October 24, 2025 • 20 mins
It started with a haunting 911 call — a Florida man sobbing, “I just shot my family… I love my family!”
When deputies arrived, they found a scene that would stay with them forever: a mother and three young children murdered inside their Crestview home. Army veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson, claimed masked intruders had done it. But as investigators dug deeper, a darker story emerged — one of rage, brain injury, and a system that failed a soldier long before that night.
Was it justice, or the final failure of a broken man and a broken system?
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
When deputies arrived, they found a scene that would stay with them forever: a mother and three young children murdered inside their Crestview home. Army veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson, claimed masked intruders had done it. But as investigators dug deeper, a darker story emerged — one of rage, brain injury, and a system that failed a soldier long before that night.
Was it justice, or the final failure of a broken man and a broken system?
**************************************
Do you have thoughts about this case, or is there a specific true crime case you’d like to hear about? Let me know with an email or a voice message: https://murderandlove.com/contact
Find the sources used in this episode and learn more about how to support Love and Murder: Heartbreak to Homicide and gain access to even more cases, including bonus episodes, ad-free and intro-free cases, case files and more at: https://murderandlove.com
Music:
℗ lesfreemusic
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/love-and-murder-heartbreak-to-homicide--4348896/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
At eight forty one pm on September eleventh, nineteen ninety eight,
a nine to one to one dispatcher in Okaloosa County,
Florida answered a call from a man whose voice sounded
frantic and broken. Quote, Yes, Mom, Mom, I just shot
my family. I love my family, Mom, I love my family.
He kept repeating this as dispatchers tried to keep him
(00:22):
on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to Love and Murder Heartbreak to Homicide were Kai's
AI co hosts Jensen, Jessica and Jane bringing you another
Florida Man Friday episode, written by Kai and told with
the victim in mind. Before we get started, don't forget
to subscribe on whatever platform you're on so you don't
miss a case. If you didn't know, you can also
subscribe on our Patreon for free Patreon dot com Slash
(00:47):
Love and Murder. You do get some perks for signing
up for free, but if you want to get bonus cases,
become a voice of the victim yourself. Help keep LAMB
completely listener funded and help keep the show going and
join one of our bonus tiers starting at only three
dollars per month. Patreon dot com Slash Love and murder.
(01:07):
Every teer helps us keep being a voice for the victims,
and the free tier still gets you updates and a
few perks along the way.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Part of what you get in the Patreon are case extras.
For instance, if you listen to Wednesday's case, I included
pictures of the evidence from that case, and if you
listen to Monday's case, which came out on Tuesday this week,
KAI included a video of the bodycam footage of police
finding the prosecutor publicly drinking from the Brendan Banfield case.
(01:36):
These are some of the extras you get by joining
the lambfam patreon dot com slash love and murder.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now, without further ado, let's get back to your Florida man. Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
When deputies arrived minutes later at the Crestview home that
thirty five year old Jeffrey Hutchinson shared with his girlfriend
and her three children, they found Jeffrey lying in the garage,
covered in blood, still holding the phone connected to the
non operator. He was in a daze muttering to himself
inside of the home. The scene was horrific. Thirty two
(02:08):
year old Renee Flaherty and her children, nine year old
Jeffrey seven year old Amanda and four year old Logan
were all dead. Each had been shot with a twelve
gage pistol grip shotgun.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Oh my God.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Before this night, Jeffrey had lived a life that seemed steady.
Born on November sixth, nineteen sixty two, he was raised
in Florida and later in Washington. Before his military service,
he worked as a mechanic and a security guard. Then
he went on to serve eight years in the US
Army as an elite paratrooper and ranger during the Gulf War.
(02:45):
His service left him with Gulf War illness PTSD and
brain damage link to chemical exposure.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Golf War illness is a condition associated with problems like pain,
memory loss, and insomnia. I've heard stories for years about
people who served in the Gulf War and came back
with illnesses that doctors couldn't fully explain. Some talked about
chronic fatigue, nerve pain, memory loss, or even strange rashes
(03:12):
that never went away. Others were suddenly allergic to foods
they'd never had issues with before. It's heartbreaking because so
many of them were dismissed or told it was all
in their heads. The term Gulf War illness eventually came up,
but even then it felt like no one really wanted
to take responsibility or dig into what caused it chemical exposure, vaccines,
(03:34):
or something else. Entirely, these veterans sacrificed a lot. In
decades later, many are still fighting just to have their
symptoms acknowledged, let alone treated. It's one of those quiet
injustices that doesn't make headlines, but leaves a trail of suffering.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Speaking of chemical exposure, military records showed that Jeffrey's unit
was exposed to chemical warfare during Operation Desert Storm, which
ended up permanently affected his brain. During deployment, he'd been
exposed to siren gas multiple times when chemical alarms went
off in his camp, and his unit also endured shockwaves
from nearby scud missile attacks. Those experiences left lasting damage. Later,
(04:16):
brain scans showed visible injuries, with neuroimaging revealing major abnormalities
in his frontal lobe, the part of the brain that
controls impulse, judgment and reasoning.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
How was he not getting constant treatment and being closely
monitored after that? The man had documented brain damage from
chemical exposure and trauma, but he was just outliving his
life with no consistent care, no observation, nothing. How does
someone go through that kind of neurological injury, come back
clearly struggling, and still slip through every system that's supposed
(04:50):
to help veterans. It's like he was left to unravel
on his own and everyone just looked the other way.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
After his honorable discharge, Jeffrey was diagon nosed with Gulf
War illness and PTSD by Veterans Affairs doctors. His medical
records showed that things got worse over time. He started
having memory lapses, paranoia, and sudden outbursts of rage. He
often told doctors he believed government agents were watching him,
(05:18):
and that paranoia only got stronger in the months leading
up to the murders. Jeffrey had been twice divorced and
was now living with Renee. The couple had moved with
her three kids from Washington to Florida, hoping for a
fresh start. Renee was described by her brother as a
tough woman who worked hard to provide for her children.
At the time she began her relationship with Jeffrey, Renee
(05:41):
was estranged from her husband, who was stationed in Alaska.
On the evening of September eleventh, nineteen ninety eight, Jeffrey
and Renee had gotten into an argument. Jeffrey stormed out,
packed some belongings and guns into his truck, and drove
to a nearby Amvets bar. He drank beer and vented
to the bartender about being pissed off with Renee. Witnesses
(06:04):
said he left the bar angry and drove off recklessly.
Renee called her mother shortly after he'd left the house,
saying that she didn't know where he was and that
he'd taken her keys. Next, she'd told a friend that
she was planning to leave him soon, but the friend
told her to hang on for a few more days
so that they could help get her out. Less than
(06:25):
an hour after leaving the bar, Jeffrey returned home. He
kicked in the front door, walked to the master bedroom,
and opened fire with a Mossburg twelve gage pistol grip shotgun.
Renee was killed first, shot once in the head while
lying in bed. Amanda and Logan, who were also in
the master bedroom, were next, each killed with a single
(06:46):
head shot. Jeffrey, who had been standing in the doorway,
witnessed the carnage. Then Jeffrey fired two shots at him,
one in the chest and one in the head. Minutes later,
Jeffrey picked up the phone and called nine one one,
But even during that call, his story didn't make sense. First,
he'd said that he was the one who shot his family.
(07:07):
Then he started saying something about some guys being at
the house two masked intruders had broken in and committed
the murders. However, the arriving officers noted that the physical
evidence didn't match Jeffrey's convoluted story. First, there were no
signs of forced entry beyond the front door he'd broken down. Second,
(07:29):
first responders noted that gunshot residue covered his hands, along
with tissue from Jeffrey on his leg. And finally, none
of the victims had defensive wounds, suggesting that anyone else
had been present. Then, the only stocking mask they found
in the yard turned out to be part of the
family's pool filter. Police found the still loaded shotgun on
(07:50):
a kitchen counter and took it into evidence. Jeffrey was
arrested at the scene without resistance and charged with four
counts of first degree murder. On October fifth, nineteen ninety eight,
an Okloosa County grand jury indicted Jeffrey on four counts
of first degree premeditated murder, but it took years to
(08:13):
actually get a trial. The case kept getting pushed back.
It was first set for September nineteen ninety nine, then
delayed time and time again through two thousand and two
thousand and one. Jeffrey fired two of his lawyers, filed
an insanity defense, and even tried to represent himself for
a short time. Then on January seventh, two thousand and one,
(08:36):
Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron ruled that he was mentally
competent to stand trial. At his trial, which started on
January eighth, two thousand and one, prosecutors presented the nine
to one to one call, forensic evidence, and witness testimony
showing Jeffrey was the only possible shooter. Two of Jeffrey's
(08:56):
friends testified that it was his voice on the recorded
nine one one call, confirming his identity as the caller
who confessed to the killings. Jeffrey's brother, Dan testified that
he'd talked to him on the phone earlier that evening
and heard him and Renee joking around like they always did.
This testimony added to the weirdness in the abruptness of
(09:17):
the change in atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Right, like, how did you go from joking around to murder?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Jeffrey maintained his innocence, claiming that two men wearing ski
masks had broken into the house and he struggled with
them before they shot Renee the children and fled.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I did not kill Renee in the kids, and I
believe I was framed.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
The prosecution argued that although Jeffrey said he fought with
multiple intruders at the time of his arrest, he had
no injuries whatsoever on his body. Then, Jeffrey claimed he
was heavily intoxicated at the time, suggesting the crime was
a crime of passion rather than first degree murder.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
So the defense is basically throwing spaghetti at the wall
at this point.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's what it seems like. Next, the defense focused on
Jeffrey's mental health and how his military service had affected him.
A psychiatrist for the defense, William Baumswiger, testified about Jeffrey's
brain damage and uncontrollable rage. He also argued that Jeffrey
was bipolar and intoxicated at the time, saying those factors
(10:24):
made him ineligible for the death penalty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
I mean literally. The only defense they haven't tried is
arguing that grown man Jeffrey was a minor.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Neuropsychologist. Doctor Robert Waw found that Jeffrey had organic brain dysfunction,
which affected his impulse control and judgment. Other psychiatric experts
agreed that his brain damage matched what you'd expect from
chemical exposure during military service. A behavioral neurologist testified that
(10:55):
the damage to his frontal lobe made him prone to
explosive anger and unable to fully grasp the consequences of
what he was doing. State appointed psychologists pushed back on
claims about how severe Jeffrey's mental health issues really were.
Their evaluations found that he understood what he did was
wrong and that he was capable of following the law.
(11:17):
They also pointed out that he first confessed and then
tried to come up with another story, saying that showed
clear rational thinking, not delusion. The judge rejected the defense's argument,
finding no link between the illness and the murders. After
a nine day trial on January eighteen, two thousand one,
(11:38):
the jury took less than a day to convict him
on all four counts of first degree murder. Jeffrey waived
his right to be sentenced by a jury, leaving the
decision of life, imprisonment or death solely to the judge.
Judge Baron explicitly rejected the defense's argument of diminished responsibility
due to mental illness and intoxication. He recognized Jeffrey's GWI
(12:02):
diagnosis and army service, but said that there had been
quote no correlation between the murders of these victims and
the defendant's diagnosis of Gulf War illness established. He said
that there had been clear premeditation by leaving the home,
drinking at a bar, then returning armed with a shotgun.
(12:23):
The judge found that the murders of the children carried
additional aggravating factors due to their young ages. Regarding Jeffrey,
the murder was found to be quote especially heinous, atrocious,
and cruel because the child was alive and wounded in
the chest when killed with a head shot. During the trial,
the pathologist had testified that Jeffrey was still alive after
(12:46):
the first blast to his chest and saw his family's
bodies before Jeffrey fired a final shot into his head.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Oh my god, that's horrible.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
On February sixth, two thousand and one, Judge barn sentenced
Jeffrey to life in print for Rene's murder and three
death sentences for the murders of each of the three children.
In his ruling, the judge talked about Jeffrey's death, saying.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The defendant walked over to that nine year old boy
and without pity and without conscience, aim the shotgun one
final time. Imagine that the boy heard the chilling sound
of the shot shells being racked.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
On February sixth, Jeffrey was transferred to death row at
Florida State Prison. Over the next two decades, Jeffrey filed
multiple appeals, claiming brain damage PTSD and incompetence to be executed.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Incompetence to be executed, but you're competent enough to know
that you're incompetent.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
The defense team also argued for a stay based on
Jeffrey's competency to be executed, citing his persistent claim of
innocence and the home invaders story as signs of a
delusional belief caused by severe mental illness. Dr Agarkar, who
evaluated Jeffrey, said he suffered from a delusional disorder that
(14:02):
kept him from understanding his situation clearly. Attorney Maria Deliberato
argued that Jeffrey's constant insistence on his innocence was proof
of that disorder, calling it a delusional belief based on
his significant and severe mental illness and brain damage. Bradford
(14:22):
County Circuit Judge James Collaw rejected this argument on April
twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, ruling.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
This Court finds that mister Hutchinson's purported delusion is demonstrably false.
Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand
the reason for the pending execution.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Actually, courts at every level, including the Florida Supreme Court
and U S Supreme Court, rejected all of his appeals,
stating his symptoms were known at the time of trial
and that his persistent claims of innocence showed coherent, though
misguided thinking, not delusion. A Supreme Court repeatedly upheld the sentences,
(15:03):
emphasizing that the murder of three defenseless young children outweighed
any mitigating factors. In early twenty twenty five, over one
hundred thirty veterans representing every branch of the armed forces
and collectively embodying over nine hundred years of military service
signed a handwritten letter to Governor Rohnda Santis pleading for clemency.
(15:26):
The signatories included veterans of conflicts from Vietnam, through Iraq
and Afghanistan, spanning all regions of the United States.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
They wrote, Jeffrey Ranger Hutchinson is one of us. His
mind was a casualty, just like any limb lost in combat.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
They didn't excuse the crime, but called executing a combat
injured veteran a moral failure of the system that broke him.
These veterans viewed his case as emblematic of the nation's
failure to care for its wounded warriors. The wrote that
the planned execution quote the final abandonment of someone our
country broke and then left behind.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
We can never be a veteran friendly state when our
leader is signing off on their deaths.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Governor DeSantis denied the request and signed the death warrant
on March thirty first, twenty twenty five, with an execution
date set. Jeffrey's attorneys pursued fresh appeals based on newly
discovered evidence of brain damage and cognitive impairment stemming from
his Gulf War injuries, arguing this warranted an acquittal or
(16:32):
a life sentence. The Florida Supreme Court rejected this appeal
on April twenty first, twenty twenty five, stating that the
scientific understanding of Gulf War illness had evolved, but Jeffrey's
symptoms and exposures, including the saren gas, were well known
during or before his trial. On May one, the execution,
(16:53):
which was set for six pm, was delayed while the
justices reviewed Jeffrey's final appeals. Maria Deliberato, executive director of
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, called the whole
process a politically compromised rubber stamp. Shortly before the execution,
the Supreme Court rejected Jeffrey's final appeal without comment, sealing
(17:18):
his fate after decades of legal battles. Jeffrey had his
last meal, consisting of salmon mahi mahi, asparagus, baked potato,
and iced tea. Then the sixty two year old was
executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Staker.
He had no final words, only mumbled quietly to himself,
(17:40):
as the state's three drug protocol involving atommodate rockuronium bromide
and potassium acetate took effect, making Jeffrey spasm for several minutes.
He was pronounced dead at eight fifteen pm. Wesley Elmore,
Rene's brother, traveled from Washington to witness the execution.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
People who don't walk in my shoes, they don't understand
that closure. You never get it. Justice has finally served.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Rene's other brother, Darren Johnson, said that justice was finally served,
but the pain never left.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Not a day goes by that we don't think about
the loved ones that were taken from us.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Jeffrey's death closed a twenty seven year chapter that began
with a single sentence on a nine to one one call,
words that still echo through the case today. I just
shot my family. Jeffrey was the fourth person executed in
Florida in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
What do you think of this case? Let us know
your thoughts below or in the patreon Patreon dot com
slash Love and Murder.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Although I empathize with the brain damage that Jeffrey endured,
I don't believe it affected this situation. Maybe it affected
his impulsivity in coming back angry and shooting everyone.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Or that could have happened because he was drunk.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
But I don't think his mental illness had anything else
to do with this case. I believe he knew what
he did. He tried to blame it on other people,
and when that didn't work, tried to blame it on GWI.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
What do you think? Do you agree or do you
think everyone is being too hard on Jeffrey. Leave your
comments below or in the Patreon. We always love hearing
from the Lamb fam.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
And that wraps up this week's Florida Man Friday. If
you haven't joined us yet, head over to patreon dot
com Slash Love and Murder. That's where you'll find ad
free episodes, exclusive bonus cases, and extras you won't hear
anywhere else, like Kay's bloopers. Your support helps us keep
telling these stories and being a voice for the victims.
(19:43):
Thanks for listening, Thanks for your support, and we'll see
you in the next episode.
At eight forty one pm on September eleventh, nineteen ninety eight,
a nine to one to one dispatcher in Okaloosa County,
Florida answered a call from a man whose voice sounded
frantic and broken. Quote, Yes, Mom, Mom, I just shot
my family. I love my family, Mom, I love my family.
He kept repeating this as dispatchers tried to keep him
(00:22):
on the line.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to Love and Murder Heartbreak to Homicide were Kai's
AI co hosts Jensen, Jessica and Jane bringing you another
Florida Man Friday episode, written by Kai and told with
the victim in mind. Before we get started, don't forget
to subscribe on whatever platform you're on so you don't
miss a case. If you didn't know, you can also
subscribe on our Patreon for free Patreon dot com Slash
(00:47):
Love and Murder. You do get some perks for signing
up for free, but if you want to get bonus cases,
become a voice of the victim yourself. Help keep LAMB
completely listener funded and help keep the show going and
join one of our bonus tiers starting at only three
dollars per month. Patreon dot com Slash Love and murder.
(01:07):
Every teer helps us keep being a voice for the victims,
and the free tier still gets you updates and a
few perks along the way.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Part of what you get in the Patreon are case extras.
For instance, if you listen to Wednesday's case, I included
pictures of the evidence from that case, and if you
listen to Monday's case, which came out on Tuesday this week,
KAI included a video of the bodycam footage of police
finding the prosecutor publicly drinking from the Brendan Banfield case.
(01:36):
These are some of the extras you get by joining
the lambfam patreon dot com slash love and murder.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Now, without further ado, let's get back to your Florida man. Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
When deputies arrived minutes later at the Crestview home that
thirty five year old Jeffrey Hutchinson shared with his girlfriend
and her three children, they found Jeffrey lying in the garage,
covered in blood, still holding the phone connected to the
non operator. He was in a daze muttering to himself
inside of the home. The scene was horrific. Thirty two
(02:08):
year old Renee Flaherty and her children, nine year old
Jeffrey seven year old Amanda and four year old Logan
were all dead. Each had been shot with a twelve
gage pistol grip shotgun.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Oh my God.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Before this night, Jeffrey had lived a life that seemed steady.
Born on November sixth, nineteen sixty two, he was raised
in Florida and later in Washington. Before his military service,
he worked as a mechanic and a security guard. Then
he went on to serve eight years in the US
Army as an elite paratrooper and ranger during the Gulf War.
(02:45):
His service left him with Gulf War illness PTSD and
brain damage link to chemical exposure.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Golf War illness is a condition associated with problems like pain,
memory loss, and insomnia. I've heard stories for years about
people who served in the Gulf War and came back
with illnesses that doctors couldn't fully explain. Some talked about
chronic fatigue, nerve pain, memory loss, or even strange rashes
(03:12):
that never went away. Others were suddenly allergic to foods
they'd never had issues with before. It's heartbreaking because so
many of them were dismissed or told it was all
in their heads. The term Gulf War illness eventually came up,
but even then it felt like no one really wanted
to take responsibility or dig into what caused it chemical exposure, vaccines,
(03:34):
or something else. Entirely, these veterans sacrificed a lot. In
decades later, many are still fighting just to have their
symptoms acknowledged, let alone treated. It's one of those quiet
injustices that doesn't make headlines, but leaves a trail of suffering.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Speaking of chemical exposure, military records showed that Jeffrey's unit
was exposed to chemical warfare during Operation Desert Storm, which
ended up permanently affected his brain. During deployment, he'd been
exposed to siren gas multiple times when chemical alarms went
off in his camp, and his unit also endured shockwaves
from nearby scud missile attacks. Those experiences left lasting damage. Later,
(04:16):
brain scans showed visible injuries, with neuroimaging revealing major abnormalities
in his frontal lobe, the part of the brain that
controls impulse, judgment and reasoning.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
How was he not getting constant treatment and being closely
monitored after that? The man had documented brain damage from
chemical exposure and trauma, but he was just outliving his
life with no consistent care, no observation, nothing. How does
someone go through that kind of neurological injury, come back
clearly struggling, and still slip through every system that's supposed
(04:50):
to help veterans. It's like he was left to unravel
on his own and everyone just looked the other way.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
After his honorable discharge, Jeffrey was diagon nosed with Gulf
War illness and PTSD by Veterans Affairs doctors. His medical
records showed that things got worse over time. He started
having memory lapses, paranoia, and sudden outbursts of rage. He
often told doctors he believed government agents were watching him,
(05:18):
and that paranoia only got stronger in the months leading
up to the murders. Jeffrey had been twice divorced and
was now living with Renee. The couple had moved with
her three kids from Washington to Florida, hoping for a
fresh start. Renee was described by her brother as a
tough woman who worked hard to provide for her children.
At the time she began her relationship with Jeffrey, Renee
(05:41):
was estranged from her husband, who was stationed in Alaska.
On the evening of September eleventh, nineteen ninety eight, Jeffrey
and Renee had gotten into an argument. Jeffrey stormed out,
packed some belongings and guns into his truck, and drove
to a nearby Amvets bar. He drank beer and vented
to the bartender about being pissed off with Renee. Witnesses
(06:04):
said he left the bar angry and drove off recklessly.
Renee called her mother shortly after he'd left the house,
saying that she didn't know where he was and that
he'd taken her keys. Next, she'd told a friend that
she was planning to leave him soon, but the friend
told her to hang on for a few more days
so that they could help get her out. Less than
(06:25):
an hour after leaving the bar, Jeffrey returned home. He
kicked in the front door, walked to the master bedroom,
and opened fire with a Mossburg twelve gage pistol grip shotgun.
Renee was killed first, shot once in the head while
lying in bed. Amanda and Logan, who were also in
the master bedroom, were next, each killed with a single
(06:46):
head shot. Jeffrey, who had been standing in the doorway,
witnessed the carnage. Then Jeffrey fired two shots at him,
one in the chest and one in the head. Minutes later,
Jeffrey picked up the phone and called nine one one,
But even during that call, his story didn't make sense. First,
he'd said that he was the one who shot his family.
(07:07):
Then he started saying something about some guys being at
the house two masked intruders had broken in and committed
the murders. However, the arriving officers noted that the physical
evidence didn't match Jeffrey's convoluted story. First, there were no
signs of forced entry beyond the front door he'd broken down. Second,
(07:29):
first responders noted that gunshot residue covered his hands, along
with tissue from Jeffrey on his leg. And finally, none
of the victims had defensive wounds, suggesting that anyone else
had been present. Then, the only stocking mask they found
in the yard turned out to be part of the
family's pool filter. Police found the still loaded shotgun on
(07:50):
a kitchen counter and took it into evidence. Jeffrey was
arrested at the scene without resistance and charged with four
counts of first degree murder. On October fifth, nineteen ninety eight,
an Okloosa County grand jury indicted Jeffrey on four counts
of first degree premeditated murder, but it took years to
(08:13):
actually get a trial. The case kept getting pushed back.
It was first set for September nineteen ninety nine, then
delayed time and time again through two thousand and two
thousand and one. Jeffrey fired two of his lawyers, filed
an insanity defense, and even tried to represent himself for
a short time. Then on January seventh, two thousand and one,
(08:36):
Circuit Judge G. Robert Barron ruled that he was mentally
competent to stand trial. At his trial, which started on
January eighth, two thousand and one, prosecutors presented the nine
to one to one call, forensic evidence, and witness testimony
showing Jeffrey was the only possible shooter. Two of Jeffrey's
(08:56):
friends testified that it was his voice on the recorded
nine one one call, confirming his identity as the caller
who confessed to the killings. Jeffrey's brother, Dan testified that
he'd talked to him on the phone earlier that evening
and heard him and Renee joking around like they always did.
This testimony added to the weirdness in the abruptness of
(09:17):
the change in atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Right, like, how did you go from joking around to murder?
Speaker 1 (09:23):
Jeffrey maintained his innocence, claiming that two men wearing ski
masks had broken into the house and he struggled with
them before they shot Renee the children and fled.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
I did not kill Renee in the kids, and I
believe I was framed.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
The prosecution argued that although Jeffrey said he fought with
multiple intruders at the time of his arrest, he had
no injuries whatsoever on his body. Then, Jeffrey claimed he
was heavily intoxicated at the time, suggesting the crime was
a crime of passion rather than first degree murder.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
So the defense is basically throwing spaghetti at the wall
at this point.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
That's what it seems like. Next, the defense focused on
Jeffrey's mental health and how his military service had affected him.
A psychiatrist for the defense, William Baumswiger, testified about Jeffrey's
brain damage and uncontrollable rage. He also argued that Jeffrey
was bipolar and intoxicated at the time, saying those factors
(10:24):
made him ineligible for the death penalty.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
I mean literally. The only defense they haven't tried is
arguing that grown man Jeffrey was a minor.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Neuropsychologist. Doctor Robert Waw found that Jeffrey had organic brain dysfunction,
which affected his impulse control and judgment. Other psychiatric experts
agreed that his brain damage matched what you'd expect from
chemical exposure during military service. A behavioral neurologist testified that
(10:55):
the damage to his frontal lobe made him prone to
explosive anger and unable to fully grasp the consequences of
what he was doing. State appointed psychologists pushed back on
claims about how severe Jeffrey's mental health issues really were.
Their evaluations found that he understood what he did was
wrong and that he was capable of following the law.
(11:17):
They also pointed out that he first confessed and then
tried to come up with another story, saying that showed
clear rational thinking, not delusion. The judge rejected the defense's argument,
finding no link between the illness and the murders. After
a nine day trial on January eighteen, two thousand one,
(11:38):
the jury took less than a day to convict him
on all four counts of first degree murder. Jeffrey waived
his right to be sentenced by a jury, leaving the
decision of life, imprisonment or death solely to the judge.
Judge Baron explicitly rejected the defense's argument of diminished responsibility
due to mental illness and intoxication. He recognized Jeffrey's GWI
(12:02):
diagnosis and army service, but said that there had been
quote no correlation between the murders of these victims and
the defendant's diagnosis of Gulf War illness established. He said
that there had been clear premeditation by leaving the home,
drinking at a bar, then returning armed with a shotgun.
(12:23):
The judge found that the murders of the children carried
additional aggravating factors due to their young ages. Regarding Jeffrey,
the murder was found to be quote especially heinous, atrocious,
and cruel because the child was alive and wounded in
the chest when killed with a head shot. During the trial,
the pathologist had testified that Jeffrey was still alive after
(12:46):
the first blast to his chest and saw his family's
bodies before Jeffrey fired a final shot into his head.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Oh my god, that's horrible.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
On February sixth, two thousand and one, Judge barn sentenced
Jeffrey to life in print for Rene's murder and three
death sentences for the murders of each of the three children.
In his ruling, the judge talked about Jeffrey's death, saying.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The defendant walked over to that nine year old boy
and without pity and without conscience, aim the shotgun one
final time. Imagine that the boy heard the chilling sound
of the shot shells being racked.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
On February sixth, Jeffrey was transferred to death row at
Florida State Prison. Over the next two decades, Jeffrey filed
multiple appeals, claiming brain damage PTSD and incompetence to be executed.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Incompetence to be executed, but you're competent enough to know
that you're incompetent.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
The defense team also argued for a stay based on
Jeffrey's competency to be executed, citing his persistent claim of
innocence and the home invaders story as signs of a
delusional belief caused by severe mental illness. Dr Agarkar, who
evaluated Jeffrey, said he suffered from a delusional disorder that
(14:02):
kept him from understanding his situation clearly. Attorney Maria Deliberato
argued that Jeffrey's constant insistence on his innocence was proof
of that disorder, calling it a delusional belief based on
his significant and severe mental illness and brain damage. Bradford
(14:22):
County Circuit Judge James Collaw rejected this argument on April
twenty seventh, twenty twenty five, ruling.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
This Court finds that mister Hutchinson's purported delusion is demonstrably false.
Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand
the reason for the pending execution.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Actually, courts at every level, including the Florida Supreme Court
and U S Supreme Court, rejected all of his appeals,
stating his symptoms were known at the time of trial
and that his persistent claims of innocence showed coherent, though
misguided thinking, not delusion. A Supreme Court repeatedly upheld the sentences,
(15:03):
emphasizing that the murder of three defenseless young children outweighed
any mitigating factors. In early twenty twenty five, over one
hundred thirty veterans representing every branch of the armed forces
and collectively embodying over nine hundred years of military service
signed a handwritten letter to Governor Rohnda Santis pleading for clemency.
(15:26):
The signatories included veterans of conflicts from Vietnam, through Iraq
and Afghanistan, spanning all regions of the United States.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
They wrote, Jeffrey Ranger Hutchinson is one of us. His
mind was a casualty, just like any limb lost in combat.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
They didn't excuse the crime, but called executing a combat
injured veteran a moral failure of the system that broke him.
These veterans viewed his case as emblematic of the nation's
failure to care for its wounded warriors. The wrote that
the planned execution quote the final abandonment of someone our
country broke and then left behind.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
We can never be a veteran friendly state when our
leader is signing off on their deaths.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Governor DeSantis denied the request and signed the death warrant
on March thirty first, twenty twenty five, with an execution
date set. Jeffrey's attorneys pursued fresh appeals based on newly
discovered evidence of brain damage and cognitive impairment stemming from
his Gulf War injuries, arguing this warranted an acquittal or
(16:32):
a life sentence. The Florida Supreme Court rejected this appeal
on April twenty first, twenty twenty five, stating that the
scientific understanding of Gulf War illness had evolved, but Jeffrey's
symptoms and exposures, including the saren gas, were well known
during or before his trial. On May one, the execution,
(16:53):
which was set for six pm, was delayed while the
justices reviewed Jeffrey's final appeals. Maria Deliberato, executive director of
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, called the whole
process a politically compromised rubber stamp. Shortly before the execution,
the Supreme Court rejected Jeffrey's final appeal without comment, sealing
(17:18):
his fate after decades of legal battles. Jeffrey had his
last meal, consisting of salmon mahi mahi, asparagus, baked potato,
and iced tea. Then the sixty two year old was
executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Staker.
He had no final words, only mumbled quietly to himself,
(17:40):
as the state's three drug protocol involving atommodate rockuronium bromide
and potassium acetate took effect, making Jeffrey spasm for several minutes.
He was pronounced dead at eight fifteen pm. Wesley Elmore,
Rene's brother, traveled from Washington to witness the execution.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
People who don't walk in my shoes, they don't understand
that closure. You never get it. Justice has finally served.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Rene's other brother, Darren Johnson, said that justice was finally served,
but the pain never left.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Not a day goes by that we don't think about
the loved ones that were taken from us.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Jeffrey's death closed a twenty seven year chapter that began
with a single sentence on a nine to one one call,
words that still echo through the case today. I just
shot my family. Jeffrey was the fourth person executed in
Florida in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
What do you think of this case? Let us know
your thoughts below or in the patreon Patreon dot com
slash Love and Murder.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Although I empathize with the brain damage that Jeffrey endured,
I don't believe it affected this situation. Maybe it affected
his impulsivity in coming back angry and shooting everyone.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Or that could have happened because he was drunk.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
But I don't think his mental illness had anything else
to do with this case. I believe he knew what
he did. He tried to blame it on other people,
and when that didn't work, tried to blame it on GWI.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
What do you think? Do you agree or do you
think everyone is being too hard on Jeffrey. Leave your
comments below or in the Patreon. We always love hearing
from the Lamb fam.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
And that wraps up this week's Florida Man Friday. If
you haven't joined us yet, head over to patreon dot
com Slash Love and Murder. That's where you'll find ad
free episodes, exclusive bonus cases, and extras you won't hear
anywhere else, like Kay's bloopers. Your support helps us keep
telling these stories and being a voice for the victims.
(19:43):
Thanks for listening, Thanks for your support, and we'll see
you in the next episode.
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