Bio

Billy Leon Kearse was born on October 26, 1972, in the United States. 

Murder Story

On January 18, 1991, Fort Pierce police officer Danny Parrish saw Billy Leon Kearse driving the wrong way on a one-way street in St. Lucie County, Florida. Parrish radioed the vehicle’s license plate number and stopped the car. Kearse did not have a driver’s license. He gave Parrish several false names, but none matched driver’s-license records. Parrish then ordered Kearse out of the vehicle and told him to place his hands on top of the car.

When Parrish tried to handcuff him, Kearse resisted. During the struggle, Kearse grabbed Parrish’s service weapon and fired repeatedly. Parrish was struck 13 times. Nine bullets struck his body, and four struck his bullet-resistant vest. A nearby taxi driver heard the gunfire and saw a dark blue vehicle leave the scene. The driver used Parrish’s radio to call for help. Parrish was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Police traced the license plate number that Parrish had called in before the stop. The plate led officers to an address in Fort Pierce, where Kearse was arrested the same day. After waiving his rights, Kearse confessed to shooting Parrish during the struggle. Kearse was indicted on May 8, 1991, for first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The firearm-possession count was separated from the murder and robbery counts before trial.

On October 22, 1991, a jury found Kearse guilty of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. On October 24, 1991, the jury recommended death by an 11–1 vote. On November 8, 1991, Judge Marc A. Cianca sentenced him to death for murder and life imprisonment for robbery with a firearm.

In 1995, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed Kearse’s conviction but reversed his death sentence because of an error during the penalty phase. A new sentencing proceeding was held, and on March 24, 1997, a jury unanimously recommended death. The court again sentenced Kearse to death. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed that death sentence on June 29, 2000.

Kearse remained on Florida’s death row for more than three decades. On January 29, 2026, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed his death warrant. His final appeals were rejected by the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

On March 3, 2026, Billy Leon Kearse was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison. He was pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.