Summary:



The former Boy Scout and Navy veteran began his law enforcement career in the 1970s with the Florida Highway Patrol, graduating at the top of his class at the academy. But he was fired from that agency in 1979 for falsifying traffic tickets. He was soon hired by the police department in Sweetwater, a small city in Miami-Dade County. In 1981, Pardo was one of four Sweetwater officers charged with brutality, but the cases were dismissed. He was fired four years later after he flew to the Bahamas to testify at the trial of a Sweetwater colleague who was accused of drug smuggling. Pardo lied, telling the court they were international undercover agents. Then over a 92-day period in early 1986, Pardo committed a series of robberies, killing six men and three women. He took photos of the victims and recounted some details in his diary, which was found along with newspaper clippings about the murders and a Nazi memorabilia collection. Pardo was linked to the killings after using credit cards stolen from the victims, and accidentally shooting himself in the foot during the final murder. Pardo testified in the guilt phase of the trial against the advice of counsel and insisted that he was sane despite his insanity defense. He acknowledged that he killed all nine victims, but claimed that all nine victims were drug dealers who had no right to live and that he was doing society a favor. The jury rejected the insanity defense. Accomplice Rolando Garcia is currently on Florida Death Row awaiting execution. Citations:



Pardo v. State , 563 So.2d 77 (Fla. 1990). (Direct Appeal)

Pardo v. State , 941 So.2d 1057 (Fla. 2006). (PCR)

Pardo v. Secretary, Florida Dept. of Corrections , 587 F.3d 1093 (11th Cir. 2009). (Habeas) Final / Special Meal:



Rice, red beans, roasted pork, plantains, avocado, tomatoes and olive oil. For dessert, he ate pumpkin pie and drank egg nog and Cuban Coffee. Under Department of Corrections rules, the meal's ingredients have to cost $40 or less, be available locally and made in the prison kitchen. Final Words:



"Airborne forever. I love you, Michi baby," referring to his daughter. ClarkProsecutor.org Florida Department of Corrections DC Number: 111983

Name: PARDO, MANUEL JR.

Race: WHITE

Sex: MALE

Hair Color: BROWN

Eye Color: BROWN

Height: 5'10'

Weight: 134 lbs.

Birth Date: 09/24/56

Initial Receipt Date: 06/09/1988

Current Facility: UNION C.I. Current Prison Sentence History: Offense Date-Offense-Sentence Date-County-Case No.-Prison Sentence Length 01/22/1986

1ST DEG MUR,COM.OF FELONY

04/20/1988

MIAMI-DADE

8612910

DEATH SENTENCE 04/23/1986

ROBB. GUN/DEADLY WPN

04/20/1988

MIAMI-DADE

8612910

15Y 0M 0D 01/28/1986

1ST DG MUR/PREMED. OR ATT.

04/20/1988

MIAMI-DADE

8614719

DEATH SENTENCE Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case# 86-12910-A Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Phillip W. Knight

Trial Attorney: Ronald S. Guralnick – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Calianne P. Lanz – Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Leor Veleanu – CCRC-S

Date of Offense: 01/22/86 – 04/29/86

Date of Sentence: 04/20/88 Circumstances of the Offense: Manuel Pardo, a former police officer, was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder, with an additional count in CC# 86-1417-A. Pardo admitted he intentionally killed all nine of the victims because he believed them all to be drug dealers who “have no right to live.” When Rolando Garcia, his known codefendant, was shown pictures of the victims during interrogation he stated, “We took care of all these people.” The State presented the case that Pardo and Garcia were drug dealers and were eliminating the competition. Both Pardo and Garcia worked for Ramon Alvero, a drug dealer. The body of Daisy Ricard, Ramon Alvero’s girlfriend, was found on 04/23/86, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Her body was found in a wooded area of Hialeah. She had been shot in the head by two different .22 caliber pistols and was missing a shoe. A casing and her watch were found near her body. Pardo’s fingerprints were found on the watch. On the morning of 04/24/86, Alvero’s body was found in the trunk of a car approximately one mile away from where Daisy’s body was found. Ricard’s matching shoe and two other .22 caliber casings were also found in the trunk of the car. Alvero was shot with the same two guns that Ricard was shot with. The night of 04/26/86, both Garcia and Pardo flew to New York City (NYC). They told the doctors at a hospital in NYC that Pardo had been shot in the foot while he was visiting NYC. The bullet that the doctors removed from Pardo’s foot matched those taken from the bodies of Ricard and Alvero. A search warrant was then obtained for Pardo’s apartment. A casing matching the casing from Alvero’s car was found in Pardo’s apartment. A calendar book linking seven other unsolved homicides to was also found in Pardo’s apartment. Pardo made entries into the book on the dates of each homicide, in addition to taping newspaper clippings about the homicides in the book. Throughout Pardo’s calendar book, numerical counting appeared that corresponded to the number of the murder victims. The victims included Mario Amador, Roberto Alfonso, Luis Robledo, Ulpiano Ledo, Sara Musa, and Fara Quintero. Codefendant Information: •Rolando Garcia (DC# 115751) •Garcia was arrested on 05/23/86 and charges with 24 counts: eight counts of first-degree murder and 16 related offenses (CC# 86-12910). •Garcia had two mistrials, after which he petitioned to sever the cases. The court severed the five counts related to the Musa/ Quintero murders and kept the remaining 19 counts together for trial. The jury convicted Garcia for the Amador, Alfonso, Alvaro, and Ricard murders, but voted to acquit on all counts directly related to the murders of Robledo and Ledo. •The jury recommended death for three of the four convictions of first-degree murder and life for the remaining count. The Court imposed four death sentences. Garcia is currently engaging in the appeals process regarding to his death sentences. Former Florida policeman executed for 1986 killing spree By Michael Peltier - Reuters.com Dec 12, 2012 (Reuters) - Florida executed a former police officer on Tuesday for a 1986 killing spree in which he murdered nine people whom he described in court as "parasites" and "leeches" and had "no right to live," a spokeswoman for Governor Rick Scott said. Manuel Pardo, 56, was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison in Starke and was pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m., governor's spokeswoman Jackie Schutz said. A former police officer in the Miami suburb of Sweetwater, Pardo testified that after killing his victims, he took photographs of them to "capture their spirits" and burned the pictures in a special ashtray, according to court records. When police arrested Pardo for the killings, they found a collection of Nazi memorabilia in his apartment. Pardo's attorneys painted a picture of a military veteran and former Florida Highway Patrol trooper who turned to drug dealing after being fired from the Sweetwater Police Department in 1985. They claimed Pardo was insane. During his 1988 sentencing, Pardo claimed he was "a soldier" in the battle against illegal drugs and was not out for financial gain. He urged the court to sentence him to death. The jury found him guilty of all nine counts and recommended he be executed. The judge agreed but after a string of appeals, it was not until October that Scott signed a death warrant. Ann Howard, the spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections, said Pardo's execution went smoothly after final appeals were denied late on Tuesday afternoon. His last meal consisted of roasted pork, red beans and rice, plantains, avocado and tomatoes with olive oil. For dessert, he had pumpkin pie, egg nog and Cuban coffee. Pardo's execution was the 43rd carried out in the United States in 2012, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Ex-Sweetwater cop executed by lethal injection By David Ovalle, Anna Edgerton - MiamiHerald.com December 12, 2012. STARKE -- Twenty-four years after he urged a jury to give him a “glorious” death, Miami serial killer Manuel Pardo shut his eyes, yawned and fell into an eternal slumber, but not before delivering a final, defiant homage to his military past. “Airborne forever,” the former U.S. Navy veteran said, adding an ode to his daughter: “I love you, Michi baby.” And so the former Sweetwater cop, who shot and killed nine people during a series of robberies of mostly drug dealers in 1986, was executed by lethal injection, pronounced dead at 7:47 p.m. Tuesday at Florida State Prison. Before Pardo was strapped to the gurney, he issued a neat handwritten letter, accepting responsibility for killing six men — but no women, he insisted — as part of his “war against men who were trafficking in narcotics.” But the nephew of Fara Quintero, one of three women slain by Pardo and another man, insisted Pardo was “no soldier.” “But rather a disturbed soul whose hatred for mankind knew no mercy,” nephew Frank Judd told reporters afterward. He called Pardo’s execution “mild justice” for taking his beloved aunt. Pardo’s death capped the bloody and bizarre saga of a man who joined the military and law enforcement before he embarked on a killing spree in 1986 that left nine people dead. Most of his victims were drug dealers, people who crossed him and potential witnesses. Pardo’s demise is also a reminder of a decade in Miami-Dade that was marred by scandals of corrupt cops who robbed, killed and were arrested for crossing the line into the criminal world. His execution was the third in Florida this year. In October, Miami’s John Errol Ferguson — a killer of eight — was scheduled to be executed, but received a last-minute stay as a federal appeals court considers claims that he is mentally ill. Pardo, a New York native, signed up with the U.S. Navy in the 1970s, earning several honors before joining the Florida Highway Patrol. Later, he joined the Sweetwater police force, but was fired. Pardo soon hooked up with Rolando Garcia, a laborer he met through an in-law. They mostly killed drug dealers, and one man they believed was an informant. Pardo, police said, also shot and killed Sara Musa, 30, and Quintero, 28, who had gotten into an argument with the men about a $50 pawned ring. A third woman, Daisy Ricard, 38, was killed because she just happened to be with her boyfriend, the intended target. Faced with overwhelming physical evidence, Pardo went to trial in 1988, pleading insanity. At sentencing, he called his victims “parasites” and, despite his lawyer’s advice, requested the death penalty. “I’m not a criminal. I’m a soldier. As a soldier, I ask to be given the death penalty. I accomplished my mission,” he told jurors. Even after his conviction, Pardo maintained in numerous press interviews that he did more social good as a killer than he could have done as a police officer. On Tuesday, his final statement was equally brash. In his one-page letter, he made no apology to the families of his victims. He simply claimed that he took the rap for the death of the women because “it made no difference” whether he faced six or nine death sentences. Then, he boasted of his pride in seeing the New York football Giants and the Yankees win so many championships, and delighted in the rival Jets “doing what they do best, choke, crash and burn … they stink!” Pardo also praised Spain for winning a World Cup title in soccer, and urged the country to keep the tradition of bullfighting. Then, he claimed to “accept the consequences” of his actions — and urged his daughter: “Remember, Michi, you are Airborne and Hardcore … No tears!” “Now, I am ready to ride the midnight train to Georgia,” he wrote. In the final hours of his life, Pardo visited with eight relatives and friends, and enjoyed a Cuban-style last meal. A corrections spokeswoman said Pardo dined Tuesday morning on roasted pork chunks, white rice and red beans, fried plantains with tomato and avocado, topped with olive oil. He finished with pumpkin pie and Cuban coffee. Outside, about 45 death penalty protesters crowded a field across from the prison. In Miami, the Archdiocese of Miami — which opposes the death penalty — held a vigil for Pardo. Just past 7 p.m., with the U.S. Supreme Court denying his last-minute appeals, seven loved ones of the dead were ushered into a small room facing the death chamber at the prison. A glass pane separated them from the killer. The silence was cut only by the drone of a wall air-conditioning unit. They watched, grim-faced and calm, as Tim Cannon, a corrections official, announced the final procedure was under way. Without incident, the lethal combination of drugs entered Pardo’s body through a tube attached to his arm. Gaunt, bald and pale, he mumbled his last words, unintelligible to the gallery through the speaker system. Then he yawned, his eyes darting briefly to Cannon, drew a few last breaths and sank into sleep. His mouth fell open and, for the next 15 minutes, his life seeped away quietly. Finally, a doctor brushed aside a brown curtain. He shined a flashlight into the killer’s eyes, checked his chest with a stethoscope, looked up to Cannon and nodded, pronouncing Pardo dead. Manuel Pardo ProDeathPenalty.com On January 22nd, 1986, Manuel Pardo and co-defendant Rolando Garcia went to the residence of Mario Amador, ostensibly to purchase two kilograms of cocaine from Amador. Pardo and Garcia were working for Ramon Alvero, known as "El Negro," who later became another of Pardo's murder victims. Rather than pay good American dollars for the two kilos, Pardo and Garcia elected to murder Mario Amador and steal the cocaine. They arrived at his residence with Pardo carrying a briefcase containing not cash, but rather a .22 cal. semi-automatic, silencer equipped pistol. While Mario Amador was busy with the cocaine, Pardo pulled his pistol and shot both Amador and Amador's partner, Roberto Alfonso, numerous times in the head and torso. On February 27th, 1986, Pardo and Garcia staged a virtual repeat performance. This time they were sent by their boss, Ramon Alvero ("El Negro"), to purchase three kilograms of cocaine from one Luis Robledo. After their arrival at Robledo's apartment, Pardo excused himself to go to the bathroom, where he produced a silencer equipped .22 cal. Ruger semi-automatic pistol, with which he then shot both Luis Robledo and Robledo's partner, Ulpiano Ledo, numerous times in the head and torso. Pardo and Garcia were not idle in the five weeks between the above two drug rip-off double murders. On January 28, 1986, Pardo and Garcia arranged to meet one Michael Millot, a gunsmith who had provided Pardo with several silencers. It seems that Pardo, upon learning that Millot was a federal government informant, had become concerned that Millot might be setting Pardo up for a federal bust. Pardo and Garcia lured Millot into Pardo's vehicle, and Pardo proceeded to blow his brains out with a .9 mm. Smith and Wesson. They then dumped his body in a rural area and drove his vehicle into a canal. On April 22nd, 1986, Pardo and Garcia visited the home of Fara Quintero and Sara Musa. Pardo and Garcia were upset with the girls because they had failed to purchase VCRs with murder victim Luis Robledo's visa card, as they had been instructed to do by Garcia (the girls had no knowledge of the prior murders). Additionally, Pardo and Garcia were upset because the girls kept complaining and bothering them about $50 which Garcia owed Fara Quintero. The girls had also made the major mistake of badmouthing Garcia in conversations with third parties, in which the girls impugned Garcia's integrity for failing to repay the $50. Once in their apartment, Pardo, as was his custom, proceeded to the bathroom and pulled out his Ruger. When he emerged he shot Sara Musa numerous times, but then his gun jammed. He unjammed the gun on Fara Quintero's head, then shot her numerous times. The following day, April 23rd, 1986, Pardo and Garcia finally caught up with their boss, Ramon Alvero ("El Negro"). It seems that Alvero had not come through on two big cocaine deals that Pardo had been counting on. Alvero had been avoiding Pardo, a reasonable strategy all things considered, but on April 23rd Alvero's luck ran out, as did that of his girlfriend Daisy Ricard, who fulfilled the "wrong place at the wrong time" profile to a T. Pardo and Garcia managed to find Alvero and Ricard and drove them to an isolated spot. Pardo then shot Alvero numerous times with his .22 Ruger and then shot Daisy Ricard once before his gun jammed again. He unjammed it by smashing it against her skull, and meanwhile managed to shoot himself in the foot. After finishing off Daisy with several more shots, they dumped her body in a secluded area and left Alvero's body in the trunk of Alvero's vehicle. They then immediately flew to New York where Pardo received medical treatment for his foot. Victims: Mario Amador, Roberto Alfonso, Luis Robledo, Ulpiano Ledo, Michael Millot, Fara Quintero, Sara Musa, Ramon Alvero, Daisy Ricard. Manuel Pardo Manny Pardo was 21 years old when he joined the Florida Highway Patrol in 1978, but his first stint in law enforcement was short lived. Accused of falsifying more than 100 traffic warnings and correction notices, he was allowed to resign a year after he joined the force in lieu of being fired. lt seemed a small concession at the time, but ¡t was all he needed: two months later, Pardo was hired by the Sweetwater Police Department to patrol a Miami suburb. Still, his problems continued, and in 1981, Pardo was one of four officers charged in a series of brutality cases filed by the state attorney general's office. Those charges were later dismissed, but Pardo was fired on January 21, 1985, after he flew to the Bahamas to testify in defense of another ex-cop held for trial on drug-running charges. Even then, the worst was yet to come. On May 7, 1986, Pardo and 25-year-old Roland Garcia were arrested on murder charges, accused in the executionstyle slayings of drug dealer Ramon Alvero Cruz and his girlfriend, Daisy Ricard, who were shot and killed on April 23. Weeks later, on June 11, Metro Dade officials announced that Pardo and Garcia were linked to a total of nine murders-victims including six men and three women-dating back to January 1986. Detective Ted MacArthur told the press, "They were drug ripoffs, and quantities of cocaine were taken from the scene." The killing spree had ended with Ramon Alvero Cruz, alleged to be Pardo's underworld employer since he was fired by Sweetwater PD. As evidence against the killer cop, prosecutors cited Pardo's d'ary, which included written entries about the murders along with news clippings and photographs of severas bloody corpses. Nazi memorabilia recovered from Pardo's home, together with the prisoner's own statements, revealed that he was also an ardent admirer of Adolf Hitier, believing that jews and blacks were inferior species deserving of extermination. Legal maneuvers delayed Pardo's trial for two years, but prosecutor David Waksman stood by the state's original theory of an ex-cop gone bad, addicted to cocaine and easy money, killing coke dealers to rip off their stashes, eliminating any witnesses who crossed his path. Pardo denied it, painting himself as a one-man vigilante squad committed to eliminating "parasites" and "leeches" from law-abiding society. His courtappointed lawyer, Ronald Guralnlck, was committed to a different tack, presenting an INSANITY DEFENSE. "The man is crazy," Guralnick told reporters. "All you have to do is listen to him to know hes totally out of his mind." And, indeed, Pardo seemed intent on proving that point when he took the witness stand in his own defense on April 13, 1988. Testifying against Guralnick's advice, Manny didn't bother to deny the killings; rather, he regretted that his final body count had been so low. "Instead of nine," he told the court, "l wish 1 could have been up here for ninety-nine." Furthermore, he declared, "l enjoyed what I was doing. 1 enioyed shooting them. They're parasites and they're leeches, and they have no right to be alive. Somebody had to kill these people." He shot his victims multiple times after death, Manny said, to further "punish" them for their crimes, and he had taken Polaroid snapshots of the corpses, afterward burning some in an alabaster ashtray. "l sent their souls to the eternas fires of damnation of hell," he testified, "for the misery they caused." Pardo staunchly denied the states claim that he, himself, was a mercenary drug dealer. The very idea was "ludicrous" and "ridiculous," he said. Prosecutor Waksman asked about the $50,000 Pardo had earned from selling two kilos of stolen cocaine, the sum recorded in his diary, but Manny insisted that he had kept only $2,000 for himself-the bate minimum required to purchase guns and ammunition. After Pardo remarked that bullets cost him ten cents each, Waksman asked him whether it had cost him only $1.30 to kill two victims who were shot a total of 13 times. Pardo grinned as he replied, "Thats a pretty good investment, isn't it?" With Pardo's sanity at issue, both sides called psychiatrists to testlfy about his mental state. Syvil Marquit, appearing for the defense, reported that Pardo was insane and had been at the time of the nine murders. Manny was competent for trial, Marquit said, and understood the physical conse'quence of his actions, "but he doesn't know right from wrong." Courtappointed psychologist Leonard Haber, on the other hand, testified for the state that Pardo was "sane, but evil." Manny, for his part, agreed with the state, at least in regard to his sanity. As for psychologists, he told the court, "They're whores. Pay them enough money and they'll say anything." Pardo's extreme racist views may have hurt him as much as the physical evidence of his guilt when he appeared before a jury that included five blacks and two jews. Metro Dade detectives listed the Nazi paraphernalia found in his home and describes the swastika tattoo worn by one of his dogs, a Doberman pinscher. Manny pitched in with testimony that Adolf Hitler was a "great man" whose activities had inspired Pardo to read more than 500 books on Nazism. The jury deliberated for six hours on April 15 before convicting Pardo of nine murders and nine other felony counts, including robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a crime. Court reconvened five days later to consider Pardo's sentence. Attorney Guralnick and Manny's parents pleaded for leniency, citing his deranged mental state, while prosecutor Waksman argued the reverse. "He was weird, weird, weird," Waksman said, "but he was not insane." Pardo, meanwhile, was determined to remain the star performer in his own private drama. "l am a soldier," he told the court. "l accomplished my mission, and 1 humbly ask you to give me the glory of ending my life and not to send me to spend the rest of my life in state prison. I'm begging you to allow me to have a glorious end." The jury complied, and judge Phillip Knight accepted their recommendation, handing down one death sentence for cach of Pardos nine murders, plus a term of 15 years in prison for the noncapital charges. His commitment to death notwithstanding, Pardo made no objection when his conviction and sentence were automatically appealed to the Florida Supreme Court. There, on March 6, 1990, public defender Calianne Lantz told the assembled just'ces that Pardo was insane when he committed his nine murders. Assistant Attorney General Ralph Barreira disagreed, describing Manny as a brute who simply liked to kill. The court agreed with Barreira, affirming Pardo's conviction and the "special circumstances" which allowed his execution under Florida state law. A year later, on May 13, 1991, the US Supreme Court effectively upheld that decision, denying Pardos plea for a writ of certiorari. Pardo, meanwhile, had managed to attract at least a handful of admirers while his case was winding through the courts. One such, a self-described friend of the convicted serial killer, voiced his support in a letter to the Orlando Sentinel Tribune, published on April 22, 1990. It read, in part: Manny was never accused of corruption. He was let go for his overzealousness in pursuit of criminals-no matter who they knew or whose relativas they were. And lest anyone get the idea that he just cruised around gunning people down, let me point out each of his victims was a thoroughly investigated, tried, convicted, and executed (by him) drug dealer whom Pardo had failed to get off the streets via the normal criminal justice system. Manny Pardo doesnt deserve condemnation, he deserves a commendation. In fact, as even cursory research would have shown, Manny had bcen fired in Sweetwater for "showing a lack of good judgment and a habit of lying"-specifically in defense of an accused drug dealer-but the details hardly mattered. He was awalting execution at Starke, the states maximum-security prison ... but he was not entirely out of action yet. In March 1996 the Miami Herald revealed that Pardo, now christened the "Death Row Romeo," had been placing personal ads in tabloid newspapers, attracting lonely female pen pals who had malled him thousands of dollars in return for hollow promises of love. The Herald reported that Manny had once accumulated some $3,530 in his prison canteen account, most of it sent to him by women, but prison officials declared that he had broken no rules, "although he may have broken severas hearts." The lure was an ad that painted Manny in a near-heroic light. It read: FLA. 116-156 CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE INMATE. Ex-cop Vietnam vet. Took law into own hands and ended up on Death Row. He needs letters from sensitive-understanding female, for real-honest relationship. One who responded was Barbara Ford, a 46-year-old cleaning woman from Findlay, Ohio. Three weeks after she answered Pardo's ad, Ford received a letter from Manny, along with severas news clips describing his police career in a favorable light. The letter told her, "l want one special lady in my life. 1 don't play emotional games cause 1 hate emotional games. I also hate liars and users." From the beginning, Pardo's correspondencealways addressed to "the love of my life"-swiftly degenerated into a litany of complaints, invariably closing with mention of his need for "a few bucks a week to buy personal items like stamps, paper, shampoo, etc." One note describes a tearful prison visit from his daughter, quoting her as saying, "Daddy, when I'm older and able to work, I will buy you a radio so you can listen to music and I will send you money from my weekly check so you can buy coffee, shampoo and your other needs." In the meantime, Barbara Ford was happy to take up the slack, sending Pardo $430 from her yearly income of $7,500. Another "love of his life," mailing cash at the same time, was 54-year-old Betty lhem from Oklahoma who began corresponding with Pardo 10 months before he hooked Barbara Ford. By the time Ford entered the picture, Pardo and lhem were addressing each other as husband and wife, Betty collectine 275 letters from her incarcerated lover, sending him $1,200 over time from the salary she earned as a part-time WalMart employee. The correspondence was finally too much for Pardo, who tripped himself up with a clumsy mistake. On October 12, 1995, Betty lhem received a letter meant for Barbara Ford. lt read: My Dearest Barb, Hi. I hope this letter finds you in the best of health. You are all I want and need. I am not a dream and if my love intereses you, well then it's yours. I love you, Manny Predictably furious, t hem sent the letter on to Ford, with her own explanatory note written on the back. Eight days later, Ford wrote to Pardo, addressing him as "Thief of Hearts" and enclosing photocopies of the money orders she had previously sent him. You received the money under false Cretenses (she wrote) which makes you a fake and not the 'Man of Honor' which you professed to be, Needless to say, you are a liar and a hypocrite-the very things you said you haced in people. If you choose not to return the money, I will be your very worst nightmare and expose you for the hypocrite you truly are. I'm not a very patient person so I hope you respond to my request immediately. The choice is yours. Pardo replied on November 2, 1995, with all the arrogance of a condemned prisoner who knows he is effectively untouchable. Barb, I hope you are in good health. I am reading your letter and am amazed you think your threats would affect me at all! You and your troubled ¡¡fe will also be exposed. In addition, my attorney will have a field day with you and that will be your nightmare lawsuit for slander, etc. You are a bitter and vindictive woman. God bless, Manny Ford took her case to Florida governor Lawton Chiles on November 18, asking, "What kind of people are you in Florida? You have a guy on Death RoW, and he still hurts people." Her reply carne from judy Belcher at the Florida Department of Corrections on November 29, advising Ford that no law forbade prisoners from placing personal ads or soliciting gifts from gullible pen pals. "On the contrary," Belcher wrote, "Florida Statutes have ruled ¡t ¡Ilegal to deny inmates that privilege because doing so would deny inmates access to the outside world. Many inmates, both male and female, have accumulated considerable amounts of money this way. They are convicts and some are experts at 'conning' honest people out of their hard earned dollars. Often, when we advise a person that an inmate is not being honest, the person will still choose to believe the inmate." With that grudging seal of approval, Manny Pardo was free to pursue his career as a death-row swindler. Only the final, inevitable date with "Old Sparky" will curtall his correspondence with gullible women, and no final execution date has been set at this writing. With others who have killed repeatedly across the Sunshine State, Pardo takes his ease with pen in hand and plays the waiting game. Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans PARDO, Jr., Manuel (W/M) AKA: Manny DC# 111983

DOB: 09/24/56 Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case# 86-12910-A

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Phillip W. Knight

Trial Attorney: Ronald S. Guralnick – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Calianne P. Lanz – Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Leor Veleanu – CCRC-S Date of Offense: 01/22/86 – 04/29/86 Date of Sentence: 04/20/88 Circumstances of the Offense: Manuel Pardo, a former police officer, was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder, with an additional count in CC# 86-1417-A. Pardo admitted he intentionally killed all nine of the victims because he believed them all to be drug dealers who “have no right to live.” When Rolando Garcia, his known codefendant, was shown pictures of the victims during interrogation he stated, “We took care of all these people.” The State presented the case that Pardo and Garcia were drug dealers and were eliminating the competition. Both Pardo and Garcia worked for Ramon Alvero, a drug dealer. The body of Daisy Ricard, Ramon Alvero’s girlfriend, was found on 04/23/86, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Her body was found in a wooded area of Hialeah. She had been shot in the head by two different .22 caliber pistols and was missing a shoe. A casing and her watch were found near her body. Pardo’s fingerprints were found on the watch. On the morning of 04/24/86, Alvero’s body was found in the trunk of a car approximately one mile away from where Daisy’s body was found. Ricard’s matching shoe and two other .22 caliber casings were also found in the trunk of the car. Alvero was shot with the same two guns that Ricard was shot with. The night of 04/26/86, both Garcia and Pardo flew to New York City (NYC). They told the doctors at a hospital in NYC that Pardo had been shot in the foot while he was visiting NYC. The bullet that the doctors removed from Pardo’s foot matched those taken from the bodies of Ricard and Alvero. A search warrant was then obtained for Pardo’s apartment. A casing matching the casing from Alvero’s car was found in Pardo’s apartment. A calendar book linking seven other unsolved homicides to was also found in Pardo’s apartment. Pardo made entries into the book on the dates of each homicide, in addition to taping newspaper clippings about the homicides in the book. Throughout Pardo’s calendar book, numerical counting appeared that corresponded to the number of the murder victims. The victims included Mario Amador, Roberto Alfonso, Luis Robledo, Ulpiano Ledo, Sara Musa, and Fara Quintero. Codefendant Information: Rolando Garcia (DC# 115751 ) Garcia was arrested on 05/23/86 and charges with 24 counts: eight counts of first-degree murder and 16 related offenses (CC# 86-12910). Garcia had two mistrials, after which he petitioned to sever the cases. The court severed the five counts related to the Musa/ Quintero murders and kept the remaining 19 counts together for trial. The jury convicted Garcia for the Amador, Alfonso, Alvaro, and Ricard murders, but voted to acquit on all counts directly related to the murders of Robledo and Ledo. The jury recommended death for three of the four convictions of first-degree murder and life for the remaining count. The Court imposed four death sentences. Garcia is currently engaging in the appeals process in regarding to his death sentences. Trial Summary: 01/11/86 Indicted as follows: Count I: First-Degree Murder (Mario Amador)

Count II: First-Degree Murder (Roberto Alfonso)

Count III: Robbery

Count IV: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count V: First-Degree Murder (Luis Robledo)

Count VI: First-Degree Murder (Ulpiano Ledo)

Count VII: Robbery

Count VIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count IX: First-Degree Murder (Sara Musa)

Count X: First-Degree Murder (Fara Quintero)

Count XI: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count XII: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XIII: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card

Count XIV: Grand Theft Second Degree

Count XV: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XVI: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card

Count XVII: Grand Theft Second Degree

Count XVIII: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XIX: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card 03/11/86 The indictment was amended: Count XI: Robbery

Count XII: Robbery

Count XIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count XIV: First-Degree Murder (Ramon Alvero)

Count XV: First-Degree Murder (Daisy Ricard)

Count XVI: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count XVII: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XVIII: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card

Count XIX: Grand Theft Second Degree

Count XX: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XXI: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card

Count XXII: Grand Theft Second Degree

Count XXIII: Forgery – Credit Card

Count XXIV: Uttering a Forged Instrument – Credit Card 03/11/87 Defendant pled not guilty. 04/15/88 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment Count I: First-Degree Murder (Mario Amador)

Count II: First-Degree Murder (Roberto Alfonso)

Count III: Robbery

Count IV: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm while Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count V: First-Degree Murder (Luis Robledo)

Count VI: First-Degree Murder (Ulpiano Ledo)

Count VII: Robbery

Count VIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count IX: First-Degree Murder (Sara Musa)

Count X: First-Degree Murder (Fara Quintero)

Count XI: Robbery

Count XII: Robbery

Count XIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

Count XIV: First-Degree Murder (Ramon Alvero)

Count XV: First-Degree Murder (Daisy Ricard)

Count XVI: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense 04/20/88 Jury recommended death by the following votes: Count I: First-Degree Murder (Mario Amador) – 8-4

Count II: First-Degree Murder (Roberto Alfonso) – 8-4

Count V: First-Degree Murder (Luis Robledo) – 9-3

Count VI: First-Degree Murder (Ulpiano Ledo) – 9-3

Count IX: First-Degree Murder (Sara Musa) – 9-3

Count X: First-Degree Murder (Fara Quintero) – 10-2

Count XIV: First-Degree Murder (Ramon Alvero) – 10-2

Count XV: First-Degree Murder (Daisy Ricard) – 10-2 04/20/88 The defendant was sentenced as follows: Count I: First-Degree Murder (Mario Amador) – Death

Count II: First-Degree Murder (Roberto Alfonso) – Death

Count III: Robbery – 15 years

Count IV: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense – 15 years

Count V: First-Degree Murder (Luis Robledo) – Death

Count VI: First-Degree Murder (Ulpiano Ledo) – Death

Count VII: Robbery – 15 years

Count VIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense – 15 years

Count IX: First-Degree Murder (Sara Musa) – Death

Count X: First-Degree Murder (Fara Quintero) – Death

Count XI: Robbery – 15 years

Count XII: Robbery – 15 years

Count XIII: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense – 15 years

Count XIV: First-Degree Murder (Ramon Alvero) – Death

Count XV: First-Degree Murder (Daisy Ricard) – Death

Count XVI: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense – 15 years Counts 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16 – to run concurrently with each other 04/21/88 The defendant’s sentence was amended in the following manner: Counts 3, 7, 11, and 12 - three-year mandatory minimum to run concurrently to each other. Counts 4, 8, 13, and 16 – the Court suspended entry of sentence. Appeal Summary: Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 72,463 - 563 So. 2d 77

05/13/88 Appeal filed

05/31/90 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence

07/27/90 Rehearing denied

08/27/90 Mandate issued United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 90-7295

500 U.S. 928

10/26/90 Petition filed

05/13/91 Petition denied State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 86-12910-A & 86-14719

05/26/92 Motion filed

06/25/01 Amended motion filed

08/26/03 Motion denied Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 03-1966

941 So.2d 1057

11/10/03 Appeal filed

06/29/06 The FSC affirmed the trial court’s denial of Pardo’s 3.850 Motion

10/19/06 Motion for rehearing denied (this case only)

11/06/06 Mandate issued Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 04-2244

941 So.2d 1057

11/22/04 Petition filed.

06/29/06 Petition denied.

11/06/06 Mandate issued. United States District Court (Southern District) – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 07-cv-22867

11/02/07 Petition filed.

04/23/08 Petition denied.

05/07/08 Motion to alter judgment filed.

06/10/08 Motion denied.

07/08/08 Motion for Certificate of Appealability filed.

07/09/08 Certificate of Appealability denied. United States Court of Appeals – Habeas Appeal

USCA# 08-14053

(Pending)

09/29/08 Appeal filed. Factors Contributing to the Delay in the Imposition of the Sentence: The original 3.850 motion was pending in the Circuit Court for ten years due to public records issues. Case Information: Pardo filed a Direct Appeal to the Florida Supreme on 05/13/88. Pardo raised five issues on appeal, two of which pertained to his competency to stand trial and his sanity at the time of the crimes. The Court determined that none of the issues raised by Pardo on Direct Appeal had merit. The state filed a cross-appeal on two issues. The first being the trial court’s refusal to apply the aggravating factor of a prior conviction for a capital felony to the final four murders and the second that the trial court erred in finding the statutory mitigating circumstances that Pardo had no significant prior criminal history. The Court found a mistake of the law for the trial court to view the crimes as one lengthy incident, instead viewing them as distinct episodes. The Court affirmed the convictions and the sentence of death on 05/31/90. The rehearing was denied on 07/27/90 and the mandate was issued on 08/27/90. Pardo filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Supreme Court on 10/26/90. The petition was denied on 05/13/91. On 05/26/92, Pardo filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court. According to Sandra Jaquard, the Assistant Attorney General, the public records were unavailable until 1997 because Rolando Garcia’s, Pardo’s codefendant, case was remanded for a new trial. The records became available during 1997, after which public record disputes ensued. The amended motion was filed on 06/25/01. The Motion was denied on 08/26/03. Pardo filed a 3.850 Appeal to the Florida Supreme Court on 11/10/03. Pardo appeals and raised the following four issues: (1) the trial court’s denial, without an evidentiary hearing, of his claims regarding inadequate expert mental health evaluations; (2) the denial, without an evidentiary hearing, of the claim that trial counsel was ineffective in waiving severance of counts; (3) the Brady issue; and (4) the denial of his ineffective assistance claim regarding failure to seek severance of counts. The Court found no reversible error in the trial court’s denial of Pardo’s 3.850 Motion. On 06/29/06, the Court affirmed the trial court’s denial of Pardo’s 3.850 Motion. On 10/19/06, the Motion for a Rehearing was denied (this case only). On 11/06/0, the mandate was issued. Pardo filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the Florida Supreme Court on 11/22/04. Pardo asserted that counsel was ineffective in failing to raise the following main issues in his Direct Appeal: (1) the trial court’s error in precluding cross-examination of Ribera on prior crimes he admitted committing but was not charged with; and (2) the trial court’s error in its rulings on several evidentiary issues preserved by trial counsel. Having found no merit on these issues, raised by Pardo, the Court denied the Habeas Petition on 06/29/06. On 11/06/0, the mandate was issued. Pardo filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the United States District Court on 11/02/07. This petition was denied on 04/23/08. On 05/07/08, Pardo filed a Motion to Alter Judgment which was denied on 06/10/08. On 07/08/08, Pardo filed a Motion for Certificate of Appealability in the United States District Court, which was denied on 07/09/08. On 09/29/08, Pardo filed a Habeas appeal in the United States Court of Appeals. This appeal is currently pending. Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case# 86-14719-A

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Phillip W. Knight

Trial Attorney: Ronald S. Guralnick – Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Calianne P. Lanz – Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Leor Veleanu – CCRC-S

Date of Offense: 01/28/86

Date of Sentence: 04/20/88 Circumstances of the Offense: Manuel Pardo, a former police officer, was convicted of eight counts of first-degree murder in case number 86-12910-A, with an additional count in the current case. Pardo admitted he intentionally killed all nine of the victims because he believed them all to be drug dealers who “have no right to live.” When Rolando Garcia, his known codefendant, was shown pictures of the victims during interrogation he stated, “we took care of all these people.” The State presented the case that Pardo and Garcia were drug dealers and were eliminating the competition. On 02/28/86, between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., the body of Michael Millot was discovered in the railroad section of Miramar, Florida. The case was turned over to the Broward County Sheriff’s Department, which turned it over to the Dade County Sheriff’s Department. Both Garcia and Pardo told a witness that they believed the victim to be a federal agent or informant. Garcia believed that the victim was setting him up for an arrest. A witness stated that Pardo told him that the victim was killed in a motor vehicle owned by Garcia’s wife. The vehicle was searched and evidence related to the crime was recovered. Codefendant Information: Rolando Garcia (DC# 115751) Rolando Garcia was arrested on 05/23/86 and charged with 24 counts: eight counts of first-degree murder and 16 related offenses (CC# 86-12910). Garcia had two mistrials, after which he petitioned to sever the cases. The court severed the five counts related to the Musa/Quintero murders and kept the remaining 19 counts together for trial. The jury convicted Garcia for the Amador, Alfonso, Alvaro, and Ricard murders, but voted to acquit on all counts directly related to the murders of Robledo and Ledo. The jury recommended death for three of the four convictions of first-degree murder and life for the remaining count. The Court imposed four death sentences. Garcia is currently engaging in the appeals process in regard to his death sentences. Trial Summary: 06/11/86 Indicted as follows:

Count I: First-Degree Murder

Count II: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense

06/13/86 Defendant pled not guilty.

05/15/88 Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

04/20/88 Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4

04/20/88 Sentenced as follows:

Count I: First-Degree Murder – Death

Count II: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm While Engaged in a Criminal Offense – 15 years Appeal Summary: Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 72,463

563 So. 2d 77

05/13/88 Appeal filed

05/31/90 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence

07/27/90 Rehearing denied

08/27/90 Mandate issued United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 90-7295

500 U.S. 928

10/26/90 Petition filed

05/13/91 Petition denied State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 86-12910-A & 86-14719

05/26/92 Motion filed

06/25/01 Amended motion filed

08/26/03 Motion denied Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 03-1966

941 So.2d 1057

11/10/03 Appeal filed

06/29/06 The FSC affirmed the trial court’s denial of Pardo’s 3.850 Motion

10/19/06 Motion for rehearing denied (this case only)

11/06/06 Mandate issued Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 04-2244

941 So.2d 1057

11/22/04 Petition filed

06/29/06 Petition denied

11/06/06 Mandate issued United States District Court (Southern District) – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 07-cv-22867

11/02/07 Petition filed.

04/23/08 Petition denied.

05/07/08 Motion to alter judgment filed.

06/10/08 Motion denied.

07/08/08 Motion for Certificate of Appealability filed.

07/09/08 Certificate of Appealability denied. United States Court of Appeals – Habeas Appeal

USCA# 08-14053

09/29/08 Appeal filed.

11/10/09 USCA affirmed the denial of petition. United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC #09-10099 (Pending)

04/05/10 Petition filed FloridaCapitalCases.state.fl.us Pardo v. State , 563 So.2d 77 (Fla. 1990). (Direct Appeal) Defendant was convicted in the Circuit Court, Dade County, Phillip W. Knight, J., of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to death. Defendant appealed. The Supreme Court held that: (1) State presented competent evidence that jury could have accepted as proof of defendant's sanity; (2) prosecutor's suggestion that defendant was trying to “escape” justice was not attempt to attack validity of insanity defense and did not require mistrial; and (3) death sentence was appropriate penalty. Affirmed. PER CURIAM. Manuel Pardo, Jr. appeals from a death sentence imposed after a jury found him guilty of, inter alia, nine counts of first-degree murder. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla. Const. Pardo and a codefendant were indicted for the nine murders, which occurred in five separate episodes between January and April of 1986. After the defendants' trials were severed, Pardo went to trial on all nine counts. Against the advice of counsel, Pardo, a former police officer, took the stand and admitted that he intentionally killed all nine victims. He said he should avoid culpability, however, because he believed all the victims to be drug dealers, who “have no right to live.” FN1 The jury found Pardo guilty and recommended the death penalty in each case, by votes ranging from eight-to-four to ten-to-two.FN2 FN1. The state's theory was that some, though not all, of the victims were drug dealers but that Pardo was also a drug dealer and that his motive was robbery. The state argued that one victim was killed because he was a confidential informant for federal authorities, and that two women were killed because they had taken money from Pardo and his accomplice to buy a video cassette recorder, but had not done so. FN2. The jury also found Pardo guilty of assorted lesser crimes including robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The trial judge found a total of three aggravating circumstances but found that only one of them applied to all the killings: that each was done in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without a moral or legal justification. The court found two other aggravating factors applicable to individual murders. The judge found that the purported drug informant was killed to hinder or disrupt the exercise of a governmental function and that another killing was committed for pecuniary gain. The court specifically rejected the state's argument that the final four episodes of killing could qualify as prior capital felonies under section 921.141(5)(b), Florida Statutes (1987). As to mitigation, the court found that Pardo had no prior significant criminal history (section 921.141(6)(a), Florida Statutes (1987)), and was under an extreme mental or emotional disturbance (section 921.141(6)(b), Florida Statutes (1987)). The judge also said he considered some nonstatutory mitigation, including Pardo's military service, the fact that he had once saved the life of a child, and that he had the love and affection of his family. After weighing the aggravating and mitigating factors, the court imposed the death penalty. Pardo raises five issues on appeal, none of which has merit. First, he argues that the trial court erred in not ordering a hearing on his competency to stand trial. Under the facts of this case, there was no requirement to have done so. When trial counsel requested that experts be appointed to examine Pardo and determine his sanity at the time of each episode, the court asked if counsel wanted experts also appointed to determine competency and offered to hold a hearing on the subject. Counsel stipulated that his client was competent and repeated that he only wanted a determination of sanity. The court-appointed experts examined Pardo, found him to have been sane, and also determined that he was competent to stand trial. Thus, not only was there no reason for the court to have ordered a competency hearing, but also there was no prejudice to Pardo, as the hearing would not have benefitted him. Second, Pardo argues that the state did not carry its burden of proving that he was sane when the offenses were committed. The defense put on an expert witness who testified that Pardo was psychotic, but stated that he did know that murder was illegal and wrong. The state presented three witnesses who testified that Pardo met the Florida standard for sanity. The state argues that Pardo did not present sufficient evidence to raise an issue of sanity. We need not resolve that issue, however, because the state presented competent, substantial evidence that the jury could have accepted as proof of sanity. Thus, there is no merit to the second argument. Third, Pardo argues that the trial court should have granted a motion for mistrial when the prosecutor twice said during her closing argument that Pardo was trying to “escape” justice or criminal liability. Defense objections to both comments were sustained and the jury was instructed not to consider the arguments of counsel to be evidence and the prosecutor was admonished not to use the word “escape.” Pardo characterizes these remarks as attempts to attack the validity of the insanity defense, which we found reversible error in Garron v. State, 528 So.2d 353 (Fla.1988). The circumstances of the instant case are entirely different from Garron, in which the prosecutor repeatedly pointed to the insanity defense as a devious legal ploy. The remarks in this case were extremely brief, and the prosecutor drew no logical connection between Pardo's attempts to “escape” guilt and the validity of the insanity defense itself. FN3 We see no error in the court's refusal to grant a mistrial. FN3. This case also is materially different from Rosso v. State, 505 So.2d 611 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987), in which the district court reversed a murder conviction because the prosecutor made comments that could easily be construed as a determined attack on the insanity defense. The prosecutor said: “I have 10 minutes to talk to you about the defense of insanity. The defense by which a person comes into Court and says, ‘I murdered a 15 year old girl and almost murdered my best friend and blew her eye away, and I get to walk. I get to get off. I am not legally guilty. I am not responsible and you cannot hold me responsible.’ ” Id. at 612. Fourth, Pardo argues that none of the aggravating circumstances were proven. We disagree. The two referring to specific killings were supported in the record by a witness who testified that Pardo told him one victim was killed because he was an informer and the other was killed as part of a drug “rip-off.” Pardo's own testimony, as well as other abundant evidence in the record, shows that the killings were, in effect, executions, which we have consistently held demonstrates the kind of heightened premeditation that will support a finding that the killings were cold, calculated, or premeditated. See, e.g., Rogers v. State, 511 So.2d 526 (Fla.1987), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 1020, 108 S.Ct. 733, 98 L.Ed.2d 681 (1988). We find no error in the court's having found these three aggravating circumstances. Finally, Pardo argues that the trial court should have found the statutory mitigating circumstance applying to defendants who cannot appreciate the criminality of their conduct or are seriously impaired in their ability to conform their conduct to the requirements of the law. As proof, the trial judge was supposed to have focused on Pardo's testimony that he did not consider drug dealers people and that killing them was justified. However, there was no testimony that Pardo's ability to conform his conduct was impaired or that he did not know that killing these victims was wrong. The court did not have to accept Pardo's self-serving statements regarding his motives. As authorized by Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.140, the state filed a cross-appeal on two issues. The first concerns the trial court's refusal to apply the aggravating factor of a prior conviction for a capital felony to the final four murder episodes. The judge stated: It is the view of this Court that the Legislature intended this aggravating factor to refer to offenses other than the ones for which he is being accused and tried. Thus, notwithstanding the fact that the Defendant has been convicted of several offenses in this trial, same is not an aggravating factor. This is not a correct statement of the law. We have consistently held that the contemporaneous conviction of a violent felony may qualify as an aggravating circumstance, so long as the two crimes involved multiple victims or separate episodes. Wasko v. State, 505 So.2d 1314 (Fla.1987). Under similar circumstances in Echols v. State, 484 So.2d 568, 576-577 (Fla.1985), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 871, 107 S.Ct. 241, 93 L.Ed.2d 166 (1986), this Court stated: We find that all three aggravating factors are established by the evidence beyond every reasonable doubt. We add that the record shows also as a fourth aggravating factor that the appellant had been previously convicted of robbery with a firearm and armed burglary with an assault.... We cannot determine whether the trial judge overlooked this fourth aggravating factor or was uncertain as to whether convictions for crimes committed concurrently with the capital crime could be used in aggravation. However, we note its presence in accordance with our responsibility to review the entire record in death penalty cases and the well-established appellate rule that all evidence and matters appearing in the record should be considered which support the trial court's decision. (Citations omitted.) Similarly, the state argues that the trial court erred in finding the statutory mitigating circumstance that Pardo had no prior significant criminal history. Except with respect to the two killings which occurred in the first episode, this, too, was a mistake of law. Ordinarily, it is within the trial court's discretion to decide whether a mitigating circumstance is proven. Scull v. State, 533 So.2d 1137 (Fla.1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1037, 109 S.Ct. 1937, 104 L.Ed.2d 408 (1989); Teffeteller v. State, 439 So.2d 840 (Fla.1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1074, 104 S.Ct. 1430, 79 L.Ed.2d 754 (1984). This does not mean, however, that we are bound to accept the trial court's findings when, as here, they are based on misconstruction of undisputed facts and a misapprehension of law. The trial court apparently viewed Pardo's crimes as one lengthy criminal incident. That analysis is flawed, in that each of the episodes of killing was singular, discrete, and only tenuously related, if at all, to the other episodes. The first two murders took place on January 22, 1986, and purportedly involved a drug “rip-off.” The next episode occurred January 28; the victim was the man who had made Pardo's silencer and who supposedly was an informant. The third episode, on February 27, was another probable drug rip-off. The fourth, on April 22, involved two women acquaintances who had angered Pardo and his accomplice. The final one was on April 23, the victims being an alleged drug dealer (Pardo's alleged boss) and his woman companion. Contemporaneous criminal conduct cannot be considered as prior criminal activity. Scull. However, it would be absurd to say that Pardo, who had already murdered two people, had no significant history of prior criminal activity when he committed the last seven murders. Only the criminal activity, not the convictions for that activity, must occur prior to the murders for which the defendant is being sentenced. Perry v. State, 522 So.2d 817 (Fla.1988). In sum, there were four proven aggravating circumstances, one proven statutory mitigating circumstance, and several nonstatutory mitigating circumstances involving the defendant's character. While no proportionality argument has been raised, we have compared the facts of this case to those of others where the death penalty has been imposed and find that the sentence of death is the appropriate penalty for these nine cold-blooded killings. We affirm the judgments of guilt for all eighteen counts, the sentence of death, and the fifteen-year prison term for the noncapital crimes. It is so ordered. EHRLICH, C.J., and OVERTON, McDONALD, SHAW, BARKETT, GRIMES and KOGAN, JJ., concur. Pardo v. State , 941 So.2d 1057 (Fla. 2006). (PCR) Background: Following affirmance of his conviction of nine counts of first-degree murder and sentence of death on direct appeal, 563 So.2d 77, defendant filed motion for postconviction relief. The Circuit Court, Dade County, Stanford Blake, J., denied motion. Defendant appealed and filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Holdings: The Supreme Court held that: (1) mental health evaluations of indigent defendant were not so deficient that he was denied his due process right to competent expert assistance; (2) defendant was not denied effective assistance; and (3) defendant was not prejudiced by state's failure to disclose videotapes of police interview with state witness, who was confidential source identified in affidavit filed with application for a warrant to search defendant's residence, and thus state's failure to disclose did not constitute Brady violation. Order denying postconviction relief affirmed; petition for writ of habeas corpus denied. PER CURIAM. Manuel Pardo, Jr., who is under a sentence of death, appeals the denial of a motion for postconviction relief and petitions for a writ of habeas corpus. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), (9), Fla. Const. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the denial of postconviction relief and deny Pardo's habeas petition. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY This is Pardo's first postconviction appeal in a case in which he was convicted of nine murders committed in five separate episodes between January and April of 1986. Pardo took the witness stand and admitted all of the killings. The facts below are taken partly from this Court's opinion in Pardo's direct appeal, Pardo v. State, 563 So.2d 77 (Fla.1990), and partly from the records in the direct appeal and the postconviction proceedings. Pardo and a codefendant, Garcia, were charged with the murders. The trial court severed the defendants' trials after a mistrial, and each defendant was tried separately. Pardo's counsel withdrew a request for severance that had been granted on several counts. Pardo's trial encompassed nine counts of first-degree murder as well as charges for related robbery and firearm offenses. Id. at 78. Before trial, Pardo's counsel had him examined by a clinical psychologist, Dr. Syvil Marquit, both for sanity at the time of the murders and competence to stand trial. Relying on Dr. Marquit's findings, trial counsel pursued a defense of insanity. Counsel stipulated that Pardo, a former police officer with college degrees in criminology and business management, was competent to stand trial. Three court-appointed experts, one a clinical psychologist and the other two forensic psychiatrists, evaluated Pardo based on the insanity defense. These witnesses, all of whom had substantial experience in conducting mental evaluations of criminal defendants, also evaluated Pardo for competence to stand trial. The three court-appointed experts testified at trial that Pardo was both competent to stand trial and legally sane. The defense expert, Dr. Marquit, testified that Pardo was competent to stand trial but legally insane. Pardo testified in the guilt phase of the trial against the advice of counsel. Pardo insisted that he was sane and acknowledged that he killed all nine victims. He testified that all nine victims were drug dealers who had no right to live. In cross-examination of Pardo and argument to the jury, the State asserted that Pardo himself was involved in drug trafficking and that his motive for at least some of the murders was to take the victims' property or money. The State argued further that not all the victims were drug dealers; that one, Michael Millot, was killed because he was a confidential informant, and two, Sara Musa and Fara Quintero, were killed because they took money from Pardo to buy a videocassette recorder but failed to do so. The jury found Pardo guilty of nine counts of first-degree murder and recommended the death penalty by votes ranging from eight-to-four to ten-to-two. The trial court found one aggravating circumstance as to each murder: that it was committed in a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner without moral or legal justification. The court also found a second aggravating circumstance as to two murders. The court found that the murder of purported drug informant Millot was for the purpose of hindering or disrupting the exercise of a government function, and that the murder of Mario Amador was for pecuniary gain. The trial court found the statutory mitigating factors that Pardo had no significant criminal history and committed the killings while under an extreme mental or emotional disturbance. The sentencing order also reflects that the trial court considered as nonstatutory mitigation that Pardo had served in the military, that he had once saved a child's life, and that he had his family's love and affection. The trial court sentenced Pardo to death on each of the nine murder counts. Pardo raised five issues on direct appeal: (1) the trial court erred in not ordering a competency hearing; (2) the State did not carry its burden of proving he was sane when he committed the crimes; (3) prosecutorial misconduct in closing argument necessitated a mistrial; (4) none of the aggravating circumstances was proved; and (5) the trial court erred in declining to find the statutory mitigator that Pardo could not appreciate the criminality of his conduct or was seriously impaired in his ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. This Court rejected each of Pardo's arguments. Id. at 79–80. In the State's cross-appeal, we determined that the trial court erred as to the seven murders in the final four episodes when it rejected the aggravating factor of prior capital felony conviction and found the statutory mitigator of no significant history of prior criminal activity. Id. at 80–81. Thus, Pardo's death sentences were supported by three aggravating circumstances as to one murder, two aggravating circumstances as to seven murders, and one aggravating circumstance as to one murder, weighed against one statutory mitigating circumstance and several nonstatutory mitigating circumstances. This Court found Pardo's sentence to be constitutionally proportional, and affirmed both the convictions and death sentences. Id. at 81. The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari. Pardo v. Florida, 500 U.S. 928, 111 S.Ct. 2043, 114 L.Ed.2d 127 (1991). Pardo filed a motion to vacate his convictions and sentences, raising eleven issues.FN1 In a supplemental motion, Pardo raised three additional issues.FN2 The trial court granted an evidentiary hearing on three issues: (1) whether the State violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), in failing to provide defense counsel an eight-hour videotaped statement by Carlo Ribera, (2) whether Pardo's trial counsel had a conflict of interest, and (3) whether counsel was ineffective in failing to move to sever the counts of first-degree murder into separate trials. FN1. The issues raised in Pardo's 3.850 motion concerned (1) the trial court's denial of public records requests; (2) matters relating to trial that Pardo claims denied him an “adversarial testing,” specifically (a) an alleged conflict of interest by trial counsel, (b) the State's withholding of videotapes of a police interview with State witness Carlo Ribera, (c) trial counsel's failure to seek suppression of evidence from search warrants, (d) trial counsel's failure to seek severance of some of the first-degree murder counts, (e) trial counsel's introduction of evidence that Pardo identified with Adolph Hitler, collected Nazi memorabilia, and said he worshipped the devil, (f) undisclosed and newly discovered evidence concerning the lead detective in the case, (g) trial counsel's failure to adequately investigate and challenge Pardo's guilt on two of the murders, (h) trial counsel's failure to request a competency determination, (i) trial counsel's failure to request a change of venue, and (j) trial counsel's failure to investigate the underlying medical cause of Pardo's alleged insanity and incompetence; (3) Pardo's competence to stand trial; (4) the adequacy of evaluations by mental health professionals who examined Pardo regarding his insanity defense; (5) prohibitions on juror interviews; (6) the propriety of the state's closing argument and defense counsel's failure to object to it; (7) limitation of cross-examination of Carlo Ribera; (8) alleged error under Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320, 105 S.Ct. 2633, 86 L.Ed.2d 231 (1985); (9) various attacks on the constitutionality of the death sentences; (10) the adequacy of instructions on aggravating circumstances; and (11) alleged cumulative error. FN2. The supplement concerned (1) the constitutionality of the death sentences under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584, 122 S.Ct. 2428, 153 L.Ed.2d 556 (2002); (2) newly discovered evidence of Garcia's plea bargain on four murders after being acquitted of a fifth; and (3) nondisclosure of Garcia's plea agreement. Two witnesses testified during the two-day hearing: Richard Seres, a film producer, and Ronald Guralnick, Pardo's trial counsel. Seres' testimony concerned a conflict of interest claim arising from Guralnick's contacts with Seres, which Pardo does not raise in this appeal. In a written order issued after the evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied Pardo's motion for postconviction relief on all grounds. Pardo appeals, raising these issues: (1) the trial court's denial, without an evidentiary hearing, of his claims regarding inadequate expert mental health evaluations; (2) the denial, without an evidentiary hearing, of the claim that trial counsel was ineffective in waiving severance of counts; (3) the Brady issue; and (4) the denial of his ineffective assistance claim regarding failure to seek severance of counts.FN3 Pardo has also filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, raising claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel and denial of a proper direct appeal because of omissions in the record. FN3. Pardo also appeals the denial of his public records requests. Having carefully considered the arguments of the parties on this claim, we conclude that Pardo has not been denied his constitutional or statutory rights to public records, and affirm on this issue without further discussion. POSTCONVICTION APPEAL I. Pardo's Competence to Stand Trial Pardo asserts that the trial court erred in denying an evidentiary hearing on his claims that he was incompetent to stand trial, that the expert witnesses who found him competent conducted inadequate mental health evaluations, and that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to request a competency hearing or investigate the cause of Pardo's alleged insanity and incompetence. We agree with the trial court that Pardo's claims that he was incompetent to stand trial and that he received inadequate expert evaluations are procedurally barred. Pardo's assertion that he was tried while incompetent in violation of due process of law is merely a variant of his failed argument on direct appeal that the trial court should have ordered a competency hearing sua sponte. See generally Medina v. State, 573 So.2d 293, 295 (Fla.1990) ( “[I]t is inappropriate to use a different argument to relitigate the same issue.”). In rejecting this claim on direct appeal, we stated: The court-appointed experts examined Pardo, found him to have been sane, and also determined that he was competent to stand trial. Thus, not only was there no reason for the court to have ordered a competency hearing, but also there was no prejudice to Pardo, as the hearing would not have benefited him. Pardo, 563 So.2d at 79. Further, Pardo's assertion that the psychological evaluations we relied upon for this conclusion were performed incompetently could have been raised on direct appeal. See Rodriguez v. State, 919 So.2d 1252, 1267 (Fla.2005); Marshall v. State, 854 So.2d 1235, 1248 (Fla.2003). We reject Pardo's attempt to avoid the procedural bar by relying on the diagnosis of a thyroid and hormonal disorder that was made after he was sentenced but allegedly rendered him incompetent to stand trial. Like the performance of counsel, the competence of an expert's assistance should be evaluated from the perspective of the circumstances in which it was conducted, free of “the distorting effects of hindsight.” Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). From this perspective, the evaluations of Pardo were not so deficient that he was denied his due process right to competent expert assistance under Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985). Pardo's assertion that he was incompetent to stand trial is also the basis for two claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, both of which were summarily denied. First, Pardo asserts that counsel should have requested a competency hearing. In summarily rejecting this claim, the trial court again relied on this Court's determination on direct appeal that the trial court had no reason to hold a competency hearing and that the hearing, if held, would not have benefited Pardo. The record conclusively demonstrates that Pardo is not entitled to relief on this claim. As noted above, two forensic psychiatrists and two clinical psychologists concluded that Pardo was competent to stand trial. They explained their conclusions in terms consistent with the standards for competency set out in Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 402, 80 S.Ct. 788, 4 L.Ed.2d 824 (1960), and Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.211(a)(2): sufficient present ability to consult with counsel plus a rational and factual understanding of the pending proceedings. In the direct appeal, this Court recognized that in light of the experts' conclusions that Pardo was competent, there was no reason for the trial court to order a competency hearing. Pardo, 563 So.2d at 79. For the same reason, trial counsel acted well within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance in declining to request that the trial court make a competency determination. On this issue, this case is similar to Mason v. State, 489 So.2d 734 (Fla.1986). There, this Court remanded for an evidentiary hearing on whether evidence of the defendant's mental history discovered after trial would have changed the experts' conclusion that he was competent. However, we rejected Mason's related claim that counsel was ineffective in failing to request a competency hearing. We ruled that counsel had no duty to request a competency hearing after receiving reports from three psychiatrists finding the defendant competent. Id. at 735–36. Here, as in Mason, at the time of trial counsel “lacked any evidence indicating the need for such a procedure.” Id. at 736. The unanimous opinions of the mental health experts in this case left counsel no basis on which to seek a competency determination. Accordingly, we find neither deficient performance nor prejudice in counsel's decision not to seek a hearing on Pardo's competency. We thus affirm the trial court's denial of relief on this claim. Pardo further claims that counsel was ineffective in failing to alert the mental health experts to symptoms such as weight gain and hair loss that might have led them to diagnose Pardo's thyroid and hormonal disorder. In denying this claim, the trial court stated that “[i]f a medical doctor did not diagnose a physical disorder, it cannot be reasonably said that counsel was ineffective in failing to further investigate the cause of Defendant's insanity.” As the United States Supreme Court cautioned in Strickland, “[a] fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time.” 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052. From counsel's perspective at the time he was preparing to defend Pardo, and without the distorting effects of hindsight, an investigation into any physical cause of Pardo's possible incompetence would not have been warranted. The tests for both insanity and incompetence focus on a defendant's thought processes and mental function rather than on physical conditions that might affect a defendant's mental function. Patton v. State, 878 So.2d 368, 375 (Fla.2004) (stating test for insanity in Florida); Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.211(a) (stating test for competency to stand trial). Rule 3.211(b), which concerns recommended treatments of incompetent defendants, in subdivision (1) requires experts to report on “the mental illness or mental retardation causing the incompetence” but not on physical illness. Thus, counsel, like the four mental health experts who evaluated Pardo, appropriately focused not on symptoms indicating a physical illness but on Pardo's mental functioning—his comprehension and ability to reason. We distinguish Peede v. State, 748 So.2d 253 (Fla.1999), which involved a similar claim. In Peede, this Court reversed the summary denial of a postconviction motion asserting that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to assist a court-appointed psychiatrist and provide the psychiatrist important background information. Id. at 258–59. Peede alleged that the court-appointed expert was not provided hospital or medical records that were available and did not interview anyone familiar with the defendant's personal history. Id. at 258. The necessity for an evidentiary hearing rested largely on Peede's assertion that his “serious and preexisting mental illness” demonstrated by these records went undiscovered and could have affected the competency evaluation conducted by the court-appointed mental health expert. Id. at 259. In contrast, Pardo has not pointed to any existing medical records which, if shown to the mental health experts, would have changed their conclusions that Pardo was competent to stand trial. Instead, Pardo's claim rests on observations of physical symptoms which, as the trial court pointed out, did not indicate to a medical doctor a physical disorder bearing on Pardo's competency or sanity. Thus, Pardo's counsel did not render constitutionally deficient performance in failing to alert the experts to a condition for which physical symptoms first appeared while Pardo was detained pending trial, and that was not diagnosed until after Pardo was convicted and sentenced. We affirm the summary denial of relief on this claim. II. Trial Counsel's Failure to Present an Alibi for Two Murders Pardo asserted below that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to investigate and present an alibi for the murders of Sara Musa and Fara Quintero. Pardo claimed that his wife was the source of the alibi, “which could have demonstrated that Mr. Pardo was nowhere near the scene of the murders.” The motion contained no other details of the facts supporting the alibi. In denying the claim without an evidentiary hearing, the trial court noted that Pardo “does not allege what the alibi was or how the alibi could have changed the probability that he [would] be convicted.” The trial court also observed that even if Pardo's wife had provided an alibi, Pardo “cannot now show that a different result would have been reached or show he was prejudiced.” We affirm on both grounds relied on by the trial court. First, Pardo's claim was insufficiently pled. In Jacobs v. State, 880 So.2d 548 (Fla.2004), we concluded that the petitioner set out a facially sufficient claim because he “specifically identified the alibi witnesses, stated the substance of their exculpatory evidence, and averred that they were known to counsel.” Id. at 553. Here, the motion did not factually describe how Pardo's wife would have supported an alibi beyond stating that she would have demonstrated that he was “nowhere near the scene of the murders.” Thus, this claim was insufficiently pled. The trial court also concluded that Pardo did not show prejudice. We agree that the claimed alibi does not undermine judicial confidence in the convictions on the counts involving Musa and Quintero. In Jacobs we stated: [A] claim of ineffectiveness in failing to present important exculpatory evidence cannot be resolved on the basis of the mere existence of conflicting evidence in the record. Rather, the record evidence must conclusively rebut the claim if the claim is to be resolved without a hearing.... However, the mere existence of evidence of guilt is insufficient to conclusively rebut a claim of ineffectiveness in failing to present evidence of innocence in the form of known and available alibi witnesses. Id. at 555. In this case, compelling evidence established Pardo's guilt of the Musa and Quintero murders, capped by his own admission to the jury that he murdered the two women as well as the other seven victims. Thus, the record conclusively refutes any claim that Pardo was prejudiced by the absence of testimony by his wife that he was elsewhere when two of the nine murders in this case occurred. We therefore affirm the summary denial of relief on this claim. III. Brady Issue: Nondisclosure of Videotaped Interview of State Witness Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied Pardo's claim that the State's failure to disclose videotapes of a police interview with State witness Carlo Ribera required a new trial. The trial court concluded that the videotapes did not undermine confidence in Pardo's convictions and death sentences for several reasons. First, the defense investigation and three-day deposition of Ribera revealed ample evidence that he was a liar whose testimony should not be taken at face value. Second, defense counsel testified only that he might have used the videotapes to impeach Ribera, depending on the circumstances. Third, Pardo testified in the guilt phase that he committed each of the murders, negating any prejudice. Finally, the defense at trial was insanity, an affirmative defense that admits the acts alleged. We agree that although the State suppressed potentially favorable evidence in failing to disclose the videotapes, the record conclusively demonstrates that judicial confidence in the verdict is not undermined by the nondisclosure. To establish a Brady violation, a defendant must prove (1) that evidence favorable to the accused because it is exculpatory or impeaching, (2) was suppressed by the State, either willfully or inadvertently, (3) resulting in prejudice to the defense. Way v. State, 760 So.2d 903, 910 (Fla.2000). The determination whether a Brady violation has occurred is subject to independent appellate review. Id. at 913; Cardona v. State, 826 So.2d 968, 973 (Fla.2002). Prejudice under a Brady claim, like an ineffective assistance claim, is established if the nondisclosure undermines confidence in the conviction. Id. In this case, the State stipulated below that it failed to disclose to defense counsel the videotapes of the May 6, 1986, police interview of Ribera, establishing the second prong of Brady. The evidentiary hearing and trial court ruling centered on whether the videotapes were impeaching and whether they put the entire case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the convictions. Before we address Pardo's specific arguments on this issue, we distinguish this case from the case of Pardo's codefendant, in which we ruled that the nondisclosure of the Ribera videotapes required a new trial. See Garcia v. State, 816 So.2d 554 (Fla.2002). Pardo's trial testimony admitting the killings places the nondisclosure in a far less prejudicial light than in Garcia's case. In fact, the exclusion of Pardo's testimony provided a second basis for reversal of Garcia's convictions. Id. at 567. Other evidence also strongly implicated Pardo. The State introduced evidence that a projectile removed from Pardo's foot was fired from one of the two guns used to kill Ramon Alvero and Daisy Ricard. In addition, the State produced evidence that a spent casing from Pardo's closet was fired from the same gun as a casing found under Alvero's body. Also, blood and bullets in Pardo's car connected him to the murder of Millot. Finally, police found in Pardo's apartment a diary with Pardo's handwriting and newspaper clippings pointing to the murders. In contrast, little physical evidence linked Garcia to the murders. Id. at 563. Accordingly, the reversal in Garcia does not compel the same result here. Nonetheless, Pardo asserts that access to the videotapes of the eight-hour interview with Ribera would have altered the course of Pardo's trial in several ways, undermining confidence in the outcome. Pardo asserts that (1) defense counsel would have been able to successfully move to suppress the evidence acquired during execution of a search warrant at Pardo's home which relied upon Ribera's information for probable cause; (2) counsel could have impeached Ribera with greater success at trial, eliminating Pardo's motivation to testify and admit the killings; and (3) counsel could have better prepared for trial and adopted different strategies, perhaps forgoing the decision to rely on a defense of insanity. A. Suppression of Evidence Ribera was the confidential source identified in the affidavit filed with the application for a warrant to search Pardo's residence. Ribera's statements under polygraph examination and verification of some of the information he provided that was not released to the public were the primary sources of probable cause. Pardo claims that the material in the videotapes would have portrayed Ribera as so unreliable that trial counsel would have successfully moved to suppress the fruits of the search. Initially, we are skeptical of the claim that nondisclosure of material bearing on the reliability of a search warrant is impeachment material cognizable under Brady. Impeachment is an attack on the credibility of a witness. See § 90.608, Fla. Stat. (2005). The validity of an affidavit for a search warrant is determined not from witness testimony but from the four corners of the affidavit. Pagan v. State, 830 So.2d 792, 806 (Fla.2002). If the affidavit creates a substantial basis for a finding of probable cause on its face, a defendant seeking to suppress the fruits of the warrant must establish that the affidavit contains statements that were intentionally false or made with reckless disregard for the truth. Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 155–56, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978); Thorp v. State, 777 So.2d 385, 391 (Fla.2000). In the alternative, the defendant must demonstrate that the affidavit omits facts with intent to deceive or with reckless disregard for whether the information should have been revealed to the magistrate. Pagan, 830 So.2d at 807. If probable cause does not exist after excising such falsehoods or adding the material omitted, evidence acquired thereby must be suppressed. Thus, falsehoods and omissions from an affidavit used to obtain a search warrant can invalidate the initial probable cause determination, but they are not impeachment material in the sense of facts bearing on the credibility of a testifying witness. We need not decide whether the nondisclosure of evidence bearing on the validity of a search warrant is cognizable under Brady because the nondisclosure of the Ribera videotapes did not result in prejudice warranting a new trial. A determination of prejudice would require us to conclude first that trial counsel probably would have used the information in the videotapes to file a motion to suppress, second that the motion would have been granted and crucial evidence suppressed, and third that confidence in Pardo's convictions is undermined. On the record before us, we cannot reach this ultimate conclusion. Trial counsel Guralnick stated at the evidentiary hearing that he might have been able to use the videotapes to show that the police officer interviewing Ribera did not believe him and that some of Ribera's knowledge of the crimes came from media accounts of one of the murders. However, Guralnick did not review the videotapes before the evidentiary hearing and thus could not state that the videotapes would have led him to seek suppression of the fruits of the search warrant. Nor did postconviction counsel make a showing that the videotapes would or should have led trial counsel to seek suppression of the evidence obtained via the warrant. Pardo has not identified in the videotapes any falsehoods or omissions of the magnitude identified in Franks and Pagan. Thus he has not established that had the videotapes been disclosed, a motion to suppress probably would have been filed. Second, there is no basis to conclude that a motion to suppress based on the videotapes would have been granted. As stated above, none of the material in the search warrant affidavit meets the standard of materiality set out in Franks and Pagan—intentional or reckless falsehoods or omissions. Pardo cites no authority requiring that all of the information supplied by a source be excised because the source is generally unreliable, which would be contrary to the focus of the Franks test on specific falsehoods and omissions. Further, the affidavit did not rest solely on information provided by Ribera. There was also corroboration of some of the details attributed to Ribera. Cf. State v. Butler, 655 So.2d 1123, 1127 (Fla.1995) (noting that the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly relied on relevant corroborating facts known by the police in evaluating an informant's tip as the primary basis for probable cause). On the whole, we find no reasonable probability that had the videotapes been provided to defense counsel, evidence acquired in the search of Pardo's home would have been ruled inadmissible in Pardo's trial. The final consideration is whether, assuming disclosure of the Ribera videotapes would have led to suppression of the fruits of the search, the suppression would render Pardo's murder convictions and death sentences unreliable. This requires an assessment of the weight of both the evidence seized pursuant to the warrant and the other evidence introduced by the State. Evidence taken from Pardo's apartment pursuant to the search warrant and introduced at trial included a diary and newspaper clippings that tied him to many of the murders. However, the State also introduced ample evidence unrelated to either the search or the portions of Ribera's trial testimony that were uncorroborated. For example, a bullet removed from Pardo's foot matched projectiles used in the murders of Ramon Alvero and Daisy Ricard. Pardo's fingerprint was found on the wristwatch of victim Ricard, discovered next to her body. Further, the palm print of codefendant Garcia was on a pawn slip for jewelry belonging to victims Musa and Quintero, pawned the day after their murders. In addition, Garcia used credit cards belonging to several victims after their murders. Finally, much of the physical evidence corroborated Ribera's testimony as to what he had seen and heard. The primary reason exclusion of the items seized from Pardo's apartment would not undermine confidence in the outcome is that Pardo insisted on testifying that he personally killed all of the nine victims because they were drug dealers. At that point only Pardo's sanity remained in question, and the jury in returning guilty verdicts rejected the insanity defense. The assertion by postconviction counsel that Pardo would not have testified had the videotapes been disclosed and the evidence suppressed is unsupported speculation. Pardo's chief motivation in testifying was to claim credit for the vigilante killings and refute the State's suggestion through Ribera that Pardo was a drug dealer. Pardo's reason for testifying appears unrelated to the incriminating nature of the evidence seized in the search of his apartment. This aspect of Pardo's postconviction claim is addressed in greater detail below. B. Impeachment of Witness at Trial Ribera's trial testimony incriminated Pardo in all nine murders. Ribera testified that Pardo described how he had killed many of the victims and showed Ribera diary entries, newspaper clippings, and Polaroid photographs substantiating his claims. Ribera also testified that Garcia, Pardo's codefendant, told him how Pardo had killed victims Musa and Quintero. Postconviction counsel has identified a number of statements in the videotapes which trial counsel could have used to impeach Ribera. However, none of these statements, individually or collectively, undermine confidence in the outcome of the proceedings. Initially, as noted by the State, on close inspection several of Ribera's statements, on trivial as well as material facts, are not inconsistent with his trial testimony. Alleged inconsistencies about when Ribera was shown photographs of the murder scenes by Pardo, whether he was allowed in Pardo's home, and where he had seen credit cards belonging to the victims are not borne out by the record. Of greater significance, the videotaped statements are not inconsistent with Ribera's trial testimony that Garcia and Pardo played separate roles in their joint enterprise. In the police interview, Ribera described Pardo as the “killing machine” and Garcia as the brains of the drug dealing who, nonetheless, would not do anything without Pardo's approval. In his trial testimony, Ribera clearly identified Pardo as the one who killed the victims and Garcia as the one who depicted the killings as robberies of drug dealers. In sum, even without consideration of the additional evidence against Pardo, there are no inconsistencies in the videotapes of Ribera's police interview that put the case in such a different light as to undermine judicial confidence in the verdict. Nor, assuming trial counsel could expose the jury to evidence of coaching during the interview or indications that Ribera was suffering from a drug hangover, as Pardo alleges, would confidence be undermined. Ribera admitted during cross-examination that he had been a gun-toting drug dealer at the time of his interactions with Pardo and Garcia. The diary, newspaper clippings, and ballistics and serology evidence against Pardo, discussed above, buttress our conclusion that material in the videotapes does not undermine confidence in the verdicts. As trial counsel Guralnick testified during the evidentiary hearing, “[r]easonable doubt was certainly not viable in this particular case.” Pardo does not press a theory of innocence supported by the undisclosed impeachment material other than the general reasonable doubt theory rejected by trial counsel. As noted above, Pardo's jury confession also serves to distinguish this case from that of his codefendant Garcia on the effect of the nondisclosure of the Ribera videotapes. FN4 Pardo's in-court confession in his own trial negates any prejudice from the nondisclosure of the Ribera videotapes. FN4. Garcia's first set of four first-degree murder convictions was reversed because the offenses were erroneously consolidated for trial. Garcia v. State, 568 So.2d 896, 901 (Fla.1990). On remand, Garcia was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and again sentenced to death. We reversed on two grounds: the nondisclosure of the Ribera videotapes and the exclusion of Pardo's testimony taking sole responsibility for the murders in his trial, each resulting in harmful error. 816 So.2d at 560–67. The claim by postconviction counsel that Pardo would not have testified had Ribera been impeached with the videotapes is addressed below. C. Defense Preparation and Strategy Pardo argues that disclosure of the Ribera videotapes would have changed the defense's investigation and planning for the trial and enabled defense counsel to successfully discourage Pardo from testifying and admitting that he committed the murders. These assertions are highly speculative. Pardo has not established that, given the physical and testimonial evidence against him, the Ribera videotapes would have materially changed trial counsel's preparations or the course of the trial. Further, the claim of postconviction counsel that Pardo took the witness stand to rebut Ribera's testimony on Pardo's role in the killings is contrary to Pardo's own testimony. Pardo sharply challenged Ribera's testimony that Pardo benefited financially from the murders, but did not contest Ribera's testimony in general or his implication of Pardo in the nine murders in particular. Ribera testified that Pardo killed Amador and Alfonso “to rip them off and get the cocaine and sell it for money,” killed Robledo and Ledo “to rip them off for two or three kilos of cocaine,” and killed Musa and Quintero for $50 and “respect.” On cross-examination, the following exchange occurred: Q He [Pardo] was proud of killing these people, wasn't he? A He was making money. In his testimony, Pardo explained why he chose to testify, against his lawyer's advice: Q Why is it so important for you to have these ladies and gentlemen hear your version of the story? A Because what Carlo Ribera said was self-serving and is completely wrong and I want my opportunity to tell my side of the story. Q Mr. Pardo, both Mr. Waskman and Ms. Weintraub [the prosecutors] have tried to make special note that you killed these people because you were a drug dealer and that you were involved in drug trafficking. ... A I applaud the State Attorney's Office in the preparation of their case. It was flawless, it was beautiful with the minor exception of why I killed these people. At no time did anybody indicate I was a drug dealer. At no time in my life have I ever been a drug dealer.... ... Q Have you been involved in drug transactions with any of the victims in this case? A Not drug transactions to benefit myself, no. Q You admit to killing all of the nine people that they have set forth in this trial? A Yes, I do, of course I did. Q Mr. Pardo, why did you kill these people, and I don't mean one, I mean each and every one? Q I killed each and every one of these people because they were drug dealers. As stated above, Pardo maintained that he was not guilty of murder because he considered his victims to be drug dealers who had forfeited the right to live. He did not testify at the postconviction evidentiary hearing to support postconviction counsel's assertion that he would not have taken the witness stand at trial had Ribera been discredited through his statements in the police videotapes. Therefore, we find no reasonable probability that disclosure of the videotapes of the Ribera interview would have altered the investigation, preparation, or presentation of the defense's case, and certainly not to a level undermining confidence in the convictions. Accordingly, we affirm the denial of relief on this claim. IV. Waiver of Severance of Counts Pardo asserted below that trial counsel was ineffective in waiving a severance of the various murder, robbery, and weapons counts into two or more trials. Relying on the testimony of trial counsel during the evidentiary hearing, the trial court concluded that counsel acted reasonably when he opted to seek an acquittal on the defense of insanity in a single trial rather than attempt to win acquittal in each of a series of trials. In his appeal of the denial of relief on this claim, Pardo asserts that trial counsel's actual reason for forgoing severance was financial: counsel could not afford to represent Pardo in numerous trials on what he had been paid. In support of this contention, Pardo points to an unfiled motion to withdraw claiming financial hardship taken from counsel's files. Pardo also asserts that trial counsel did not testify that “[t]he jury would be more likely to believe an insanity defense, given the number of victims,” as the trial court found. The State responds that trial counsel's strategy was reasonable under the circumstances, that the trial court recognized at the time of trial that the strategy was sound, and that the defense expert who testified for Pardo at trial supported the view that trying the nine murder counts together buttressed the prospects of success on the insanity defense. “[S]trategic decisions do not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been considered and rejected and counsel's decision was reasonable under the norms of professional conduct.” Occhicone v. State, 768 So.2d 1037, 1048 (Fla.2000)