Support journalism byclicking here to ourGiveSendGoor sign up for ourfree newsletter by clicking here. But the judge told them to speak up if what they hear becomes overwhelming. Published: 4:25 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Updated: 8:35 PM EDT September 25, 2019 Almost two weeks after his trial began, Granville Ritchie has been found guilty of the sexual battery and. . Investigators said, back in 2014, Ritchie assaulted and strangled young Felecia Williams before stuffing her body in a suitcase and dumping her into the water near the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Sisco addressed the grieving mother, telling her, "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. Granville Ritchie, the man who raped and murdered 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, was sentenced to death Friday. TAMPA, Fla. A year after his trial, Granville Ritchie has been sentenced to death for the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. After she completed her testimony, Judge Sisco said she had struggled with how to convey her thoughts toward Demerson, but told her the following: Ive thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Ritchie has difficulty completing complicated tasks, the result of head trauma he suffered during incidents including car accidents, Eisenstein said. On the night of her murder, Felecia, who was known to her family as Sugar Plum, was left alone with Ritchie at his Temple Terrace apartment by a woman who was supposed to be watching her. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. On Friday morning, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville Ritchie to death for the May 16, 2014, murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams, report Fox13, WWSB and the Tampa Bay Times. After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. Ritchie, now 43, is an inmate at Union Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website. , updated You're a better stronger woman than I am. Ritchie and Felecia did not know each other before they met on May 16, 2014, but they were both close with Eboni Wiley, who was the man's then-girlfriend and the girl's neighbor and family friend. TAMPA, Fla. - Nearly a year aftera jury recommended Granville Ritchie be put to death for the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, an emotional judge agreed, and sentenced him to death on Friday morning. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the convictions and death sentence for a man who sexually battered and killed 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Rather, viewing the record in its totality, it was the evidence of Ritchies horrific and senseless crimes against the victim, not the prosecutors missteps, that secured the recommendation of death. Justice Ricky Polston agreed with the outcome of the majority opinion but did not sign onto it. By Fallon Silcox Hillsborough County. Learn More{{/message}}. You're a better, stronger woman than I am. Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. The girls body was found washed up on a shoreline a day after she had been left alone with Ritchie. For him to feel what she felt. That pain wouldve been greater for a little girl.'. The court rejected a series of arguments raised by Granville Ritchie, who was convicted in the 2014 murder of the girl, identified in the court opinion by the initials F.W., Felecia Williams. Wiley said during a trial that Ritchie said he gave Felecia money to buy candy from a store. When Wiley returned almost an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money for her to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and that she had not returned. Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 murder of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown over an overpass. Fridays sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-olds mother. For him to feel what she felt. En 1946 Christian Dior s'installe au 30, avenue Montaigne [11], l'ouverture de la boutique [12] a lieu en dcembre. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. The sentencing phase will begin when court resumes Thursday morning. In defending the death penalty, Tampa prosecutor Scott Harmon told the jury, in part: Can you imagine the fear of knowing that her life is ending and she is in pain all over her body? During closings, defense lawyer Bjorn Brunvandpointed out expert testimony that apparently showed there was no evidence of sexual battery. #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. Justice Jorge Labarga argued that Ritchie should receive a new sentencing hearing. "I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they can't find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. Assistant State Attorney Scott Harmon responded that from what he saw, the juror handled the situation responsibly, turning her head away until she could get out. She was allowed to remain on the panel. 17:14 EST 05 Nov 2021. Tampa Area Local News, National Stories, and Politics, introu Wins Pitch Club Competition at Global Online Marketplaces Summit, Dr. Michael Dattoli Discusses Nonsurgical Cancer Treatments, The Free Press Journalistic And Ethical Standards, Explore The Fulgor Milano Collection At Famous Tate, Florida Missing Child Alert Issued For 3-Year-Old Ava Joseph, Libs Of TikTok Founder Branches Out With New Childrens Book Telling Kids To Trust Their Parents, Biden DOJ Pushes Congress To Renew Warrantless Surveillance Law, Dead Body Found In Temple Terrace Apartment With Infant, Deputies Seek Tips, The Free Press Tampa Local, Florida, Politics, and National News. The woman, Eboni Wiley, testified even though she had only know Ritchie for a couple of days, she left Felecia with him to go buy some marijuana. The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. During the trial, Ritchies girlfriend testified that Ritchie asked to use her car. TAMPA, Fla The trial for Granville Ritchie, the man accused of raping and murdering a 9-year-old Tampa girl in May of 2014, began today. Ritchie is accused in the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. The juror, a woman, wept as Felecia Demerson read a statement from the witness stand about her daughter and the devastating effects of her death. A Florida man has been sentenced to death for the 2014 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl left in his care. VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. 3 Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl Credit: Hillsborough County Jai 3 Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014 Credit: Facebook Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. They spent the past two days in the penalty phase of the trial listening to witnesses and hearing arguments from the This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Granville Ritchie was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the sexual assault and murder of a nine year old girl. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. RELATED STORY: Granville Ritchie guilty of raping, killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. All I know is he needs to be like her. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Youll get a remembrance of Tampa Bay residents weve lost, including heartwarming and amusing details about their lives, every Tuesday. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in September 2019. . Ritchie was found guilty of killing. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. Since Felecias death, Demerson said, she has been unable to return to work. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required to impose the death penalty. The seven justices of the state Supreme Court did not reach a decision in Ritchies case this week. Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death Florida Death Row Inmate List I ain't got no ill will against you,' said Jerome Williams, WREG reports. Ritchie was accused of raping and killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, then shoving her body in a suitcase, and dropping it off the Courtney Campbell Causeway bridge. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The evidence in this case established that Ritchie committed a horrific murder, and I fully concur in the majoritys decision to affirm his conviction for first-degree murder, Labarga wrote. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? In September 2019, Ritchie was found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. In September 2019, all 12 jurors agreed Ritchie, who grew up in Jamaica,should face the death penalty. Eboni Wiley says she had just started dating Ritchie in 2014 when the two went to pick up her. pic.twitter.com/K1mmbzLM7b, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 25, 2019. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found. Granville Ritchie, the man who raped and murdered 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, was sentenced to death Friday. Open in Our App Still, she said, she can put her feelings aside and continue hearing the case. I know that you know that you and Felecia will have a joyous reunion. (Florida child s*x killer who tortured, raped and murdered girl, 9, is appealing his death ) Wiki, Bio, Age,Death,Family,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Quick Facts, Read Also: Who was Mak Parhar?Flat Earther and COVID-19 denier Mak Parhar found dead, Congress Is Investigating McKinsey Over Its Role in the Opioid Crisis, Alyssa Milano: Giving birth to my first child reminded me of being sexually assaulted. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesnt. The jury has to be unanimous on the death sentence. It is unreasonable to think, in light of the facts of this case, that any juror would be able to avoid all signs of emotion, Sisco said. The Golden Rule argument refers to an argument put forth by the prosecution in a jury trial, where jurors are persuaded to consider themselves in the place of the victim in reaching a verdict that they would prefer the defendant to get. 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