Prosecutors seek death penalty for ex-convict, 26, 'who massacred three friends on late-night fishing trip in Florida and then headed to a McDonald's to buy 10 cheeseburgers'
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a 26-year-old ex-convict charged with shooting to death three friends who had gathered at a central Florida lake in July for some late night fishing.
The State Attorney’s Office filed its intent to seek the death penalty for Tony 'TJ' Wiggins Jr on Tuesday in Polk County circuit court.
Wiggins was indicted by a grand jury last month on three counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Brandon Rollins, 28; Damion Tillman, 23; and Keven Springfield, 30. Authorities said the three were massacred on July 17 as they prepared for a fishing trip on a lake in Frostproof.
Prosecutors said that after Wiggins slaughtered the men, he headed to a McDonald's and bought 10 cheeseburgers and two McChicken sandwiches.
Wiggins' girlfriend, Mary Whittemore, 27, and his brother Robert Wiggins, 21, were arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to a capital felony, which carries up to 30 years in prison.
Brandon Rollins, 27, left, Damion Tillman, 23, center, Keven Springfield, 30, right, and all died in the July 17 massacre
Rollins' mother, Dottie Payton, told The Ledger on Wednesday she felt a sense of relief after learning of the prosecutors' decision to seek the death penalty.
'It doesn’t bring back my son or the other boys, but it’s a start to get this going in the right direction,' she said. 'Why let him sit in jail and breathe free air when our boys never get to breathe free air again.'
Families of the victims had been arguing for the death penalty from the time of Wiggins' initial court appearance in late July, with Payton calling it her 'number one priority.'
A loved one has launched a petition on Change.org, calling on the prosecutors to seek the death penalty for Wiggins, which reached its goal of 1,000 signatures a day before the court filing.
Wiggins, 26, is seen talking to Tillman, 23 on July 17 as he made a purchase at a Dollar General store in Florida and at one point he raised his arms in surrender. In a detailed account of what police believed happened, all three suspects are said to have followed Tillman after overhearing his fishing plans with Keven Springfield and Brandon Rollins
TJ Wiggins and his girlfriend are seen walking out of the store after Tillman
Wiggins remained in the Polk County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He is due back in court for a status hearing on November 3.
Detectives tracked down Wiggins using evidence gathered at the scene and surveillance video from a Dollar General store, where he was seen talking to Tillman in the checkout line minutes before the shootings.
Wiggins’ younger brother, William Robert, told investigators during questioning that he witnessed the shootings while sitting in his brother’s pickup truck, Polk County Sheriff’s officials said. He said his brother accused Springfield, who was a mechanic, of selling the engine out of his truck, reports said.
Arrest reports said a dying Rollins called his father for help after the shootings.
Cyril Rollins raced to the scene and found his son but was unable to summon help because in his hurry he had left his cellphone behind. He also told investigators he couldn’t find his son’s phone because it had fallen between the seats in the truck.
The massacre took place at Lake Streety in Frostproof, Florida. Rollins' father raced to the scene after his son called him for help
Investigators said they found bullets at the home where Wiggins was living that matched the ones fired at the scene, arrest reports said.
TJ was out on bond at the time of the murders accused of breaking a man's arm with a crowbar, police said.
Whittemore, charged with three counts of accessory to murder, had her bond set at $45,000.
Robert Wiggins is charged with three counts of accessory to murder and tampering with evidence. He had his bond set at $46,000.
Security footage released by cops Wednesday shows TJ chats to Tillman shortly before the shooting on Friday night as he made a purchase at a Dollar General store; at times TJ is seen raising his arms in a surrender gesture and shrugs his shoulders. The victim then leaves the store and TJ walks out after a short delay.
Police claim TJ then followed Tillman to the remote fishing spot where he was meeting Springfield and Rollins before shooting all three dead over a 'truck deal gone wrong'.
TJ then headed straight to McDonald's with Whittemore and Robert to order a fast-food feast.
The following day, the alleged shooter's brother Robert - who is also seen in the video walking into the Dollar General before Tillman - took his truck to be cleaned.
Robert Wiggins told detectives he watched as TJ shot all three victims, police said.
Each of the victims were shot a number of times at the remote fishing spot, police said, after TJ asked Springfield: 'Where's my truck? You sold the engine out of my truck.' Springfield is said to have replied: 'I don't know what you are talking about.'
TJ had wanted to confront Springfield over 'some kind of truck deal' Sheriff Judd said.
All three arrested in connection with the deaths were found 'living off the grid' in two travel trailers on Monday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced. Police say they found two SKS rifles, two Mossberg shotguns, and ammunition for both in a gun safe belonging to TJ Wiggins in one of the trailers.
TJ was first arrested aged just 12 and has 230 felonies on his rap sheet including several assault and battery, armed burglary, and weapons charges. He has been convicted on 15 felonies.
'He's a thug. He's a criminal. He's pure evil in the flesh,' Judd said. 'He's wild and he's out of control.'
Police described TJ as 'mean', 'wild' and 'violent' and someone who 'would go up and punch people for no reason'.
Records show that victims Keven Springfield and Brandon Rollins had prior arrests; Brandon for burglary and traffic violations, Springfield for theft, burglary and domestic battery.
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