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. 

DAVIS, Adam (W/M)

DC#    145267

DOB: 12/10/78

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County Case #98-11873

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Cynthia Holloway

Attorneys, Trial: Rick Terrana& Charles Traina – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Guillermo De Jesus Gomez, Jr. –Private

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Peter Cannon – CCRC-M

Date of Offense:        06/27/98

Date of Sentence:       12/17/99

Circumstances of Offense:

On 06/26/98, Vicki Robinson ran errands with her daughter, Valessa Robinson, her daughter’s boyfriend, Adam Davis, anda mutual friend of her daughter and Davis, Jon Whispel. After dinner that evening, Davis and Whispel left theRobinson home and went to a Denny’s restaurant.  Later that evening, Valessa Robinson sneaked out of her home and joined Davisand Whispel at the restaurant.  The trio leftthe restaurant in search of drugs, bought and took LSD, and returned to therestaurant.  While at the restaurant, ValessaRobinson stated that the three should kill her mother.  Whispel thought Valessa wasjoking, but Davis and Valessa began to plan how tocarry out the murder, agreeing on a lethal heroin overdose of Valessa’s mother. 

The three went back to Ms. Robinson’s house, took her vanwithout her knowledge, and attempted to buy heroin and a syringe.  Unableto purchase heroin, Davis purchased a syringe.  Davis suggested that theykill Ms. Robinson by filling the syringe with bleach and an air bubble. In the kitchen, Davis put Ms. Robinson into a “sleeper” hold, trying to renderher unconscious.  Davis injected Ms. Robinson with the syringe, but aftera few minutes, the bleach did not kill Ms. Robinson, so Davis stabbed her witha knife.  Shortly thereafter, the three heard moaning from the kitchen, soDavis grabbed the knife and left the room.  Davis later told Whispel that he stabbed Ms. Robinson two more times andtried to break her neck. 

A few hours later, the three cleaned the kitchen with bleachand towels.  Davis put Ms. Robinson’s body into a trash can, and loadedthe trash can, along with shovels and a hoe into Ms. Robinson’s van and droveto a wooded area to bury her.  The digging was unsuccessful, so theyconcealed the trash can with foliage, planning to come back later. 

The three later returned to Ms. Robinson’s house andobtained her credit cards, cash, and ATM card since Valessaknew Ms. Robinson’s personal identification number.  The three spent thenext few days in Ybor City, using Ms. Robinson’smoney to get tattoos and stay at motels.   They also purchased twentybags of concrete, a bucket, and a trash can, with the intention of dumping thebody in a canal.

While Davis, Valessa, and Whispel were in Ybor City,Florida, Ms. Robinson’s boyfriend, Jim Englert,reported her missing.  Davis learned from a friend that both Davis and Valessa were on the news, so the three decided to leavetown and flee to Phoenix, Arizona.  They never returned to complete theirplans to dispose of Ms. Robinson’s body. 

Ms. Robinson’s credit union tracked the use of her creditcard, and Davis, Valessa, and Whispelwere apprehended in Pecos County, Texas, after a high-speed chase. 

Codefendant Information:

Valessa Robinson was tried andconvicted on charges of Third-Degree Murder and Grand Theft Auto.  On05/30/00, she was sentenced to fifteen and five years, respectively. 

Jon Whispel pled guilty to chargesof Second-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Grand Theft, and Grand Theft Auto. On 06/29/99, he was sentenced to twenty-five years for the crimes. 

Prior Community Supervision History in the State ofFlorida:

Trial Summary:

07/08/98         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder

                                   Count II:         Armed Robbery

                                   Count III:        Grand Theft Auto

11/04/99         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

11/05/99         Jury recommended death by a vote of 7-5

12/17/99         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count II:         Armed Robbery – TimeServed

                                   Count III:        Grand Theft Auto – TimeServed

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 00-313

859 So.2d 465

02/14/00         Appeal filed

09/11/03         Conviction and sentence affirmed

10/31/03         Rehearing denied and Mandate issued

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 98-11873

02/01/05         Motion filed

02/08/06         Evidentiary Hearing held

04/20/06         Evidentiary Hearing held

06/21/06         CC denied motion

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 06-1444

990 So. 2d 459

07/18/06         Appeal filed

06/05/08         Appeal denied

09/16/08         Mandate issued

United States District Court, Middle District –Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 08-01842

09/17/08         Petition filed

10/15/09         Petition denied

Unites StatesCourt of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit – Habeas Appeal

USCA# 10-11496

04/09/10          Appealfiled

09/16/10          Appealdenied

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

The Direct Appeal was pending from 02/14/00 – 09/11/03.

Case Information:

Davis filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 02/14/00, citing issues such as evidence admitted at trial, finding ofaggravating circumstances, and the constitutionality of the deathpenalty.  On 09/11/03, the convictions and sentence were affirmed. 

Davis filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on02/01/05.  On 02/10/06 and 04/20/06, Evidentiary Hearings were held. On 06/21/06, the CC denied the motion.    

Davis filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida SupremeCourt on 07/18/06, which was denied on 06/05/08.

Davis filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theUnited States District Court on 09/17/08, which was denied on 10/15/09.

Davis filed a Habeas Appeal with the United States Court ofAppeals on 04/09/10. This appeal was denied on 09/16/10.

Institutional Adjustment:

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONSAGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIMEDAYS LOST.

DATE                  DAYS                   VIOLATION                                     LOCATION      

03/25/00              8                           UNAUTH PHY.CONTACT             FLORIDA STATE PRISON

03/17/06              0                            ATTEMPT TOCONSPIRE              UNION C.I.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date:   07/28/04          JFL

Updated:         10/25/10          JJK