DC#  067457
DOB:  07/24/61 

First Judicial Circuit, Escambia County, Case #89-01139
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Nickolas P. Geeker
Trial Attorney: Ted A. Stokes – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Ted A. Stokes – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Harry Brody – Registry

Date of Offense: 09/19/88     

Date of Sentence: 09/29/89 

Circumstances of Offense:

Pensacola members of the “Miami Boys,” a statewide drug organization, placed a safe containing drugs and money in the home of Michael McCormick.  McCormick’s neighbors, Derrick Hill and Morris Douglas stole the safe from him.  In order to keep the location of the stolen goods unknown, Hill and Douglas then gave the drugs and money to Darlene Crenshaw.

On 09/19/88, Michael Coleman, Timothy Robinson, Bruce Frazier, and Michael McCormick, members of the “Miami Boys,” busted into Hill and Douglas’ apartment in search of the stolen goods.  Darlene Crenshaw and Amanda Merrell were also in the apartment visiting Hill and Douglas. 

Coleman and his associates then forced all the apartment’s inhabitants to completely strip, after which he tied them up with electrical cord.  Darrell Frazier then arrived with Mildred Baker, McCormick’s girlfriend. 

Robinson ordered the captives to relinquish the stolen drugs, and when no one spoke up, he began stabbing Hill.  Crenshaw stated that she could take them to the drugs, and left with Bruce and Darrell Frazier.  Coleman and Robinson then raped both Merrell and Baker.

After showing the Fraziers to the drugs and money, Crenshaw escaped.  When the Fraziers returned to Hill and Douglas’ apartment, Coleman and Robinson slashed and shot their five captives, including McCormick, and then all four men left.  Despite being shot in the head and having her throat slashed, Merrell survived the attack and summoned police.  The other four prisoners died at the scene.

Merrell and Crenshaw were able to identify Coleman from photographs, which aided authorities in their search for the defendant.  The Pensacola Sheriff’s Department arrested Coleman on 02/14/89.

Codefendant Information:

Timothy Robinson was sentenced to death for his part in the murders on 09/26/89.

Robinson was convicted of First-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Sexual Battery, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary and Conspiracy to Traffic.

Bruce Frazier was convicted of Second-Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, and Conspiracy to Traffic.  Frazier was sentenced to 30 years for Trafficking and 50 years for each of the other convictions.

Darrell Frazier was convicted and sentenced to life for First-Degree Murder, Second-Degree Murder, Armed Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, and Armed Burglary.  He was sentenced to 30 years for Second-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Traffic. 

02/14/89          Defendant arrested.

02/28/89          Defendant indicted.

05/23/89          Amended indictment filed, charging:

Count I: First-Degree Murder   
Count II: First-Degree Murder
Count III: First-Degree Murder
Count IV: First-Degree Murder
Count V: Attempted Murder
Count VI: Armed Kidnapping
Count VII: Armed Kidnapping
Count VIII: Armed Kidnapping
Count IX: Armed Kidnapping
Count X: Armed Kidnapping
Count XI: Armed Kidnapping
Count XII: Armed Sexual Battery
Count XIII: Armed Sexual Battery
Count XIV: Conspiracy to Traffic
Count XV: Armed Burglary
Count XVI: Armed Robbery
Count XVII: Armed Robbery

06/01/89          The defendant was found guilty on all counts.

06/02/89          Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 6 to 6 count, voted for life imprisonment.

09/29/89         Judge Geeker overrode the jury’s recommendation of life and the defendant was sentenced as followed

Coleman filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 10/30/89.  In that appeal, he argued that the trial court erred in not severing his trial from those of his    co-defendants, in refusing to have a requested portion of the record regarding DNA evidence read back to the jury, and in denying his motion to suppress the testimony of certain witnesses.  Also, Coleman contended that the sentencing judge erred in overriding the jury’s recommendation of life.  The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the convictions and sentence of death on 12/24/02.

Coleman then filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 10/12/93. 

Coleman next filed a 3.850 Motion on 03/24/97 that was denied on 07/16/04. 

Coleman filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 08/02/04 that is pending.