Bio

Ernest D. Suggs was born on August 8, 1955. He spent his early life in Florida. As he grew older, Suggs became an adult and spent some time in the local community. He lived in Walton County, Florida. His life took a significant turn when he became involved in criminal activities. Unfortunately, not much is known about his life choices or the events leading up to his criminal actions.

Suggs was later involved in a serious case that brought him to public attention. His actions had a profound impact on the people around him and the community where he lived.

Murder Story

On August 6, 1990, Ernest Suggs killed Pauline Casey, an employee at the Teddy Bear Bar in Walton County, Florida. After the murder, the bar was found unlocked, and cash was missing. Casey's belongings, including her purse and keys, were found at the bar, but she was missing.

A neighbor, Ray Hamilton, reported seeing Casey playing pool with a customer he did not recognize shortly before he left. The police began searching for that customer based on Hamilton's description. Later, they pulled over Suggs after matching a car he was driving to the description provided by Hamilton.

Suggs allowed the police to search his home and car. During the search, they discovered $170 in small bills and found Casey's fingerprints in his vehicle. They also found blood on a shirt belonging to Suggs that matched Casey’s blood type. Additionally, a key to the bar and a beer mug similar to those sold at the Teddy Bear Bar were discovered in a bay behind Suggs’ residence.

The police matched tire tracks from Suggs’ car to tracks found nearby. During a search of the area, they located Casey's body a short distance from the road where the tire tracks were found. She had been stabbed multiple times. Following the discovery of her body, Suggs was arrested. He claimed he had been framed for the murder.

Suggs faced several charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery. On September 7, 1990, he was found guilty of all counts. In June 1992, a jury voted for the death penalty by a narrow margin. On July 15, 1992, Suggs was sentenced to death for the murder of Casey, along with additional prison time for the other charges.

After his conviction, Suggs filed multiple appeals to challenge his sentence. The Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction and sentence on September 1, 1994. Suggs also appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but his petition was denied in April 1995. In later years, he filed motions and appeals in state and federal courts, all of which were denied, maintaining his conviction and sentence.