Paul Everett was sentenced to death by the State of Florida for the murder of Kelli Bailey
According to court documents Paul Everett would break into the home of Kelli Bailey when the woman surprised him he would sexually assault and murder her
Paul Everett would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Paul Everett Photos
Paul Everett FAQ
Where Is Paul Everett Now
Paul Everett is incarcerated at Union Correctional Institution
Paul Everett Case
Everett was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 2001 killing of Kelly M. Bailey. This Court set out the facts of the case on direct appeal:
[D]uring the late afternoon or early evening of November 2, 2001, appellant approached Kelly M. Bailey’s home, looking for money and carrying a wooden fish bat or billy club. A stranger to the victim, appellant entered her home uninvited. When Ms. Bailey confronted him, appellant beat her, and as she tried to escape, knocked her down and raped her. He also forcefully twisted her neck, breaking a vertebra, which paralyzed her and caused her to suffocate to death. Before leaving, appellant removed his t-shirt, but he took with him some money from the victim’s purse, his fish bat, her credit card, and her sweater. Outside the house, he discarded all but the cash. The victim suffered multiple injuries: a knocked-out tooth; a fractured nose; swollen eyelids; lacerations and bruising of her lips; a lacerated lip through which her teeth protruded; abrasions and carpet burns; a broken neck; and vaginal abrasion evidencing the use of force and consistent with nonconsensual sexual intercourse.
Appellant was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, burglary of a dwelling with a battery, and sexual battery involving serious physical force. Among other evidence at trial, the fish bat was traced to the appellant and his DNA matched the vaginal swabs from the victim on all thirteen genetic markers tested.
Everett v. State, 893 So.2d 1278, 1280 (Fla.2004). Moreover, regarding Everett’s apprehension and confession to the crimes, this Court set forth the facts as follows.
Within hours of the murder, an Alabama bail bondsman, unaware of the murder but searching for Everett because he was a fugitive, found him in Panama City, Florida, and transferred him to Alabama authorities. On November 14, 2001, roughly two weeks after the murder, two Panama City Beach police officers investigating the case, having traced the wooden fish bat found near the crime scene to Everett, traveled to Alabama. They read Everett his rights under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), and Everett agreed to talk. During the questioning, however, he abruptly stated, “I wish to have a lawyer present․ I mean I want a lawyer.” The officers immediately stopped their questioning.
Several days later, on November 19, the Panama City Beach Police requested an Alabama deputy to ask Everett to provide DNA samples for the Florida murder investigation. Everett consented both verbally and in writing. After the DNA swabs were taken, however, Everett advised the Alabama deputy that he had information for Florida authorities. The officer read Everett his Miranda rights, and Everett began his statement. At that point Sergeant Tilley of the Panama City Beach Police Department arrived to retrieve the DNA samples. On the record, Tilley noted that Everett had previously invoked his right to counsel, but had now contacted him desiring to provide information. Sergeant Tilley also read Everett his Miranda rights before Everett continued. At the conclusion of his statement, Everett said, “I do want to talk to a lawyer, but I did want to let you know to get you in the right direction.” Sergeant Tilley immediately stopped the interview. Appellant’s November 19 statement was not offered at trial.
Finally, on November 27, Alabama authorities informed Everett that Sergeant Tilley was en route to serve an arrest warrant for the Florida murder. After Sergeant Tilley served the warrant, Everett asked to speak to him. At the outset of the interview, Everett acknowledged that he had previously invoked his right to have counsel present but had now asked to speak to Sergeant Tilley without an attorney present. In the ensuing statement, Everett confessed to the crimes.
Everett, 893 So.2d at 1283 (citation omitted).
The jury found Everett guilty on each charge and, following the penalty phase, unanimously recommended that Everett be sentenced to death for his first-degree murder conviction. Id. at 1280. The sentencing court imposed the death sentence. Id. at 1281. The sentencing court found three aggravating circumstances and five statutory and four nonstatutory mitigating circumstances applicable to the murder. Id. at 1280-81. Everett appealed his first-degree murder conviction and death sentence. This Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. Id. at 1288.
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1541038.html