Murder of Frances Slater
1982 kidnapping and murder of a convenience store clerk in Florida

Frances Julia Slater
Born(1963-04-29)April 29, 1963
Florida, U.S.
DiedApril 27, 1982(1982-04-27) (aged 18)
Stuart, Florida, U.S.
Cause of deathFatal gunshot wound to the head
Other namesFrannie
Known forMurder victim
MotherSally Slater Campbell
RelativesRichard Campbell (stepfather)
Cathy Slater Springston (twin sister)
Ralph Evinrude (grandfather)
Frances Langford (step-grandmother)

On April 27, 1982, in Stuart, Florida, 18-year-old Frances Julia Slater (April 29, 1963 – April 27, 1982), a convenience store clerk and granddaughter of the Evinrude Outboard Motors president Ralph Evinrude, was kidnapped by a group of four men, who later robbed, stabbed and shot Slater to death. The four murderers were later arrested and charged with murdering Slater. One of the convicted killers was sentenced to life imprisonment for first-degree murder and kidnapping, while the remaining three men were sentenced to death.

Abduction and murder

On April 27, 1982, two days before her 19th birthday, 18-year-old Frances Julia Slater, the granddaughter of Outboard Marine Corporation president Ralph Evinrude and step-granddaughter of retired actress-singer Frances Langford, was kidnapped and killed by a group of four men in Stuart, Florida.[1]

Slater was on her work shift as a clerk at a convenience store. At around 3:00am, two of her kidnappers, entered the store to rob Slater and took approximately $134 from the cash register and the store's floor safe. Slater was abducted from the store and forcibly placed inside the car of John Earl Bush, which was occupied by Bush and his accomplices: 19-year-old J. B. "Pig" Parker, 23-year-old Alphonso Cave, and 25-year-old Terry Wayne Johnson (born January 27, 1957). A female newspaper delivery worker testified that she was passing by the store between 2:30am and 3:00am, and witnessed two African-American men (one of whom she identified as Bush) inside the store at the time of Slater's kidnapping.[2][3]

After driving for 13 miles, the car stopped at a secluded area, and Slater was pushed out of the vehicle. Bush used a knife to stab Slater, and afterwards, Parker wielded Bush's gun and shot her in the back of the head. Slater died as a result of the gunshot wound, and her body was left behind by the four kidnappers, who drove away from the area.[4][2][3]

Slater's body was found by a farmer driving a tractor near the murder site. Autopsy results showed that Slater had a single gunshot wound to the head, one stab wound each to the neck and abdomen, and no signs of sexual assault. At the time of her death, Slater was residing in Jensen Beach with her twin sister, mother and stepfather, and according to her family, that day was supposed to be Slater's last midnight work shift. Despite their advice to not work there anymore, Slater still fulfilled her responsibility. According to Slater's grandfather Ralph Evinrude, his granddaughter was "an outgoing athletic girl" who still chose to work despite her affluent family background and having owned a small estate solely under her name and some stock to support her education.[5][6]

Trial of the four kidnappers

Arrest and charges

On May 5, 1982, three of the suspects, J. B. Parker, Alphonso Cave and John Bush, were arrested for the murder of Frances Slater.[7] The final suspect, Terry Johnson, surrendered himself to the police.[8] The four were all charged with kidnapping, robbery with a firearm and first-degree murder.[9]

On May 21, 1982, a Martin County grand jury indicted all four men for the murder and abduction of Slater.[10]

John Bush

On November 19, 1982, Bush was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Lee County jury, becoming the first to be convicted for murdering Slater.[11][12] The prosecution sought the death penalty for Bush during the sentencing phase of his trial.[13] Earlier during the trial, the defense argued that Bush never had the intention to kill Slater and pointed out the stab wound in her abdomen should have been deeper had he really intended to cause her death, but the prosecution countered that Bush had intentionally stabbed her in order to "rip her insides out" and the coroner certified that Slater possibly backed away to avoid the stabbing, which likely made the wound not deep enough.[14]

On November 23, 1982, Bush was sentenced to death in the electric chair by Circuit Judge C. Pfeiffer Trowbridge, after the jury voted 7–5 for the death penalty (the minimum majority vote required for a death sentence).[15][16]

Alphonso Cave

Alphonso Cave

On December 8, 1982, Cave became the second person found guilty of the murder of Slater in the first degree.[17][18] On December 10, 1982, he was sentenced to death by Judge L.B. Vocelle, after the jury recommended the death penalty by a 7–5 vote. It was reported that prior to their decision, the jury had deadlocked twice on the death penalty with the vote tied at 6–6, before one of the jurors switched votes to reach 7–5. During sentencing, Judge Vocelle stated that there was no evidence to show if Cave had stabbed or shot Slater, but he held that Cave played a prominent role behind Slater's death.[19][20]

J. B. Parker

J. B. Parker

On January 8, 1983, a jury found Parker, deemed the shooter in the case, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Slater.[21][22]

On January 12, 1983, Parker became the third person sentenced to death via electrocution by Circuit Judge Philip Nourse, who followed the jury's 8–4 majority recommendation for capital punishment.[23]

Terry Johnson

Terry Johnson

On April 8, 1983, Terry Johnson became the fourth and final kidnapper convicted of the first-degree murder of Slater. However, the death penalty was off the table for Johnson because he did not shoot the victim during the abduction, and played a lesser role than the trio condemned to death row for the same crime.[24][25] Evidence showed that Johnson was drunk and passed out in the vehicle after kidnapping Slater, and hence he never took part in the shooting and stabbing of Slater.[26]

On June 29, 1983, Johnson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 25 years.[27] An additional life sentence was also imposed for the other charge of kidnapping.[28]

Execution of John Bush

After he was sentenced to death, Bush appealed to the Florida Supreme Court to overturn his death sentence, but on November 29, 1984, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed his appeal.[3][29]

On February 25, 1986, Bush's appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.[30][31]

Bush was scheduled to be executed on April 22, 1986, alongside another prisoner Willie Darden, after then Governor Bob Graham signed both their death warrants in March 1986.[32][33] However, 14 hours before Bush was to be executed, the Florida Supreme Court granted an indefinite stay of execution for Bush.[34]

On February 27, 1987, the Florida Supreme Court denied Bush's appeal of his death sentence.[35]

A second death warrant was signed in January 1988 by then Governor Bob Martinez, rescheduling Bush's execution date for February 3, 1988.[36] However, on the eve of his scheduled execution, Bush was granted a stay of execution by a federal judge.[37][38]

On March 28, 1991, Bush's post-conviction appeal for a writ of habeas corpus was denied by the Florida Supreme Court.[39]

On March 30, 1993, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Bush's federal appeal.[40]

In September 1996, a third death warrant was signed for Bush, whose death sentence was scheduled to be carried out on October 21, 1996.[41][42]

As a final recourse to escape execution, Bush filed last-minute appeals to stay his execution. At first, the Florida Supreme Court temporarily suspended his execution on October 16, 1996,[43][2] but the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Bush's appeal and denied a stay on October 18, 1996.[44] Finally, Bush appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, but the appeal was denied on October 20, 1996, the eve of his execution.[45][46]

On October 21, 1996, 38-year-old John Earl Bush was put to death by the electric chair at the Florida State Prison. During the week leading up to his execution, Bush received visits from his 16-year-old daughter, his sister, his brother-in-law and his father, and also called his father and brother (who was then incarcerated for robbery) on the morning of his execution.[47][48][49]

Fates of Parker, Johnson and Cave

Johnson

On November 4, 2008, Johnson was granted parole and released after spending 25 years in prison.[28] He returned to live in Fort Pierce, where his mother lived. After his release, Johnson was working as a day labor maintenance worker in a local stable at Palm Bay, Florida, and he was employed as a lawn maintenance foreman in Fort Pierce as of 2016.[26]

Johnson was arrested for cocaine possession 14 years later, and in December 2024, he was convicted and sentenced to 38 months in prison for this new conviction.[50][28]

As of 2025, Johnson was imprisoned at the Hardee Correctional Institution.[28]

Cave

After his sentencing, Alphonso Cave appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, but on August 30, 1985, the appeal was dismissed.[51]

Initially, Cave's death sentence was scheduled to be carried out on July 6, 1988. Cave lost his appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on July 1, 1988,[52] and later appealed to the federal courts to postpone his execution.[53] A federal district judge issued a stay of execution on July 5, 1988.[54]

Subsequently, a federal judge overturned Cave's death sentence and ordered him to be re-sentenced. On August 26, 1992, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that Cave should be granted a re-sentencing trial since his trial counsel did not adequately defend him and prevent him from being sentenced to death.[54]

On May 9, 1993, after a hearing, a second jury recommended the death penalty by a 10–2 vote.[55][56] The judge followed the jury's recommendation and sentenced Cave to death a second time.[57]

On September 21, 1995, the Florida Supreme Court once again vacated the death sentence of Cave and ordered him to be re-sentenced a second time.[58][57]

At the end of Cave's second re-sentencing trial, he was sentenced to death a third time when the jury voted 11–1 in favor of capital punishment. On December 24, 1998, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of Cave of his third death sentence.[59][60]

On April 12, 2011, Cave's appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals was dismissed.[61]

On June 12, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed Cave's petition for re-sentencing.[62]

On August 3, 2023, 41 years after he murdered Frances Slater, 64-year-old Alphonso Cave died of unknown causes while on death row at the Union Correctional Institution.[63][64]

Parker

Parker filed his first appeal in 1985 to the Florida Supreme Court, but on August 22, 1985, the appeal was rejected.[65] On October 25, 1989, the Florida Supreme Court denied a second appeal from Parker.[66]

On March 23, 1989, the Florida Supreme Court dismissed Parker's third appeal of his death sentence.[67][68]

Parker was scheduled to be executed on October 31, 1989, but five days before it could proceed, Parker was granted a stay of execution.[69]

On October 6, 1992, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Parker's federal appeal for post-conviction relief.[70]

In 1998, the Florida Supreme Court overturned Parker's death sentence and ordered him to receive a re-sentencing trial.[71]

In October 2000, Parker's re-sentencing trial began, and the defense argued for Parker to be re-sentenced to life imprisonment, and during the proceedings, Slater's mother appeared to testify about her grief of losing one of her twin daughters to murder, and stated that her other twin daughter suffered from severe emotional distress as a result of losing Slater.[72][73]

On October 26, 2000, the jury voted 11–1 to re-sentence Parker to death.[74] On December 15, 2000, the trial court re-instated Parker's death sentence.[75][76]

On January 22, 2004, the Florida Supreme Court turned down Parker's appeal of his second death sentence.[77][78]

On October 30, 2007, a Martin County circuit judge found Parker mentally competent to be executed, and denied his appeal.[79]

On December 1, 2011, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Parker's second appeal.[80]

In April 2017, Circuit Judge Gary Sweet approved Parker's case for re-sentencing, after the state's death penalty laws were amended in 2016 to allow a person to be sentenced to death by unanimous jury verdicts. On July 19, 2017, the prosecution stated they were willing to once again seek the death penalty for Parker, whose re-sentencing trial was likely to begin in a year's time.[81]

On March 31, 2023, Parker was spared the death sentence and re-sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years, after the prosecution decided to not seek the death penalty a third time. According to Chief Assistant State Attorney Stephen Gosnell, the time lapse of more than 40 years since the commission of the offense led to the erosion of the case, hence they chose to not pursue the death penalty.[82]

As of 2025, Parker was incarcerated at the Tomoka Correctional Institution.[83]

Aftermath

In 2016, Slater's mother was interviewed. She stated that she still struggled with the sadness of losing her daughter, and she continued to seek retribution for Slater, hoping that Cave and Parker, who were both still on death row at that time, could be executed like Bush was in 1996.[26]

Slater's mother stated that throughout the appeal process, she became acquainted with the mother of Johnson, who acted as the driver and played the smallest role of the four in her daughter's death. Slater's mother also stated she had forgiven Johnson and came to know that Johnson's mother was a good person and also religious, and she also did not oppose parole for Johnson when he was released in 2008. In the same article covering Slater's mother's interview, Johnson told the press through his supervision officer that he did not wish to talk about the murder, and he described the murder of Slater as a "dark chapter of his life".[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Heiress killed in $100 holdup". UPI. April 27, 1982.
  2. ^ a b c Bush v. State [1996], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  3. ^ a b c Bush v. State [1984], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  4. ^ "Man Executed in Kidnapping, Killing of Florida Heiress". Deseret News. October 22, 1996.
  5. ^ "Outboard motor heiress Frances Julie Slater was abducted and..." UPI. April 27, 1982.
  6. ^ "A single shot in the back of the head..." UPI. April 28, 1982.
  7. ^ "3 arrested in Slater murder". Gainesville Sun. May 6, 1982.
  8. ^ "Fourth Suspect Surrenders In Evinrude Heiress Slaying". Ocala Star-Banner. May 6, 1982.
  9. ^ "Authorities Preparing Case In Slater Death". Gainesville Sun. May 7, 1982.
  10. ^ "Four indicted in death of heiress in Stuart". Gainesville Sun. May 21, 1982.
  11. ^ "Bush found guilty in heiress murder". Ocala Star-Banner. November 20, 1982.
  12. ^ "Bush guilty of Evinrude murder". Boca Raton News. November 21, 1982.
  13. ^ "Death penalty sought". The Dispatch. November 22, 1982.
  14. ^ "Bush gets death in Slater murder". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 23, 1982.
  15. ^ "John Earl Bush, sentenced to death for his part..." UPI. November 23, 1982.
  16. ^ "Bush sentenced to die for Slater's murder". Boca Raton News. November 23, 1982.
  17. ^ "Second man guilty in Evinrude killing". Lakeland Ledger. December 9, 1982.
  18. ^ "Accused guilty of heiress's murder". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. December 9, 1982.
  19. ^ "Judge to determine fate of Slater's murderer". Boca Raton News. December 10, 1982.
  20. ^ "Man given death sentence in Evinrude murder case". The Evening Independent. December 10, 1982.
  21. ^ "Jury finds J.B. Parker guilty of Frances Slater kidnap-murder". Lakeland Ledger. January 8, 1983.
  22. ^ "Parker third to be tried, convicted in Slater murder". Lakeland Ledger. January 9, 1983.
  23. ^ "The third of four men accused of robbing, kidnapping..." UPI. January 12, 1983.
  24. ^ "Fourth man found guilty in Slater murder". Boca Raton News. April 10, 1983.
  25. ^ "4th convicted in heiress case". Gainesville Sun. April 9, 1983.
  26. ^ a b c d "Murder victim's mom on decades-long mission to see killers executed". Treasure Coast Newspapers. June 8, 2016.
  27. ^ "4th convicted killer gets life". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. July 1, 1983.
  28. ^ a b c d "Corrections Offender Network – JOHNSON, TERRY W". Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "Evinrude heiress killer denied appeal". Ocala Star-Banner. November 30, 1984.
  30. ^ "High court won't hear appeals". Lakeland Ledger. February 25, 1986.
  31. ^ "The Supreme Court agreed Monday to review the death..." UPI. February 25, 1986.
  32. ^ "Graham signs two death warrants". Lakeland Ledger. March 21, 1986.
  33. ^ "Graham signs warrants for 2". Gainesville Sun. March 21, 1986.
  34. ^ "Vietnam veteran's lawyers press to stop execution". Gainesville Sun. April 22, 1986.
  35. ^ "Evinrude killer's appeal denied". Lakeland Ledger. February 27, 1987.
  36. ^ "Death Warrants Signed For Darden, Heiress Killer". Lakeland Ledger. January 9, 1988.
  37. ^ "Court Halts Execution, Reverses On Another". Ocala Star-Banner. February 3, 1988.
  38. ^ "Judge stays execution of death row inmate". Lakeland Ledger. February 2, 1988.
  39. ^ Bush v. Dugger [1991], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  40. ^ Bush v. Singletary [1993], 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
  41. ^ "October execution scheduled for killer". Lakeland Ledger. September 18, 1996.
  42. ^ "Execution scheduled after third warrant". Ocala Star-Banner. September 18, 1996.
  43. ^ "Death stayed in Evinrude murder". The Evening Independent. December 10, 1982.
  44. ^ Bush v. Singletary [1996], 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
  45. ^ "High court rejects murderer's appeal". Gainesville Sun. October 21, 1996.
  46. ^ "Florida Executes Killer of an Heiress". The New York Times. October 21, 1996.
  47. ^ "Killer quietly put to death". Tampa Bay Times. October 22, 1996.
  48. ^ "Florida executes heiress killer". UPI. October 21, 1996.
  49. ^ "Road to chair comes to end after 14 years". The News. October 21, 1996.
  50. ^ "Seven inmates on Florida's death row have connections to the Treasure Coast". Treasure Coast Newspapers. October 23, 2024.
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  52. ^ Cave v. State [1988], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  53. ^ "Two Convicted Killers Take Appeals To Federal Court". Gainesville Sun. July 6, 1988.
  54. ^ a b Cave v. Singletary [1992], 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
  55. ^ "2nd Jury Urges Death In Infamous Murder". Lakeland Ledger. May 9, 1993.
  56. ^ "Jurors again urge death for man in 1982 slaying". Ocala Star-Banner. May 9, 1993.
  57. ^ a b Cave v. State [1995], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  58. ^ "Court orders freedom for convicted murderer". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 22, 1995.
  59. ^ "Man's third sentence of death upheld". Tampa Bay Times. December 25, 1998.
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  61. ^ Cave v. Secretary [2011], 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
  62. ^ "Florida Supreme Court denies resentencing hearing for former Fort Pierce man on death row". Treasure Coast Newspapers. June 12, 2020.
  63. ^ "Fort Pierce man on death row for 40 years dies awaiting execution in Frances Slater murder". Treasure Coast Newspapers. August 18, 2023.
  64. ^ "Corrections Offender Network – CAVE, ALPHONSO". Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  65. ^ Parker v. State [1989], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  66. ^ Parker v. Dugger [1989], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  67. ^ "Evinrude heiress' killer denied appeal". Lakeland Ledger. March 24, 1989.
  68. ^ "Court denies appeal of convicted killer". Gainesville Sun. March 24, 1989.
  69. ^ "Courts grant stays to 4 condemned murderers". Florida Today. October 27, 1989 – via newspapers.com.
  70. ^ Parker v. Singletary [1992], 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
  71. ^ "HEARING GIVES KILLER NEW CHANCE". The Orlando Sentinel. July 2, 2000.
  72. ^ "DEATH-ROW INMATE ASKING FOR LIFE". The Orlando Sentinel. October 17, 2000.
  73. ^ "VICTIM'S MOTHER TELLS JURY OF GRIEF". The Orlando Sentinel. October 24, 2000.
  74. ^ "PARKER DESERVES TO DIE, JURY SAYS". The Orlando Sentinel. October 26, 2000.
  75. ^ "Evinrude heiress's killer gets second death sentence". Lakeland Ledger. December 14, 2000.
  76. ^ "Killer of Evinrude heiress gets 2nd death sentence". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. December 15, 2000.
  77. ^ Parker v. State [2004], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  78. ^ "COURT DENIES APPEAL FOR KILLER OF HEIRESS". The Orlando Sentinel. January 23, 2004.
  79. ^ "Execution allowed in 1982 teen death". Sun Sentinel. October 30, 2007.
  80. ^ Parker v. State [2011], Florida Supreme Court (United States).
  81. ^ "Third death penalty sentencing for convicted killer J.B. Parker likely a year away". Treasure Coast Newspapers. July 19, 2017.
  82. ^ "Former Fort Pierce man sentenced to death twice, now to serve life term for 1982 murder". Treasure Coast Newspapers. March 31, 2023.
  83. ^ "Corrections Offender Network – PARKER, J". Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
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