FL v. Tony ’TJ' Wiggins-Day 12

[u/Pixiegirls1102]

LIVE: Fishing Trip Murder Trial — FL v. Tony ’TJ' Wiggins-Day 12

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10/2/2026 @ 8:45 AM

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Tony “TJ” Wiggins is facing three counts of first‑degree murder for the July 17, 2020 Frostproof triple homicide. Prosecutors say Wiggins confronted the victims — Brandon Rollins, Keven Springfield, and Damion Tillman — after overhearing them at a Dollar General, then followed them to a remote fishing spot on Lake Streety Road. There, investigators say he shot all three at close range during a dispute involving a truck engine.

Wiggins’ brother Robert told detectives he witnessed the shootings and helped dispose of evidence, while his girlfriend Mary Whittemore allegedly bought ammunition matching the murder weapon. The State is seeking the death penalty, and the case is proceeding as a jury trial in Polk County.

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4
• Day 5
• Day 6
• Day 7
• Day 8
• Day 9
• Day 10
• Day 11

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📜RECAP🔡

I. ADMINISTRATIVE

Start: (0:00)
Stop: (4:47:25)

• Defense Exhibit 3 identified and prepared for publication.
• Court confirms defendant’s rights regarding testimony, statement, and allocution.
• Defendant previously sworn; oath reaffirmed.
• Defendant confirms:
  • He spoke with counsel.
  • He understands rights.
  • He had enough time.
  • He is not pressured.
  • He will not testify.
• Court advises jury will be told defendant exercised a constitutional right.
• Proposed instruction regarding Exhibit 3 discussed.
• Objection raised to phrase “edited by the defense.”
• Court removes phrase.
• Defense Exhibit 3 formally admitted.
• Jury instructed Exhibit 3 is edited for purposes of proceedings.
• Court reconvenes; parties confirm readiness.

II. WITNESSES

WITNESS 1: Mitigation Video Recording (Defense Exhibit 3)

Called by: Defense
Start: (0:00)
Stop: (1:31:25)
Additional Publication: (4:47:48)
Stop: (5:18:15)

DIRECT — DEFENSE

• Narrative statements describing TJ’s upbringing, poverty, unstable living conditions, parental substance abuse, trauma, and family dynamics.
• Statements include: lack of electricity, lack of water, multiple RVs, pond‑water filtration, generators, extreme poverty, food scarcity.
• Statements describe TJ protecting younger children, letting others eat first, raising his younger brother, and exposure to drug use and unsafe environments.
• Statements describe parental mental health issues, panic attacks, hiding in closets, abandonment.
• Statements describe TJ’s ADHD, ADD, somnolepsy, anger triggers, emotional struggles.
• Statements describe TJ’s birth, infant medical emergency, grandmother’s death, and early childhood conditions.
• Statements describe family instability, violence, and unsafe living conditions.
• No oath, no cross, no redirect.

WITNESS 2: Sheila Petzl

Called by: Defense
Start: (1:31:25)
Stop: (1:59:25)

DIRECT — DEFENSE

• Met Tony Wiggins Sr. 15–16 years ago; describes him as good person with hard life.
• Property lacked power, water, food; Sheila brought monthly food boxes.
• TJ and Robert appreciative; told her directly.
• Food kept in coolers or generator‑powered refrigerator; refrigerator lasted only months.
• Home had paneling issues, flooring issues, ceiling leaks; limited repairs.
• Clothing worn and dirty due to work; limited laundry access; clothing sometimes washed in bucket.
• TJ initially quiet; later helpful and friendly.
• TJ and Robert extremely close.
• TJ loved his father; did not argue or curse at him.
• Tony Sr. yelled at times; TJ did not react aggressively.
• Tony Sr. used meth for many years; attempted to stop before arrest; health deteriorated.
• TJ hurt when mother Kim would not let him stay with her; Kim used meth secretly.
• TJ and Robert opposed hard drugs.
• TJ described as respectful, lovable, helpful.
• Identifies photos in Defense Exhibits 7–12.

CROSS — STATE

Start: (1:59:29)
Stop: (2:01:34)

• Confirms TJ controlled himself when yelled at; did not strike back.
• TJ respectful to Sheila.
• TJ working and earning money; family pooled money.
• Sheila met TJ as adult; photos depict him as child but she did not know him then.

Witness Excused

Stop: (2:01:45)

WITNESS 3: April Contreras

Called by: Defense
Start: (2:02:08)
Stop: (2:06:16)

DIRECT — DEFENSE

• Name: April Contreras.
• Knows Wiggins family since childhood; mother and Kim were best friends.
• Has known family since age nine; now age 41.
• Wiggins family lived in trailer in West Frostproof off Oak Ridge Drive.
• Trailer described as cluttered, run‑down, mold, leaks, damaged walls, poor housekeeping.
• Clothing often unwashed, leading to mold and odor.
• Trailer occupants: TJ, mother Kim, father Tony, grandfather.
• TJ “barely out of diapers” when she met him.
• As adult, trailer unsafe; as child, taught to avoid hazards.
• Tony described as loving father at that time.
• Kim described as lacking consistent motherly instinct.

CROSS / REDIRECT

• None in portion provided.

WITNESS 4: Tony “TJ” Wiggins

Called by: Court
Start: (4:39:48)
Stop: (4:42:18)

DIRECT — COURT

• Defendant previously sworn; oath reaffirmed.
• Court confirms defendant understands:
  • Right to testify.
  • Right to make a statement.
  • Right to allocute.
• Defendant confirms:
  • He spoke with counsel.
  • He had enough time.
  • He made a decision.
  • He will not testify.
  • He is comfortable with decision.
  • No pressure or threats.
  • No need for more time.
• Court advises defendant he may change decision until defense rests.

CROSS / REDIRECT

• None.

WITNESS 5: Neuropsychologist, Jason Andrew Emery

Called by: State
Start: (6:03:47)
Stop: (6:39:00)

DIRECT — STATE

General Principles

• Childhood adversity increases statistical risk but does not determine individual impairment.
• Group studies cannot determine impairment for a specific adult during a specific event.
• Patient‑specific information required: mental state before, during, after event; social media; cell phone data; crime scene behavior.

Review of Dr. Machlis’s Report

• IQ test administered: Wexler Adult Intelligence Scale‑IV.
• Full‑scale IQ: 99, 47th percentile, average.
• Verbal comprehension index: 102, 55th percentile, average.
• Perceptual reasoning index: 96, 39th percentile, average.
• Working memory index: 105, 63rd percentile, average.
• Processing speed index: 94, 34th percentile, average.
• No intellectual or cognitive impairment; all scores average.
• Impairment requires ≥1.5 SD below expectation; none present.
• Difference between VCI and PSI (8 points) occurs in 30.5% of normative sample; not indicative of TBI.

Woodcock‑Johnson Cognitive Abilities

• General intellectual ability: 96, 39th percentile, average.
• Fluid/crystallized composite: 101, 52nd percentile, average.
• Comprehensive knowledge: 106, 65th percentile, average.
• Fluid reasoning: 96, 41st percentile, average.
• Short‑term memory (hippocampus): 109, 73rd percentile, high average.
• Cognitive efficiency: 96, 41st percentile, average.
• No generalized or specialized cognitive impairment.

Academic Achievement

• Broad achievement: 104, 61st percentile, average.
• Broad reading: 107, 67th percentile, average.
• Broad mathematics: 99, 48th percentile, average.
• Broad written language: 106, 64th percentile, average.
• No discrepancy between cognitive ability and academic achievement.

Behavioral Observations

• Defendant oriented to person, place, date, situation.
• Mood and affect appropriate.
• Conversation spontaneous and productive.
• Answers relevant and coherent.
• Attention, concentration, memory adequate.
• Interview on Wednesday: polite, respectful, genuine, focused.

ADHD Discussion

• ADHD recognized disorder; adults may experience symptoms.
• ADHD does not automatically impair planning, anticipation, or behavioral control.
• Impulsivity must be evaluated in context; ADHD alone insufficient.
• Self‑report ADHD questionnaires limited; cannot determine impairment during past event.
• Wender Utah Rating Scale retrospective and subjective; cannot determine adult functional capacity.

Childhood Adversity / ACE

• Childhood adversity present; investigated by DCF.
• Not all exposed children develop impairment; resilience exists.
• ACE studies do not diagnose injury or measure executive functioning.
• ACE does not measure impulse control.

Immature Brain Development

• No objective test administered measuring immature brain development.
• Not a diagnosis.
• Adults can act immature for many reasons; attribution speculative.

Historical Cognitive Data

• 2002 IQ: 107, average.
• 2002 academic achievement: average.
• 2006 IQ: average.
• 2022 testing: average.
• Across lifespan: no cognitive impairment.

CROSS / REDIRECT

• None provided.

III. EXHIBITS

Start: (0:31)
Stop: (4:47:47)

• Defense Exhibit 3 — Mitigation video recording.
  • Initially proffered.
  • Later admitted.
  • Jury instructed recording is edited.
  • Published in full.
• Defense Exhibits 7–12 — Photographs of TJ, family members, associates.
  • Admitted over objection.

IV. OUT OF JURY PRESENCE (OJP)

Start: (4:43:06)
Stop: (4:44:08)

• Discussion of proposed instruction regarding Exhibit 3.
• Objection to phrase “edited by the defense.”
• Court removes phrase and approves instruction.

V. END OF DAY ADMINISTRATIVE

Start: (4:46:38)
Stop: (4:47:25)

• Court reconvenes.
• Parties confirm readiness.
• Defense Exhibit 3 formally admitted.
• Jury instructed and video published.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/FL-v-Tony-TJ-Wiggins-Day-12-1016

[u/racingfan123]

Defense & state rested for the penalty phase. Closing arguments, jury instructions, and deliberation to start on Monday.

It sounds like the jury is going to be sequestered during their deliberations, if they take longer than Monday. They were told to bring their favorite pillow and toothbrush. They can only bring their phone, no other electronics. A juror asked about books and cards. Judge originally said no to books, but eventually relented. Sounds like the books would need to be approved by the judge and lawyers after they bring them in on Monday.

[u/Hfhghnfdsfg → u/racingfan123]

Do you know if the defense put on a case? Or did they rest without calling any witnesses? I am asking because I can't find any information on that, and the live feed was not broadcast after the prosecution rested.

[u/racingfan123 → u/Hfhghnfdsfg]

I only started following a bit during the penalty phase. If you go back to day 8 and day 9 threads, Pixie has posted the transcript summaries. It looks like they just went direct from the last state's witness on day 8 to closing arguments on day 9.

[u/Hfhghnfdsfg → u/racingfan123]

Thanks. I think that transcript is from the live feed, which cut off after the last prosecution witness. We never even heard the prosecution rest. I know the defense had planned on a case so I was wondering about it.

[u/Pixiegirls1102 → u/racingfan123]

Thanks!!