The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly.  This information, however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied on for statistical or legal purposes.

COOK, David (B/M)

DC #   100018   

DOB:   02/01/64 

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County, Case #84-19874

Sentencing & Resentencing Judge: The Honorable Thomas M.Carney

Trial Attorney: Arthur W. Carter – Private 

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Geoffrey C. Fleck – SpecialAssistant Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal (RS): Geoffrey C. Fleck – SpecialAssistant Public Defender

Attorneys, Collateral Appeals:  Rachel Day –CCRC-S 

Date of Offense:                     08/15/84     

Date of Sentence:                    10/25/85

Date of Resentencing:            02/05/90         

Circumstances of Offense:

David Cook was convicted and sentenced to death for themurder of Onelia Betancourt on 08/15/84.

Onelia Betancourt and her husband Rolando were found dead ata Miami Burger King where they were employed as the late-night cleaningcrew. 

David Cook was brought in for questioning, following ananonymous tip, and confessed to killing the couple.  Cook stated that he,Derek Harrison, and Melvin Nairn went to the Burger King to commit a robbery on08/15/84.  When Rolando Betancourt exited the back of the restaurant toempty the garbage, Cook grabbed Harrison’s gun and followed Rolando backinside.  The door slammed behind them, preventing Harrison and Nairn fromentering.  Cook demanded Rolando get him the money from the safe, butRolando answered that he did not speak English.  When Cook insisted thatRolando get the money from the safe, Rolando hit him in the arm with a metalrod, and then Cook shot him once in the chest.  When Cook was exiting therestaurant, Onelia Betancourt grabbed him around the legs and beganscreaming.  Cook shot her and fled with Harrison and Nairn. 

Codefendant Information:

Derek Harrison was sentenced to 23 years imprisonment forhis role in the murders and robbery

Melvin Nairn received a 24-year sentence for his part in themurders and robbery.

Trial Summary: 

08/25/84         Defendant arrested.

09/13/84         Defendant indicted as follows:

                                   Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Rolando Betancourt)

                                   Count II:           First-DegreeMurder (Onelia Betancourt)

                                   Count III:         Armed Burglary

                                   Count IV:         Attempted Armed Robbery

                                   Count V:          Attempted ArmedRobbery

                                   Count VI:         Unlawful Possession of aFirearm

08/09/85         The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.

08/13/85         Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by a 7 to 5 majority, voted for the

death penalty for the murder ofRolando Betancourt.  The jury, by an 8 to 4 majority, voted for death forthe murder of Onelia Betancourt.

10/25/85         Defendant sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Rolando Betancourt) – Life

                                   Count II:           First-DegreeMurder (Onelia Betancourt) – Death

                                   Count III:         Armed Burglary – Life

                                   Count IV:         Attempted Armed Robbery –15 years

                                   Count V:          Attempted ArmedRobbery – 15 years 

Count VI:       Unlawful Possession of a Firearm –

SuspendedSentence

04/06/89         Upon Direct Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the murder

convictions and sentence of lifeimposed for the murder of Rolando Betancourt.  They reversed and remandedCook’s death sentence for the murder of Onelia Betancourt, and ordered aresentencing without the consideration of two aggravating factors that werepreviously applied.

02/05/90         Defendant resentenced as follows:

                                   Count II:  First-Degree Murder (Onelia Betancourt) – Death

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC #68,044

542 So. 2d 964

12/16/85         Appeal filed.

04/06/89         FSC affirmed the murder convictions and sentence of life imposed for the

murder of RolandoBetancourt.  They reversed and remanded Cook’s death sentence for themurder of Onelia Betancourt, and ordered a resentencing without theconsideration of two aggravating factors that were previously applied.

06/05/89         Rehearing denied.

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (Resentencing)

FSC #75,725

581 So. 2d 141

03/14/90         Appeal filed.

05/30/91         FSC affirmed the death sentence.

07/15/91         Rehearing denied.

08/14/91         Mandate issued.

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari

USSC #91-5378

502 U.S. 890

08/05/91         Petition filed.

10/07/91         Petition denied.

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC #84-19874

01/08/93         Motion filed.

12/04/96         Motion denied.

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC #SC94-134

792 So. 2d 1197

10/15/98         Appeal filed.

06/28/01         FSC remanded the appeal for an evidentiary hearing on Cook’s claim of

ineffectivecounsel during the penalty phase.

09/24/01         Mandate issued.

State Circuit Court – 3.850 (On Remand From FSC)

CC #84-19874

06/28/01         FSC remanded the appeal for an evidentiary hearing on Cook’s claim ofineffective counsel during the penalty phase.

12/15/03         Evidentiary Hearing held.

09/23/04         Motion denied.

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 04-2066

952 So.2d 1188

10/26/04         Appeal filed.

02/14/07         FSC reversed the denial of the motion and remanded for a new penalty phase.

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus

FSC# 05-1313

954 So.2d 27

07/26/05         Petition filed.

03/14/07         FSC denied petition.

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

USDC# 06-1911

12/18/06         Petition filed.

06/12/07         Petition dismissed.

Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition ofthe Sentence

Cook’s death sentence for the murder of Onelia Betancourtwas reversed for the improper imposition of aggravating factors.  Cook’sinitial Direct Appeal took approximately four years to resolve, as did hisMotion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence (3.850).  After approximately threeyears, Cook’s 3.850 Appeal was remanded to the State Circuit Court for anevidentiary hearing on his claim of ineffective counsel.

Case Information:

On 12/16/85, Cook filed a Direct Appeal in the FloridaSupreme Court.  He argued that the trial court erred in refusing to excusetwo potential jurors for cause because they had difficulty understandingEnglish, in the application of aggravating and mitigating evidence, and in thejury instruction during the penalty phase.  The Florida Supreme Courtaffirmed the convictions and sentence of life imprisonment for the murder ofRolando Betancourt on 04/06/89.  They reversed and remanded Cook’s deathsentence for the murder of Onelia Betancourt and ordered him to be resentencedwithout two previously applied aggravating factors. 

Cook was resentenced to death by the trial judge on02/05/90.  He filed a Direct Appeal of that decision in the FloridaSupreme Court on 03/14/90.  In that appeal, he argued that his sentencewas disproportional to those of his co-defendants and that the trial judgefailed to adequately consider the mitigating evidence in his sentencingorder.  The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the sentence on 05/30/91.

Cook next filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in theUnited States Supreme Court, which was denied on 10/07/91.

Next, Cook filed a Motion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence(3.850) in the State Circuit Court that was denied on 12/04/96. 

Cook filed an appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on10/15/98.  On 06/28/01, the Supreme Court reversed the denial by theCircuit Court and remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing to examineCook’s claim of ineffective counsel during the penalty phase.

An evidentiary hearing was held in the State Circuit Courton 12/15/03, and the motion was denied on 09/23/04.  

Cook filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida SupremeCourt on 10/26/04, and on 02/14/07, the FSC reversed the denial of the motionand remanded for a new penalty phase.    

Cook filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theFlorida Supreme Court on 07/26/05 that was denied on 03/14/07. 

Cook filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theUnited States District Court on 12/18/06 that was denied on 06/12/07.

A new penalty phase is scheduled to be held in the statecircuit court on 06/24/09.

Institutional Adjustment:

DATE            DAYS             VIOLATION                                     LOCATION       

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

04/08/86         15                  SPOKENTHREATS                         FSP

11/25/86         15                  DISOBEYINGORDER                     FSP

12/23/86         15                  DISORDERLYCONDUCT               FSP

10/18/89         15                  INCITINGRIOTS                             NEWRIVER

01/30/91         30                  DISORDERLYCONDUCT               FSP

04/29/91         0                    DISOBEYING ORDER                     FSP

04/30/91         0                    DISOBEYING ORDER                     FSP

01/29/93         0                    DISOBEYING ORDER                     UNION C.I.         

02/27/94         0                    DISORDERLY CONDUCT               UNION C. I.         

12/21/94         0                    REF. SUB. ABUSE TEST                  UNION C.I.         

01/23/95         30                  SPOKENTHREATS                         UNION C.I.         

09/10/95         0                    POSS OF CONTRABAND               UNION C. I.          

11/19/96         180                UNAUTH USE OFDRUGS              UNION C.I.

03/30/98         0                    DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                UNION C.I.         

06/04/99         105                UNAUTH USE OFDRUGS              UNION C. I.     

08/06/99         0                    POSS OF CONTRABAND               UNION C. I.     

09/26/00         0                    DEFACING STATE PROP.               UNION C. I.     

01/15/03         0                    DISRESP.TO OFFICIALS                UNION C. I.     

06/11/03         30                   DISOBEYINGORDER                     UNION C. I.     

06/18/03         30                  POSS OFCONTRABAND               UNION C. I.     

07/18/03         30                  POSS OFCONTRABAND               UNION C. I.     

07/18/03         30                  DEFACING STATEPROP.               UNION C. I.     

07/27/05         30                  DISOBEYINGORDER                     UNION C. I.

________________________________________________________________________

01/25/01 – ew

01/30/02 – approved – ws

04/24/09 – updated – klh