The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly.  This information; however, is subject to change and maynot reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied uponfor 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, RandyPeacock, a respiratory therapist at the Flagler Hospital, did not show up forwork. Two of his coworkers became concerned, so they drove to Peacock’s home tocheck on him. They noticed that Peacock’s green convertible was not presentwhen they arrived at the house. Upon entering the kitchen, they found Peacockdead, lying face down on the floor in a pool of blood.

The St. John’s CountySheriff’s Office was subsequently called. When they arrived, they found thebody of Charles Johnston, who also lived with Peacock, in a shed on theproperty. While looking for evidence relating to Peacock’s and Johnston’sdeaths, the deputies found a hatchet with blood on its blade and handle in theshed 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 andJohnston reported that on 10/04/06 he went to the victims’ house to helpJohnston with car repairs. Johnston was not there, but Peacock was. Theneighbor noted that, sometime between 4:30 and 7:00 p.m., Peacock was speakingwith a man who was later identified by the neighbor in a photo lineup to beMcKenzie. He said the gold SUV was also in the driveway while Peacock andMcKenzie were speaking.

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

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

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

Additional Information:

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

10/17/06          Indictedas follows:

                                    CountI:           First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock)

                                    CountII:         First-Degree Murder (Charles Johnston)

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

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

10/19/07          Sentencedas follows:

                                    CountI:           First-Degree Murder (Randy Peacock) – Death                                

Count II:         First-Degree Murder (CharlesJohnston) – Death

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 07-2101

29So.3d 272

11/05/07          Appealfiled

06/03/09          OralArguments held

01/07/10          FSCaffirmed conviction and sentence

03/03/10          Mandateissued

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari

USSC# 09-10878

131S.Ct. 116

05/14/10          Petitionfiled

10/04/10          Petitiondenied

Case Information:

On 11/05/07, McKenziefiled a Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court, citing the followingissues: There was not sufficient evidence for the conviction; the trial courtdid not show judicial neutrality; The trial court restricted access to standbycounsel; The trial court erred in drafting one sentencing order to address bothmurders; The death sentence is disproportionate to the nature of the crime; Thedeath penalty is unconstitutional. Oral Arguments were held on 06/03/09, andthe Florida Supreme Court affirmed McKenzie’s conviction and sentence on01/07/10. A mandate was issued on 03/03/10.

McKenzie filed a Petitionfor Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court on 05/14/10. Thispetition was denied on 10/04/10.

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Report Date:   01/20/10          EMJ

Approved:       01/26/10          RM

Updated:         02/07/11          EMJ