Case Title: Zirkle v. Commonwealth

Citation: 

Docket Number: 002266

State: virginia

Court: Virginia Supreme Court

Date: 2001-09-14T00:00:00Z

Document:
Present:  All the Justices 
 
DANIEL LEE ZIRKLE 
 
 
            OPINION BY JUSTICE LEROY R. HASSELL, SR. 
v.  Record No. 002266 
September 14, 2001 
 
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA 
 
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PAGE COUNTY 
John J. McGrath, Jr., Judge 
 
 
As required by Code § 17.1-313, we review the sentence of 
death imposed upon Daniel Lee Zirkle. 
I. 
 
A grand jury in Page County issued an indictment against 
Daniel Lee Zirkle charging him with the capital murder of 
Christina Marie Zirkle pursuant to Code § 18.2-31(12), the 
"willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of a person 
under the age of fourteen by a person age twenty-one or 
older."  Prior to impaneling a jury on the morning of the 
scheduled trial, Zirkle's counsel informed the circuit court 
that Zirkle desired to enter a plea of guilty to the 
indictment and that he had instructed counsel not to present 
any evidence.  After consulting with counsel, Zirkle was 
arraigned, and he entered a plea of guilty to the indictment.  
Before accepting the plea of guilty, the circuit court 
considered a proffer of the evidence that the Commonwealth 
would have adduced during the guilt phase of the capital 
murder trial.  Zirkle concurred in the proffer. 
 
After the circuit court conducted an inquiry incident to 
the tendered plea, the court concluded that Zirkle was 
mentally competent and fully capable of understanding the 
proceedings, and that he fully understood the nature and 
effect of his plea of guilty and the possible penalties that 
could be imposed upon him.  The circuit court found that 
Zirkle's guilty plea was made freely, intelligently, and 
voluntarily.  The court accepted Zirkle's plea and found him 
guilty of capital murder. 
 
Pursuant to Code § 19.2-264.4, the circuit court 
proceeded with the penalty phase of the capital murder trial.  
At the beginning of the penalty phase, Zirkle's counsel 
informed the court that Zirkle had directed them not to 
present any mitigation evidence and that such direction was 
made against the advice of counsel.  The circuit court asked 
Zirkle whether he understood that he could introduce evidence 
in mitigation and whether he had instructed his counsel not to 
present mitigation evidence.  Zirkle responded, "I have." 
 
The Commonwealth presented its evidence.  After 
considering the evidence and a report prepared by a probation 
officer pursuant to Code § 19.2-299, the circuit court found 
that there is a probability that Zirkle would commit criminal 
acts of violence in the future that would constitute a 
continuing serious threat to society, and that his conduct in 
 
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committing the offense for which he was charged was 
outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible, or inhuman in that it 
involved depravity of mind and an aggravated battery to the 
victim.  The circuit court entered final judgment fixing 
Zirkle's sentence at death. 
 
Zirkle directed his counsel not to appeal the judgment of 
the circuit court.  We entered an order that required the 
circuit court to conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine 
whether Zirkle's decision to waive his appeal was voluntary 
and intelligent.  We also directed that the circuit court 
obtain Zirkle's written waiver under oath and file it with the 
transcribed record of the hearing in the event the court 
determined that Zirkle's decision was voluntary and 
intelligent.  After conducting a hearing, the circuit court 
found that Zirkle "freely and voluntarily waived his right to 
appeal . . . and that [Zirkle] is fully aware of the 
consequences."  The circuit court obtained an executed written 
waiver of Zirkle's right of appeal, signed by Zirkle in open 
court and under oath. 
 
Even though Zirkle waived his appeal of right and 
directed his counsel not to participate in any appeals on his 
behalf, this Court must review the imposition of the sentence 
of death.  We ordered that Zirkle's counsel file a brief and 
 
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present oral argument to this Court upon the matters contained 
in Code § 17.1-313, which states in relevant part: 
 
"A.  A sentence of death, upon the judgment 
thereon becoming final in the circuit court, shall 
be reviewed on the record by the Supreme Court. 
 
 . . . . 
 
 
"C.  [T]he court shall consider and determine: 
 
 
 
"1.  Whether the sentence of death was 
imposed under the influence of passion, 
prejudice or any other arbitrary factor; and 
 
 
"2.  Whether the sentence of death is 
excessive or disproportionate to the penalty 
imposed in similar cases, considering both the 
crime and the defendant." 
 
Thus, we review the sentence of death to determine whether 
Zirkle's sentence was imposed under the influence of any 
arbitrary factor and whether his sentence is excessive or 
disproportionate. 
II. 
 
In accordance with well-established principles of 
appellate review, we will review the evidence in the light 
most favorable to the Commonwealth, the prevailing party 
below.  Lenz v. Commonwealth, 261 Va. 451, 455, 544 S.E.2d 
299, 301 (2001).  Barbara Jo Shifflett and Zirkle lived 
together in Rockingham County from 1992 until April 3, 1999.  
Barbara Shifflett was the mother of two children, Jessica L. 
Shifflett and Christina M. Zirkle.  Daniel Zirkle was 
Christina's biological father. 
 
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On April 3, 1999, Barbara Shifflett took her daughters to 
spend the night with her sister, Peggy S. Shifflett.  When 
Barbara Shifflett returned to her home about 9:00 p.m., Zirkle 
was there in bed.  "[H]e jump[ed] up out of the bed, and he 
bump[ed]" Barbara Shifflett in the chest and stated that he 
wanted his "f'ing girls home now." 
 
Barbara Shifflett and Zirkle began to argue.  She "picked 
up" a telephone and tried to call for help by "call[ing] 911."  
Zirkle "jerked" the telephone from her hand and pushed her 
against a fish tank.  When Barbara Shifflett tried to use a 
different telephone to call for help, Zirkle "jerked the phone 
out of [her] hand" and shoved her against a sofa.  Barbara 
Shifflett went into Jessica's bedroom and used a telephone to 
call the police. 
 
After the police arrived, Barbara Shifflett left the home 
to spend the evening with her sister, Peggy Shifflett.  Zirkle 
placed a telephone call to Peggy Shifflett's home, and Peggy 
Shifflett answered the telephone and hung up the receiver.  
Barbara Shifflett described this incident as follows: 
 
"And he called back, and [Peggy] told him that 
he could not speak to me, to please not call back.  
He calls again, and I told her to let me speak to 
him.  So I spoke to him.  And he said that he wanted 
his f'ing daughters home, and he wanted them home 
now.  And I told him no, that we wasn't coming home.  
And he said . . . [h]e said, 'Do you want a war?  
Have a war.  You'll pay, you f'ing b-.' " 
 
 
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Barbara Shifflett obtained a protective order which 
police officers served on Zirkle that night.  The protective 
order directed Zirkle to stay away from Barbara Shifflett and 
the home he shared with her. 
 
The next day, Barbara Shifflett and her sister went to 
Barbara's home to retrieve some items.  While they were in the 
home, Zirkle, who had entered the house, attacked Barbara 
Shifflett.  Eventually, Zirkle fled, police officers arrived 
at the home, and Barbara Shifflett obtained arrest warrants 
against Zirkle for assault and battery and violating the 
protective order.  After the warrants had been issued, Zirkle 
continued to place telephone calls to Barbara Shifflett, and 
during one conversation, he told her that she "would be sorry, 
that [she] would pay." 
 
Subsequently, Zirkle was arrested and convicted of 
assault and battery and violating the protective order.  
Zirkle was sentenced to incarceration in the Rockingham County 
Jail.  Ricky Lee Dean, who was confined in the Rockingham 
County Jail with Zirkle, testified that Zirkle stated:  "[H]e 
was going to take care of all three of them when he got out of 
there.  If he couldn't have them, nobody else would.  He said 
he was going to kill them, all three." 
 
About 2:30 p.m. on August 2, 1999, Zirkle, who had been 
released from jail, placed a telephone call to Barbara 
 
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Shifflett while she was at work.  Shifflett testified:  "I was 
at work. . . .  At 2:30 [Zirkle] calls me and tells me to live 
in hell, bitch." 
 
Around 4:30 p.m. that day, Barbara Shifflett left work to 
obtain another protective order from a magistrate.  When she 
returned to work that evening, Barbara Shifflett learned that 
Zirkle's mother had made an "urgent" telephone call to her.  
Barbara Shifflett called Zirkle's mother, who informed Barbara 
Shifflett that Zirkle "had Christina."  Barbara Shifflett 
immediately left work and drove her car home to check on 
Jessica, who had been "watching" Christina.  While en route to 
her home, Barbara Shifflett used her cellular telephone to 
call Jessica, but no one answered the telephone. 
 
When Barbara Shifflett arrived at her home, she entered 
the house and began to search for Christina.  Barbara 
Shifflett "holler[ed]" for Christina and Jessica.  Barbara 
Shifflett went to Jessica's bedroom, and the door was closed.  
When she opened the door, Barbara Shifflett found Jessica's 
body on the floor.  Barbara Shifflett "called 911."  When 
police officers arrived at the Shifflett residence, they 
examined Jessica's body and informed Barbara Shifflett that 
Jessica was dead.  The officers also informed Barbara 
Shifflett that Christina had been killed. 
 
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Peter Monteleone, an investigator with the Page County 
Sheriff's Department, was dispatched to the Storybook Trail in 
Page County on August 2, 1999.  He had been informed by the 
dispatcher that a 30-year-old male, who had threatened to 
commit suicide, "had taken his daughter and gone to the 
trail."  As Monteleone walked down the paved trail, he 
observed that the wooden deck area at the end of the trail 
contained "fresh blood stains."  Monteleone saw "the upper 
part of a male torso" and a child's leg.  The child's body was 
lying face down on the male's chest, the male's left arm was 
over the child, and there was a knife lying "right off of 
[Zirkle's] right hand." 
 
Monteleone determined that Zirkle was alive and kicked 
the knife away from his hand.  Monteleone tried to determine 
whether the child had a pulse, and she did not.  Monteleone 
observed wounds to Christina's body.  Michael Todd Foltz, a 
member of a rescue squad, arrived at the scene, checked 
Christina's vital signs, and pronounced her dead.  Zirkle, who 
had a self-inflicted wound to his neck, was transported to a 
hospital for treatment. 
 
Detective Daniel Comer of the Rockingham County Sheriff's 
Department interviewed Zirkle.  The defendant stated that he 
had taken a knife from his mother's home and that he used the 
knife to kill Jessica and Christina. 
 
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Ronald J. Jackson, an inmate who was incarcerated with 
Zirkle after Zirkle had been arrested for the murders of 
Jessica and Christina, gave the following testimony:  "An 
officer came in, when Mr. Zirkle first entered into the pod.  
Maybe a week or two after he had entered, an officer came in 
to let [Zirkle] know that he was going to contribute to the 
car wash that was being given for his daughters' grave site 
and the stones.  And as the officer came over and explained 
what he was going to do, Mr. Zirkle said, 'Well, tell that 
bitch I said checkmate.'  And he ran his thumb across his 
throat, and looked dead at the officer." 
 
Dr. Frances Patricia Field, the assistant chief medical 
examiner for the Northern Virginia Medical Examiner's Office, 
qualified as an expert witness on the subject of forensic 
pathology.  She performed an autopsy on the body of Christina 
Zirkle. 
 
Dr. Field testified as follows:  "[Christina] had a 
superficial incised, or cut wound under her chin.  She had a 
gaping incised stab wound on the front of her neck.  She had 
some abrasions on the front of her left shoulder, or lower 
neck region; a bruise at the back of her right neck; a small 
bruise on her right abdomen; some abrasions, or scraping of 
the skin, on the right hand and right knee; and a bruise on 
 
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her lower right leg.  And there was a pressure mark on her 
left knee." 
 
Field stated that the stab wound to Christina's neck 
extended "to a depth of approximately two and three quarter 
inches.  It went through the tracheal, or the air passage.  It 
also went between two cervical vertebrae, between the bony 
parts, and cut the spinal cord in half."  Dr. Field opined 
that this type of stabbing motion involved considerable force.  
Dr. Field testified that Christina would have lived "for a 
very short period of time[,] [o]nly a few minutes" after this 
wound was inflicted.  The cause of Christina's death was the 
stab wound to the neck.  The stab wound to the neck involved 
cutting and stabbing motions, and the abrasions and bruises on 
the back of Christina's neck and the base of her head 
indicated that she struggled when Zirkle stabbed her with the 
knife. 
 
Dr. William Massello, the assistant chief medical 
examiner for Western Virginia, qualified as an expert witness 
in the field of forensic pathology.  He performed an autopsy 
on Jessica Shifflett's body.  He testified that her body had 
five stab wounds to the neck.  Two wounds were on the left 
side and extended into the neck approximately three to five 
inches.  These wounds "cut through a major artery, a major 
vein, and the back portion of the windpipe in the front of the 
 
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neck.  And in doing so, they created . . . they would have 
caused a lot of external bleeding, bleeding into the windpipe, 
or the airway, and also bleeding into the supporting tissue 
and the muscles of the neck." 
 
Jessica's body had two additional wounds on the front of 
the neck.  Those wounds extended "into the muscle of the neck, 
and into a glandular structure . . . called the thyroid gland, 
which regulates your metabolic rate." 
 
When asked whether he was able to determine which of the 
five wounds would have been lethal to Jessica, Dr. Massello 
responded:  "I couldn't tell you which one.  But I can tell 
you that one of the two, or both on the left side of the neck, 
were terribly, terribly lethal, and either one of those wounds 
would have caused death within many seconds, or a few minutes, 
after being inflicted."  Dr. Massello testified that the types 
of injuries on the child's neck were consistent with the blade 
size and type of knife taken from Zirkle. 
 
In 1988, Zirkle was convicted of armed robbery.  Nancy 
Berry, the victim of the robbery, testified that Zirkle 
entered a store where she was employed as a cashier, displayed 
a butcher knife, and demanded that she "[g]ive [him] some 
money."  Berry gave Zirkle money from a cash register, and he 
left the store.  Zirkle pled guilty in 1999 to possession of 
marijuana and was convicted of that offense.  The Commonwealth 
 
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presented evidence that Zirkle had also threatened and abused 
members of Barbara Shifflett's family. 
III. 
Passion, Prejudice, and Proportionality 
A. 
 
Counsel for Zirkle state in their brief that "every death 
case contains an element of passion.  Counsel for Mr. Zirkle 
cannot point to any evidence in the record that would indicate 
that the Court was influenced by passion, prejudice or any 
other arbitrary factor.  Counsel for Mr. Zirkle ask the Court 
to review the proceedings . . . in considering this issue." 
 
We have reviewed the record, and we find no evidence that 
Zirkle's sentence of death was imposed under the influence of 
passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor.  We also 
observe that even though it was not required to do so, the 
circuit court, on several occasions, informed Zirkle that he 
was entitled to offer evidence in mitigation, but Zirkle 
refused to permit his attorneys to present such evidence. 
B. 
 
The test of proportionality that we apply is whether 
"juries in this jurisdiction generally approve the supreme 
penalty for comparable or similar crimes."  Smith v. 
Commonwealth, 239 Va. 243, 271, 389 S.E.2d 871, 886 (quoting 
Stamper v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 260, 284, 257 S.E.2d 808, 824 
 
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(1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 972 (1980)), cert. denied, 498 
U.S. 881 (1990). 
 
Zirkle's counsel state that since they were "prevented by 
Mr. Zirkle from presenting any evidence in mitigation, Counsel 
for Mr. Zirkle cannot point to any evidence in the record that 
would indicate that the sentence of death is excessive or 
disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, 
considering both the crime and the defendant." 
 
We have examined the records in all capital murder cases 
reviewed by this Court since the adoption of Code § 17.1-313.  
Applying the test of proportionality, we hold that the 
sentence of death imposed upon Zirkle is neither excessive nor 
disproportionate to the penalties imposed in similar cases, 
considering both the crime and the defendant. 
 
In Buchanan v. Commonwealth, 238 Va. 389, 384 S.E.2d 757 
(1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1063 (1990), we affirmed the 
sentence of death imposed upon Douglas Buchanan who was 
convicted of capital murder in violation of former Code 
§ 18.2-31(g), now Code § 18.2-31(7), for killing his father in 
the same transaction in which he killed his two half-brothers, 
and stepmother.  In Davidson v. Commonwealth, 244 Va. 129, 419 
S.E.2d 656, cert. denied, 506 U.S. 959 (1992), we affirmed the 
sentence of death imposed upon Mickey Wayne Davidson who used 
a crowbar in the capital murder of his wife and two 
 
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stepdaughters.  We recognize that the sentences of death 
imposed upon the respective defendants in Buchanan and 
Davidson were based on the vileness predicate and that 
Zirkle's sentence of death was based upon both vileness and 
future dangerousness.  This Court, however, has approved 
sentences of death in comparable cases involving both the 
future dangerousness and vileness aggravators.  See Walker v. 
Commonwealth, 258 Va. 54, 515 S.E.2d 565 (1999), cert. denied, 
528 U.S. 1125 (2000); Bramblett v. Commonwealth, 257 Va. 263, 
513 S.E.2d 400, cert. denied, 528 U.S. 952 (1999); Beck v. 
Commonwealth, 253 Va. 373, 484 S.E.2d 898, cert. denied, 522 
U.S. 1018 (1997); Clagett v. Commonwealth, 252 Va. 79, 472 
S.E.2d 263 (1996), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 1122 (1997); Goins 
v. Commonwealth, 251 Va. 442, 470 S.E.2d 114, cert. denied, 
519 U.S. 887 (1996); Stewart v. Commonwealth, 245 Va. 222, 427 
S.E.2d 394, cert. denied, 510 U.S. 848 (1993); George v. 
Commonwealth, 242 Va. 264, 411 S.E.2d 12 (1991), cert. denied, 
503 U.S. 973 (1992). 
IV. 
 
Having reviewed the sentence of death pursuant to Code 
§ 17.1-313, we decline to commute the sentence to imprisonment 
for life.  Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment of the 
circuit court. 
Affirmed. 
 
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