Gov. Scott Signs Death Warrant For Johnny Shane Kormondy

to die by lethal injection on Jan. 15

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Gov. Rick Scott on Monday signed a death warrant for a man found guilty of committing first-degree murder and sexual battery during a home-invasion robbery in 1993 in Escambia County.

Scott signed the warrant for Johnny Shane Kormondy, 42, to die by lethal injection on Jan. 15.

The execution will be the 21st since Scott took office in January 2011, equaling the number overseen by former Gov. Jeb Bush, which is the most for any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

Kormondy was found guilty in 1994 in the death of Gary McAdams, who was shot in the back of the head during a home-invasion robbery. McAdams and his wife, who was raped during the attack, had returned home from a high-school reunion when confronted at the front door by Kormondy and his two accomplices.

According to a release from the governor’s office accompanying the death warrant, Kormondy was the leader of the attack, recruiting the accomplices, providing transportation and casing the McAdams’ neighborhood.

Kormondy’s accomplices, Curtis Buffkin and James Hazen, received life sentences. Law enforcement was able to close the case when a person to whom Kormondy confessed went to police seeking a $50,000 reward for information. The robbers reportedly left the house with $20.

Kormondy also threatened to kill witnesses who testified at his trial, including Mrs. McAdams, if he were ever released.

The execution date has been set for Thursday, January 15, 2014, at 6 p.m.

CLICK HERE to see the transmittal letter as well as the death warrant.
CLICK HERE to see the the judgement and sentence.

 Johnny Shane Kormondy

DOB:  05/20/72

First Judicial Circuit, Escambia County Case# 93-3302
Sentencing Judge:  The Honorable Joseph Q. Tarbuck
Attorneys, Trial:  T. Stitt & R. Davis – Assistant Public Defenders
Attorney, Trial (Resentencing):  Glenn Arnold – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Chet Kaufman – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeals (Resentencing):  Chet Kaufman – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Michael Reiter – Registry

Date of Offense: 07/11/93

Date of Sentence: 10/7/94

Date of Resentencing: 07/07/99

Circumstances of Offense:

Kormondy was convicted of the murder of Gary McAdams, which occurred on 07/11/93.

In the early morning hours of 07/11/93, the victims, Gary McAdams and his wife Cecilia McAdams, had returned from a high school reunion. They heard a knock at their door.

When Mr. McAdams opened the door, Curtis Buffkin was on the other side holding a gun. Buffkin forced his way into the house and ordered the McAdams to get down on the kitchen floor and keep their heads down.

James Hazen and Johnny Kormondy then entered the house. Both Kormondy and Hazen had socks on their hands. After the three men took personal valuables from the McAdams, the phones were disconnected from the wall and the blinds were closed.

At this point, one of the men took Mrs. McAdams to a bedroom in the back and forced her at gunpoint to remove her dress and to perform oral sex on him.

One of the other men, described as having sandy-colored hair that hung down to his collar bone, entered the room and proceeded to rape Mrs. McAdams while the first man forced her to perform oral sex on him again.

After she was taken to the kitchen, naked, and placed with her husband, one of the men took her back to the bedroom and raped her again. While he was raping her, a gunshot was fired in the front of the house.

Mrs. McAdams heard one of the men yell for “Bubba” or “Buff”, and the man raping her stopped and ran to the front of the house. Mrs. McAdams left the bedroom and was walking towards the front of the house when she heard a gunshot from the bedroom. When she entered the kitchen, she saw Mr. McAdams on the floor with blood coming from the back of his head.

After the murder, Kormondy’s wife asked him to leave the family home. Kormondy left and moved in with Willie Long. Kormondy confessed to Long about the murder and admitted that he had shot Mr. McAdams but, explained it had gone off accidentally. Long went to the police because of the $50,000 reward for information.

During the trial, the medical examiner testified that Mr. McAdams’ death was caused by a contact gunshot wound, meaning the barrel of the gun was pressed to Mr. McAdams’ head.

Codefendant Information:

Curtis Buffkin (DC# 103884)

Buffkin was sentenced to life for his participation in the offense that occurred on 07/11/93 (CC# 93-3302).

James Hazen (DC# 391126)

Hazen was sentenced to life for his participation in the offense that occurred on 07/11/93 (CC# 93-3302).

Additional Information:

Kormondy, Hazen, and Buffkin were indicted on 07/27/93 and tried separately. Buffkin was offered a plea bargain by the State in return for assistance in the prosecution of Hazen and Kormondy.

The trial records are inconsistent as to the location of Hazen and Buffkin at the time of Mr. McAdams shooting. During Kormondy’s trial, Mrs. McAdams testified that Buffkin was with her in the bedroom when the shot was fired.

In testimony given by Officer Hall, Kormondy told him in an unrecorded statement that Buffkin fired the fatal shot and that Hazen was in the bedroom with Mrs. McAdams. In a confession recorded for the jury, Kormondy stated again that it was Buffkin who fired the fatal shot.

During Hazen’s trial, Buffkin testified that Kormondy fired the fatal shot, and that Hazen was in the bedroom with Mrs. McAdams. Hazen testified that he was not present at the scene when the crimes occurred.

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida: 

11/25/89	BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT.	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	8906828	3Y 0M 0D
11/25/89	GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	8906828	3Y 0M 0D
01/17/90	GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9000603	3Y 0M 0D
01/17/90	BURG/DWELL/OCCUP.CONVEY	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9000603	3Y 0M 0D
01/06/90	GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9000604	3Y 0M 0D
02/03/90	GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9001325	3Y 0M 0D
02/03/90	CRIMINAL MISCHIEF/PROP.DAMAGE	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9001325	3Y 0M 0D
02/03/90	GRAND THEFT MOTOR VEHICLE	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9001325	3Y 0M 0D
02/03/90	BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT.	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9001325	3Y 0M 0D
01/28/91	BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT.	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9100635	3Y 0M 0D
01/28/91	GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000	05/21/91	ESCAMBIA	9100635	3Y 0M 0D

Trial Summary:

07/27/93 – Indicted as follows:

Count I: Capital Murder
Count II: Sexual Battery
Count III: Sexual Battery
Count IV: Sexual Battery
Count V: Assault or Battery during Burglary
Count VI: Robbery with a Firearm or Weapon

07/07/94 – Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment.

07/09/94 – Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4.

10/07/94 – Sentenced as follows:

Count I: Capital Murder – Death
Count II: Sexual Battery – Life
Count III: Sexual Battery – Life
Count IV: Sexual Battery – Life
Count V: Assault or Battery during Burglary – Life
Count VI: Robbery with a Firearm or Weapon – Life

10/09/97 – Florida Supreme Court remanded death sentence for new sentencing phase.

07/07/99 – At resentencing jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4.

Case Information:

On 11/15/94 Kormondy filed his Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. The Court found that the admission of cross-examination testimony from a co-perpetrator during the penalty phase was reversible error.

On 10/09/97, the Court affirmed his conviction but remanded his sentence for resentencing.

On 08/05/99 Kormondy filed his Direct Appeal for resentencing to the Florida Supreme Court. The Court found that Kormondy’s death sentence was not disproportionate to the crime.

The Court also found that the trial court did not ignore mitigating factors when imposing the death sentence, the limitation of cross-examination of Mrs. McAdams was not abuse of discretion, and that the admission of victim impact testimony was not fundamental error. On 02/13/03, the Court affirmed Kormondy’s sentence.

Kormondy filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 07/28/03, which was denied on 10/14/03.

On 08/30/04, Kormondy filed a 3.851 Motion to the Circuit Court, which was denied on 06/20/05.

On 07/06/05, Kormondy filed a 3.851 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, which is currently pending.

Kormondy filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court, which is also pending.

FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us

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