Ryan Skipper Murder Trial: Suspect guilty of 1st degree murder

Bartow, Florida - It took a jury two hours of deliberations to find William Brown, Jr. guilty of first degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon.

Brown and Joseph Bearden were both accused of the 2007 stabbing death of 25-year old Ryan Skipper.  His body was found the side of a Polk County road.  He had bled to death from 19 stab wounds and a slit to the neck.

Prosecutors say Brown was not only motivated by robbery, like Bearden, but animosity because of Skipper's sexuality.

Assistant State Attorney, Cass Castillo, held autopsy pictures in front of the jury, depicting the wounds that killed Ryan Skipper.

"These kinds of injuries are not necessary for robbery.  This is someone who is determined to terminate the life of another human being," Castillo told the jury in his closing argument.

The defense tried to argue that there were too many unknowns, the investigation was incomplete and cited a lack of evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Brown was the killer.

"We don't have an abiding conviction of guilt," the defense told the jury.

A taped interview between Brown and investigators may have been the proof the jury needed to convict him of first degree murder. 

He is heard telling investigators many details of the night Skipper died, but when it came to the actual murder, Brown claimed in the video, he had either blacked out or didn't remember. 

Coupled with the physical evidence, the interview was incriminating according to Skipper's mother, Pat Mulder.  She had never heard the voice of her son's killer until the video tape was played.

"We cannot excuse people because they are remorseful later for their decisions and I feel I have forgiven Mr. Bearden and Mr. Brown.  It's for me, not for them," said Pat Mulder, Ryan Skipper's mother.

While the conviction of her son's killers brings the family one step closer to justice, they say there cannot be true justice until crimes of hate come to an end.

"I want people to know that we can stop it," said Mulder.

Skipper's family has started a scholarship in his name.  Donations can be made to the Ryan Keith Skipper Fund and Foundation at the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland, 4720 Cleveland Heights Blvd., Lakeland, Florida, 33813.

2:55pm Update:

Bartow, Florida -  After two hours of deliberations, a jury of 12 has found William Brown, Jr. guilty of first degree murder and robbery with a deadly weapon. 

2:30pm Update:

Bartow, Florida -  The bailiff has announced the jury has a verdict in the killing of 25-year-old Ryan Skipper.  William Brown, Jr. is accused of first degree murder and robbery in the case.

12:35pm Update: 

Bartow, Florida - The jury has begun deliberations in the murder trial of William Brown, Jr.  He is accused of killing 25-year-old Ryan Skipper in March of 2007.  Skipper's body was found on the side of a road in Wahneta.  He bled to death from multiple stab wounds and a slit to the throat.

Joseph Bearden was convicted of second degree murder in February for his role in Skipper's murder.  Bearden was sentenced to life in prison.

Noon Update:

Bartow, Florida -  Judge Hunter is giving jury instructions now.

William Brown, Jr.Brown is accused of first degree murder and robbery.  A jury of 12 will decide whether to convict him of first degree murder.

In closing arguments, the prosecution asked the jury to find Brown guilty of first degree premeditated murder based on the injuries inflicted on 25-year-old Ryan Skipper.  Felony first murder would also be an appropriate conviction according to the prosecution.

The defense, however, asked the jury to consider inconsistencies in the testimonies of two witnesses that point to Brown as Skipper's killer.  The defense told the jury the investigation by detectives was shoddy, leading to a lack of abiding conviction of guilt and they should find Brown not guilty

In his rebuttal, prosector Cass Castillo told the jury the defense is asking them to speculate.  He pointed out again that Brown knew where the stab wounds were and was hesitant to talk about the murder and sexual conduct, telling detectives he "blacked out" or "didn't know".  Castillo said it's no different than someone who has been confronted by their own actions and is shutting down.

9:50am Update:

Bartow, Florida -  Jurors are watching a 40 minute video tape of defendant William Brown, Jr. being interviewed by detectives after the murder of 25-year-old Ryan Skipper.

The prosecution played the tape again in hopes of keeping the interviews fresh in the minds of jurors before they deliberate a verdict.

In an effort to convince the jury to find Brown guilty of first degree murder, the state points to Brown as the person who brutally stabbed Skipper multiple times and slit his throat.

In the closing argument, the prosecution is asking the jury to remember testimony from two unconnected witnesses which point to Brown as the killer and other evidence including motive.  The state says Brown's motive was robbery and premeditated murder. 

Autopsy photos were presented again to the jury, showing the slit to Skipper's throat.  "This is not necessary for robbery," said the prosecution who went on to say these kinds of wounds are from someone "determined to terminate the life of another human being."

The motive for Joseph Bearden, who was convicted of second degree murder in February, was robbery according to the state. 

In the tape, Brown is talking about the night he and Bearden drove off with Ryan Skipper.  He is also talking about the areas where Skipper was stabbed...in the stomach, back and throat.

Brown said he was in shock after the stabbing and did not call 911 because of his state of shock.

Brown previously pleaded guilty to arson and tampering with evidence for his role in cleaning and setting fire to Skipper's car.

9:15am update:

Bartow, Florida -  Closing arguments have begun in the murder trial of William Brown, Jr.  He is accused of killing 25-year-old college student, Ryan Skipper.  Joseph Bearden was convicted of the murder in February.

On March 14, 2007, Skipper's body was found dumped on the side of a road in Wahneta, a few miles away from his Winter Haven home.

He bled to death from 19 stab wounds and a cut to his throat. An investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office later determined Skipper was targeted because he was gay.

His killers left him to bleed to death as they drove off in his car, hoping to sell it for drugs. They never unloaded the car, which was later found abandoned in front of a Lake Pansy sign.

"Their attitude was, we did society a favor, we got rid of another fag. They not only didn't think they did anything wrong, they thought they were doing society a favor. That's tragic," said Phyllis Hunt, senior Pastor at Tampa's Metropolitan Community Church told 10 Connects in October.

She didn't know Skipper, but was angered by the brutality of his killing. She has stood by his family ever since, advocating for change in laws regarding hate crimes.

Joseph Bearden was convicted of second degree murder in February for the killing and sentenced to life in prison without parole. The prosecution had been seeking first degree murder and the death penalty.

It wasn't the conviction Skipper's family had hoped for, but they accepted the life sentence.

Although it was stated in court during Bearden's sentencing that it was believed Skipper was killed because he was gay, Bearden and Brown were not prosecuted for a hate crime.