Opinion ID: 2782886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: crime, guilt phase, and verdicts

Text: On Friday, November 2, 2001, during the late afternoon or early evening, Everett was roaming the neighborhood where victim Kelli M. Bailey lived in Panama City Beach, Florida. Everett was armed with a wooden fish bat and “looking for . . . some money.” He entered the home of Bailey, a stranger to him, uninvited, possibly through an unlocked door. 2 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 3 of 87 Bailey emerged from her bedroom and confronted Everett in the living room. Everett beat Bailey, and as she tried to run back to her bedroom, he knocked her down and raped her. Everett also twisted Bailey’s neck, breaking a vertebra, which paralyzed her and caused her to suffocate to death. 1 Bailey suffered extensive other injuries, including multiple abrasions on her face; swollen eyelids and hemorrhaging of the eyes; a fractured nose; lacerations and bruising on her lips; a tear in her lip through which her teeth protruded; a knocked-out tooth; bruising of her tongue where her teeth impacted the tongue; and abrasions on her body consistent with carpet burn. Before leaving Bailey’s house, Everett removed his shirt, but he took with him some cash and a credit card from Bailey’s purse, his fish bat, and her jacket. Outside the house, Everett discarded all but the cash. Everett returned to the Fiesta Motel, the nearby motel where he was staying at the time. Bailey did not show up that evening for her seven o’clock shift as a medical technologist at a hospital and thus a concerned coworker called her home phone and left multiple messages on her answering machine. The coworker then called Bailey’s stepfather, John Greathouse, who lived less than a mile from Bailey, to ask Greathouse if he knew where Bailey was. Greathouse drove to Bailey’s house 1 The medical examiner testified that it may have taken Bailey up to several minutes to lose consciousness after she was paralyzed. 3 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 4 of 87 and entered through her back door using his key. Greathouse discovered Bailey lying dead in the doorway to her bedroom, and he called 911. Police responded and investigated the murder scene, where they found blood spatter in the living room, on the doorway to Bailey’s bedroom, and in her bedroom. Police found Bailey lying face down in the entrance to her bedroom, with her legs partially splayed. One of Bailey’s teeth was lying on the floor next to her head. Bailey’s jacket and credit card were discovered one block from her house. Additionally, police recovered a fish bat approximately 133 feet from Bailey’s back door. The bat tested positive for the presumptive presence of blood. The police subsequently discovered that an individual—later determined to be Everett—had purchased the same model of fish bat at a local Wal-Mart store on October 27, 2001.
At the time of the murder, Everett was a fugitive from justice in Alabama, where he previously had received a ten-year suspended sentence for a 1999 conviction of possession of a forged instrument. In February 2000, Everett’s probation was revoked, and he was sentenced to ten years in state prison. Everett posted a supersedeas bond pending his direct appeal. When his appeal was denied on October 5, 2001, Everett was required to begin serving his sentence within 4 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 5 of 87 fifteen days under the terms of the bond. Instead of turning himself in by his October 20, 2001 deadline, Everett fled to Florida. Accordingly, an Alabama bail bondsman was searching for Everett at the time of the November 2001 murder. Around nine o’clock on the night of the murder, based on a tip from one of Everett’s sisters, the bail bondsman found Everett at the Fiesta Motel. The bail bondsman took Everett into custody and transported him to Alabama authorities. Everett was then jailed at the Baldwin County Corrections Facility in Alabama. C. Everett’s First Statement, November 14, 2001, in Baldwin County, Alabama Jail On November 14, 2001, Sergeant Rodney Tilley and Lieutenant Chad Lindsey, investigators with the Panama City Beach Police Department, traveled to the Baldwin County jail to interview Everett regarding the Bailey homicide. The police in Florida had traced the fish bat found near the crime scene to Everett, and had learned that Everett was being held in the Baldwin County jail in Alabama. At the beginning of the twelve-minute interview—which was tape-recorded and subsequently transcribed—Sergeant Tilley said to Everett, “[Y]ou understand the right to remain silent, you do not have to talk to me, you have the right to have an attorney present before we talk.” Everett confirmed that he understood and that he wished to speak with the officers. 5 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 6 of 87 In his transcribed November 14 statement, Everett indicated that, when the bail bondsman found him at the Fiesta Motel, he had been in Panama City 2 for a couple of weeks. Everett had come down to Panama City from Alabama to meet up with a friend, Jared Farmer, with whom he spent most of his visit using crystal methamphetamine and marijuana. Everett financed the trip and the drugs in part by writing bad checks, including at a Wal-Mart store, where he purchased a fish bat among other items. Everett said that he had not seen the fish bat since leaving it in Farmer’s pick-up truck about a week before leaving Panama City. When Sergeant Tilley asked Everett what shoes he had with him during the trip, Everett stated that he had worn a pair of sneakers that he subsequently threw away when the sneakers got blood on them during a fight with another man on the beach. After Sergeant Tilley noted that Everett’s story about throwing away the shoes did not “jive,” Everett stated, “I wish to have a lawyer present. I can tell you, I can see where this is going. I mean I want a lawyer.” The transcript of the November 14 statement reflects that Sergeant Tilley then noted that Everett had requested a lawyer, after which one of the officers shut off the tape recorder. 2 Although Panama City and Panama City Beach are separate municipalities, Everett and the Panama City Beach Police Department officers referred to the area generally as Panama City. We adopt this convention. 6 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 7 of 87 According to Sergeant Tilley’s and Lieutenant Lindsey’s subsequent depositions, as the Florida officers were “packing up” and leaving the room, Lieutenant Lindsey said something to Everett to the effect of, “Don’t be lying, don’t be caught in a lie, you know, now’s the chance for you to tell the truth, you know, because I don’t want to see the State of Florida stick a needle in your arm.” Picking up on Lieutenant Lindsey’s attempt to play “bad cop,” Sergeant Tilley took on the role of “good cop” and said to Everett, “[M]an, you know, I think this might have been a burglary that went bad. . . . I would sure like to hear it from you, but . . . .” At that point, from Sergeant Tilley’s perspective, Everett “mellowed in his seat.” Sergeant Tilley then stated, “[W]ell, if you want to talk to me, just let me know, let these folks know.” Sergeant Tilley believed that this left things between him and Everett on good terms. D. Request for Consent for DNA Samples—November 19, 2001 Following Everett’s November 14 statement, and sometime on or before November 19, Sergeant Tilley contacted Officer John Murphy, a detective in the Sheriff’s Office in Baldwin County, Alabama. Sergeant Tilley asked Murphy to obtain consent from Everett to collect blood and saliva samples for Tilley’s investigation of the Bailey homicide. Thus, on November 19, Officer Murphy in Baldwin County asked for Everett’s consent to collect the DNA samples. 7 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 8 of 87 On November 21, 2001, Officer Murphy prepared a written report concerning his November 19 interaction with Everett. According to that report, Everett agreed verbally and in writing to Officer Murphy’s request for DNA samples. The signed consent forms state in full: The undersigned, Everett, Paul, does hereby voluntarily and consentually [sic], grant permission for, Mary Hadley [illegible], to draw or extract a sample of my blood or hair. This consent is hereby granted without any pressure, force, or promises made to me. The sample or samples may be given to, John Murphy, with the, Baldwin County Sheriffs Office. ... I, Paul Everett, having been informed of my constitutional right not to have a search made of the body hereinafter described without a search warrant and of my right to refuse to consent to said search, do hereby authorize John D. Murphy, who are officers of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department, to conduct a complete search of my: Body – Blood, Hair, Saliva. . . . I further state that I am the proper person to authorize the search referred to herein. This permission is being given voluntarily and without threats or promises of any kind. (Paragraph breaks omitted). Everett provided the samples to Officer Murphy in Alabama. No Florida police were there then, although Florida police arrived later. E. November 19 Statement to Officer Murphy and Sergeant Tilley Officer Murphy’s written report further reflects that, after providing the DNA samples, Everett told Officer Murphy that Everett had been attempting unsuccessfully “to contact his [a]ttorney” regarding the Bailey homicide 8 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 9 of 87 investigation. Everett said that he wished to “write a name on a piece of paper” for Officer Murphy to deliver to Sergeant Tilley, so as to “[p]oint [Sergeant Tilley] in the right direction.” Officer Murphy stated that he would deliver the piece of paper only after advising Everett of his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). Officer Murphy in Alabama then read Everett his Miranda rights, and Everett signed a copy of his rights and a waiver of them. On the signed “Statement of Miranda Rights,” Everett put a checkmark next to each of the five enumerated rights, including “the right to remain silent” and “the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned.” Everett also signed below a “Waiver of Rights,” which stated, “I have read the above statement of my rights, and I understand each of them. Having these rights in mind, I waive them and willingly make a statement.” Officer Murphy’s written report states that Everett then told Officer Murphy that he would like to provide additional information “[o]ff the [r]ecord.” Officer Murphy informed Everett that any information Everett provided would have to be on the record and recorded. Everett replied that he would provide a statement to either Officer Murphy or Sergeant Tilley. Because Sergeant Tilley was en route from Panama City to collect the DNA samples, Officer Murphy started the interview with the understanding that Sergeant Tilley would join the interview when he arrived. 9 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 10 of 87 Sergeant Tilley arrived from Florida just as Everett was starting his statement to Officer Murphy, which Officer Murphy tape-recorded. According to the transcription of Everett’s statement, Officer Murphy again advised Everett of his Miranda rights, stating, “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to talk to a lawyer and have him present with you while you are being questioned if you wish. [If y]ou cannot afford to hire a lawyer[,] one will be appointed to represent you before any questioning. If you decide at anytime [sic] to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements.” Everett confirmed that he understood his rights and was willing to speak with Officer Murphy. In his November 19 statement, Everett claimed that, while in Panama City, he and an acquaintance, “Bubba,” visited the home of Bubba’s lady friend, “Angel,” a couple days after Halloween. 3 Bubba left to buy drugs, during which time Angel and Everett struck up a conversation and had unprotected sex. Afterwards, as Everett and Angel sat talking, still partially undressed, Bubba returned and became enraged upon finding them together only partially dressed. Bubba started cursing and beating “Angel,” and after Everett voiced objection, Bubba pulled out a gun. Bubba pointed the gun at Everett, telling 3 Police interviewed “Bubba,” a man named Fred Wilson, but never identified any connection between him and victim Bailey. The name “Angel” was given by Everett for the person Everett claims was in the house with Bubba. 10 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 11 of 87 Everett it was none of his business and that he should leave. Everett left the house, at which point Angel was still alive and conscious. Everett had the fish bat with him, and he dropped it as he fled. Once back at the Fiesta Motel, Everett discovered that he had blood on his shorts and shoes from when Bubba punched Angel, and he threw these items away. Everett also stated that, although he was “not the type of person to tell on anybody,” since he had learned “what happened” to Angel after he left her house, he had been unable to sleep and it was “getting to [him].” Everett indicated that he had been planning on contacting Sergeant Tilley, noting, “I’ve got Sergeant Tilley’s card and I was going to be placing a call today (inaudible) said he was already coming. (Inaudible) my mother talked about this Friday and uh, I wanted to go ahead and get it off my chest lawyer or not. I know (inaudible) what happened (inaudible).” At the end of his November 19 statement, Everett said to Sergeant Tilley, “I do want to talk to a lawyer, but I did want to let you know to get you in the right direction to where . . . .” Sergeant Tilley interrupted, asking whether Everett wanted an attorney at this point. Everett responded that he did but that he wanted to set Sergeant Tilley in the “right direction.” Sergeant Tilley indicated that he would not speak to Everett without an attorney present, and then reminded Everett 11 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 12 of 87 to contact him if Everett wished to speak again. Everett noted that he was “racking [his] brains,” “trying to think of every detail.” F. Service of Arrest Warrant and November 27, 2001, Statement Subsequently, Sergeant Tilley in Florida called Officer Murphy in Alabama to say that he would be coming to serve an arrest warrant on Everett for Bailey’s murder. Sergeant Tilley asked Officer Murphy to set up an interview room for the service of the warrant. According to Sergeant Tilley’s deposition, on November 27, 2001, when Tilley arrived, Officer Murphy was in the interview room with Everett, who had asked to speak to Tilley again. Tilley presented the arrest warrant to Everett and then said, “I understand you want to talk to me.” Everett responded in the affirmative and then started to talk before Sergeant Tilley even had a chance to start the tape recorder. Sergeant Tilley interrupted Everett to start the tape recorder. At the beginning of his recorded November 27 statement, Everett acknowledged that he previously had requested an attorney, but that when presented with the arrest warrant that day, he had asked to speak to Sergeant Tilley without the presence of a lawyer. Sergeant Tilley then stated, “Ok, do you understand that you can still stop at anytime [sic]; you still have your rights?”—to 12 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 13 of 87 which Everett responded, “Yes, sir.” In his deposition, Sergeant Tilley indicated that this statement was intended to remind Everett of his Miranda rights. Everett then confessed to beating and raping Bailey. Although Everett repeatedly denied knowing that Bailey was killed, he admitted to the jerking and twisting of Bailey’s neck that resulted in her death according to the medical examiner’s trial testimony. Everett indicated that, on the evening of the murder, he was walking around Bailey’s neighborhood with Bubba. Everett had smoked crack the day before and had used acid earlier that day, and he was “tripping” and “looking for . . . some money.” Everett saw Bailey’s house and assumed that no one was home, as the lights were all out and it was too early for anyone to be in bed. 4 While Bubba waited outside as a “look out,” Everett walked up and knocked on the door. After no one answered, he opened the unlocked door and entered the house. Everett described the layout of Bailey’s living room and stated that the first thing he noticed when he entered her house was her purse on a table in the living room. Everett went to the purse and removed around seventy dollars in cash and possibly a credit card. Bailey then entered the living room from the bedroom and “started running towards [Everett].” Everett and Bailey got “in a tussle,” but 4 The other record evidence does not support Everett’s claim that he thought no one was home, as testimony indicated that the lights in Bailey’s house were on and her car was in the driveway. 13 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 14 of 87 Everett claimed that he did not remember much after that because he “was tripping on acid” and “the LSD pretty much started getting to [him] like really heavy” at that point. Everett, however, admitted that he punched Bailey two or three times with his fist, caused her to bleed, grabbed her by the hair as she attempted to run to the bedroom, jerked her head back, “possib[ly]” twisted her head, knocked her down, and raped her, vaginally and anally. Everett claimed that he brought the fish bat with him to Bailey’s house but never hit her with it. Everett removed his shirt and left it at Bailey’s house. He grabbed “something” from her house to wear but discarded it after leaving the house and running straight toward the Fiesta Motel. He also discarded his shoes in a trashcan at the motel. Everett claimed that he “had no idea that [Bailey] had been killed until the day [Sergeant Tilley and Lieutenant Lindsey] came the first time,” and since that first interview, “it ha[d] been going through [his] mind.” Everett’s November 27 statement was the only one offered at trial. G. Indictment, Appointment of Counsel, and Not Guilty Plea On January 28, 2002, a Florida grand jury indicted Everett on charges of first-degree murder, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, and sexual battery involving serious physical force. Public Defender Walter B. Smith was appointed to represent Everett. Everett entered a plea of not guilty. 14 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 15 of 87 H. Motion to Suppress Prior to trial, defense counsel Smith moved to suppress the statements that Everett made on November 19 and 27, 2001 as violative of Everett’s rights under the Fifth Amendment because the officers did not honor Everett’s November 14 request for a lawyer. The trial court held a hearing on the motion to suppress. At the hearing, the parties agreed to stipulate to the facts surrounding Everett’s statements as presented in (1) the November 21, 2001, report by Officer Murphy recounting the details of his November 19 interaction with Everett; (2) the deposition transcripts of Sergeant Tilley and Lieutenant Lindsey; and (3) the transcripts of the interviews of Everett on November 14, 19, and 27, 2001. The parties then offered arguments on their respective positions on the suppression issue. Everett did not testify at the suppression hearing. In an order, the state trial court denied the motion to suppress on grounds that (1) as to the request for DNA samples, the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination did not extend to the taking of the DNA samples; (2) as to the November 19 interview, Everett himself initiated the interview after consenting to the provision of the DNA samples; and (3) as to the November 27 interview, Everett again initiated the interview after being served with the arrest warrant. 15 Case: 14-11857 Date Filed: 02/27/2015 Page: 16 of 87 The state trial court specifically found that the officers had not subjected Everett to any interrogation prior to seeking his consent for the DNA samples on November 19, and that his consent was not involuntarily given or the result of any coercion or wrongdoing on the part of law enforcement. The trial court also found that, on November 27, Everett “was not being brought in for the purpose of any additional questioning” and “it was [Everett], and not the officers, who initiated the request for the interview . . . after being served with the arrest warrant.” In sum, “there [was] nothing to establish that the officers coerced, forced or misled [Everett] into giving either the November 19[] or November 27, 2001 interviews.” At trial, over the defense’s objection, the state trial court admitted the DNA samples and the tape recording and transcript of Everett’s November 27 confession during the State’s case-in-chief.