Opinion ID: 2826963
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Everett’s Arrest and Statements to Police

Text: At the time of the murder, Everett was a fugitive, having failed to turn himself in to begin serving a sentence for an unrelated conviction in Alabama. Id. On the evening of November 2, 2001, a bail bondsman found Everett at a Florida motel and took him into custody. Id. Everett was transported to Alabama and jailed. Id. On November 14, 2001, Sergeant Rodney Tilley and Lieutenant Chad Lindsey, investigators for the Panama City Beach Police Department, traveled to the Alabama jail in which Everett was housed and interviewed him. Id. During the recorded, 12-minute interview, Everett stated that he had gone to Panama City to meet a friend, Jared Farmer. Id. He paid for the trip in part by writing bad checks. Id. He used one of the bad checks at a Walmart to buy a fish bat, among other things. Id. When asked which shoes he had worn during the trip, Everett replied that he wore a pair of sneakers, which he had since thrown away because they got blood on them during a fight with another man. Id. at 1220. After Sergeant Tilley noted that Everett’s 2 Case: 15-13371 Date Filed: 08/13/2015 Page: 3 of 17 account of throwing away the shoes did not “jive,” Everett said that he wanted a lawyer. Id. One of the officers then turned off the tape recorder. Id. While the officers were leaving the room, Lieutenant Lindsey said something to the effect of “[d]on’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.” Id. Sergeant Tilley commented that he thought that the murder “might have been a burglary that went bad” and said that he “would sure like to hear it from [Everett].” Id. On November 19, 2001, at Sergeant Tilley’s request, Officer John Murphy, an Alabama detective, asked for Everett’s consent to the collection of DNA samples in connection with the Bailey case. Id. After Everett consented and provided the samples, he told Officer Murphy that he would like to provide additional information. Id. at 1220-21. During the subsequent tape-recorded interview, Officer Murphy advised Everett of his Miranda 1 rights, and Everett confirmed that he understood his rights and that he was willing to speak with Officer Murphy. Id. at 1221. Everett said that, while he was in Panama City, he and an acquaintance, Fred “Bubba” Wilson, visited Wilson’s friend, “Angel.” Id. 2 After Bubba left and returned to find Everett and Angel partially undressed, Bubba became enraged and started beating Angel. Id. Everett fled and later threw his shoes and shorts away after discovering blood on them from when Bubba punched Angel. Id. at 1221-22. On November 27, 2001, when Sergeant Tilley returned to the Alabama jail to serve an arrest warrant on Everett for victim Bailey’s murder, Everett indicated that he wanted to talk to 1 Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602 (1966). 2 Police never identified any connection between Fred “Bubba” Wilson and victim Bailey. The name “Angel” was given by Everett for the person Everett claims was in the house with Bubba. 3 Case: 15-13371 Date Filed: 08/13/2015 Page: 4 of 17 Sergeant Tilley. Id. at 1222. At the beginning of the recorded interview, Everett acknowledged that he previously had requested an attorney, but later had asked to speak to Sergeant Tilley without a lawyer. Id. Everett then confessed to beating and raping Bailey. Id. Although Everett denied knowing that Bailey had died, he admitted to twisting Bailey’s neck. Id.