Facts of the Crime:
Jesus Alfonso and Sara Robles went to Rosie’s Pub on the night of October 14, 1995. According to Alfonso’s testimony, he left the pub around 1:30 a.m., but Robles stayed behind to play a game of pool with a man matching Mansfield’s description. Karen Hill, the bartender at the pub, told police that Robles, Mansfield and William Finnerman left the pub a little after 2:00 a.m. Finnerman testified that he left the pub with Mansfield and Robles around 2:00 a.m. and last saw them around 3:00 a.m.
According the testimony of a night clerk at Winn-Dixie, a grocery store located in the same shopping center as the pub, Robles and Mansfield went into the store and purchased some items during the early morning hours of October 15, 1995. The clerk also stated she saw Robles and Mansfield outside of Winn-Dixie during her break at 3:00 p.m.
On the morning of October 15, 1995, Robles’ body was found in a grassy area next to the Winn-Dixie. When her body was discovered, her clothing was moved to reveal her breasts and pelvis area. Robles’ breasts and genitals were mutilated. Receipts from Winn-Dixie, food stamps, and a pager were found around Robles’ body. According to the testimony of the medical examiner, Robles’ cause of death was asphyxia due to airway compression, which resulted from a blunt force trauma to her neck. The medical examiner explained that the perpetrator straddled Robles on the ground, strangling her with one hand while the other hand was used to press an object down on top of her lower neck, causing her trachea to collapse. The examiner concluded that prior to Robles’ death, she was conscious for a few minutes, struggling for air, and then fell unconscious; her breasts and genitals were mutilated while she was unconscious.
Investigators of the scene discovered that the pager found near Robles’ body belonged to Mansfield. As investigators were questioning Mansfield, they noticed fresh scratches on his knees and hands. Mansfield admitted he went to the pub and Winn-Dixie with Robles. Police arrested Mansfield for the suspected murder of Robles. During the arrest, police noticed Mansfield was wearing a ring with a “Grim Reaper” design.
The day after his arrest, Mansfield’s brother called and invited the police to the apartment they shared. Food stamps, a knife and sheath, some clothing, and a towel were found in Mansfield’s room. Officers questioned Mansfield’s ten-year-old niece. She recalled seeing Mansfield, during the early hours of October 15, 1995, soaking wet, wearing only his shorts. The niece also noticed possible blood stains on his shorts. Mansfield told his niece that he had gone for a swim at a pool complex.
During his indictment on October 20, 1995, the medical examiner further stated that the injury pattern on Robles’ neck matched the pattern of Mansfield’s “Grim Reaper” ring, which he wore at the time of his arrest. Mike Derrick, Mansfield’s jail cell roommate, testified that Mansfield confessed to the murder during a conversation that the two had.
Mansfield was sentenced to death in Osceola County on January 30, 1998.
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