New DNA testing in Zeigler case

[crystaldawn]

Not sure if this has been posted or not but apparently Tommy Zeigler has won a fight to get new DNA testing for blood found at the crime scene.

http://www.wftv.com/news/27504354/detail.html

Killer Wins Fight For New DNA Testing

Judge Gives Local Death Row Inmate Huge Break
Posted: 12:25 pm EDT April 11, 2011
Updated: 5:59 pm EDT April 11, 2011

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- A notorious Orange County killer has won a fight to get new DNA testing. William Tommy Zeilger was found guilty of murdering his wife, his in-laws and a customer at his Winter Garden furniture store in 1975. Zeilger was sentenced to death.
In court on Monday, a judge granted a motion to allow DNA testing on blood that was left at a crime scene that shocked Central Florida on Christmas Eve in 1975.
The judge will allow a new forensic expert to examine blood spatter left behind at the murder scene more than 30 years ago. The state will pay thousands of dollars for the expert, even though the blood spatter has been looked at before.
The blood that was found at the crime scene, Zeigler has said, is evidence that proves he's innocent. Now, Zeigler could will get at least one more chance to try to prove his innocence.
"It would be better for the court to get a fresh set of eyes," Zeigler's defense attorney said.
The crime shocked Central Florida. Christmas Eve 1975, Zeigler was arrested for gunning down his wife, Eunice, her parents, and a customer at his Winter Garden furniture store. Prosecutors said he set the whole thing up and even shot himself to make it look like a robbery. That's what the blood spatter expert will examine.
They said Zeigler wanted to collect a half-million-dollar insurance policy on his wife. Since his conviction, a string of appeals has delayed execution.
In 2000, WFTV uncovered a memo from a man who prosecuted the case, blasting investigators for the way blood was handled. Also, there are still many people who believe there was a conspiracy to set up Zeigler.
The daughter of a former Central Florida police chief, who helped convict him of the murders, believes the death row inmate is innocent. Christine Cooper said she believes that Zeigler was wrongfully convicted of the 1975 deaths.
"I think my father died taking a lot of secrets with him," Cooper said. "I believed the justice system failed."
Cooper, 43, of Melbourne, spoke at news conference outside the Orange County Courthouse Monday.
"He deserves a fair trial and he never got one," she said.
Cooper's father, Robert Thompson, the former police chief of nearby Oakland, Fla., was the first police officer at the scene. Lynn-Marie Carty, a private investigator who is trying to bring new attention to the case, said Thompson suppressed a police report that would raise questions about Zeigler's guilt and changed his story many times about the crime scene.
Thompson later spent time running arms to Central America as a mercenary in the 1980s, the daughter said. He died in 1999 in Tallahassee, said his daughter.
"I don't want to accuse my father of anything because I loved him dearly," Cooper said. "But my father died keeping a whole of secrets with him and I wish he were here to answer a lot of questions."
The State Attorney's Office has maintained justice is overdue. Now, after 35 years on death row, it appears Zeigler is hoping another look at the blood evidence will set him free.
The state will pay $10,000 for the new expert, who will testify at an upcoming DNA hearing. If the costs go any higher, Zeigler's attorneys from New York, who are doing the case pro bono, will pick-up the extra cost.

[Killarney Rose]

You know, I have have voiced my opinion firmly here that I believe he is guilty. However, I do now believe he had an unfair trial. So I am glad they are checking out this evidence.

Been awhile since I read the online book, or the thread here about the case.

But the first questions that come to mind are- what were Zeigler's connections to the former police chief turned gun runner- was it the local stores/ migrant workers/Shorty Reddick theory? Oakland was right in the middle of all that.

What has happened to former attorney Vernon Davids? It says now there re NY attornies representing him. Daivds is at least in his 7os now. Retired? Deceased? Last I heard he was in the New Port Richey area.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Killarney Rose

But the first questions that come to mind are- what were Zeigler's connections to the former police chief turned gun runner- was it the local stores/ migrant workers/Shorty Reddick theory? Oakland was right in the middle of all that.

I'm not sure what connection there was between Zeigler and Thompson, or if Thompson was even involved in the migrant workers/Shorty Reddick conspiracy theory, but I think his daughter was implying that he knew more to the investigation that probably implicated others that was kept hush hush. I'm actually glad to see this new DNA testing being done. Perhaps once and for all they can finally write the final chapter to the Zeigler saga.

[Killarney Rose]

It would be nice to get closure. I just don'e see it happening for several reasons- too much time has passed. Many withnesses are dead, too many that are still alive have the power to keep the truth if indeed that is what it is- covered up. They still have too much too lose.

I just did some snooping. Davids still has 2 law offices open so I am assuming he is still alive. Sure makes me wonder wht he is no longer TZ's atty. He has an office in Port Charlotte and Englewood this is where he was from before relocating to Winter Garden in the mid 70s- actually on a cople of years if that long before the murders.

[Hambone2421]

At first, I thought this was the Lisa Ziegert case, but still good nonetheless.

[1990 UM fan]

I was just about to ask about this case awhile ago.