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. 

FRANCIS, Carlton (B/M)

DC#    W08567

DOB:   07/02/75

­­­­Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County Case #97-8545

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Edward A. Garrison

Attorney, Trial: Craig Boudreau & Allen Geesey –Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Peter Grable – Private

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Linda McDermott – CCRC-S

Date of Offense:          07/24/97

Date of Sentence:        10/23/98

Circumstances of Offense:

On 07/24/97, the bodies of 66-year-old twin sisters, ClaireBrunt and Bernice Flegel, were found dead in their home, both the victims ofmultiple stab wounds.  At the scene, investigators found severalshoeprints inside the home, some of which were consistent with Carlton Francis’shoe size; three knives found out of place, with one having bloodresidue.  Claire Brunt received sixteen stab wounds, some of which werethree to four inches deep, that severed her jugular vein and punctured herlung.  Bernice Flegel received twenty-three stab wounds, some of whichwere four to five inches deep, that severed her jugular vein. 

Carlton Francis was a neighbor of the sisters, living withhis mother, Eleanor Goods, his two nephews, and his elderly aunt.  Mrs.Goods and the sisters were good friends, and Francis would occasionally getfinancial help or rides to school from the sisters. 

Francis’ nephews testified to seeing Francis near thesisters’ home around the time of the murders, with a red stain on the shoulderof his t-shirt.  When Mrs. Brunt’s daughter came to visit at around 4:00p.m. on the day of the murders,  she noticed that the sisters’ car wasmissing and the front door was ajar.  Upon entering the home, she foundher mother’s body in the living room and her aunt’s body in the kitchen. Upon inspection of the house, a number of small items, including jewelry,antique coins, pocket watches, and a black radio were missing, as well as thevehicle belonging to the sisters. 

At approximately 3:40 p.m. on the day of the murders,Francis visited a friend named C.J., who admitted to selling heroin to Francison numerous occasions.  C.J. testified that the car Francis was driving wasthe same that was stolen from the sisters.  After seeing a news report ofthe murders,  Francis asked to borrow a wheelbarrow and gasoline andproceeded to burn some clothing, a duffel bag, and what appeared to be aladies’ pocketbook and passport.  Around 7:00 p.m., Francis returned tohis neighborhood via taxi.  Francis and his mother were questioned bypolice, and he could not produce the clothing that he was wearing during theday. 

At a later date, Francis attempted to get C.J. to pawn someitems, including coins, jewelry, and a black radio, but C.J. declined. Upon further investigation, numerous items belonging to the sisters were foundin a trash pile across from C.J.’s house. 

Trial Summary:

08/25/97         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I            First-Degree Murder

                                   Count II          First-Degree Murder

                                   Count III          Armed Robbery

                                   Count IV          Armed Robbery

                                   Count V           BurglaryWith Assault or Battery

                                   Count VI          AggravatedBattery on a Person 65 Years or Older

                                   Count VII         Aggravated Battery ona Person 65 Years or Older

                                   Count VIII       Grand Theft Auto

07/28/98         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

09/09/98         Jury recommended death sentences for Counts I and II by votes of 8-4

10/23/98         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I            First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count II          First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count III          Armed Robbery –Life Imprisonment

                                   Count IV          Armed Robbery –Life Imprisonment

                                   Count V           BurglaryWith Assault or Battery –

 LifeImprisonment

CountVI          Aggravated Battery ona Person 65 Years or Older

 – Judge vacatedjudgment

CountVII         Aggravated Battery on aPerson 65 Years or Older

 – Judge vacatedjudgment

                                   Count VIII       Grand Theft Auto – 5 years

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# SC 94385

808 So.2d 110

11/20/98         Appeal filed

12/20/01         FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

02/11/02         Rehearing denied and Mandate issued

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

USSC# 02-6738

537 U.S. 1090

07/11/02         Petition filed

12/16/02         USSC denied Petition

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 97-8545

(Pending)

12/12/03         Motion filed

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

The Direct Appeal was pending from 11/20/98 – 12/20/01.

Case Information:

Francis filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 11/20/98, alleging sixteen errors, most of which focus on evidence andtestimony issues and the sufficiency of evidence and constitutionality ofaggravating circumstances in the case.  On 12/20/01, the FSC affirmed theconvictions and sentences. 

Francis filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with theU.S. Supreme Court on 07/11/02 that was denied on 12/16/02. 

Francis filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on12/12/03 that is pending. 

On 03/10/08, Francis was found incompetent to proceed. Acompetency hearing is scheduled for 09/16/09.

Institutional Adjustment:

DATE            DAYS            VIOLATION                                      LOCATION       

11/26/98               30            DISOBEYINGORDER                        FLORIDA STATE PRISON

01/11/99               60            DISOBEYINGORDER                        FLORIDA STATEPRISON

02/14/99                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        FLORIDA STATE PRISON

02/16/99                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     FLORIDA STATE PRISON

03/14/99               60            DISOBEYINGORDER                        FLORIDA STATE PRISON

06/18/99                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     FLORIDA STATE PRISON

02/21/00                0             DISORDERLYCONDUCT                 UNION C. I.         

11/22/00                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C.I.        

12/29/00                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C.I.        

01/24/01                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C.I.        

01/25/01                0             LYING TOSTAFF                             UNION C. I.        

02/15/01                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C.I.        

02/22/01                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C.I.        

04/09/01                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C.I.         

04/10/01               0             DISOBEYING ORDER                        UNION C. I. 

04/20/01                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I. 

01/01/02                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C. I. 

01/19/02                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I. 

04/16/03                0             FAIL.HOUSINGHYG.                        UNION C. I.

04/20/03                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C. I.

05/26/03                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C. I.

10/14/03                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

11/17/03                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C. I.

11/27/03                0             DISORDERLYCONDUCT                 UNION C. I.

12/01/03                0             FAIL.PERSONAL HYG.                     UNION C. I.

12/03/03                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

12/03/03                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

12/08/03                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C. I.

12/09/03                0             UNARMEDASSAULT                     UNION C. I.

12/14/03                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C. I.

12/15/03                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

12/17/03                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C. I.

01/01/04                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

01/09/04                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                        UNION C. I.

01/11/04                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                     UNION C. I.

02/15/04                0             FAILURE TOCOMPLY                UNION C. I.

03/11/04                0             DISOBEYINGORDER                   UNIONC. I.

07/09/04                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C. I.

04/29/05                0             FAIL.PERSONAL HYG.                     UNION C.I.

05/04/05                0             FAIL.PERSONALHYG.                     UNION C.I.

06/06/05                0             OBSCENE PROFANEACT               UNION C.I.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date:   12/18/02          JFL

Approved:       01/14/03          WS

Updated:        04/03/09          KLH