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You are here: Home / Cold Case News / Death on Hold: Zeigler

Death on Hold: Zeigler

April 2, 2013 By Alice

Death on Hold: Zeigler. In this documentary you can see the trial and appeals in the case of William Thomas Zeigler. It explains why for the past 37 years, we have been trying to show you that he never had a fair trial. Judge for yourself whether there is room for doubt.

https://web.archive.org/web/20130406001457/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQc3J4ocgsM&gl=US&hl=en

Mr. Zeigler has been on death row for the 1975 quadruple murders that took place on Christmas Eve inside his family’s furniture store in Wintergarden, Florida. The victims were Charles Mays, Virginia and Perry Edwards (Zeigler’s parents-in-law), and Eunice Edwards-Zeigler (Zeigler’s wife).

The prosecution contended that only one man killed these four victims. After investigating the crime scene police found that 28 shots were fired with eight revolvers. However, no gunshot residue was found on his pants.

Three people were shot by a killer who did not care whether they left traces behind, whereas around one dead body (Mays) someone partially cleaned up. If one person was responsible for all four killings, why would that person bother to clean up around one dead body but not around the other three?

The prosecution’s theory was that Eunice’s body remained undisturbed after she was shot. The position of her left hand in her left coat pocket was the sole basis for that theory.  We now know that Eunice’s hand was placed in her left pocket to hide that her two diamond rings were stolen. The rings that she always wore were never found at the crime scene or at her home. However, decades later these rings showed up in the belonging of Eunice’s brother and his family. How did they get those rings?

Mr. Zeigler waits for the day that someone in authority has the guts to rip open his case and expose it for what it was: a frame up in which he was supposed to die as well. I hope that day comes soon.

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Filed Under: Cold Case News, Zeigler Tagged With: Actual Innocence, Capital Punishment, DNA, Faulty Evidence, Florida, Miscarriage of Justice, Prosecutorial Misconduct, William Thomas Zeigler

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  1. The lingering case of Tommy Zeigler - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    November 25, 2018 at 3:09 pm

    […] theory was that Eunice’s body remained undisturbed after she was shot. The position of her left hand tucked into her left coat pocket was the sole basis for that theory. We now know that Eunice’s hand was placed in her left pocket […]

  2. Case of the Month: the Zeigler wrongful conviction says:
    October 31, 2015 at 10:04 am

    […] theory was that Eunice’s body remained undisturbed after she was shot. The position of her left hand in her left coat pocket was the sole basis for that theory.  We now know that Eunice’s hand was placed in her left […]

  3. International Wrongful Conviction Day says:
    October 2, 2015 at 5:01 am

    […] was that Mrs. Zeigler’s body remained undisturbed after she was shot. The position of her left hand in her left coat pocket was the sole basis for that theory. We now know that her hand was placed in her left pocket to hide […]

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Author Notes

On this website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and are in need of renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book.

My database has over 325 cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database will always be free to the public to use. You cannot buy ad space on my website, ever.

All writing suggestions that come in by email are added to my to-do list in the order in which they were received. Please be patient. My to-do list is very long but no case gets dropped and I will get back in touch.

Defrosting Cold Cases is NOT an organization. It is my brainchild.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you still cannot find the answer there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

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William Thomas Zeigler

Category: ALL POSTS

On March 31, 2016, an evidentiary hearing was held to request touch DNA testing. On July 18, 2016, Judge Whitehead denied that request.

On November 23, 2016, an appeal was filed with the Florida Supreme Court. On April 21, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court denied the request for touch DNA analysis.

On May 8, 2017 a motion for a rehearing with the US Supreme Court was filed. It was denied November 13, 2017.

In the summer of 2019, the appeal for DNA testing to the Florida Conviction Integrity Unit was denied.

Richard Lapointe

Category: ALL POSTS

In March 2015, the Connecticut State Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Richard lapointe. On Oct 2, 2015, International Wrongful Conviction Day, Richard was set free. The judge ruled that he cannot be retried for the 1987 rape-murder of Mrs. Bernice Martin. Richard Lapointe died on Aug 4, 2020 of Covid19 complications.

In 1987, someone killed Bernice Martin. I hope that she will not become a forgotten file.
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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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