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 upon for statistical or legal purposes. 

GILL, RICARDO (W/M)

DC#    105559

DOB:  07/02/69

Eighth Judicial Circuit, Union County Case #02-00028

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Robert P. Cates

Attorney, Trial: Pro Se

Attorney, Direct Appeal: W.C. Mclain– Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Todd Doss – Registry

Date ofOffense:         07/24/01

Date of Sentence:      06/30/06

Circumstances of Offense:

Ricardo Gill was convicted and sentenced to death for themurder of Orlando Rosello.

On July 20, 2001, Gill was sentenced to life in prison forthe unrelated murder of Beverly Moore. He was then incarcerated in theDepartment of Corrections Reception and Medical Center in Union County,Florida. During the trial for the Moore murder, Gill informed the judge that,if he did not receive a death sentence, he would kill someone else in order toreceive the death penalty.

On the morning of July 21, 2001, inmate Orlando Rosello was moved into Gill’s cell. The following day Gillwrote three letters describing the murder he planned on committing. One wasaddressed to the prison security supervisor, one to the Gainesville Sunnewspaper, and one to the trial judge in the Moore murder case.

At approximately 5:00 A.M. on July 24, 2001, Gill woke upand decided to kill Rosello. He used a piece of tornsheet to strangle Rosello to death. He then flushedthe piece of torn bed sheet down the toilet. When a corrections officer cameinto the cell and discovered Rosello’s body, Gillsaid, “Yeah…I strangled him.”

The medical examiner concluded that Rosellodied as a result of ligature strangulation. Rosello’sbody also exhibited head abrasions, a right periorbitalhematoma, and acute pulmonary congestion and edema.

Additional Information:

Gill has been diagnosed with a brain lesion known as an arteriovenous malformation, which is an overgrowth of veinsand arteries in the brain.

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

02/06/02         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder

07/08/05         The defendant pled guilty to the charge

06/30/06         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder – Death

 Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 06-1572

08/07/06         Appeal filed

07/09/09         Appeal denied

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 02-00028

(Pending)

10/04/10          Motionfiled

02/24/11          Motiondismissed

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

This case was pending in the trial court for three yearsprior to Gill’s guilty plea. The delay was due to Gill making numerous motionsto remove his various attorneys. Gill’s mental health was also an issue,resulting in numerous mental health evaluations and competency hearings priorto sentencing. The direct appeal was also pending in the Florida Supreme Courtfor nearly three years.

Case Information:

On 08/07/06, Gill filed a direct appeal in the FloridaSupreme Court citing the following issues: the disproportionate nature of thedeath sentence; the inappropriate application of the cold, calculated, andpremeditated aggravating factor; and, the unconstitutional nature of Florida’sdeath-sentencing procedures. The appeal was denied on 07/09/09.

On 10/04/10, Gill filed a 3.851 Motion with the CircuitCourt. That motion was dismissed on 02/24/11.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date:  07/10/09          KLH

Approved:      07/10/09          RM

Updated:         04/13/11          JJK