The Commission on Capital Cases updates this informationregularly. This information, however, is subject to change and may not reflectthe latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon forstatistical or legal purposes.
PITTMAN, David (W/M)
DC# 351997
DOB: 12/10/61
Tenth Judicial Circuit, Polk County, Case# CF90-2242A1-XX
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Tim J. Strickland
Trial Attorney: Robert A. Norgard – Assistant PublicDefender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: A. Anne Owens – AssistantPublic Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Martin J. McClain –Registry
Date of Offense: 05/15/90
Date of Sentence: 04/25/91
Circumstances of the Offense:
David Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death for themurders of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie Knowles.
Clarence and Barbara Knowles’ daughter, Marie, was marriedto Pittman. Marie initiated a divorce, which Pittman did not want. Duringthe course of the divorce, Pittman had threatened to harm both Marie and herfamily.
In the early morning hours of 05/15/90, witnesses phoned thefire department to report that the residence of Clarence and Barbara Knowles,Marie’s parents, was on fire. It was discovered, after the investigation, thatthe perpetrator had cut the phone line and after setting the fire stole the carof Bonnie Knowles, the couple’s other daughter.
The bodies of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie were found inthe home. The cause of death for all three was attributed to multiple stabwounds, which resulted in massive bleeding. Additionally, Bonnie Knowles’throat had been slit.
Another witness testified that on the same morning of05/15/90, he saw a car similar to Bonnie Knowles’ in a ditch on the side of theroad close to the Knowles’ home. This witness saw a truck, determined to belongto Pittman, pull beside the car. The witness later noticed the car onfire. Another witness saw a man running from the burning car, and lateridentified the man as Pittman in a photo line-up.
A jailhouse informant testified that Pittman confessed tothe aforementioned crimes.
Prior IncarcerationHistory in the State of Florida:
| Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
| Offense Date | Offense | Sentence Date | County | Case No. | Prison Sentence Length | | |
| 08/31/1981 | BURGUNOCCSTRUC/ CV OR ATT. | 01/14/1982 | POLK | | 4Y 0M 0D | | |
| 08/25/1985 | AGG ASSLT-W/ WPN NO INTENT TO K | 03/12/1986 | POLK | 8503584 | 2Y 6M 0D | | |
| 11/06/1988 | GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 | 04/07/1989 | LEE | 8802430 | 4Y 6M 0D | | |
| Prior Community Supervision History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of community supervision with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
| Offense Date | Offense | Sentence Date | County | Case No. | Community Supervision Length | | |
| 08/31/1981 | BURGUNOCCSTRUC/ CV OR ATT. | 01/14/1982 | POLK | | 2Y 0M 0D | | |
| 11/06/1988 | GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000 | 04/07/1989 | LEE | 8802430 | 0Y 0M 90D | | |
07/12/90 Indicted as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Clarence Knowles)
Count II: First-Degree Murder (Barbara Knowles)
Count III: First-Degree Murder(Bonnie Knowles)
Count IV: Arson
Count V: Burglary
Count VI: Grand Theft
Count VII: Arson
04/19/91 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment with the
exception of CountV
04/25/91 Jury recommended death by a vote of 9-3
04/25/91 Sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II: First-Degree Murder – Death
Count III: First-Degree Murder– Death
Count IV: Arson – 15 years
Count VI: Grand Theft – 5 years
Count VII: Arson – 15years
Appeal Summary:
Florida State Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 78,605
646 So. 2d 167 (Fla. 1994)
09/16/91 Appeal filed
09/29/94 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence
12/19/94 Rehearing denied
01/23/95 Mandate issued
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 94-8589
514 U.S 1119; 115 S. Ct. 1982; 131 L. Ed. 2d 870 (US 1995)
03/20/95 Petition filed
05/15/95 Petition denied
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# CF90-2242A1-XX
03/24/97 Motion filed
11/02/01 Amended motion filed
09/15/05 Second Amended Motion filed
05/08/06 Evidentiary hearing held
03/08/07 Amended to 09/15/05 Motion
06/01/07 Second Amendment to Second Amended Motion filed
07/27/07 Evidentiary hearing held
11/05/07 Motion denied.
11/27/07 Motion for Rehearing filed.
12/17/07 Motion for Rehearing denied.
Florida State Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal
FSC# 08-146
(Pending)
02/04/08 Appeal filed.
Florida State Supreme Court – Petition for Habeas Corpus
FSC# 08-2486
(Pending)
12/29/08 Petition filed.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition ofthe Sentence:
Pittman filed a 3.850 Motion on 03/24/97, which wasdismissed one month later. He then filed an interlocutory appeal on06/01/99, which was denied on 11/02/01. Also on 11/02/01, Pittman filedan amended 3.850 Motion. On 09/15/05, Pittman filed a second amendedmotion (under a new presiding Judge Kornstein), which has since been pendingwhile public records requests are handled.
Case Information:
On 09/16/91, Pittman filed his Direct Appeal to the FloridaSupreme Court. In his appeal, he contended that the court incorrectlyadmitted evidence of his past crimes. Pittman also claimed that the trialcourt admitted identification testimony that was manipulated by suggestiveprocedures. Some of Pittman’s other claims included hearsay evidence ofsomeone else’s involvement in the murder was not admitted and the judgerendered an insufficient sentencing order, which imposed three death sentences. The Court found no merit in any of Pittman’s claims and affirmed hisconvictions and sentences on 09/29/94.
On 03/20/95, Pittman filed a Petition for Writ ofCertiorari, which was subsequently denied on 05/15/95.
On 03/24/97, Pittman filed a 3.850 Motion to the CircuitCourt. The motion was dismissed on 04/24/97. Subsequently, he filedan amended 3.850 Motion on 11/02/01. On 09/15/05, Pittman filed a secondamended 3.850 Motion. On 05/08/06, the evidentiary hearing washeld. The second motion was amended on 03/08/07, which is currentlypending. On 06/01/07, a second amendment to the second motion was filed,which is currently pending. An evidentiary hearing was held on07/27/07. The order denying Pittman’s Second amended motion was enteredon 11/05/07. Pittman filed a Motion for Rehearing on 11/27/07, which wasdenied 12/17/07.
On 02/04/08, Pittman filed a 3.851 Appeal in the FloridaSupreme Court. This appeal is currently pending.
On 12/29/08, Pittman filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus.This petition is currently pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
12/12/93 0 POSS OFCONTRABAND UNION C.I.
06/17/98 180 REF. SUB. ABUSE TEST UNIONC. I.
11/29/98 0 DISOBEYINGORDER UNION C. I.
Report Date: 07/14/03 EMC
Approved: 09/02/03 WS
Updated: 12/31/09 CAR