Bio

Leo Edward Perry Jr. was born on April 2, 1969. As a young man, Perry became involved in hitchhiking, which would later play a significant role in his life. He traveled from place to place, often relying on the kindness of strangers for rides. This lifestyle may have led him to various experiences that shaped his future.

The time he spent hitchhiking contributed to his encounters with different people. These interactions influenced his perspective on life.

Murder Story

On February 21, 1997, Leo Edward Perry Jr. was involved in the murder of John Johnson in Escambia County, Florida. Johnson, a 75-year-old man, checked into a motel in Pensacola on the evening of February 20. He was alone when he arrived. The next day, his body was found in his motel room with eight stab wounds.

Police discovered important evidence at the scene. They found Perry's fingerprint on a soap wrapper inside the room. They also linked his DNA to a bloodstain on a towel and his saliva on a cigarette butt. There was evidence of Johnson's blood on a light switch in the bathroom.

Perry claimed that he had met Johnson while hitchhiking in Alabama. Johnson offered him a ride, and they drove to Pensacola. Johnson decided to stay the night at the motel and invited Perry to stay with him. That night, Perry said he left to drink at bars and use drugs. When he returned, he was very intoxicated.

According to Perry, he woke up to find Johnson standing over him. He said he did not remember what happened afterward. He recalled sitting in a chair while Johnson lay on the bed covered in blood. Perry then cleaned up, covered Johnson's body, and took off in Johnson’s truck.

A nearby motel guest heard noises coming from Johnson's room and later saw a man resembling Perry driving away in Johnson's truck. The Florida Highway Patrol later found the truck in Palm Beach County. The driver of the truck stated that Perry had lent it to him in exchange for drugs. Perry's fingerprints were also found on a plastic bag inside the truck.

Perry was indicted for first-degree murder on November 24, 1997. A jury found him guilty on July 22, 1999, and recommended the death penalty by a vote of 10-2. He was sentenced to death on August 26, 1999.

Perry filed a direct appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on September 9, 1999. The court affirmed his conviction but sent the case back for resentencing on October 18, 2001. They agreed that his ex-wife's testimony about his violent behavior during the penalty phase was inadmissible. The court found that such evidence must relate to an aggravating circumstance, which the State had not established.