Mr. Garcia was convicted of the murders of two elderly sisters in January 1983. The jury
voted 7-5 to recommend that he be sentenced to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of 86-
year-old Mabel Avery and 12-0 that he be sentenced to death for the fatal stabbing of 90-
year-old Julia Ballentine, who was also sexually assaulted. The trial court sentenced him
to death for both murders and this Court upheld the convictions and sentences. Mr.
Garcia filed a post-conviction appeal in circuit court; it was denied and this is his appeal
of that ruling.