Zack was tried and convicted for the June 5, 1996, murder of Ravonne Smith in Pensacola. This happened following an alleged crime spree across the Florida Panhandle. Living in Tallahassee, Zack borrowed the car of a bartender and never returned it. He drove to Youngstown where he met a carpenter who eventually let Zack stay at his house. Zack vanished after stealing two guns and some cash. He drove to Niceville and pawned the guns. He went to a bar on Okaloosa Island, where he met Laurie Russillo, whom he allegedly strangled to death. From there he drove to Pensacola Beach and met the victim, Smith, at Dirty Joe's Bar. He killed her at her home. Stealing some electronic items, he returned to Panama City to pawn them. There, he broke into a house and was arrested two days later. The jury recommended death 11-to-1, and the judge agreed. Zack appeals.