My name is Jimmie Lee Staley. I am a private citizen with an interest in seeing justice prevail. This case combines so many factors of mishandling, misconduct, literally dozens of professional people turning a blind eye to evidence in a death penalty case in Florida. The man on Death Row is my friend, Leonard “Patrick” Gonzalez Jr. He was convicted in 3 days without any evidence linking him to the crime. Co-conspirator testimony, including his father, Lenny Gonzalez who died in prison is all the state had against Patrick. His father’s case is a hot mess as well. He suffered from organic brain damage (motorcycle accident many years ago)–documented, dementia and paranoia/schizophrenia–documented. He received SSI total disability for his mental incapacity. Yet his confession elicited by the State Attorney personally (the elected guy) in a one on one interview which is unrecorded. This confession came after 3 days of deputies interviews. This is unprecedented. This confession precipitated a narrative that 2 young black kids followed to avoid lethal injection. These 3 confessions (dementia ridden father & 2 young scared black kids 16 & 19) are the totality of evidence against Patrick. But wait there is more….the man who had the bloody clothes (shirts, masks and gloves) used in the murder, the murder weapon & weapons used by accomplices as well as the only thing taken from the scene (a safe) is given immunity but never testifies to anything. The concensus by law enforcement professionals outside the case is that he is an ATF Criminal informant as he was a known gun runner of guns into Mexico. Possibly connected to Fast & Furious gunwalking fiasco which was unfolding at that time.
