b: 1957
Summary
Name:
Sonny Boy Oats Jr.Years Active:
1979Birth:
May 25, 1957Status:
Awaiting ExecutionClass:
MurdererVictims:
2Method:
ShootingNationality:
USAb: 1957
Summary: Murderer
Name:
Sonny Boy Oats Jr.Status:
Awaiting ExecutionVictims:
2Method:
ShootingNationality:
USABirth:
May 25, 1957Years Active:
1979Date Convicted:
February 6, 1981Sonny Boy Oats Jr. was born on May 25, 1957. He grew up in Central Florida, where he had a troubled childhood. As he got older, Oats became involved with the wrong crowd. He began committing minor crimes during his youth. Oats turned to more serious offenses, which led to his criminal record.
On December 20, 1979, Sonny Boy Oats Jr. committed two murders during robberies in Marion County, Florida. His first victim was a store clerk named Jeanette Dyer. She was shot in the face while working at the Little Country Store in Martel. When found, she had a weak pulse but died shortly after reaching the hospital. Evidence at the scene showed that money had been taken from the cash register.
Just days later, on December 24, officers in Ocala noticed a suspicious vehicle with two men inside. The driver sped away, leading police on a chase that ended when the vehicle crashed. Donnie Williams, one of the suspects, was arrested, but Oats was also taken into custody because he had been inquiring about Williams’ release.
During questioning, Oats confessed to being involved in both the robbery and the murder of Dyer. He also admitted that he had robbed an ABC Liquor Store the day before and shot another clerk during that incident. Oats claimed that he never meant to shoot the clerk during the ABC Liquor Store robbery, stating that his gun accidentally fired.
Oats was indicted for the murder of Dyer and the robbery of the Little Country Store on January 30, 1980. After a trial, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm. He received a death sentence for the murder and a 99-year sentence for the robbery on February 10, 1981.
Oats’ case went through several appeals. On February 3, 1984, the Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction but later resentenced him to death in April 1984. He continued to file various appeals and motions in the years that followed, including petitions to higher courts, which were generally denied. Oats faced legal challenges until at least 2004, during which time he sought to overturn his convictions and sentences.
