1974

946 So. 2d 1

10/26/05         Petition filed

10/03/06         FSC denied petition

01/04/07         Mandate issued

U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 07-897

(Pending)

05/29/07         Petition filed

09/29/10          Petitiondenied with prejudice 

Case Information:

Evans filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 03/02/00, citing the following errors: introduction of hearsay testimony;improper comments during State’s closing argument; denial of a judgment ofacquittal; improper jury instructions for the Kidnapping charge; improperadmission of Evans’ prior presentence investigation reports; and theproportionality of the death penalty in Evans’ case.  On 11/14/02, the FSCaffirmed the convictions and sentences. 

Evans filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S.Supreme Court on 05/28/03 that was denied on 10/06/03. 

Evans filed a 3.851 Motion in the Circuit Court on 02/24/04and amended the motion on 08/31/04.  On 02/14/05, the Circuit Court deniedthe Motion. 

Evans filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida SupremeCourt on 04/14/05, citing allegations of ineffective assistance ofcounsel.  On 10/05/06, the FSC affirmed the denial of the motion.

Evans filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theFlorida Supreme Court on 10/26/05, citing allegations of ineffective assistanceof counsel.  On 10/05/06, the FSC denied the petition.

Evans filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theU.S. District Court, Middle District on 05/29/07. This petition was denied withprejudice on 09/29/10.

Institutional Adjustment:

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIESREFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITEDAND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.

DATE    DAYS                   VIOLATION                                      LOCATION      

05/10/00     0                       SPOKEN THREATS                          FLORIDA STATE PRISON

_______________________________________________________________________

Report Date:   01/23/04          JFL

Approved:       02/03/04          EW

Updated:         10/26/10          JJK