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. 

 

LIGHTBOURNE, Ian Deco (B/M)

DC#    078081

DOB:  12/11/59

 

Fifth Judicial Circuit, Marion County Case# 81-170-CF-A-01

Sentencing Judge:  The Honorable William T. Swigert

Attorney, Trial:  Ronald E. Fox & James H. Burke, Jr. – Assistant Public Defenders

Attorney, Direct Appeal:  Jerry T. Lockett – Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Todd G. Scher & Suzanne Keffer – CCRC-S

 

Date of Offense:  01/16/81

Date of Sentence:  05/01/81

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

On 05/01/81, Ian Deco Lightbourne was convicted and sentenced to death for the first-degree murder of Nancy O’Farrell.

 

According to the facts of the 02/18/81 indictment, the murder occurred on the night of 01/17/81.  Lightbourne pried open and broke the window screen of O’Farrell’s home.  He took some of the victim’s belongings, which included a necklace, a small silver bank and some money.  Sources revealed that Lightbourne admitted to surprising O’Farrell with the intrusion and forced her to submit to sexual relations.  Since he knew the victim personally, Lightbourne killed O’Farrell in order to avoid identification and arrest.  Lightbourne shot O’Farrell on the left side of her face with a .25-caliber automatic pistol; a pillow was placed over O’Farrell’s face before the shot was fired.  Medical experts claimed the victim bled to death.

 

According to trial sources, Lightbourne was discovered not long after the murder.  Lightbourne was pulled over by a police officer, who was responding to an earlier anonymous phone call reporting a suspicious vehicle – the same one driven by Lightbourne.  Once the officer discovered the .25-caliber pistol during a pat search, the officer arrested Lightbourne.  During his indictment, medical experts testified that traces of sperm were found in the victim’s vagina and pubic hair was found at the scene of the crime that matched and connected Lightbourne to O’Farrell’s murder.

 

Additional Information:

 

Lightbourne’s sentencing included lesser charges of second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter.   

 

Trial Summary:

 

02/18/81          Indicted as follows:

                                    Count I:            First-Degree Murder   

04/25/81          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

05/01/81          Jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0

05/01/81          Sentenced as follows:

                                    Count I:            First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 60,871

438 So. 2d 380 (1983)

 

07/02/81          Appeal filed

09/15/83          FSC affirmed conviction and death sentence

12/09/83          Mandate issued

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 83-5973

465 U.S. 1051; 104 S. Ct. 1330; 79 L. Ed. 2d 725 (1984)

 

12/23/83          Petition filed

02/21/84          Petition denied

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170-CF-A-01

 

05/31/85          Motion filed

05/31/85          Motion denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 67,100

471 So. 2d 27 (1985)

 

06/03/85          Appeal filed

06/03/85          FSC affirmed 3.850 Appeal

06/28/85          Mandate issued

 

United States District Court, Middle District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 85-136

 

06/03/85          Petition filed

08/20/86          Petition denied

 

United States Court of Appeals –Habeas Appeal

USCA# 86-3643

829 F.2d 1012 (1987)

 

09/17/86          Letter filed

09/18/87          USCA affirmed Habeas relief

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 88-5342

488 U.S. 934; 109 S. Ct. 329; 102 L. Ed. 2d 346 (1988)

 

07/26/88          Petition filed

04/20/88          USSC recalled mandate and withdrew order denying rehearing

04/28/88          Order denied and mandate issued

10/31/88          Petition denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 73,609

549 So. 2d 1364 (1989)

 

01/27/89          Petition filed

07/20/89          Petition denied

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170-CF-A-01

 

01/30/89          Motion filed

01/31/89          Motion denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 73,612

549 So. 2d 1364 (1989)

 

01/31/89          Appeal filed

07/20/89          FSC remanded the case back to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing on one issue

10/23/89          Rehearing denied


United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 89-6547

494 U.S. 1039; 110 S. Ct. 1505; 108 L. Ed. 2d 640 (1990)

 

01/19/90          Petition filed

03/19/90          Petition denied

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170-CF-A-01

 

07/24/91          Evidentiary hearing held

06/12/92          Motion denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 80,366

644 So. 2d 54 (1994)

 

08/24/92          Appeal filed

06/16/94          FSC affirmed the trial court’s denial of the 3.850 Motion

10/26/94          Rehearing denied and mandate issued

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170-CF-A-01

 

11/07/94          Motion filed

10/23/95          Evidentiary hearing held

06/19/96          Motion denied

11/15/96          Rehearing denied

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 94-7898

514 U.S. 1038; 115 S. Ct. 1406; 131 L. Ed. 2d 292 (1995)

 

01/28/95          Petition filed

03/27/95          Petition denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 89,526  

742 So. 2d 238 (1999)

 

12/13/96          Appeal filed

07/08/99          FSC reversed the trial court’s denial of 3.850 Motion

08/16/99          Mandate issued

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170-CF-A-01

 

12/02/99          Evidentiary hearing held

02/26/01          Motion denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 01-553

841 So. 2d 431 (2003)

 

03/12/01          Appeal filed

01/16/03          Appeal affirmed

03/21/03          Rehearing denied

04/21/03          Mandate issued

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 03-5752

540 U.S. 1006, 124 S.Ct. 533, 157 L.Ed.2d 412

 

06/17/03          Petition filed

11/10/03          Petition denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 03-1058

889 So.2d 71 (2004)

 

06/18/03          Petition filed

08/17/04          Petition denied

09/01/04          Motion for rehearing filed

11/16/04          Rehearing denied

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 04-9809

125 S.Ct. 2917

 

02/14/05          Petition filed

06/20/05          Petition denied

 

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 81-170CF-A

 

03/24/06          Motion filed

05/02/06          Order denying Lightbourne’s 3.850 Motion without evidentiary hearing

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 06-1241

956 So.2d 456 (2007)

 

06/22/06          Appeal filed

12/14/06          Relinquished to CC regarding the legality of Florida’s lethal injection procedure

04/16/07          FSC affirmed the trial court’s denial of Lightbourne’s 3.850 Motion

 

Florida Supreme Court – All Writs

FSC# 06-2391

969 So.2d 326 (2007)

 

12/14/06          Petition filed

12/14/06          Relinquished to Circuit Court

09/10/07          All Writs Petition denied by Circuit Court.

11/01/07          Denial affirmed

11/05/07          Motion for rehearing filed

11/07/07          Motion for rehearing denied

 

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 07-10265

128 S.Ct. 2485

 

04/03/08          Petition filed

05/19/08          Petition denied

 

State Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

81-170CF-A

(Pending)

 

11/29/10            Motion filed

 

 

Death Warrant:

 

05/09/85          Death warrant signed by Governor Robert Martinez and execution was scheduled to take place on 06/04/85.

06/03/85          Stay was granted – United States District Court, Northern District.

01/06/89          Another death warrant was issued and signed by Governor Robert Martinez, and execution was scheduled to take place on 02/01/89.

01/31/89          Stay was granted by the Florida Supreme Court.

 

Clemency Hearing:

 

05/10/84          Clemency hearing held and denied

 

Case Information:

 

On 07/02/81, Lightbourne filed a Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.  There were numerous issues raised.  First, Lightbourne claimed that the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment because the aggravating circumstances in the sentencing stage of capital felony cases ought to be alleged in the indictment in order for there to be jurisdiction for the court to impose death.  Second, he claimed that the trial court erred in the unconstitutional imposition of his death sentence as it allegedly terminated judicial discretion at the sentencing of a capital felony case; the statutes on mitigating and aggravating circumstances are stated ambiguously, and the death sentence itself violated Florida’s death penalty statute. Third, Lightbourne claimed that the court erred by permitting Chavers and Carson’s testimony to take place, which was a violation of his privilege against self-incrimination under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the Constitution.  Fourth, Lightbourne argued the court erred by denying his motion to suppress said items, which legitimated the officer’s pat-down, and stop and seizure.  Fifth, Lightbourne claimed the court erred by admitting into evidence the police interrogation video, which showed him waiving his Miranda rights twice.  Sixth, Lightbourne claimed that the trial court erred by denying his motion to impose sanctions as a result of the state’s failure to properly notify the defendant of a deposition to be taken of a listed state witness.  Finally, he claimed that the court erred by imposing the death sentence where the more mitigating circumstances outweighed the aggravating circumstances.  On 09/15/83, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed Lightbourne’s conviction and death sentence.

 

On 12/23/83, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 02/21/84.

 

On 05/31/85, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, which was denied on that same day.

 

On 06/03/85, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which was affirmed on 06/03/85 (the same day as the file date).  The mandate was issued on 06/28/85.

 

Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the United States District Court, Middle District on 06/03/85, which was denied more than a year later on 08/20/86.

 

The United States Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of Lightbourne’s Habeas relief on 09/17/86.

 

On 07/26/88, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, which was denied on 10/31/88.  During the process of filing this petition, The Court recalled the mandate and withdrew his order denying rehearing on 04/20/88.  On 04/28/88, the order was denied, but the mandate was issued. 

 

The Florida Supreme Court received Lightbourne’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus on 01/27/89, which was denied on 07/20/89.  At the time of his petitioning, Lightbourne was filing for a motion for stay and counsel pro hac vice.

 

On 01/30/89, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, which was denied on 01/31/89.

 

Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 01/31/89.  The Court granted a stay and execution was pending further notice.  On 07/20/89, the Court remanded for evidentiary hearing on one issue, which was the self-incriminating evidence provided by Lightbourne’s jailhouse cellmates.  On 10/23/89, the Court denied Lightbourne’s motion for a rehearing.

 

On 01/19/90, Lightbourne filed for a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 03/19/90.

 

On 07/24/91, an evidentiary hearing was held at the Circuit Court.  The 3.850 Motion then was denied on 06/12/92.

 

Then, on 08/24/92, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which was affirmed on 06/16/94.  A rehearing was denied and a mandate was issued on 10/26/94.  During the petitioning process, Lightbourne filed numerous motions for an extension of time.

 

On 11/07/94, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court, which was denied on 06/19/96.  The rehearing was denied on 11/15/96.

 

On 01/28/95, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 03/27/95.

 

Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 12/13/96.  The denial was reversed on 07/08/99.  While waiting for his appeal, Lightbourne filed for various motions to extend time and for an order for record supplementation.  A mandate was issued on 08/13/99.

 

On 12/02/99, an evidentiary hearing was held at the Florida Supreme Court.  The 3.850 Motion was denied on 02/26/01.

 

On 03/12/01, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.  The prior denial of the motion was denied on 01/16/03.  A rehearing was denied on 03/21/03 and a mandate was issued on 04/21/03. 

On 06/17/03, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 11/10/03.

 

Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court on 06/18/03, which was denied on 08/17/04.  The rehearing was denied on 11/16/04.

 

On 02/14/05, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on 06/20/05.

 

On 03/24/06, Lightbourne’s 3.850 Motion was filed to the Circuit Court.  On 05/02/06, the trial court issued an order, denying Lightbourne’s 3.850 Motion without an evidentiary hearing.  Lightbourne raised the following two issues, which were denied by the lower court:  (1) counsel notification issues and (2) the demand for lethal injection.

 

On 06/22/06, Lightbourne filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.  On 12/14/06, Lightbourne’s case was relinquished to the Circuit Court regarding the legality of Florida’s lethal injection procedures.  On 04/16/07, the Court affirmed the trial court’s denial of Lightbourne’s 3.850 Motion. 

 

On 12/14/06, Lightbourne filed a petition seeking to invoke the Florida Supreme Court’s All Writs jurisdiction.  The Florida Supreme Court relinquished jurisdiction to the Circuit Court on 12/14/06.  On 12/14/16, jurisdiction was relinquished to the Circuit Court in the All Writs Petition filed by Lightbourne in the Florida Supreme Court.  The petition was denied 09/10/07 in an order that also terminated the temporary stay of execution ordered by the Florida Supreme Court on 07/22/07.  On 11/01/07, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion affirmed the circuit court’s denial of Lightbourne’s All Writs Petition.  On 11/05/07, Lightbourne filed a Motion for rehearing which was denied on 11/07/07.

 

On 04/03/08, Lightbourne filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.  This petition was denied on 05/19/08.

 

Lightbourne filed a 3.851 Motion in the State Circuit Court on 11/29/10. This case is currently pending.

 

Institutional Adjustment:

 

DATE          DAYS      VIOLATION                                   LOCATION      

---------           ---        ---------------------------                -------------------

10/17/89          30        DISOBEYING ORDER                    NEW RIVER "O" UNIT 

10/27/89          60        DISOBEYING ORDER                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

04/15/91          30        DISOBEYING ORDER                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

04/18/91          30        DISOBEYING ORDER                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

03/30/92          30        DISOBEYING ORDER                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

05/06/92          0          DISOBEYING ORDER                    FLORIDA STATE PRISON

09/26/94          0          UNAUTH USE OF DRUGS             UNION C. I.        

12/31/94          0          DISOBEYING ORDER                    UNION C. I.        

12/17/96          0          UNAUTH USE OF DRUGS             UNION C. I.        

07/23/97          0          MAIL VIOLATIONS                        UNION C. I.        

01/06/99          0          FIGHTING                                         UNION C. I.        

05/03/02          0          POSS OF NARCOTICS                    UNION C. I.        

06/16/04          0          REF. SUB. ABUSE TEST                 UNION C. I.        

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:     10/18/04          NRC

Approved:        10/18/04          JFL

Updated:          03/21/11          EMJ