For those who are following the case of William Thomas Zeigler, I have an update. Journalist friends and lawyers spent five days in evidentiary hearings with Circuit Judge Leticia Marques at the Orange County Courthouse, Orlando, Florida.
The Case
On Christmas Eve 1975, a quadruple murder took place in the Zeigler Furniture Store (Winter Garden, Florida).
The victims were Charles Mays, Virginia and Perry Edwards, and their daughter Eunice Edwards-Zeigler. The fifth victim, William Thomas Zeigler, became the sole suspect because he survived.
Defense Team
Original trial lawyer Ralph “Terry” Hadley III explained to the court that his client, William Thomas Zeigler was the fifth victim and not the perpetrator. And this time he had DNA to back up that statement.
Terry was there with David Michaeli and Dennis Tracey of Hogan Lowells law firm. Also present, John Houston Pope.
Tommy
These five days in court were hard for Tommy. He is now 80 years old, wheelchair bound, and his once proud six-foot body now roughly weighs 120 lbs. Despite his health issues, Tommy’s legs were shackled and his hands were cuffed.
Evidence
“Analysis of the DNA by three expert witnesses, along with expert testimony about missteps taken during the original crime scene investigation and an interview with an eyewitness whose testimony was never made known to the defense at the original trial, were the hallmarks of the defense’s strategy to convince the court to give Zeigler a new trial, or perhaps throw out his conviction altogether.”
Withheld from Discovery
The withheld evidence by the state during discovery, was the Jellison tape. I explain the significance of that tape here.
Jon Jellison repeated on tape what he saw. Even when Mr. Bachman, investigator for the prosecution at that time, explicitly suggested a change in the chain of events, Jon remained steadfast in what he remembered and in what order.
First, he saw the police car and the officer in the parking lot. That alerted him to the fact that something was going on. That is why he stayed outside to watch. Then, he heard shots.
The case is further complicated by police misconduct (lying on the stand), jury intimidation, and forensic testing disproving the charges.
Further reading
I would like to share several links.
1: Jean Gonzalez in the Florida Catholic, Dec 4, 2025
Below the article title you see the option to listen to the article as well.
2: Jean Gonzalez in the Florida Catholic, Dec 11, 2025
Below the article title you see the option to listen to the article as well.
3: A YouTube video in which Terry explains the judicial override that landed Tommy on death row, the lack of gunshot residue. Terry’s dream is to walk Tommy out of death row. There is the option to turn on the transcripts.
Warning: this video contains graphic crime scene photography
4: Many posts cover this case on my website. That is why Tommy has his own category and hashtag.
The link to his category is here. There you can find all the posts I wrote about this case.
If you follow this hashtag you will find all the posts where I mention Tommy.
Timeline:
A decision is not expected until the spring of 2026.