March 23: Tommy Zeigler: Death Row: Florida: Fighting to prove his innocence for half a century. Investigative Reporter Greg Fox, reports on WESH that his legal battle continues as time runs out, noting that: David Michaeli, one of Zeigler’s attorneys, countered, "We have to raise questions that give rise to reasonable doubt about his guilt. And I think that we have done that, in spades." New DNA tests, funded by the defense, have cast doubt on Zeigler's involvement in the mass killings at his Winter Garden furniture store on Christmas Eve 1975. The victims included Zeigler’s wife Eunice, her parents Perry and Virginia Edwards, and store customer Charlie Mays. Despite the new evidence, Circuit Judge Leticia Marques denied Zeigler’s motion for a new trial, stating, "this court cannot find that defendant would probably be acquitted on retrial."

PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "Zeigler’s legal team is running out of options following the Orange County court ruling, but remains hopeful. Terry Hadley, who has represented Zeigler for 50 years, said, "As you would expect, it was quite a gut punch when we got denied." Hadley explained that the team plans to either request a rehearing with Judge Marques or file an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court."

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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "Hadley expressed concern that Zeigler's options may expire while Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is in office. DeSantis ordered a record 19 executions last year, and despite Zeigler's age, he could still face a death warrant. Hadley said, "Clearly, he (DeSantis) is on a tear to sign death warrants. And as you know, Florida has an unenviable record of executing more innocent people than any other state in the United States. Tommy is in very poor health. As you saw in the hearing, he was in a wheelchair with oxygen. But we have hope. We believe that we are on the right side, that Tommy Zeigler is an innocent man, and we’re going to continue for that fight."

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STORY: "Tommy Zeigler's legal battle continues as time runs out," by Investigative Reporter Greg Fox, published by WESH 2, on March 13, 2026.  (Greg Fox has been a member of the WESH 2 News team since 1987 as an anchor and reporter.  He is currently the investigative and political reporter,)

GIST: "Convicted mass murderer Tommy Zeigler, who has evaded two death warrants, is facing diminishing legal options as he remains on death row at age 80 after a recent court setback.

During  a December hearing, attorneys concluded their arguments after a week-long evidentiary session.

Joshua Schow, Assistant Attorney General, said, "The State got it right in 1976, and Mr. Zeigler's motion should be denied."

David Michaeli, one of Zeigler’s attorneys, countered, "We have to raise questions that give rise to reasonable doubt about his guilt. And I think that we have done that, in spades."

New DNA tests, funded by the defense, have cast doubt on Zeigler's involvement in the mass killings at his Winter Garden furniture store on Christmas Eve 1975.

The victims included Zeigler’s wife Eunice, her parents Perry and Virginia Edwards, and store customer Charlie Mays.

Despite the new evidence, Circuit Judge Leticia Marques denied Zeigler’s motion for a new trial, stating, "this court cannot find that defendant would probably be acquitted on retrial."

Zeigler’s legal team is running out of options following the Orange County court ruling, but remains hopeful.

Terry Hadley, who has represented Zeigler for 50 years, said, "As you would expect, it was quite a gut punch when we got denied."

Hadley explained that the team plans to either request a rehearing with Judge Marques or file an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court.

Hadley expressed concern that Zeigler's options may expire while Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is in office. DeSantis ordered a record 19 executions last year, and despite Zeigler's age, he could still face a death warrant.

Hadley said, "Clearly, he (DeSantis) is on a tear to sign death warrants. And as you know, Florida has an unenviable record of executing more innocent people than any other state in the United States. Tommy is in very poor health. As you saw in the hearing, he was in a wheelchair with oxygen. But we have hope. We believe that we are on the right side, that Tommy Zeigler is an innocent man, and we’re going to continue for that fight."

The entire story can be read at:

https://www.wesh.com/article/tommy-zeigler-murder-legal-battle-continues-time-runs-out/70738615

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system.   Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com.  Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.

FINAL WORD:  (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases):  "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."

Lawyer Radha Natarajan: Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;

 FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions.   They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!

Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;ng