During his sentencing hearing last year, Felecia's father stunned the courtroom by telling his daughter's killer that he forgave him. #GranvilleRitchie Wiley left to get marjuana at the request of Ritchie. 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. Who is Granville Ritchie? 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. I feel like death is appropriate. I do still see the humanity in you,Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. Prosecutors believe it was Felecia calling for help. If convicted, he faces a possible death sentence. Ritchie is accused in the 2014 murder of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. After four hours of deliberation, the jury found Ritchie guilty of first-degree murder, sexual battery and aggravated child abuse. Ritchie instructed Wiley, who was baby sitting Felecia, to leave the home to buy marijuana. Granville Ritchie, the man who raped and murdered 9-year-old Felecia Williams in 2014, was sentenced to death Friday. When Wiley returned nearly an hour later, Ritchie claimed that he gave Felecia money to go buy candy at a nearby CVS store and she had not returned. Sisco addressed the grieving mother, telling her, "I've thought long and hard about what I was going to say to you. I do still see the humanity in you,"Judge Sisco said after delivering the death sentence. 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. Ritchie was convicted of the first-degree murder of nine-year-old F.W., who was strangled to death in 2014. In sum, we cannot say that the improper arguments precluded Ritchies jury from making a reasoned assessment based on the evidence so as to amount to a denial of due process, said the opinion shared by Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Alan Lawson, Carlos Muniz, John Couriel and Jamie Grosshans. The penalty phase of the trial started Thursday. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. Your email address will not be published. She was allowed to remain on the panel. The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said with her voice cracking, before removing her glasses to wipe away tears, 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. Defense casts doubt as Granville Ritchie trial winds down, Jury in Granville Ritchies murder trial hears his account of girls disappearance, He sold me a dream. Ex-girlfriend links Granville Ritchie to 9-year-old murder victim, She was looking into the face of her killer: Trial opens in slaying of girl, 9, Jury seated in trial of Granville Ritchie, accused of strangling young girl. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction and death sentence of a Hillsborough County man convicted of sexually assaulting and murdering a 9-year-old girl and dumping her body in water off the Courtney Campbell Causeway. A Florida man faces the death penalty after being convicted of murdering a 9-year-old girl when she was left alone with him in 2014, PEOPLE confirms. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. Ritchie found guilty in death of Felecia Williams, 9. When the rest of the jurors were brought in, Sisco told them that, as human beings, it is normal to feel emotional in cases of such magnitude. . 10:20 EST 05 Nov 2021 Granville Ritchie, 41, was sentenced to death in September 2020 for the 2014 killing of nine-year-old Felecia Williams, who was raped, strangled to death, stuffed into a suitcase and thrown off an overpass. Wiley initially told investigators that Felecia had run away while she and Ritchie had sex in a bedroom, but she later admitted she lied. "The child victim suffered a horrendous, physically painful, psychologically torturous death,"Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco said, as reported by WTVT. For most parents, that moment passes but for a few unfortunate ones, it doesnt. Demersons testimony brought back feelings of grief, she said. Mister. 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. During Friday's hearing, Felecia's mother addressed the court, calling for Ritchie's death. She didnt deserve thatits hard for all of us to deal with it, you know, but we have to take it one day at a time.. You're a better, stronger woman than I am. He told me he needed to do something. The woman, Eboni Wiley, testified that even though she had only known Ritchie for several days, she left Felecia with him to go buy some marijuana. Youll get a remembrance of Tampa Bay residents weve lost, including heartwarming and amusing details about their lives, every Tuesday. TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - A jury of his peers has found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. 'Im trying to figure out how that is not a Golden Rule violation,' Grosshans said, referring to the prosecutor's speech. Two other jurors turned to console her. Harmon is a veteran prosecutor who has been prosecuting homicides for 20 years, he told the court. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said Ritchie raped and strangled the young woman before putting her body in a suitcase. Wiley and Ritchie picked her up on May 16, 2014. And Granville Ritchie knew better.. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year-old Felecia Williams. Felicia Demerson, the child's mother, said in a statement she's "waited 2,310 days for this day to come," WFTS reported. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She quoted a Bible verse, Matthew 18:6. She left 9-yr-old Sugarplum with Ritchie. The sentencing phase will begin when court resumes Thursday morning. A unanimous 12-0 decision is required to impose the death penalty. According to the Tamp Bay Times, prosecutors said that Ritchie raped and strangled the young girl before stuffing her body into a suitcase. No one spoke on behalf of Ritchie during Fridays testimony. According to court documents Granville Ritchie would abduct, sexually assault and murder Felecia Williams. 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. By [emailprotected]. This was deliberate.'. Injuries to her mouth, he said, indicated that a hand may have been placed over it, keeping her from crying out. TAMPA, Fla. A jury found Granville Ritchie guilty of murder and rape Wednesday afternoon in the 2014 killing of 9-year . I have no ill will against you, Jerome Williams said, reports WREG. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of killing Williams in Sept. 2019. . "For him to feel what my daughter felt over and over again. 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. Woman Pleads Guilty to Shooting Ex-Cop Husband Over Allegations He Molested Children at Her Daycare, Pieper Lewis, Sex Trafficking Victim Who Killed Alleged Rapist, Escapes from Custody, Chinese-Canadian Singer Kris Wu Sentenced to 13 Years for Raping Multiple Women: Reports, Mel Gibson Can Testify in Support of Accuser at Harvey Weinstein Trial, Judge Rules, Jury Recommends Death for Fla. Man Who Killed 2 Boys with Hammer in 'Violent and Relentless Rage', Ohio Softball Coach Sexually Abused a Student, Then Begged Teen Not to Tell Authorities, Kansas Police Officer Allegedly Preyed on Black Women and Girls for Years: 'Terrorized a Community', R. Kelly Found Guilty on Six Counts in Child Pornography Trial, R.I. Man Accused of Sexually Abusing 12-Year-Old Girl, Then Offering Fellow Inmate $200 to Kill Her. 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. I feel like death is appropriate. Authorities said she originally lied to them during the investigation into Williams disappearance. Letsgetstarted. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2023 FOX Television Stations. Felecia Demerson holds up an image of her daughter, Felecia Williams, during the sentencing hearing for her killer. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. First, I am in awe of your bravery and your tireless advocacy for your daughter. Have a tip or story idea? The same jury will decide whether Ritchie will receive the death penalty as part of his sentencing. My heart breaks for you.". Im not like everyone else, bro. Granville Ritchie, 41, was convicted of killing and raping Felecia Williams in Florida in May 2014. Buckwalter claimed that the prosecutor was merely describing for the jurors Ritchie's actions and made an offhand remark. Court is being held in Hillsborough County. 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Instead, it becomes a first step of a neverending nightmare you never wake from. If the inmate wins on appeal, he would be granted a new sentencing trial to determine whether he gets life in prison or the death penalty again. . TAMPA, Fla. Granville Ritchie was found guilty of sexually battering and murdering 9-year-old Felicia Williams in May of 2014. Friday's sentencingincluded testimony from Felecia Demerson, the 9-year-old's mother. On Friday morning, Hillsborough Circuit Judge Michelle Sisco sentenced Granville. The sentencing hearing began Thursday and continued Friday. For him to feel what she felt. Jurors saw photos of the 9-year-old girl, all with a wide smile one of her donning a blue dress at a wedding where she served as a flower girl, another of her sitting on a couch beside her mother, and a third of her mugging for a selfie as she lies on a mattress. Emailus. pic.twitter.com/ICiF7E3rSA. Bailiffs led the jury out of the courtroom. That argument is considered legally incorrect because jurors are expected to consider a verdict objectively based on evidence alone, rather than their personal feelings. Have a tip we should know? James Upshaw Downs, a forensic pathologist, talked about the pain the girl would have felt as she was being beaten, raped and strangled. Later that night, Ritchie drove to the Courtney Campbell Causeway where he dumped Felecia's body into the bay. Android Users,Click Here To Download The Free Press AppAnd Never Miss A Story. 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 is charged in an ongoing case with allegedly providing false information to law enforcement. 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