Prosecutors Waive Death Penalty for Brandon Bradley Who Executed Brevard Deputy Sheriff Barbara Pill in March 2012

By  //  June 23, 2021

Bradley was convicted of First-Degree Premeditated Murder

State prosecutors announced that they would not seek to re-impose the death sentence on 31-year-old Brandon Lee Bradley for the murder of Brevard County Deputy Sheriff Barbara Pill on March 6, 2012.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – State prosecutors announced that they would not seek to re-impose the death sentence on 31-year-old Brandon Lee Bradley for the murder of Brevard County Deputy Sheriff Barbara Pill on March 6, 2012.

Bradley was placed on trial and convicted of First-Degree Premeditated Murder.

Subsequently, the jury voted 10 – 2 to recommend that Bradley be put to death, and on June 27, 2014, that sentence was imposed by Judge Morgan Reinman.

Subsequent rulings by the Florida Supreme Court on the legality of non-unanimous death recommendations, and changes to the death penalty statute by the Florida Legislature, required the State to re-litigate Bradley’s entire death penalty sentencing phase or allow the current sentence of life in prison to stand.

In a written statement State Attorney Phil Archer provided insight as to the decision.

Brevard County Deputy Sheriff, Barbara Pill, 52, was shot and killed on a residential street in Melbourne on March 6, 2012. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Department image)

“I want to make it abundantly clear that I personally believe Brandon Bradley was given and still deserves the death penalty for the brutal execution style killing of Deputy Barbara Pill. However, after lengthy consideration and discussion, the Pill family has requested that we agree to a sentence of life in prison for Mr. Bradley rather than seek the death penalty through a new sentencing proceeding.

“Their expressed desire was to avoid re-living the pain and trauma they experienced in the first trial, as the graphic and disturbing evidence detailing Barbara’s murder was presented for a new jury to consider.”

I give great weight to the wishes of the surviving family members in these instances and I have agreed to honor their request.”

Bradley will be formally sentenced to life in prison on July 23, 202,1 at 1:30 p.m. by Judge Charles Crawford.

Brevard County Deputy Sheriff, Barbara Pill was shot and killed on a residential street in Melbourne, by petty thieves on March 6, 2012. (BCSO image)