Thomas Zeigler Jr - Wrongly convicted?

[Ssschu]

Long-awaited DNA analysis proves Zeigler innocent in 1975 murders, lawyers say

After 48 years on death row, the results of Zeigler’s successful battle for DNA testing could mark a breakthrough.

www.tampabay.com

 

[killarney rose]

There is just not enough there to prove or disprove a thing IMO. he’s still guilty and right where he needs to be.

 

[NCSleuth]

New (Jan 2025) DNA results are in. Raises a lot of questions about his guilt. Charlie Mays' DNA and blood were found on the cuff of Eunice Zeigler's jacket and at the opening of one of her pockets. No DNA from the father in law (Perry Edwards) was found on Tommy Zeigler; however Perry's blood was found on the sneakers, lower thigh, and upper calf of May's trousers. Could Tommy Zeigler be innocent?

 

[killarney rose]

while there is an ever so slight chance that TZ is innocent, I do not believe the new DNA evidence proves that he is innocent.

 

[NCSleuth]

while there is an ever so slight chance that TZ is innocent, I do not believe the new DNA evidence proves that he is innocent.

I don't think it proves his innocence, but it does raise some doubt. May's DNA should not be on the wife's cuff and pocket. Also, I have always had a hard time believing he shot himself in the stomach with a .357. Not saying he didn't, just find it hard to believe.

 

[killarney rose]

I have no doubt that a sociopath could’ve studied and planned the best way to have shot himself, then followed through on doing it.

There is no doubt that the judge should’ve recused himself from sitting over the trial. He was biased against TZ. That reason should’ve been enough to,grant TZ a new trial. Despite this, the jury did get it right and found TZ guilty and he is right where he needs to be.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Hadley said of Zeigler’s law team: “We believe the testing and everything that has been done on the DNA conclusively proves that Tommy Zeigler is innocent. The DNA simply refutes every theory the state had in trying to show his guilt. … The state said in the closing arguments that Tommy Zeigler held Perry Edwards by the head and beat him over the head, and there’s not a drop of Perry Edwards’ blood on Tommy Zeigler. The only blood on Tommy Zeigler is either (his) blood or Charlie Mays’.

“It would have been Perry’s blood all over,” Hadley said. “It’s not on his clothing at all. One really fascinating piece is that Eunice Zeigler, who was in a separate part of the store, also had Perry Edwards’ blood on her coat, and the only way Perry Edwards’ blood could be on her coat would be if it dripped off the person who killed her father. That’s the crux of what the DNA has found.”

Is Tommy Zeigler innocent? | West Orange Times & Observer

New DNA analysis could exonerate the Winter Garden furniture store owner who has been on Florida’s death row for nearly 49 years, convicted of killing his wife, in-laws and a customer.

www.orangeobserver.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

80-year-old Tommy Zeigler was convicted of killing four people, including his wife and her parents, in Winter Garden in 1975.

However, his attorneys argue that recent DNA tests exonerate him.

A judge is currently reviewing the case to decide whether to grant a hearing on the new evidence.

Dennis Tracey, Zeigler’s defense attorney, stated that the presence of blood on Zeigler is consistent with his testimony.

Joshua Schow, assistant attorney general, stated, “He has had an opportunity to have a hearing in front of this court and he has had an opportunity to test DNA and it just doesn’t support this theory.”

Tommy Zeigler’s attorneys say new DNA evidence may upend 1975 murder conviction

A man who’s been on death row for nearly 50 years says new DNA proves his innocence.

www.wftv.com

 

[killarney rose]

I’m not buying it. Zeiglar and his team have been crying this about DNA for decades but they have yet to prove it. Tommy Zeiglar killed those people and he remains right where he should be.

 

[SeesSeas]

Orlando judge agrees to review Tommy Zeigler case

Death row inmate will be allowed to present evidence at December hearing

www.tampabay.com

Orlando Circuit Judge Leticia Marques agreed Tuesday to hold an evidentiary hearing in the long and tangled case of death row inmate Tommy Zeigler. That means the judge will consider his case in its entirety, including the results of recent DNA testing on the evidence.
[...]
Zeigler, now 80, is possibly the longest-serving death row inmate in the country. He had tried to test the evidence in his case for decades. Though his lawyers agreed to pay the costs of the testing, prosecutors and judges refused six times.
[...]
The arguments at the hearing, along with reports submitted to the court, foreshadow what will likely come during the weeklong hearing scheduled to start Dec. 1.
[...]
Florida, with 30 cases, leads the nation in exonerations from death row.

 

[SeesSeas]

Starting Monday, an Orlando judge will hear evidence in a 50-year-old murder case

Tommy Zeigler’s last, and probably best, hope to get off death row comes thanks to DNA testing.

www.tampabay.com

Starting Monday, an Orlando judge will hear evidence in a 50-year-old murder case​

Tommy Zeigler’s last, and probably best, hope to get off death row comes thanks to DNA testing.
NOV 30, 2025

After nearly 50 years on death row, Tommy Zeigler seeks final chance at freedom

A hearing on new DNA tests from the 1975 crime scene is to start Monday and last about a week.

www.orlandosentinel.com

After nearly 50 years on death row, Tommy Zeigler seeks final chance at freedom​

NOV 30, 2025

 

[killarney rose]

They are behind paywalls.

 

[SeesSeas]

Zeigler’s attorneys say recent DNA tests of blood, clothing prove his innocence

Convicted murderer Tommy Zeigler — who has been on Florida’s Death Row nearly 50 years, longer than any other inmate — listened intently on Monday as his attorneys laid out the case that recent DNA tests of blood samples taken at a gruesome crime scene prove the furniture store owner could not...

www.yahoo.com

DEC 1, 2025
Circuit Court Judge Leticia Marques agreed in August to hold the evidentiary hearing this week to consider 232 tests conducted over the past two years from 43 items of clothing and samples of blood smears taken at the crime scene decades ago. She will decide whether the new evidence warrants overturning Zeigler’s convictions, ordering a new trial and setting him free, as his attorneys want, or if his convictions should stand, as prosecutors contend.

Florida's longest-serving death row inmate seeks new trial with fresh DNA evidence

Tommy Zeigler, Florida's longest-serving death row inmate, is back in court for an evidentiary hearing that could lead to a new trial or his release, based on new DNA evidence.

www.wesh.com

DEC 1, 2025
Among those on his legal team is Terry Hadley, who has represented Zeigler since he was arrested and charged with killing his wife, her parents, and a store customer who did occasional work for Zeigler.
Hadley told the judge that new DNA test results will prove Zeigler had no blood from his wife or in-laws on his clothing, and that the state is now telling a story that was never told to the jury that convicted Zeigler.
[...]
A short while ago, the defense played a tape recording of the state investigator interviewing a man who was staying at a motel behind the Zeigler furniture store the night of the murders. The motel guest told the investigator he never heard shots until after a police officer arrived behind the store and pulled out his gun.
That recording was never presented to the jury back in 1976.

Florida’s longest-serving death row inmate granted hearing | West Orange Times & Observer

Tommy Zeigler, a Winter Garden man on death row for almost 50 years, has been granted a hearing to review DNA evidence.

www.orangeobserver.com

DEC 1, 2025
The hearing began at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, where Zeigler’s attorneys argued the new DNA results could prove their client’s innocence.
The court reviewed the latest DNA testing from clothing worn by all four victims and Zeigler as well.

Florida’s longest-serving death row inmate argues fresh evidence proves his innocence

Florida’s longest-serving death row inmate is trying to convince a judge to let him get a new trial.

www.wdbo.com

DEC 1, 2025
Zeigler’s attorneys argue that DNA evidence from the crime scene, which includes 200 samples, does not match the patterns expected if Zeigler were the killer.
Prosecutors, however, contend that the defense is selectively interpreting the evidence.

 

[killarney rose]

I do believe they are selectively interpreting the evidence. As a former resident of Winter Garden that still lived there when the murders occurred, I believe that TZ’s defense team fully believes in his innocence.

TZ got an unfair trial because of the judge’s bias against him. But too many years have passed , too many witnesses and players in the case have died. There’s no way he could get a proper trial now. Even if he is tried again. TZ is on death row and hasn’t been executed because those in charge of making the decisions to execute know that he did not get a fair trial.

Even having said that, I still say, he had the motive, the means and the opportunity. Thus he is right where he should be. Let him continue to spend his life on death row.