Opinion ID: 2537276
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: In determining whether sufficient evidence supports the murder convictions, this Court views the evidence in the light most favorable to upholding the verdict. See Smith v. State, 7 So.3d 473, 509 (Fla.2009). We conclude that a rational trier of fact could have found the existence of the elements of first-degree murder (both as premeditated and felony murder) beyond a reasonable doubt. See Simpson v. State, 3 So.3d 1135, 1147 (Fla.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 130 S.Ct. 91, 175 L.Ed.2d 62 (2009). In summary, the evidence showed that Wadewith Jackson and Coleplanned to commit a robbery, and then Wade invited Nixon to join them in their criminal scheme. Together, the group planned the details of the robbery and murders, and Wade participated in obtaining the materials needed to implement the plan. On July 8, 2005, first Wade and Nixon entered the Sumners' home, and then Wade and Jackson obtained their financial account information. Subsequently, Wade and Nixon put the Sumners in the trunk of their own car and drove them to the gravesite in Georgia. There, Wade and Jackson placed the couple in the hole and buried them alive after obtaining the PINs to the couple's financial accounts. The group later obtained money from the Sumners' bank account, and Wade and Cole returned to the Sumners' home and stole their computer. Within days, authorities arrested Wade with Cole and Jackson in a South Carolina hotel where they found evidence linking all three to the crimes, including a check for $8,000 on the Sumners' account made out to Wade and dated July 8, 2005.