Peterson v. State

Robert Earl Peterson appeals his conviction and sentence of death for the August 8, 2005, first-degree murder of his 64-year-old stepfather, Roy Andrews. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the convictions for first-degree murder and tampering with evidence and affirm his sentence of death for the murder.

FACTS

Peterson, who was 41 at the time of the crime, had been living at home with his mother and his stepfather. Andrews had been Peterson’s stepfather since Peterson was fifteen. Shortly before the murder, Peterson’s mother, at…