LAMAR Z BROOKS Death Row Case Summary

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DC Number:  124538 Name:  BROOKS, LAMAR Z Race:  BLACK Sex:  MALE Hair Color:  BLACK Eye Color:  BROWN Height:  5'10'' Weight:  159 lbs. Birth Date:  10/26/1972 Initial Receipt Date:  09/29/1998 Current Facility:  UNION C.I. Current Custody:  MAXIMUM Current Release Date:  DEATH SENTENCE

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Aliases:
LAMAR Z BROOKS	LAMAR ZENMON BROOKS

Current Prison Sentence History:
Offense Date	Offense	Sentence Date	County	Case No.	Prison Sentence Length
04/24/1996	1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT.	09/29/1998	OKALOOSA	9600735	DEATH SENTENCE
04/24/1996	1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT.	09/29/1998	OKALOOSA	9600735	DEATH SENTENCE

Note: The offense descriptions are truncated and do not necessarily reflect the crime of conviction. Please refer to the court documents or the Florida Statutes for further information or definition.

Incarceration History:
Date In-Custody	Date Out-of-Custody
09/29/1998	Currently Incarcerated

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Circumstances of Offense:

In the late night hours of 04/24/96, Rachel Carlson and her three-month-old daughter, Alexis Stuart were found stabbed to death in Carlson’s running vehicle in Crestview, Florida. Carlson was strangled and stabbed sixty-six times, while Stuart was stabbed four times. Carlson believed Walker Davis, Jr. was the father of her child, and she called the Florida Department of Revenue and requested that a case be opened against Davis for child support. A DNA test conducted subsequent to the murder revealed that Davis was not the father. Carlson demanded monetary child support from Davis, who already was married and had two children at the time of the Carlson murder.

In the week prior to the murder, Lamar Brooks, Davis’ cousin, traveled to Florida and stayed with Davis during his visit. Mark Gilliam, a friend of Brooks’, later testified to a conversation between Davis, Brooks, and himself, wherein all three discussed various ways they would kill Carlson because of pressure she exerted on Davis for child support. A plan developed whereby Davis would pay Brooks $10,000 to kill Carlson, and Gilliam would be paid $500 to drive them to Crestview to commit the murder. On two occasions, the plan was attempted, yet failed due to various unforeseen circumstances. Gilliam did not participate in the murder plans after the second failed attempt.

A bloodstain pattern expert testified at trial that a back-seat passenger stabbed Carlson and no one was in the passenger seat during the murder. Forensic evidence showed that a footprint was found on Carlson’s shoulder, which would be consistent with someone climbing over the body to exit the vehicle. Additional forensic evidence demonstrated that Davis, whose leg was in a cast at the time of the murder, would have been physically unable to climb over the front seat to exit the vehicle.

At trial, Terrance Goodman, who was a cellmate of Brooks after his arrest, testified that Brooks told him that he “offed this broad” and “while anybody could pull a trigger, it takes more heart to stab someone because you can feel the hitting of the bone and the tearing of the tissue.” Brooks also told Goodman that he was in the back seat of the car during the murder.

According to testimony, Davis bought a $100,000 life insurance policy on Stuart in February 1996, naming himself as sole beneficiary. The State argued that Davis planned to pay Brooks and Gilliam with the proceeds from the insurance policy.

Codefendant Information:

Walker Davis, Jr. was indicted for the same crimes as Brooks, yet was tried separately. He was also convicted, and on 06/30/97, he was sentenced to two terms of Life Imprisonment.