Bio

Lenard James Philmore was born on October 25, 1976. He spent his early years in Florida. He grew up in a time when many social and economic changes were occurring in the United States.

He became involved in criminal activities that would lead him down a troubled path. On November 14, 1997, he was taken into custody shortly after a violent crime took place. This pivotal moment marked a significant change in his life and set the stage for his future legal battles. After his arrest, he faced various trials and appeals related to his actions.

As of now, he remains a central figure in discussions about crime in Florida, reflecting on the complexities of his life leading up to his convictions.

Murder Story

On November 14, 1997, Lenard Philmore and his accomplice, Anthony Spann, committed a serious crime in Martin County, Florida. They intended to steal a car to use as a getaway vehicle for a bank robbery they planned. Earlier that day, Philmore and Spann had tried to steal another car but were unsuccessful.

They noticed Kazue Perron driving her Lexus and decided to follow her. Once Perron pulled into a driveway, Spann approached her car and asked to use her phone. When she refused to help, Philmore took out a gun and forced her to move to the passenger seat. Philmore then drove her car while Spann followed in his own vehicle. During the drive, Perron expressed her fear and started crying.

At one point, Spann signaled Philmore to pull over. He instructed Philmore to take Perron to a bank. Perron told them she had no money in her bank account but offered the $40 she had in her purse. Despite her pleas for safety, Philmore ultimately shot her in the head after leading her to a remote area. He hid her body in some vegetation nearby.

Afterward, Philmore and Spann drove to a store, where Spann pointed out a bank for them to rob. Philmore entered the bank, stole $1,100, and returned to Spann's car. They then returned to where they had left Perron's Lexus and hid Spann's Subaru. Philmore discarded a tank top that had Perron’s blood on it during this time.

Later, while attempting to evade capture, the group was spotted by an undercover police vehicle. A high-speed chase ensued, leading to their eventual arrest when their car became disabled. Philmore confessed to police during interviews, admitting to the robbery, car theft, and murder of Kazue Perron. He also took the authorities to the location of her body days after the crime.

Philmore was arrested on November 14, 1997, and was indicted several weeks later. He faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, robbery with a deadly weapon, and grand theft. After a jury trial, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to death on July 21, 2000.