Bio

Alvin Leroy Morton was born on July 11, 1972, in the United States. Morton was 19 years old at the time of the murders. He joined several younger companions in a plan to enter the victims’ home and steal property. Morton was the only adult among the main group involved in the killings.

Before the crime, Morton was living in Florida. He carried a shotgun during the break-in, while another person carried a large knife. The crime later became a capital murder case because two people were killed during a burglary and robbery attempt.

Murder Story

On the late evening of January 26, 1992, or the early morning of January 27, 1992, Alvin Leroy Morton entered the Hudson, Florida, home of John Bowers and Bowers’ mother, Madeline Weisser, with Bobby Garner and Tim Kane. Two others, Chris Walker and Mike Rodkey, went with the group but did not enter the house. Morton carried a shotgun, and one of the others carried a large knife.

The men entered the living room and began looking for items to steal. Bowers and Weisser came into the room, and Morton ordered them to get on the floor. Bowers pleaded for his life and said he would give them whatever they wanted. Morton said Bowers would call police. When Bowers said he would not, Morton replied, “That’s what they all say,” then shot him in the back of the neck, killing him.

Morton then tried to shoot Weisser, but the gun jammed. He tried to stab her, but the knife did not go in at first. Garner then stepped on the knife and forced it into her body. Weisser was stabbed eight times in the back of the neck, and her spinal cord was severed. Before leaving, either Morton or Garner cut off one of Bowers’ pinky fingers, which was later shown to a friend.

Police and firefighters went to the victims’ home after receiving a tip. They found that mattresses had been set on fire and discovered the bodies inside the residence. Morton was later found hiding in the attic of his home. The murder weapons were found under Garner’s mother’s trailer. Morton later confessed to shooting Bowers and helping make the first cut on Weisser.

Morton was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder on February 4, 1994. The jury recommended death by a vote of 11 to 1, and he was sentenced to death on March 18, 1994. In 1997, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed his convictions but vacated the death sentences because of errors during the penalty phase.

A new penalty phase was later held. On March 1, 1999, Morton was again sentenced to death for both murders. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the resentencing on June 28, 2001. Later appeals, including postconviction challenges, did not overturn the death sentences.

As of the latest available public records reviewed, Alvin Leroy Morton has remains listed as a Florida death row inmate.