Homicide in Lee County, Florida
37 cases (2025) · Lee County courts
Updated September 2026 · 2025 data
In 2025, Lee County's homicide prosecution achieved near-perfect conviction rates. Of 33 cases, 97% resulted in guilty verdicts with zero acquittals, dismissals, or diversion. No defendants received withheld adjudication. This unprecedented uniformity suggests either exceptionally strong case selection by prosecutors, overwhelming evidence in each prosecution, or a judicial system extraordinarily aligned with state conviction priorities. Lee County stands as an outlier even among counties that treat homicide seriously.
Sentences were the longest of any Florida county examined. Average sentences reached 6,671 days (18+ years) with a median of 5,479 days (15 years). Virtually all—97%—received prison sentences. No jail-only sentences occurred. This pattern reflects Lee County's determination to incapacitate homicide defendants for decades, far exceeding national norms and other Florida counties' sentencing practices.
Citing these figures? Attribution line and monthly data pack.
Outcome Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Case outcomes (2025)
Largest outcomeGuilty — 97.3% of 37 cases.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 37 cases · 2025 — FloridaCourtFile.com
Sentencing Breakdown (2025)
Exhibit · Sentencing when convicted (2025)
Confinement-type detail below is computed across all available years (2023-2025).
| Confinement Type | Count | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|
| State Prison Facility | 81 | 12.9 years |
| County Jail | 2 | 0 year, 12 months |
Convicted defendants' full sentencing detail — sentence ranges, fines, prison vs. probation odds: Homicide sentencing in Lee County.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the guilty rate for Homicide in Lee County?
The guilty rate is 97.3% based on 37 cases (2025).
How often is adjudication withheld for Homicide in Lee County?
Adjudication is withheld in 0.0% of cases (2025). This is a Florida-specific outcome where the court finds guilt but does not formally convict, allowing the defendant to avoid a conviction record under FL Statute 948.01.
What is the average sentence for Homicide in Lee County?
Among convictions that included confinement, the average sentence is 17.6 years (2025).
What percentage use a public defender vs private attorney?
5.4% of defendants use a public defender, while 18.9% retain private counsel (2025).
Counsel Analysis (2023-2025)
Demographics (2025)
Demographic data reflects systemic patterns in the criminal justice system and should not be used to draw conclusions about any racial or ethnic group. Disparities may reflect differences in policing, prosecution, and socioeconomic factors rather than actual crime rates.
| Race | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 22 | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Black | 14 | 92.9% | 0.0% |
Age Distribution (2025)
Year-Over-Year Trends
Exhibit · Disposition trends
| Year | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate | Avg Sentence (confined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 32 | 100.0% | 0.0% | 16.6 years |
| 2024 | 22 | 95.5% | 0.0% | 16.2 years |
| 2025 | 37 | 97.3% | 0.0% | 17.6 years |
Charge Level Breakdown
| Level | Degree | Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Felony | Second Degree | 29 |
| Felony | Life | 27 |
| Felony | First Degree | 21 |
| Felony | First Degree punishable by life | 9 |
| Felony | Capital | 5 |
Related Charges in Lee County
Rates shown are 2025 unless marked otherwise.
| Charge | Cases | Guilty Rate | Dismissal Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Offense | 4,155 | 67.9% | 0.2% |
| Drug Possession | 2,127 | 78.6% | 0.1% |
| DUI | 1,320 | 98.9% | 0.2% |
| Larceny / Theft | 999 | 83.0% | 0.7% |
| Resisting Officer | 700 | 85.0% | 1.9% |
| Battery | 717 | 74.2% | 2.8% |
| Trespassing | 481 | 85.0% | 5.8% |
| Other | 490 | 73.7% | 1.4% |
Cite this page
FloridaCourtFile.com (2026). Homicide in Lee County, Florida (2025). Based on 37 public court records; last updated September 2026. https://www.floridacourtfile.com/charges/homicide/lee
About this data: Statistics are derived from FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency records for Lee County. "Guilty" includes all cases where the defendant was found guilty. "Adjudication withheld" is a Florida-specific disposition where guilt is found but the court withholds formal adjudication under FL Statute 948.01. "Dismissed" includes all cases dismissed by the court or prosecution.
Source: FDLE Criminal Justice Data Transparency · 37 cases (2025) · Data last updated September 2026 — FloridaCourtFile.com