The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly.  This information; however, is subject to change and may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

 

MCKENZIE, Norman Blake (W/M)

DC# 648711

DOB:  07/08/1964

 

7th Judicial Circuit, St. Johns County Case# 06-01864-CF

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Wendy W. Berger

Attorney, Trial: Val Quetti – Public Defender’s Office

Attorney, Direct Appeal: James S. Purdy & Christopher S. Quarles – Public Defender’s Office

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: 

 

Date of Offense: 10/04/06

Date of Sentence: 10/19/07

 

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

On 10/05/06, Randy Peacock, a respiratory therapist at the Flagler Hospital, did not show up for work. Two of his coworkers became concerned, so they drove to Peacock’s home to check on him. They noticed that Peacock’s green convertible was not present when they arrived at the house. Upon entering the kitchen, they found Peacock dead, lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood.

 

The St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office was subsequently called. When they arrived, they found the body of Charles Johnston, who also lived with Peacock, in a shed on the property. While looking for evidence relating to Peacock’s and Johnston’s deaths, the deputies found a hatchet with blood on its blade and handle in the shed and a butcher knife in the sink. A gold sport utility vehicle (SUV) registered to Norman Blake McKenzie was found in the driveway.

 

A neighbor of Peacock and Johnston reported that on 10/04/06 he went to the victims’ house to help Johnston with car repairs. Johnston was not there, but Peacock was. The neighbor noted that, sometime between 4:30 and 7:00 p.m., Peacock was speaking with a man who was later identified by the neighbor in a photo lineup to be McKenzie. He said the gold SUV was also in the driveway while Peacock and McKenzie were speaking.

 

Later, McKenzie revealed to a sheriff’s deputy from Citrus County that he had Peacock’s wallet in his pocket. Charles Johnston’s wallet was found in a vehicle that McKenzie had recently used. McKenzie then agreed to speak with deputies from the St. John’s County Sheriff’s office on two occasions and confessed to the murders of Peacock and Johnson.

 

McKenzie stated that, due to his drug addiction, on 10/04/06, he went to the victims’ house to borrow money from Johnston. When he arrived, Johnston was not there, but Peacock and the neighbor were. Johnston arrived at dusk. The neighbor spoke with Johnston briefly and left. McKenzie asked Johnston for a hammer and a piece of wood to knock some “dings” out of the door of his SUV. Johnston could not find a hammer, but he provided McKenzie with a hatchet instead. While walking with Johnston to the shed to get a piece of wood, McKenzie struck Johnston twice in the head with the blade side of the hatchet. McKenzie went back to the house where Peacock was cooking and hit him two times in the head with the hammer side of the hatchet.

 

McKenzie went back the shed and found Johnston still alive. He struck Johnston one or more times with the hatchet again. McKenzie took Johnston’s wallet and left the hatchet on top of a bucket inside the shed. When he returned to the house, Peacock was attempting to stand up. McKenzie then stabbed Peacock with a knife multiple times, put the knife in the sink, took Peacock’s wallet and car keys, and left the scene in Peacock’s car.

 

 

Additional Information:

 

 

 

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

 

Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983)

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Prison Sentence Length

04/15/1983

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

11/08/1984

BROWARD

8305465

7Y 0M 0D

04/07/1984

BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT.

11/08/1984

BROWARD

8405520

5Y 0M 0D

02/22/1984

KIDNAP;COMM.OR FAC.FELONY

11/08/1984

BROWARD

8403709

7Y 0M 0D

02/23/1984

ROBB. GUN/DEADLY WPN

11/08/1984

BROWARD

8403709

7Y 0M 0D

02/23/1984

BURGLARY,ARMED W/EXP. OR WEAPO

11/08/1984

BROWARD

8403709

7Y 0M 0D

08/15/1990

BURGLARY,ARMED W/EXP. OR WEAPO

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9017445

15Y 0M 0D

08/15/1990

TRAFFIC IN STOLEN PROPERTY

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9017445

15Y 0M 0D

08/15/1990

GRAND THEFT FIREARM

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9017445

10Y 0M 0D

08/16/1990

BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9018646

15Y 0M 0D

08/16/1990

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9018646

10Y 0M 0D

08/04/1990

ROBB. NO GUN/DDLY.WPN

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9019206

15Y 0M 0D

08/04/1990

GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE

05/28/1991

BROWARD

9019206

10Y 0M 0D

 

 

Trial Summary:

 

10/17/06          Indicted as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock)

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder (Charles Johnston)

08/21/07          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

08/23/07          Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2

10/19/07          Sentenced as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock) – Death                                

Count II:         First-Degree Murder (Charles Johnston) – Death

 

 

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 07-2101

29 So.3d 272

 

11/05/07          Appeal filed

06/03/09          Oral Arguments held

01/07/10          FSC affirmed conviction and sentence

03/03/10          Mandate issued

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 09-10878

131 S.Ct. 116

 

05/14/10          Petition filed

10/04/10          Petition denied

 

 

 

Case Information:

 

On 11/05/07, McKenzie filed a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, citing the following issues: There was not sufficient evidence for the conviction; the trial court did not show judicial neutrality; The trial court restricted access to standby counsel; The trial court erred in drafting one sentencing order to address both murders; The death sentence is disproportionate to the nature of the crime; The death penalty is unconstitutional. Oral Arguments were held on 06/03/09, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed McKenzie’s conviction and sentence on 01/07/10. A mandate was issued on 03/03/10.

 

McKenzie filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on 05/14/10. This petition was denied on 10/04/10.

 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:   01/20/10          EMJ

Approved:       01/26/10          RM

Updated:         02/07/11          EMJ