The Florida Supreme Court docket lately affirmed the conviction and dying sentence of Steven Matthew Wolf, now 65, who was discovered responsible in January 2023 of the homicide and sexual assault of Michelle Osborne. Wolf’s conviction and sentence, imposed by Circuit Decide Mark H. Jones after a unanimous jury advice, will now stand because the courtroom issued its mandate.
The case started on Nov. 21, 2018, when Osborne’s physique was found close to Vaca Minimize Bridge in Marathon. Investigators rapidly tied Wolf to the crime by way of DNA proof, his van and his personal admissions of cleansing and disposing of proof. After a six-day trial, a Monroe County jury discovered Wolf responsible of first-degree homicide, two counts of sexual battery with drive prone to trigger harm and tampering with bodily proof.
The jury additionally unanimously discovered that the homicide was dedicated whereas Wolf was engaged within the fee of a sexual battery and that the crime was particularly heinous, atrocious or merciless. Trial testimony revealed that Osborne endured excessive accidents and strangulation whereas nonetheless alive, circumstances that underscored the cruelty of the assault.
At sentencing, Decide Jones mentioned:
“The courtroom has recognized, analyzed and weighed all the annoying elements and mitigating circumstances. In steadiness, the annoying elements outweigh the mitigating circumstances by an awesome margin, which suggests the scales of justice tip unquestionably to the facet of dying. The homicide of Michelle Osborne is amongst ‘the worst of the worst,’ making it a type of instances for which the dying penalty is reserved. You haven’t solely forfeited your proper to reside amongst us, however underneath the legal guidelines of Florida you will have forfeited your proper to reside in any respect. Might God have mercy in your soul.”
“This resolution brings closure to a protracted and painful case and affirms the exhausting work of so many devoted professionals,” mentioned State Lawyer Dennis Ward. “This was a unprecedented effort by a number of businesses, and their teamwork made it potential to safe justice for Michelle Osborne and her household. The courtroom’s resolution ensures that the jury’s verdict and Decide Jones’ sentence will stand.”