Personal Trainer Gets Death Sentence in Clearwater Double Homicide

Former personal trainer Richard T. Robards was sentenced to death Friday for the 2006 murders of Clearwater couple, Linda and Frank Deluca. Robards was convicted earlier this year. The jury recommended a death sentence by a 7-5 vote but a judge had to issue the final sentence, taking into consideration the jury’s advisory sentence.

Robards was previously the Delucas’ personal trainer. During that relationship, Robards learned that they kept large amounts of money in a safe at their home. Robards stabbed the Delucas, but was never able to open the safe.

At sentencing, the judge cited several aggravating factors that made the death penalty appropriate. One was that the killings were especially brutal. Robards stabbed both Delucas repeatedly, slitting both their throats and puncturing Frank Deluca’s lung. At least one of the victims had to watch the other being attacked.

Another aggravating factor was Robards’ motive, to perpetrate a robbery.

Mitigating factors were also cited by the judge. He noted that there was unfortunate family history, a history of traumatic injury and steroid use. The mitigating factors, however, were outweighed by the aggravating factors.

Florida’s death penalty statute requires the jury and the judge to consider possible aggravating and mitigating factors when determining the defendant’s sentence. Those “aggravators” and “mitigators” are outlined in the statute itself – and the prosecutors and defense attorneys argue the applicability of the factors according to the specific facts of the case.

Robards recently admitted his actions in a court hearing, stating that he had to “accept full responsibility for the two lives that I have taken. … I hope one day that the Deluca family will forgive me for what I have taken from them.”

It is likely that there will be a series of appeals taken from the conviction and death sentence.

See Also:

• Trainer Found Guilty of Murder of Clearwater Couple