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David J.
PITTMAN
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Revenge
- Arson
Number of victims: 3
Date of murders:
May 15,
1990
Date of birth:
December 10,
1961
Victims profile: Clarence and Barbara Knowles (his
wife parents) and Bonnie Knowles (his wife sister)
Method of murder: Stabbing
with knife
Location: Polk County, Florida, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on April 25, 1991
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 Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: A.
Anne Owens – Assistant Public 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 the murders of Clarence, Barbara, and Bonnie
Knowles.
Clarence and Barbara Knowles’
daughter, Marie, was married to Pittman. Marie initiated a divorce,
which Pittman did not want. During the course of the divorce, Pittman
had threatened to harm both Marie and her family.
In the early morning hours of
05/15/90, witnesses phoned the fire department to report that the
residence of Clarence and Barbara Knowles, Marie’s parents, was on fire.
It was discovered, after the investigation, that the perpetrator had cut
the phone line and after setting the fire stole the car of Bonnie
Knowles, the couple’s other daughter.
The bodies of Clarence, Barbara,
and Bonnie were found in the home. The cause of death for all three was
attributed to multiple stab wounds, which resulted in massive bleeding.
Additionally, Bonnie Knowles’ throat had been slit.
Another witness testified that
on the same morning of 05/15/90, he saw a car similar to Bonnie Knowles’
in a ditch on the side of the road close to the Knowles’ home. This
witness saw a truck, determined to belong to Pittman, pull beside the
car. The witness later noticed the car on fire. Another witness saw a
man running from the burning car, and later identified the man as
Pittman in a photo line-up.
A jailhouse informant testified
that Pittman confessed to the aforementioned crimes.
04/19/91 Jury returned
guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment with the exception of Count V
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 – 15
years
Case Information:
On 09/16/91, Pittman filed his
Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. In his appeal, he contended
that the court incorrectly admitted evidence of his past crimes.
Pittman also claimed that the trial court admitted identification
testimony that was manipulated by suggestive procedures. Some of
Pittman’s other claims included hearsay evidence of someone else’s
involvement in the murder was not admitted and the judge rendered an
insufficient sentencing order, which imposed three death sentences.
The
Court found no merit in any of Pittman’s claims and affirmed his
convictions and sentences on 09/29/94.
On 03/20/95, Pittman filed a
Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was subsequently denied on
05/15/95.
On 03/24/97, Pittman filed a
3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court. The motion was dismissed on
04/24/97. Subsequently, he filed an amended 3.850 Motion on 11/02/01.
On 09/15/05, Pittman filed a second amended 3.850 Motion. On 05/08/06,
the evidentiary hearing was held. The second motion is currently
pending.
