A man of Welsh descent nicknamed the ‘Florida Strangler’ who raped and murdered a nurse in 1992 has spent three decades on death row awaiting his fate.
Roderick Orme, 64, has been sentenced to death three times for the murder, sexual assault and robbery of his former girlfriend Lisa Redd in Panama City.
He raped then beat and strangled the 34-year-old mother to death in a motel in March 1992 after calling her for help while on a drug and alcohol binge.
Orme is American but is of Welsh descent, with distant family in Llandudno where he shares his surname with the Great Orme limestone headland. He even has a tattoo of a winged Welsh dragon on his left arm.
Welsh cameraman Rhys Williams first contacted Orme after reading a news article 20 years ago about a ‘Welshman on death row’ and they have communicated ever since.
They had written many letters, exchanged emails and even spoken on the phone, but a new documentary for S4C and BBC iPlayer sees them meet for the first time.
In an exclusive clip released to the Daily Mail before the programme airs tomorrow, Mr Williams is shown meeting Ms Redd’s sister Carol Atwell who talks about Orme.
Ms Atwell tells him she has waited too long for Orme to die, saying: ‘If they would let me, I would put the needle in him. I will be there when he takes his last breath.
‘I hope he’s miserable when he takes it. I hope he’s gasping for air like Lisa was. I hope he feels just a little bit of fear that she felt. I will never forgive him for what he did to her.’
Carol Atwell is the sister of Lisa Redd, who was murdered by Roderick Orme in Florida in 1992
Roderick Orme has been sentenced to death three times for murdering his former girlfriend
Lisa Redd was raped, beat and strangled to death in a motel in Panama City in March 1992
Welsh cameraman Rhys Williams first contacted Roderick Orme (pictured together after meeting in prison) after reading a news article 20 years ago about a ‘Welshman on death row’
Mr Williams asks Ms Atwell whether she thinks he is ‘mad’ for writing to Orme, and she replies: ‘Well not mad, but I don’t understand the draw.’
He claims Orme has never told him about his crime, and Ms Atwell asks why he is not ‘curious’. He says: ‘I was curious but I found out in my own ways what had happened.
‘Then over the years, he has denied, he couldn’t remember, can’t remember going back, all these things. So that’s the line I’ve been told.’
Ms Atwell replies: ‘He’s a liar. He knew exactly what he was doing. She and I had gone out.
I’m Sam Greenhill, Chief Reporter, and nearly 25 years ago I had an encounter with killer Ian Huntley that still sends shivers down my spine.
Huntley is one Britain¿s most notorious child murderers. But when I was invited into his home for tea and biscuits days before he was arrested for the Soham Murders, this was the last thing on my mind. I’ve written about it in The Crime Desk newsletter – sign up to read it for free.
‘He stalked us the whole time we were out because that Sunday, when he showed up at our house to see her, and I told him ‘lose her number, she doesn’t want to see you’.
‘He said “If I can’t have her, no one can”. And I asked him, I said “What does that mean?” He said “take it as you will”. She was dead two days later. I introduced them.’
Ms Atwell then asks Mr Williams what his family thinks about him ‘writing a murderer’, and he replies: ‘We haven’t really discussed it. It was never discussed, they know I write to him, but we’ve never discussed it.
‘It’s just two men in their 60s writing to each other talking about sport and music and stuff, nothing of note. That’s all it is.
‘I wouldn’t like to be in that situation, I wouldn’t like to be incarcerated, I know what he’s done and needs to be incarcerated.’
After finishing their conversation, Mr Williams and Ms Atwell hug before she tells him: ‘I don’t hate you, I’m not mad at you. I just don’t understand you, that’s all.
‘Maybe take a deep, dark long look and find out why you’re doing what you’re doing.’
Ms Redd was working as a nurse in 1992 when Orme, who had been smoking crack cocaine and drinking, called her from a hotel room asking for help.
When she arrived, Orme became enraged, before he raped, beat and strangled her.
Orme was first convicted of murder, sexual battery with physical force and robbery in 1993 and sentenced to death after a 7-5 jury vote.
This was sent back for a new sentencing hearing in 2007, and a different jury recommended death by an 11-1 vote.
The 2007 sentencing was then sent back in 2017 for a third hearing based on a Supreme Court decision deeming it unconstitutional for someone to be sentenced to death without a unanimous 12-0 jury vote.
And in March 2022, Orme was sentenced to death for the third time. At this point, he confirmed he no longer wished to fight the death penalty.
Orme said at the time: ‘I’ve carried this thing as long as I can. If I can bring any peace or solace to Lisa’s family by giving up my life, I feel that’s the right course of action.
Welsh cameraman Rhys Williams has been exchanging letters with Orme for two decades
Carol Atwell (right) speaks to Rhys Williams (centre) and news journalist Elen Wyn (left)
State Attorney Larry Basford (right) speaks with Carol Atwell before sentencing in March 2022
Orme in court for sentencing by Bay County Circuit Court Judge Brantley Clark in March 2022
‘I’m not suicidal, I don’t want to die, but I can’t bear what I have done any longer and I’m ready to accept whatever punishment that the court sets forth.’
Orme’s lawyer Charles Collins had planned to cite the killer’s history with drugs, mental health and remorse, but Orme waived his right to present mitigating factors during the third sentencing hearing.
Orme also said: ‘Originally, I had planned on doing this from the beginning. My parents asked me if I could do one last thing for them and not cause them to have to bury me. My parents are now deceased.’
Ms Redd’s family have been present for many court hearings and sentencings over the years, testifying about how her death has impacted their lives.
Mr Williams, who is from Wrexham, began communicating with Orme in prison after coming across his case in a news article while looking for work.
Intrigued by the Welsh connection, he wrote to Orme and received a letter back explaining that he did not want to take part in a TV interview but would happily exchange letters.
They then began writing to each other regularly, often discussing football and politics – and Orme sending Mr Williams some of his artwork.
In the documentary, Mr Williams travels to the US with news journalist Elen Wyn to explore this relationship and speak to Americans about the death penalty.
They meet a former ‘executioner’ as well as campaigners including one who has married her convict pen pal.
‘My Friend on Death Row’ airs on S4C tomorrow at 9pm and will also be available on BBC iPlayer and S4C Clic with Welsh and English subtitles
