The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly. This information, however, is subject to changeand may not represent the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied on for statistical or legal purposes.
ANDERSON, Richard (W/M)
DC # 042115
DOB: 04/29/48
Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Case#87-8047
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable M. Wm. Graybill
Trial Attorneys: William Fuente & Mark Ober – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Paul Helm – Assistant PublicDefender
Attorney, Collateral Appeal: Peter J. Cannon, Robert Strain,& Carol Rodriguez – CCRC-M
Date of Offense: 05/07/87
Date of Sentence: 02/26/88
Circumstances of Offense:
Richard Anderson, the defendant, was convicted and sentencedto death for the May 7, 1987, murder of Robert Grantham.
Robert Grantham reportedly offered Connie Beasley, thedefendant’s girlfriend, a large sum of money in exchange for sexualfavors. Beasley rejected the proposal and told Anderson of Grantham’soffer. Anderson believed Grantham was a rich man and knew he would bereturning home from a gambling trip to Las Vegas with his winnings. Anderson instructed Beasley to agree to spend one night with Grantham for$10,000. Beasley was told to get Grantham intoxicated, and Anderson wouldthen rob him.
On May 7, 1987, after dinner and drinks, Beasley broughtGrantham back to Anderson’s apartment. Anderson arrived at the apartmentlater in the evening under the pretense of returning Beasley’s car and thenneeding a ride home. Grantham agreed to drive him, but Anderson insistedthat Beasley accompany them. While in the car, Anderson shot Granthamfour times in the head from the back seat, and then proceeded to dump his bodyin a wooded area. Connie Beasley was sitting on the front passenger sidewhen Grantham was shot. Anderson abandoned Grantham’s car at the TampaAirport and returned with Beasley to his apartment. After rummagingthrough Grantham’s belongings, Anderson and Beasley only found $2,600.
Additional Information:
Richard Anderson was convicted and sentenced to 20 years forFirst Degree Premeditated or Attempted Murder in Pinellas County on05/29/74. Anderson was an accomplice in this crime.
Codefendant Information:
Connie Beasley was convicted of Third-Degree Murder, andsentenced to one year and one day in prison.
Trial Summary:
07/15/87 Defendant indicted for First-Degree Murder
02/17/88 The jury found the Defendant guilty of First-Degree Murder.
02/18/88 Upon advisory sentencing, the trial jury, by an 11 to 1 majority, voted for
the death penalty.
02/26/88 The Defendant was sentenced to death for First-Degree Murder.
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #72,127
574 So. 2d 87
03/21/88 Appeal filed.
01/03/91 FSC affirmed conviction and sentence of death.
02/27/91 Rehearing denied.
04/01/91 Mandate issued.
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #90-8143
502 U.S. 834
05/28/91 Petition filed.
10/07/91 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #87-8047
10/12/92 Motion filed.
10/14/92 Motion dismissed.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #80,844
627 So. 2d 1170
12/04/92 Appeal filed.
10/28/93 Appeal remanded back to the State Circuit Court to pursue Anderson’s
request for publicrecords.
12/28/93 Rehearing denied.
12/28/93 Mandate issued.
State Circuit Court - 3.850 Motion (On remand fromFSC)
CC #87-8047
02/28/94 Amended motion filed.
05/27/97 Second amended motion filed.
11/19/99 Third amended motion filed.
08/25/00 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #01-24
822 So. 2d 1261
01/04/01 Appeal filed.
06/13/02 Denial affirmed.
07/15/02 Mandate issued.
U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus
USDC #03-1485
07/14/03 Petition filed.
12/05/05 Petition denied.
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus Appeal
USCA# 06-10122
462 F. 3d 1319
12/30/05 Certificate of Appealability (COA) filed.
08/31/06 USCA denied COA.
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 06-7985
127 S. Ct. 1269
11/22/06 Petition filed.
02/20/07 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court- 3.850 Motion
CC# 87-8047
07/13/07 Motion filed.
01/10/08 Motion amended.
06/08/09 Motion denied.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition ofthe Sentence:
Anderson’s Direct Appeal was pending over three years andhis initial 3.850 Motion was amended three times, and was pending from 10/12/92– 08/25/00.
Case Information:
Anderson filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida SupremeCourt on 03/21/88. Anderson’s appeal claimed the court erred when itneglected to dismiss his indictment that was based on the perjured grand jurytestimony of Connie Beasley. Anderson also contended that the court erredwhen it allowed testimony that violated the hearsay rule. All of theclaims that Anderson entered were rejected. The Supreme Court affirmedthe conviction and sentence of death on 01/03/91.
A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed on 05/28/91 inthe United States Supreme Court and was denied on 10/07/91.
On 10/12/92, Anderson filed 3.850 Motion in the CircuitCourt, which was dismissed on 10/14/92.
Anderson filed a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Courton 12/04/92. On 10/28/93, the appeal was remanded to the Circuit Court topursue Anderson’s request for public records.
Anderson filed an amended 3.850 Motion in the Circuit Courton 02/28/94. The motion was amended a second time on 05/27/97, and againa third time on 11/19/99. The motion was denied on 08/25/00.
On 01/04/01, Anderson filed an appeal of the denial in theFlorida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial ofAnderson’s 3.850 Motion on 06/13/02.
On 07/14/03, Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus in the United States District Court that was denied on 12/05/05.
Anderson filed a Certificate of Appealability in the U.S.Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, on 12/30/05 that was denied on 08/31/06.
Anderson filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the U.S.Supreme Court on 11/22/06 that was denied on 02/20/07.
On 07/17/07, Anderson filed a 3.850 Motion in the CircuitCourt. This motion was denied on 06/08/09.
Institutional Adjustment:
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
-------- ---- ---------------------------- -------------------
08/14/90 45 UNARMEDASSAULT FSP
12/13/97 0 DISOBEY REGULATIONS UNION C.I.
03/09/06 180 REF. SUB. ABUSETEST UNION C.I.
________________________________________________________________________
10/16/01 – ew
10/25/01 – approved – ws
06/23/09 – updated – klh