Bio

Melvin Trotter was born on December 29, 1960. He spent his early life in a challenging environment. Trotter was a child born as a result of rape. His father was absent from his life, and his mother struggled with alcoholism. Because of her condition, Trotter experienced emotional deprivation and physical abuse.

When he was nine years old, he was placed into foster care. His foster care experience was not much better. His foster father went to jail for aggravated battery, leaving Trotter to be raised mainly by his foster mother. Trotter has said that his time in foster care was abusive and unhealthy. He had a sister, and she was the only close family member he had.

In his late teenage years, Trotter faced another tragedy when his sister was violently killed by a gunshot. This loss had a significant impact on him.

Later in life, after Trotter was arrested, a clinical psychiatrist evaluated him. The psychiatrist found that Trotter had an I.Q. around 72. He was described as a slow learner with impaired common sense. The psychiatrist reported that Trotter struggled to think ahead or understand the consequences of his actions.

After his evaluation, it was noted that Trotter was not prone to violence unless he felt threatened. However, cocaine use could reduce his inhibitions and distort his sense of reality.

Murder Story

On June 16, 1986, Melvin Trotter attacked Virgie Langford, a grocery store owner in Manatee County, Florida. Trotter strangled her and then stabbed her multiple times with a knife. He stabbed her six times on the right side and once on the left side, which disemboweled her.

Witness Elenora Oates saw Trotter running from the direction of Langford's store shortly after the attack. Trotter asked Oates for help in finding crack cocaine. They spent the afternoon together, during which Oates helped Trotter count money and food stamps that he had in a red bandanna. Trotter claimed he acquired the money and food stamps while doing a job.

A truck driver later found Langford after the attack. At first, she was still alive and was able to respond to questions. She described her attacker as a short black man wearing a Tropicana employee badge. Langford was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery, but she died later that night from cardiac arrest caused by her injuries.

The police investigation linked Trotter to Langford's murder. Both the victim and the witness gave descriptions that matched Trotter. Police also discovered a handprint belonging to Trotter on a meat cooler at the grocery store. Additionally, they found a t-shirt at Trotter's home that had blood on it matching Langford’s blood type.

Trotter was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. On April 7, 1987, he was found guilty. The jury recommended the death penalty by a vote of 9 to 3. He was sentenced to death on May 18, 1987. His conviction was later affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court, but his sentence was reversed due to issues with how aggravating factors were handled. After a resentencing hearing, the jury again voted for the death penalty by an 11 to 1 majority on April 21, 1993. Trotter was resentenced to death on July 23, 1993.

He filed several appeals, which were mostly denied. Trotter claimed he was mentally retarded and argued about the fairness of his death sentence, but the Florida Supreme Court upheld the decisions regarding his trial and sentencing.