Bio 

John Steven Huggins was born on February 16, 1962. Public court and correctional records identify him as a male inmate in Florida Department of Corrections records under DC number 059121. Before the murder of Carla Larson, Huggins was married to Angel Huggins. The couple had five children, and in June 1997 they were visiting the Orlando area. Court records state that the family stayed at a Days Inn near Osceola Parkway and International Drive. This location later became important because Larson disappeared after leaving work in the same general area.

Huggins was also connected to his wife’s family in the Orlando area. His mother-in-law, Fay Blades, lived nearby, and witnesses later placed a white Ford Explorer at her property after Larson disappeared. That vehicle was significant because Larson drove a white Ford Explorer, and the vehicle seen at Blades’ home was later described as having been poorly painted a darker color.

Court records also show that Huggins had begun a relationship with Tammy, his sister-in-law. After Larson’s disappearance and before the murder investigation fully focused on him, Huggins left Florida with Tammy. Angel Huggins later saw a television segment on America’s Most Wanted about Larson’s murder and contacted law enforcement because she suspected her husband may have been involved.

The Florida Department of Corrections death-row roster also lists prior offenses connected to Huggins, including burglary, robbery, grand theft, resisting an officer with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical services worker. These records help establish that he had prior criminal history before the Larson case, but the reviewed sources do not provide a complete early-life biography beyond the criminal and procedural records.

Murder Story

On June 10, 1997, Carla Larson took her daughter to day care before going to work. Larson worked as an engineer for Centex-Rooney Construction Company, which was involved in construction work at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orange County, Florida. Around midday, she told a coworker that she was going to a grocery store to buy food for an afternoon meeting.

A receipt later showed that Larson bought food at a Publix store on International Drive at about 12:11 p.m. However, she never returned to work. Her disappearance quickly caused concern among her coworkers, especially after she failed to come back for the scheduled meeting.

Witnesses later reported seeing a white Ford Explorer matching Larson’s vehicle in a wooded area near Osceola Parkway. Two days after she disappeared, coworkers searched the area with help from witnesses who had seen the SUV. During that search, Larson’s body was found in the woods, about 200 feet from where her vehicle had reportedly been seen.

Larson was found without most of her clothing, and her body was covered with a towel. Her purse, clothing, and jewelry were missing, although her wedding band was still on her hand. A medical examiner determined that she had been killed by strangulation.

The investigation soon focused on John Steven Huggins. On the day Larson disappeared, Huggins was in the Orlando area with his wife, Angel Huggins, and their five children. They were staying near the same general area where Larson was last seen. Huggins’ mother-in-law, Fay Blades, later testified that when she came home from work on June 10, 1997, she saw an unfamiliar white SUV in her carport. Neighbors also saw a white Ford SUV at Blades’ property. Later that week, the vehicle was described as having been spray-painted a darker color.

On June 26, 1997, police were called to a vacant lot in Cocoa Beach after a truck was found burning. Investigators determined that the burned vehicle was Larson’s white Ford Explorer. The SUV had been partially painted black, and evidence showed that an accelerant had been used to set it on fire.

After the murder, Huggins left Florida with Tammy, his sister-in-law, with whom he had begun a relationship. Angel Huggins later saw Larson’s case featured on America’s Most Wanted. After watching the program, she suspected that her husband was involved and contacted law enforcement.

Police searched Fay Blades’ home and a shed on her property several times in late June and July 1997. At first, officers did not find incriminating evidence. Blades later searched the shed herself and found jewelry hidden in an electrical box. The jewelry was later identified as belonging to Carla Larson.

Huggins was later arrested in Maryland. On May 28, 1998, he was indicted in Orange County, Florida, on charges of first-degree murder, carjacking, robbery, and kidnapping. His first trial was moved to Duval County. On February 3, 1999, a jury found him guilty on all counts. The jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 8 to 4, and on February 26, 1999, Huggins was sentenced to death for first-degree murder. He also received 30 years for carjacking, life imprisonment for robbery, and life imprisonment for kidnapping.

That first conviction did not remain final. Huggins later filed a petition claiming a Brady violation, arguing that the State had failed to disclose evidence favorable to the defense. The trial court granted the petition and ordered a new trial. The State appealed, but on June 7, 2001, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the order granting Huggins a new trial.

The retrial was moved to Hillsborough County. On July 25, 2002, a jury again found Huggins guilty of first-degree murder, carjacking, and kidnapping. For the robbery charge, he was convicted of the lesser included offense of petit theft. The jury recommended death by a vote of 9 to 3. On September 19, 2002, Huggins was sentenced to death for the murder of Carla Larson. He was also sentenced to 30 years for carjacking, life imprisonment for kidnapping, and 60 days for petit theft.

Huggins appealed his convictions and death sentence to the Florida Supreme Court. On December 2, 2004, the court affirmed both the convictions and the death sentence. His postconviction litigation continued for several years. Court records show that he was declared incompetent in 2006 and later found competent again in 2009. In 2014, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of his postconviction motion and denied his habeas petition.

John Steven Huggins remains listed on the Florida Department of Corrections Death Row roster.