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.
GORDON, Robert (B/M)
DC# 123911
DOB: 11/25/62
Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County Case # 94-02958
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Susan R. Schaeffer
Attorney, Trial: Robert A. Love – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Michael Hursey – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Bjorn E. Brunvand – Court Appointed
Date of Offense: 01/25/94
Date of Sentence: 11/16/95
Circumstances of Offense:
Robert Gordon and his codefendant, Meryl McDonald, werehired by Denise Davidson to kill her estranged husband, Dr. LouisDavidson.
Early on the morning of January 25, 1994, McDonald andGordon waited in the parking lot of the apartment complex where Dr. Davidsonlived. Gordon met with Dr. Davidson and the two walked to Davidson’sapartment. Dr. Davidson’s body was discovered later that day by hisfiancée. His body was blindfolded, bound, gagged, and hogtied, lying facedown in a bathtub full of bloody water. The apartment had been ransacked,and Davidson’s watch, camera, and money clip were missing, although $19,300 incash and some credit cards remained.
The medical examiner testified that Davidson had bruises onhis face and shoulders, three broken ribs, and multiple lacerations on the backof his scalp, caused by a blunt object. The cause of Davidson’s death wasdrowning.
Money transfers from Denise Davidson to Robert Gordon, aswell as phone records and physical evidence recovered from the hotel whereGordon was staying during the time of the murder implicated him in the murderscheme.
Codefendant Information:
Meryl McDonald was convicted of First-Degree Murder and wassentenced to death.
Denise Davidson was convicted in a separate trial of First-DegreeMurder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Susan Shore agreed to testify for the State, and as aresult, her charges were reduced to accessory after the fact. She wassentenced to probation.
Leonardo Cisneros remains a fugitive.
Trial Summary:
02/28/94 Indicted on the charge of First-Degree Murder
06/15/95 Jury returned guilty verdict on the sole count of the indictment
06/16/95 Jury recommended the death sentence by a vote of 9-3
11/16/95 Sentenced to death
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 86,955
704 So. 2d 107
12/04/95 Appeal filed
11/26/97 FSC affirmed conviction and death sentence.
01/16/98 Rehearing denied
02/16/98 Mandate issued
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 94-02958
02/18/99 Motion filed
04/23/02 Circuit court denied motion
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 02-1212
863 So. 2d 1215
05/30/02 Appeal filed
12/18/03 FSC affirmed denial of motion
01/09/04 Mandate issued
U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 04-355
05/17/04 Petition filed
05/26/04 USDC struck petition
12/16/04 Petition amended
08/28/06 USDC dismissed petition
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus Appeal
USCA# 06-15783
479 F.3d 1299
10/27/06 Appeal filed
03/01/07 USCA denied Certificate of Appealability
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 94-02958
09/07/07 Motion filed
10/30/07 Motion denied
Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion
CC# 94-02958
09/28/09 Motion filed
02/23/10 Motion denied
Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal
FSC# 10-541
(Pending)
03/26/10 Appeal filed
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:
The 3.850 Motion was pending from 02/18/99 – 04/23/02.
Case Information:
On 12/04/95, Gordon filed a Direct Appeal with the FloridaSupreme Court, citing the following errors: denying Gordon’s motion tostrike the venire; denying motion for judgment of acquittal at the close ofevidence; denying request for a separate penalty phase from that of hiscodefendant and a new penalty phase jury; disproportional sentencing; andimproper finding of the cold, calculated, and premeditated and heinous,atrocious, or cruel aggravating factors. On 11/26/97, the FSC affirmedthe conviction and death sentence.
On 02/18/99, Gordon filed a 3.850 Motion with the CircuitCourt, which was denied on 04/23/02.
On 05/30/02, Gordon filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with theFlorida Supreme Court, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. On12/18/03, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
On 05/17/04, Gordon filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpuswith the U.S. District Court, Middle District, which was stricken by the courton 05/26/04. On 12/16/04, the Petition was amended, and on 08/28/06, theUSDC dismissed the petition.
On 10/27/06, Gordon filed a Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus Appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. On 03/01/07,the USCA denied the Certificate of Appealability.
On 09/07/07, Gordon filed a 3.851 Motion with the CircuitCourt, which was denied on 10/30/07.
On 09/28/09, Gordon filed a 3.851 Motion with the CircuitCourt, which was denied on 02/23/10.
On 03/26/10, Gordon filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with theFlorida Supreme Court, which is pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
THE FOLLOWING ENTRIESREFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITEDAND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
06/03/97 0 DISRESP.TOOFFICIALS UNION C.I.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 08/03/01 JFL
Approved: 11/16/01 WS
Updated: 03/30/10 KKR