Judicial Corruption Keeps Innocent Man on Death Row for 40 Years!

  Trial Judge Maurice Paul refused to step aside despite his having been an opposing character witness against a Zeigler friend four months before the murders.  Zeigler was a character witness for his friend, a black bar owner named Andrew James. James kept his bar and Judge Paul's friend lost his job. A few years later, Paul became a Federal District Judge in Florida where he remains today. See some of his character references in the Robing Room by clicking here.

Robert Eagan was the state attorney in Orange County, Florida from 1969 to 1989. He refused to investigate any other motive for the crime (Click here to read his memo to the sheriff department) . He attempted to coerce testimony against Zeigler from a man in jail who refused. (Click here for a video affidavit.) He hid evidence from the defense. (Click here for a transcript of an interview found years after the trial.)

Before Eagan left office in 1989, he was investigated for allegations of bribery by a Federal Grand Jury.  (Click here to read an Orlando Sentinel article.)

Charles T. Wells was a lawyer and advisor to the sheriff of Orange Co. when Zeigler was arrested. In 1994 he became a Florida Supreme Court Justice. As such he should have disqualified himself from Zeigler's 2007 appeal of a DNA decision by Circuit Court Judge Whitehead. Instead, he was one of the justices who drafted the denial of the appeal.

Judge Reginald Whitehead took over the Zeigler case in 2003 after DNA evidence ordered by another judge showed Zeigler was innocent.  Judge Whitehead did not disclose that his wife was an assistant state attorney working for then Orange County State Attorney Lawson Lamar. It is likely that this arrangement allowed "pillow talk" to assure that prosecutor Jeff Ashton could make his infamous accusation about how Zeigler got blood on him that was not the blood Eagan had told the jury it was at trial. Judge Whiteheads wife resigned her position in 2009 when it was learned that the relationship had not been disclosed to the defense.

Jeff Ashton won the state attorney election in 2013 and is now working to make sure no new DNA testing is granted by Judge Whitehead. In 2015 Ashton admitted being a member of the Ashley Madison web site that provides a means for cheating on your spouse.

(See the article in the Orlando Sentinel.) 

Ashton may also have membership in another sexual website entitled Adult Friendfinder.tv. See a membership listing with what may be his ID.  Click on the image to enlarge.

 Ashton has also prevented Gary Bennett, a man serving a life sentence for a 1983 murder, from obtaining a new trial. A principle witness in the case was fraudulent dog handler John Preston who testified that his dog had identified Bennett's scent on a pair of scissors used to kill a neighbor. For Ashton's possibly unethical role in the Bennett case, please see that section.

This man, Felton Thomas, claimed at trial that Zeigler took him and Charlie Mays to fire some guns in order to get their finger prints on the guns. He testified instead of the original man the state said was taken by Zeigler to fire the guns. That man, Robert Foster, (See the story in pictures.) refused to testify and was only located recently. Thomas now says he never fired any guns and couldn't identify Zeigler until he was pointed out by the state. Zeigler is now asking the court to subpoena Thomas before the upcoming DNA hearing. No doubt he will disappear forever if the state grants the subpoena. Click here to read the motion.

Click here for sample legislation to help correct wrongful convictions

 This bill would, among other things, require a new trial when DNA establishes that the prosecution theory was false. The DNA evidence showed that Tommy did not kill a man as the prosecution claimed at trial and that another man at the scene did. Still the judge refused to order a new trial

Join the FREE TOMMY campaign! Send an email to Judge Whitehead, who will hear his appeal (when he gets around to it) for more DNA testing (DNA results more than 10 years ago proved he is innocent, but the court ignored it.) and the Florida attorney general who should support the appeal.Click here for a video that may convince you to join the free tommy campaign.)  Corrupt judges and prosecutors must be prevented from continuing in office. 

Click Here to View the November 9, 2015 interview with Zeigler

Click here to View a Discovery Channel Segment on the Injustice in this Case

A  Summer 2014 program entitled a Question of Innocence shows that Tommy is innocent!

 Federal District Judge Maurice Paul Sentenced Zeigler to Death Against the Wishes of the Jury. Click Here

 Judge Paul, then a circuit judge,  over-ruled the jury's recommendation after allegedly telling the prosecutor he would "Fry the son-of-a-bitch."

Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of William T. Zeigler

Former Orlando Sentinel editor Dave Burgin's letter in support of Tommy Zeigler 

Burgin, who was editor from 1981 ti 1985 was very critical of the Sentinel's role in wrongly convicting Zeigler. Even today, the Sentinel is afraid to print the truth of this case.

 Click here to download Fatal Flaw

Author Phil Finch traveled to Winter Garden in the early 90's at the request of  Dave Burgin to study the facts of the case. After many weeks of study, he wrote Fatal Flaw: A True Story of Malice and Murder in a Small Southern Town.  He was so convinced of Zeigler's innocence he made the book available on line at no charge.