Nancy Weiler, 37, and her daughters Kristina, 9, and Katherine, 5, were murdered inside their Jacksonville home on 11 May 1982. Nancy was three months pregnant. Allen Lee Davis, whose parents lived next door, was convicted of all three murders and sentenced to death.
Overview / Background
Nancy Weiler and her daughters were preparing to move to Pittsburgh, where Nancy's husband John had already relocated following a job transfer with Westinghouse. The family remained in their Jacksonville home while awaiting the move. Davis's parents lived next door to the Weilers. On 11 May 1982, Davis entered the Weiler home. Nancy and both children were attacked and killed. Davis was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Crime Scene
The three victims were found inside the Weiler home the following day. Court records established that Nancy had been beaten over the head with a pistol, while one daughter was tied up and shot and the other was shot in the back before being beaten. Nancy was three months pregnant at the time of her murder. Her unborn child was not separately charged as a victim in the three murder convictions.
Investigation
Police began to focus on Davis after interviewing neighbours and learning that he had been at the Weiler residence around the time of the murders. His father told investigators that Davis had been doing handyman work at the home. Davis was arrested two days after the killings and charged with three murders. The prosecution presented evidence linking Davis to the killings, and he was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder. The Florida Supreme Court subsequently affirmed the convictions and death sentences.
Outcome
On 4 February 1983, Davis was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for each killing. His convictions and sentences were upheld through subsequent appeals and post-conviction proceedings. Allen Lee Davis was executed by electrocution at Florida State Prison on 8 July 1999. He became the last person executed in Florida's electric chair.
Notes
The murders devastated the Weiler family as they prepared for a move to Pennsylvania. Kristina's tenth birthday was only days away when she was killed.
Other Information
- Nancy was 37 years old and three months pregnant.
- Kristina was 9 years old.
- Katherine was 5 years old.
- Davis was 37 at the time of the murders.
- Davis's parents lived next door to the Weiler family.
- Davis had a prior criminal record and was on parole for armed robbery when the murders occurred.
Media
- News4JAX - coverage of the Weiler family murders and Davis's execution
- Court records and appellate coverage
- Historical Jacksonville newspaper coverage
- True crime documentaries and retrospective coverage of Allen Lee Davis
