Defense attorney Daniel Hernandez asked Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco to either bar the entire panel from hearing the rest of the case or to excuse the juror who wept. The child's mother and a judge had some parting words. That pain would have been greater for a girl. This is as tough as it gets, Sisco said. Emailus. TAMPA, Fla. -- A key witness testified Monday in the Granville Ritchie murder trial. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse in September 2019. . Court stopped briefly after a juror in Granville Ritchies trial began sobbing during the testimony of the 9-year-old victims mother. pic.twitter.com/uYMknpFSzI, Law & Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) September 16, 2019, #GranvilleRitchie Wiley said Ritchie told her to tell Felecias family that there was no male in the house, only females so she wouldnt seem like a bad person for leaving Felecia alone with a man. Wiley was witness in Ritchie's trial, and was charged with lying during a missing person investigation. 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. Ritchie's lawyer had argued against a death penalty, claiming factors like an abusive childhood in Kingston, Jamaica, the Tampa Bay Times reported. After Demerson left the courtroom, the juror leaned forward, shielding her face. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death," Sisco said in court on Friday. UPDATED 4:30 PM ET Sep. 25, 2019. 'May God have mercy on your soul.'. He then is believed to have hid her body in a suitcase, which he dumped into Tampa Bay. Public housing tenants ask if old maps are accurate. 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Prosecutors cited three aggravating factors to support their argument for a death sentence: The victim was younger than 12; her murder occurred during a sexual battery; and the killing was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel. ", Seven passengers rushed to hospital after 'severe turbulence' on flight, Gabby Petito's family claim cop knew Laundrie was threat in lawsuit update, Jury inspect eerie Murdaugh murder scene where mom & son were executed, US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death on Friday for killing and raping a nine-year-old girl, Nine-year-old Felecia Williams was killed in May 2014, Six years later, Ritchie was sentenced to death on Friday. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway, where he dumped Felecias body into the bay. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Authorities say the victim was in the care ofEboni Wiley, a family friend. Prosecutor Scott Harmonsaid in closing arguments on Wednesday that Ritchie was a master manipulator, who lied and used Wiley and his mother to cover up what really happened. Convicted child killer, rapist wants off death row. She will have her own trial next month, The Associated Press reported. Granville Ritchie would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. All I know is he needs to be like her.. Hyman Eisenstein, a psychologist who spent 32 hours examining Ritchie in jail, testified for the defense. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. A Florida man is on trial in the alleged murder of 9-year-old Felecia Nicole Williams . If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Police search allotment sheds for Constance Marten's missing baby. 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 The sentencing hearing began Thursday and continued Friday. And the fact that you were able to sit through this trial with the horrific facts. On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014. No one spoke on behalf of Ritchie during Fridays testimony. 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. 17:14 EST 05 Nov 2021. Ritchie is accused in the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday and the jury began deliberating. Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. By 4:30 p.m., they returned the guilty verdict. Each parent has that sick feeling of dread that something happened to their child. He pointed as Wiley as a possible perpetrator of the murder. Have a tip we should know? Ritchie instructed Wiley, who was baby sitting Felecia, to leave the home to buy marijuana. My heart breaks for you. They asked for tissues then said they needed a break. Roebuck, the appellants attorney, insisted that there was nothing spontaneous in Harmons argument. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. 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. Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Ritchie faces the death penalty. Im on seven different types of medication trying to cope with this new normal called life. On Wednesday, the 12-member jury found the 40-year-old Ritchie guilty in the girls 2014 rape and murder. "May God have mercy on your soul, Mr. Ritchie," Judge. On the day of the murder, Felecia left home with Wiley and went to Ritchie's mother's apartment at the Doral Oaks Apartment complex. They spent the past two days in the penalty phase of the trial listening to witnesses and hearing arguments from the Later that night, a 911 call was made on Ritchies phone that only lasted a few seconds. 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. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had sex in a bedroom, but she later admitted she lied. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea., That scripture is talking to someone that knows better, Demerson said. The argument is considered improper and could be grounds for an appeal because the jurors have to consider a case in an objective manner and rely on evidence alone, instead of their feelings and biases. Eboni Wiley, in May 2014, prosecutors said. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . Young Nev. Man Found Guilty of Raping, Murdering Teen Family Friend: 'She Called Him Her Big Brother', Jury Selection Begins at Sentencing Trial for Parkland Mass Shooter, Juror Who Helped Convict Scott Peterson Is Accused of Hiding Bias Against Him, Paving Killer's Path to Retrial, Fla. Man Gets Death Sentence for Murdering 9-Year-Old Girl Left in His Care by Babysitter, N.Y. 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VisitTampafp.comforPolitics,Tampa Area Local News,Sports, andNational Headlines. That argument is considered legally improper because jurors are expected to weigh a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, instead of their personal feelings. Ritchie.". This was deliberate.'. STATE OF FLORIDA V. GRANVILLE RITCHIE WWW.CQINVESTIGATIONS.COM The body of Felecia Williams was found off the Courtney Campbell Causeway five . En 1946 Christian Dior s'installe au 30, avenue Montaigne [11], l'ouverture de la boutique [12] a lieu en dcembre. For him to feel what she felt. 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They traveled to a home, where the defendant was alone with the victim starting at about 4:50 p.m. Investigators claim he committed the crime, stuffed the body in a suitcase, and dumped this by the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Ritchie, now 43, is an inmate at Union Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I think most parents have a moment when a child runs away from them, they cant find a child, a call or text message goes unanswered for a period of time. Ritchies defense plans to raise a number of mitigating factors to argue for a life sentence, instead. 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. Ritchie guilty of killing 9-year-old Felecia Williams on May 16, 2014 after a juror in granville Ritchies trial sobbing... 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