TJ Wiggins penalty phase: Jury deliberations to begin next week
Jury to weigh death penalty for TJ Wiggins
The fate of convicted triple murderer Tony TJ Wiggins is almost in the hands of a jury. Both sides have now rested in the trial's penalty phase, leaving jurors to decide next week between life without parole or execution. FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.
BARTOW, Fla. - A jury will begin deliberations Monday as they decide whether convicted triple murderer Tony "TJ" Wiggins will be sentenced to death or spend the rest of his life in prison after both sides rested in the trial's penalty phase.
Frostproof Triple Murder Sentencing
What we know:
Both sides finished presenting evidence in the penalty phase for Wiggins. Jurors are scheduled to begin deliberations on Monday to decide between execution and life in prison without parole.
Earlier this week, the same jury convicted Wiggins of first-degree murder in the 2020 shooting deaths of Brandon Rollins, Keven Springfield and Damion Tillman. Prosecutors argued the killings stemmed from a dispute involving a truck engine and ended with an ambush during a fishing trip near Frostproof.
What we don't know:
The exact timeline for the judge to hand down the final sentence after receiving the jury's recommendation has not been confirmed.
Friend recalls childhood struggles
What they're saying:
Friends who took the stand described Wiggins as "easygoing" while detailing a family history marked by drug addiction, neglect, abuse and poverty. Witnesses testified that his family constantly struggled for basic necessities such as food, water and electricity.
Childhood friend April Contreras shared her personal observation of Wiggins during court testimony.
"He apologized for having incidents happen, and it was like... TJ always has these bright blue eyes. When he's lost, they're not very bright anymore. That's the best way I can describe it," Contreras said.
Expert rebukes brain damage claims
The other side:
A state neuropsychologist testified that Wiggins has an average IQ with no cognitive or intellectual impairment. The expert found no evidence of ADHD, countering earlier defense testimony that the disorder contributed to impulsive behavior.
Additionally, the state witness disputed defense arguments that physical abuse caused Wiggins' brain damage. The expert stated there was no evidence Wiggins was ever hit in the head with a metal belt or belt buckle.
Family impact statements
The backstory:
Thursday's testimony focused first on the lives of the three victims and the impact their deaths continue to have on their families. Rather than describing the shootings themselves, several relatives spent their time telling jurors who the men were before they were killed.
Brandon Rollins' mother, Dottie Payton, spoke for about four minutes, describing her son's love of fishing, hog hunting and training dogs, the job he loved, and his hopes of one day starting a family. She told jurors her family still gathers every month at Brandon's memorial, more than six years after his death.
"He had a future ahead of him that he didn't get to fulfill," Payton said. "He didn't have children, but had hopes of one day that never got to happen... I was hoping for more, but I'll never get that chance."
Other family members shared memories of milestones they said their loved ones never got to experience. A letter from Keven Springfield's niece recalled childhood summers, family traditions and conversations that will never happen. Brandon Rollins' niece described missing him at her graduation, her 15th birthday and when she got her driver's license.
Damion Tillman's mother remembered her son as someone who "always had a smile on his face" and "loved to help anyone with anything."
"Our lives will never be the same," she testified.
Jury Penalty Recommendation
What's next:
Jurors will receive final instructions before starting deliberations on Monday morning. The panel will weigh the conflicting testimony regarding Wiggins' past and mental capacity to determine his sentence.
After the jury hands down a recommendation, the judge will eventually impose the final sentence.
Why you should care:
The penalty phase is separate from the trial that determined Wiggins' guilt. Jurors have already convicted him of three counts of first-degree murder. Their remaining task is to recommend the punishment after hearing evidence from both prosecutors and the defense about the impact of the crimes and Wiggins' background.
The Source: This story is based on courtroom testimony from penalty phase proceedings, the trial transcript of victim impact statements, court records filed in Polk County, and information from the Polk County court proceedings observed and summarized by FOX 13 News. It also incorporates previously reported facts from the guilty verdict and statements made in open court.