A jury convicted Mr. Fitzpatrick of the first-degree murder and sexual battery of Laura Romines, who was fatally stabbed in 1996. The jury voted 10-2 to recommend a death sentence and the trial court condemned him to death. This Court upheld his sentence on direct appeal and Mr. Fitzpatrick filed a post-conviction challenge in trial court. The trial court granted him a new trial and this appeal followed.

Pasco County