Deceased: Willie James Hodges
DOC records show that former Florida death row inmate Willie James Hodges died last week less than 3 years after being resentenced to life in prison without parole.
According to Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) records, former Florida death row prisoner Willie James Hodges died while in DOC custody last week.
Hodges was 63 at the time of his death. He was previously sentenced to death for crimes that occurred in 2001 and spent over a decade on Florida’s death row before being resentenced to life in prison after Hurst.
The cause of Hodges’ death is unclear. State policy requires that an autopsy be performed for all deaths; however, those records would only be accessible through a public records request.
Background on Hodges’ Case
In 2008, Hodges was sentenced to death following an Escambia County jury’s recommendation for death by a vote of 10-2.1 Several doctors testified during the penalty phase that Hodges suffered from various physical and psychological conditions.
The trial court found five aggravating circumstances were proven beyond a reasonable doubt: (1) the defendant was under sentence of imprisonment at the time of the murder; (2) the defendant had previously been convicted of a felony involving violence; (3) the murder was committed while the defendant was engaged in the commission of or an attempt to commit sexual battery; (4) the murder was committed for pecuniary gain; and (5) the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. The court found the following statutory mitigating circumstances: (1) at the time of the murder the defendant was under the influence of an extreme mental or emotional disturbance; (2) the capacity of the defendant to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was substantially impaired; and (3) the age of the defendant at the time of the crime. The court also found numerous nonstatutory mitigating circumstances having to do with Hodges's low intelligence, difficult upbringing and background, mental and emotional problems, and similar or related matters.2
On direct appeal, in 2010, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed Hodges’ conviction and sentence of death.
Hodges then filed a motion for postconviction relief, raising 12 claims. In 2017, reviewing the trial court’s denial of relief on postconviction, the Florida Supreme Court granted Hodges a new penalty phase in light of Hurst.3
On resentencing in late 2021, Hodges was resentenced to life in prison without parole.
News Articles
Hodges v. State, 55 So. 3d 515 (Fla. 2010).
Hodges v. State, 213 So. 3d 863, 868 (Fla. 2017) (citations omitted).
Alav HaShalom - Peace upon Willie James Hodges now…
Thank you Jesus for allowing Willie James Hodges to live out his natural life off from death row. I trust You have him safe in Your arms and ask You to comfort all his family and friends as they grieve for him.