Zeigler’s latest motion to vacate judgment was denied. On November 13, 2012. Judge Whitehead denied the motion to vacate judgment of conviction and sentence based on newly discovered evidence in the case of William Thomas Zeigler.
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.
Mr. Zeigler waits patiently 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.
Judge Whitehead’s decision is below.
Case summary: in Dec 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.
The case is riddled by police misconduct (lying on the stand), prosecutorial misconduct (withheld evidence), and forensic testing disproving the charges. The evidentiary hearing for touch DNA testing was held on March 31, 2016. Judge Whitehead denied the request on July 18, 2016. On November 23, 2016, an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court of Florida.
On April 21, 2017 the Florida Supreme Court denied the touch DNA request. On May 8, 2017 a motion for a rehearing with the US Supreme Court was filed. It was denied November 13, 2017.
At this moment the defense is planning the next phase. In the meantime, several directors have expressed an interest in making documentaries. It remains to be seen if they will follow through and actually contact either the defense or William Thomas Zeigler, who remains on death row in Raiford, Florida.