THE DARK SIDE OF FLORIDA
Bill Brown, Jr.
#025052
photo courtesy FDC
Full Name: Bill Brown, Jr.
Date of birth: October 31, 1948
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Leon
City: Tallahassee
Current Location: Graceville Correctional Facility
Partner(s) in crime: Nathaniel Grimes, Jr.
Date of Crime: January 13, 1969
Tentative Release Date: Life
Victim(s): Walter A. Minski
Date of birth: October 31, 1948
Conviction: 1st-degree murder
County: Leon
City: Tallahassee
Current Location: Graceville Correctional Facility
Partner(s) in crime: Nathaniel Grimes, Jr.
Date of Crime: January 13, 1969
Tentative Release Date: Life
Victim(s): Walter A. Minski
Nathaniel Grimes Jr., and Bill Brown Jr., killed Walter A. Minski by shooting him with a pistol. Walter was the operator of the Prince Murat Hotel in Tallahassee. He was mortally wounded shortly before midnight in the office of the motel. Prior to his death, Walter informed police that two young colored men tried to rob him – one of which was tall and slender, over six feet (Nathaniel), and the other was five feet six (Bill). The taller one had a pistol and when Walter grabbed the man with the gun, the man shot him. At that point, both men fled.
Walter also informed a guest at the motel that two young colored men in stocking masks had tried to rob him. An employee of a Gulf service station testified that on the night of the homicide, he sold a dollar’s worth of high test gasoline to two males in a Dodge Dart sports car. This automobile had a “red-lined tire on it” and the wheel cover was off the right rear tire. The driver appeared to be of slight build, but taller than the one in the passenger seat.
An automobile dealer from Cocoa testified that a green Dodge Dart had been reported stolen from Hooper Motors in Cocoa on December 7, 1968, and he had recovered the car from the Tallahassee Police Department.
On January 14, 1969, police received a bulletin advising the office to be on lookout for a green two-door hardtop 1967 or 1968 Dodge Dart, very dirty, with a red-sidewall tire and possibly a missing hub cap. The bulletin stated that the automobile was believed to be occupied by two colored males armed with one or more pistols.
Captain Lane observed an automobile which fit the description parked in front of the Nathaniel’s residence in Thomasville, Georgia. He radioed the tag number to the dispatcher and requested a check to ascertain if the car was stolen. He was advised that the vehicle was indeed the stolen vehicle reported stolen from Titusville, Florida.
Captain Lane and a companion then placed the car under surveillance. Later, they observed Nathaniel as he came out of his house wearing a blue bathrobe. He went back into the house after a few minutes, reappeared without the bathrobe, approached the car, opened the door and removed a green jacket. At that time, the officers approached Nathaniel in his front yard. They identified themselves as police officers asked who was in the house. Upon being informed that his wife and baby were inside, Lane requested and received Nathaniel’s permission to check the residence.
Lane left Nathaniel in the front yard in the custody of his companion officer and went to the house. The front door was locked, but Mrs. Grimes admitted him after being informed that Nathaniel gave him permission to check the house. Upon examination, Lane found that no other persons occupied the house. Once inside, Lane asked Nathaniel who owned the car and Nathaniel said the he did. Nathaniel was immediately advised of his rights.
The blue bathrobe that Nathaniel had been wearing earlier was the first thing Lane noticed. As he picked it up, one of the pockets bulged out and he could see a pistol in that pocket. On their way out the door to the police station, Lane asked Nathaniel if he wished to take some clothes with him. Nathaniel said yes and Lane picked up Nathaniel’s jacked. As he picked up the jacket, Lane noticed two women’s stockings, one of which was torn. In all, Lane collected a man’s green windbreaker jacket, a green turtleneck sweater, the two stockings, the bathrobe and the .22 revolver as evidence.
Eventually, Nathaniel confessed to the crime and was convicted of first-degree murder. He was paroled in 1985. He was convicted of first-degree murder again in 1991. Bill Brown was also convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
Walter also informed a guest at the motel that two young colored men in stocking masks had tried to rob him. An employee of a Gulf service station testified that on the night of the homicide, he sold a dollar’s worth of high test gasoline to two males in a Dodge Dart sports car. This automobile had a “red-lined tire on it” and the wheel cover was off the right rear tire. The driver appeared to be of slight build, but taller than the one in the passenger seat.
An automobile dealer from Cocoa testified that a green Dodge Dart had been reported stolen from Hooper Motors in Cocoa on December 7, 1968, and he had recovered the car from the Tallahassee Police Department.
On January 14, 1969, police received a bulletin advising the office to be on lookout for a green two-door hardtop 1967 or 1968 Dodge Dart, very dirty, with a red-sidewall tire and possibly a missing hub cap. The bulletin stated that the automobile was believed to be occupied by two colored males armed with one or more pistols.
Captain Lane observed an automobile which fit the description parked in front of the Nathaniel’s residence in Thomasville, Georgia. He radioed the tag number to the dispatcher and requested a check to ascertain if the car was stolen. He was advised that the vehicle was indeed the stolen vehicle reported stolen from Titusville, Florida.
Captain Lane and a companion then placed the car under surveillance. Later, they observed Nathaniel as he came out of his house wearing a blue bathrobe. He went back into the house after a few minutes, reappeared without the bathrobe, approached the car, opened the door and removed a green jacket. At that time, the officers approached Nathaniel in his front yard. They identified themselves as police officers asked who was in the house. Upon being informed that his wife and baby were inside, Lane requested and received Nathaniel’s permission to check the residence.
Lane left Nathaniel in the front yard in the custody of his companion officer and went to the house. The front door was locked, but Mrs. Grimes admitted him after being informed that Nathaniel gave him permission to check the house. Upon examination, Lane found that no other persons occupied the house. Once inside, Lane asked Nathaniel who owned the car and Nathaniel said the he did. Nathaniel was immediately advised of his rights.
The blue bathrobe that Nathaniel had been wearing earlier was the first thing Lane noticed. As he picked it up, one of the pockets bulged out and he could see a pistol in that pocket. On their way out the door to the police station, Lane asked Nathaniel if he wished to take some clothes with him. Nathaniel said yes and Lane picked up Nathaniel’s jacked. As he picked up the jacket, Lane noticed two women’s stockings, one of which was torn. In all, Lane collected a man’s green windbreaker jacket, a green turtleneck sweater, the two stockings, the bathrobe and the .22 revolver as evidence.
Eventually, Nathaniel confessed to the crime and was convicted of first-degree murder. He was paroled in 1985. He was convicted of first-degree murder again in 1991. Bill Brown was also convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
Source: Justia US Law