Free wrongfully convicted Tommy Zeigler from death row for more than forty years
ph: 813-294-6772
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.)
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! | ||
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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. | ||
The Appeal for DNA testing that would PROVE Zeigler's innocence was denied by the Florida Supreme Court
Florida denies DNA testing possibly because they would owe Tommy millions of dollars after he is proved innocent. On page 8 of the appeal it says "Even the State’s expert, who the State fought vigorously to prevent from testifying, agreed that state-of-the-art testing would show whether Zeigler could have committed the murder."
Click Here for a Podcast of the Zeigler Case by the Tampa Bay Times
Listen to the story of the case by Leonora Anton. You will hear the 92 year old former prosecutor and others who have a vested interest in keeping Zeigler on death row. What is he hiding??
Click Here for Channel 8 Anchor, Keith Cate's report on Oct. 29, 2018
Tampa Channel 8 Anchor, Keith Cate, believes Tommy did not get a fair trial. He has been an advocate for Tommy for several years as this report shows.
Click here for a complete theory of what happened
This is a possible explanation of all the facts that connects the dots and explains the case based on the area history of extreme violence toward blacks. It assumes that Tommy Zeigler was targeted for execution by elements in the community who believed he was too effective in trying to change attitudes toward blacks. He was in fact a thorn in the side of the power structure. When their plans went astray, they arranged for his conviction for murder. As the only person who survived the murder of four people in his store, he was wrongly convicted of their murder. He has never had a fair trial despite all the evidence that has surfaced proving his innocence.
Click here for a 1 minute video about the Zeigler Injustice
Click here for the full video story of the Zeigler Injustice
Kesha McEachern tells the story of the Tommy Zeigler injustice and her father, Leigh, adds a brief note at the end.
The Picture above shows the location of Tommy's wound from the night he was attacked and his wife and her parents were killed on Christmas Eve 1975. Experts say a right-handed person could not shoot themselves in this location as the prosecutor theorized. DNA testing of blood on Tommy's shirt proved years ago that the prosecutor was wrong at the trial,
If you have new information about WHO SHOT Tommy Zeigler and you're not the shooter please click here
Essential legislation illustrated by this tragic case (Click to Read)
This one page summary is being provided to candidates for state legislators and to candidates for Florida Attorney General and Governor.
Read Phil Finch's 1992 Book Fatal Flaw (Click to Read)
Go to page 285 in the book to see for yourself the "Fatal Flaw" that proves Zeigler is innocent. Edward Williams who had a murder weapon in his possession claimed he ran to the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant immediately after Tommy gave him the gun. But the restaurant was closed at 9PM when the Nolan's saw Williams go to the door and ask to use the phone. Williams lied, and neither the prosecution nor the defense seemed to grasp the importance of this testimony.
Call for Investigation of Racism and Corruption Click for Video
Tommy Zeigler has been on death row in Florida since 1976. He was a politically active and successful owner of a Winter Garden furniture store who was shot through the abdomen and his wife, her parents, and another man were killed on Christmas Eve 1975. He was charged with the murders while still in the hospital, wrongfully convicted six months later, and condemned to death by a judge with a grudge against him. He is innocent of the murders.
Over the years new evidence and evidence withheld from the jury established his innocence to hundreds of people (including at least two of the jurors) who have taken the time to review the facts. Unfortunately, once a person is convicted, the criminal justice system offers a difficult path to anyone not guilty. This site presents many of the petitions and transcripts which have been submitted and rejected by the courts. The list of petitions and rulings below are the most recent which the courts and the Florida Attorney General have ignored. Click on any red underlined words to go to the text of the petitions. There are numerous videos on YouTube which should convince the viewer that justice in this case is blind to the truth.
Below are links to videos that expand on many facits of the case.
A professional investigative report was done several years ago, which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AityymRK1jI
Jeff Ashton, the assistant state attorney in 2004 lied to convince Judge Whitehead to ignore DNA evidence that conclusively showed that Tommy was a victim (with a gunshot throught the abdomen) of the crime for which he was convicted. See the evidence of malicious prosecution at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgz6BIz2d_k
A good review of the lies told by the prosecution at the original trial and later after DNA proved Tommy was innocent is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBjIxdQ0QM
This video presents the affidavit of an ederly woman whose deceased son was tried and acquitted for a murder he didn't commit because he refused to falsely testify that he was Tommy Zeigler's homosexual lover at Tommy's trial in 1976. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQN3eNCAZLM
Below is a Presentation of the Issues in this Travesty of Justice
Robert Eagan was the state attorney in Orange County, Florida Before Eagan left office in 1989, he was investigated for allegations of bribery by a Federal Grand Jury. He also arranged to have his chief deputy, Lawson Lamar, elected sheriff of Orange County and to have Zeigler's friend, the police chief of Winter Garden, investigated in 1979. The police chief, Don Ficke, resigned which allowed a deputy, James Yawn, who was first on the scene of the crime to become police chief a few years later. Click here to read one of three Orlando Sentinel articles Click here to read 2nd ot three Orlando Sentinel articles Click here to read 3rd of three Orlando Sentinel articles
Jeff Ashton became state attorney in 2013 and was against new DNA testing. 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.)
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 |
Free wrongfully convicted Tommy Zeigler from death row for more than forty years
ph: 813-294-6772