Bio

Anthony LaMarca was born on June 16, 1955. Before the murder of Kevin Flynn, he had already spent many years in Florida’s prison system. He had served time for kidnapping and attempted rape and had been released from state prison before the events that led to Flynn’s death. After his release, he lived in a mobile home in Dunedin, Florida.

LaMarca was connected to Kevin Flynn through his daughter or stepdaughter, Tonya Flynn, who was married to Kevin. After LaMarca was released, Kevin and Tonya had contact with him, and reports state that they believed he was trying to restart his life.

Before the murder, LaMarca had made statements about wanting to kill Kevin Flynn. A prison inmate later testified that LaMarca had said while incarcerated that he intended to kill Flynn after his release. This testimony became part of the prosecution’s evidence at trial.

Murder Story

On December 2, 1995, Anthony LaMarca met Tonya Flynn and her husband, Kevin Flynn, at a bar in Pinellas County, Florida. Around 7:45 p.m., Kevin left the bar to drive LaMarca home. About 45 minutes later, LaMarca returned to the bar alone and told Tonya they needed to go to a relative’s house to pick up Kevin.

When LaMarca and Tonya arrived at the house, no one was there. Tonya later reported that LaMarca raped her and asked her to leave Florida with him. She called police and reported the assault. Officers later saw LaMarca walking along a road, but he ran away before they could arrest him.

Early on December 3, 1995, police went to LaMarca’s home. Inside, they found Kevin Flynn’s body in a bedroom. Investigators found shell casings and blood spatter in the living room, with a blood trail leading to the bedroom. A neighbor testified that LaMarca had arrived at the home the previous night with another man and that the two appeared to be arguing.

Another witness, Jeremy Smith, testified that LaMarca confessed to killing Kevin Flynn. The prosecution also presented testimony from an inmate who said LaMarca had previously stated that he planned to kill Flynn. LaMarca was charged with first-degree murder.

LaMarca was convicted of first-degree murder on November 6, 1997. During the penalty phase, he represented himself and waived the presentation of mitigating evidence. The jury recommended death by a vote of 11 to 1. On February 20, 1998, Judge Brandt C. Downey III sentenced LaMarca to death.

The Florida Supreme Court later upheld LaMarca’s conviction and death sentence. He continued filing postconviction appeals, including claims involving ineffective assistance of counsel and alleged evidence issues, but the Florida Supreme Court denied relief in 2006. The Eleventh Circuit later denied his request for a certificate of appealability in federal habeas proceedings.