Bio 

Raymond Morrison Jr. was born on October 16, 1968. Public capital-case records identify him as a Florida offender with Department of Corrections number 113388. Before the murder of Albert Dwelle, Morrison was living in the Jacksonville area and was connected to an apartment complex where his girlfriend, Sandra Brown, lived. Dwelle lived across from Brown’s apartment.

Court records show that Morrison had a history of drug use. In his written statement to police, he said he had been smoking crack cocaine with a man he called “Big Man” on the night of the murder. He also said he had run out of crack and had no money before going to Albert Dwelle’s apartment.

In 2017, the Florida Supreme Court found that Morrison’s trial counsel had not properly investigated possible mitigation evidence before the sentencing phase. The court noted evidence presented in post-conviction proceedings involving adaptive deficits, organic brain damage, brain injuries, premature birth, childhood abuse, a deprived childhood, and parental divorce. Because that evidence was not properly presented during the original penalty phase, the court ordered a new sentencing proceeding while leaving the murder conviction in place.

Murder Story

On January 8, 1997, Raymond Morrison Jr. visited his girlfriend, Sandra Brown, at her apartment complex in Jacksonville, Florida. Albert Dwelle, an 82-year-old disabled man, lived across from Brown’s apartment. Around 9:00 p.m., Morrison told Brown he was going to take out the trash, but he did not come back. Later, Morrison said he had been smoking crack cocaine with a man he called “Big Man.” He said they ran out of drugs and money.

Morrison then went to Albert Dwelle’s apartment. He said he asked Dwelle for a cigar and then asked for a light. When Dwelle went into his bedroom, Morrison followed him. Morrison saw money in a shirt pocket and took it. Morrison claimed Dwelle picked up a knife and that Dwelle accidentally cut and stabbed himself during a struggle. This was Morrison’s version of events, not the court’s finding.

The evidence showed that Dwelle died from two knife wounds to the throat. After the killing, Morrison left with money and hid the knife under a brick at the apartment complex. He later led police to the knife, and blood on it matched Dwelle’s DNA.

Morrison was also seen trying to sell silver coins like the ones missing from Dwelle’s apartment. Police used this evidence to support the robbery charge. Morrison was arrested on January 10, 1997, for an unrelated matter. During the arrest, he asked an officer whether it was “about that old man.” Detectives later questioned him, and he gave a written statement.

On January 23, 1997, Morrison was indicted for first-degree murder, armed robbery, and burglary with assault. On September 25, 1998, a jury found him guilty on all counts. On October 8, 1998, the jury recommended death by a 12–0 vote. On December 18, 1998, Morrison was sentenced to death for first-degree murder. He also received life sentences for armed robbery and burglary with assault.

His convictions and death sentence were first upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in 2002. However, in 2017, the Florida Supreme Court vacated his death sentence because his trial lawyers had not properly prepared mitigation evidence for the penalty phase. His murder conviction remained valid, but a new penalty phase was ordered.

Raymond Morrison Jr. remains legally convicted of murdering Albert Dwelle. His verified current status should be listed as Imprisoned, with a note that his original death sentence was vacated in 2017.