TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa man who murdered his girlfriend and her son appealed his death penalty sentence on Wednesday.
A jury found Tyrone Johnson guilty of shooting and killing Stephanie Willis and 10-year-old Ricky "Ryon" Willis in 2018.
He was sentenced to death in December 2022 for one count of first-degree murder for killing Ricky and issued a life sentence for the other murder.
The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments where Johnson's attorney, Steven Bolotin, argued the jury was unfairly influenced by evidence. In Johnson's interrogation video, detectives are insinuating what Johnson did rather than asking, Bolotin argued.
Justice Charles Canady pushed back at Johnson's attorney's argument and said there were no direct statements from the detectives such as "we know you did it."
Another issue Bolotin briefly raised was with the testimony of one witness who he said "went rogue." Bolotin claimed the witness was threatened with a perjury charge if they were to recant their testimony.
The lawyer representing the state, Christina Z. Pacheco, referenced the 21-page order the judge who sentenced Johnson prepared.
"A precious child is dead. The murder was heinous, atrocious and cruel. And it was done after you murdered his mother, Stephanie," the judge wrote.
Pacheco argued that even if the court found an error within the case, it wouldn't impact Johnson's ultimate sentencing.