Opinion ID: 2639377
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Mandatory review of the death sentences

Text: NRS 177.055(2) requires this court to review every death sentence and consider in addition to any issues raised on appeal: (b) Whether the evidence supports the finding of an aggravating circumstance or circumstances; (c) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice or any arbitrary factor; and (d) Whether the sentence of death is excessive, considering both the crime and the defendant. The same three aggravating circumstances were found for each murder: it was committed by a person who knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by means which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one person; it was committed at random and without apparent motive; and Floyd had, in the immediate proceeding, been convicted of more than one murder. The evidence supports the finding of each of these circumstances. The first is established by the fact that Floyd repeatedly fired a shotgun while walking and running through a supermarket where a number of people were present. The second is amply supported by a record that shows that Floyd knew nothing about the people he killed or why he had killed them. For example, immediately after his arrest, Floyd said, Why did I kill those people? I, I don't know. Finally, Floyd was convicted of four murders in this case, establishing the third circumstance. We see no indication that the sentences of death were imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any arbitrary factor. We also conclude that the death sentences in this case are not excessive. Floyd presented a number of witnesses to testify in mitigation. A family friend and a coworker both testified that they knew him to be a good person and that the person who committed the crimes in this case was not the Zane Floyd they knew. The coworker and Floyd's stepfather testified respectively that when they met Zane in jail immediately after the crimes he was like a zombie and wasn't there. His stepfather also told of Floyd's difficulties and behavioral problems in school and of how well he later did in the Marine Corps. A former Marine who served with Floyd as an instructor in combat training school testified that Floyd was the best instructor, that in the field, he would be a perfect Marine, but that on his own he did not do well. Floyd's close friend testified that he and Floyd began using marijuana and methamphetamine when they were fifteen or sixteen. The friend testified that Floyd's mother was often intoxicated and that on Floyd's sixteenth birthday his stepfather played drinking games with Floyd and his friends. After Floyd returned from the Marines, his friend reintroduced him to methamphetamine, which they sometimes used without sleeping for several days. Floyd's mother testified about her own drug and alcohol abuse and the loss of her first child, which caused her to drink even more. When she became pregnant with Floyd, her husband was displeased, they separated, and he filed for divorce just before Floyd's birth. She described Floyd's learning and behavioral problems as a child. She also spoke about how he played baseball and loved animals. A clinical social worker and psychoanalyst conducted a psychosocial evaluation of Floyd and testified to the following. Floyd's mother had used various illegal controlled substances and abused alcohol. Floyd's stepfather also abused alcohol and was sometimes violent towards Floyd's mother. Floyd had difficulties in school and began drinking when he was fifteen and using methamphetamine when he was sixteen. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age seventeen. After four years he was honorably discharged on condition that he not reenlist because of his alcohol problems. When he was twenty-two, Floyd attempted to contact his biological father, who refused any contact. Returning home from the military, Floyd lived with his parents. He had no driver's license because of a DUI. He worked for a short time at Costco, but was terminated. He then obtained employment as a security guard, but lost that job in May 1999. That same month his cousin was killed, which affected him and other family members deeply. Psychologist Dr. Dougherty testified and gave his opinion that Floyd suffers from the mental disease of mixed personality disorder with borderline, paranoid, and depressive features. In addition, I confirmed the prior diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. . . . It's my opinion . . . that Mr. Floyd's reasoning was impaired as to rational thought at times, and at times he did not act knowingly and purposely at the time of the alleged incident. His symptoms were exacerbated by a long history of the ingestion of drugs and alcohol. Floyd spoke in allocution and took responsibility for what he had done and said he could not tell why he did it. He said he was sorry and would regret his actions for the rest of his life. This mitigating evidence is not insignificant, but given the aggravating circumstances and the multiple, brutal, unprovoked murders in this case, we do not deem the death sentences excessive.