Hodges v. State

Willie James Hodges was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Patricia Belanger in 2001. Hodges was sentenced to death. This case is before the Court on appeal from the conviction and death sentence. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the conviction and sentence.

I. BACKGROUND

The evidence presented at trial established that on the morning of December 19, 2001, Hodges entered Belanger’s home, fatally stabbed and bludgeoned her, and then fled through a window.

Several of Belanger’s relatives testified that they drove to…