Killer's wife appears on TV with relative of his victim

Jan 16, 1997

For the first time since she married convicted killer Oscar Ray Bolin, Rosalie Bolin met face to face with the half sister of one of her husband's victims - in front of a national television audience.

Mrs. Bolin, formerly Martinez, appeared on the Montel Williams show Wednesday (WFTS-Ch. 28), along with Kellie Katz, the half sister of Teri Lynn Matthews.

Bolin, convicted twice in Matthews' 1986 murder, also appeared on the show via video from the state prison in Starke, where he is serving a death sentence.

In a quivering voice, Katz asked Mrs. Bolin how she could allow a convicted rapist and murderer to become stepfather to her four children. Mrs. Bolin drew national attention and harsh criticism when she divorced a wealthy Tampa lawyer to devote herself to Bolin's case.

Saying she got to know Bolin "as a person," she defended her marriage to the serial killing suspect and her crusade to prove his innocence.

"I love him," she said softly. "It's my life, and I'll have to suffer the consequences. . . . I will go to the ends of this Earth, to Mars, to prove his innocence."

Katz shot back: "If you want to prove his innocence, do it in a court of law, not on a daytime talk show."

Mrs. Bolin has described herself as Bolin's guardian angel. The couple were wed in a telephone ceremony in October.

Also on the show were several women who fell in love with other inmates, including one whose mother, father and sister had been murdered by her inmate-husband.

Harold Schecter, author of a book on serial killers, described the fascination with convicted killers as a "dark and dangerous fantasy."

Audience members asked Mrs. Bolin how she would feel if it were one of her daughters who had been raped and murdered.

Williams joined the barrage of criticism, too, telling Mrs. Bolin: "You better hope he doesn't get out of jail. You better pray your four daughters aren't walking down the street when he's looking for somebody to rape."

Rosalie has had special "rules" since the beginning.

Feb 11, 2000

(ran SS edition of METRO & STATE) An inmate facing a federal death penalty will be moved from a Hillsborough County jail to a Pinellas County jail to resolve a dispute over his defense team's access to him. On its surface, the debate involves a Hillsborough Sheriff's Office rule that only state-licensed professionals can have unaccompanied, face-to-face visits with jail inmates.

But lurking in the background is the access once enjoyed by Rosalie Martinez, the defense team member who in 1996 married convicted serial murderer Oscar Ray Bolin Jr. The wedding, broadcast on ABC's 20/20, prompted cries of outrage and even a proposed ban on death row marriages.

Without using names, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara seemed to invoke that tryst in heated comments to a sheriff's lawyer who argued Thursday morning that the access dispute was about jail security. "There was that little incident that happened several years ago that I'm sure embarrassed a lot of people," Lazzara said. "And I don't pretend to be the smartest guy in the world, but there is no question that that's the only reason I'm having this problem here." The inmate at the center of the dispute Wednesday, 25-year-old Louis Clemente, is charged with ordering the murders of two Wauchula brothers he owed $35,000 in a drug deal. His trial is expected to start next month.

One of Clemente's lawyers, Brian Donerly, represented Oscar Bolin. "It's a matter of public record that I represented Oscar Bolin, and that Ms. Martinez is married to Mr. Bolin," he said. He would not speculate on the reasons why the access rules in Hillsborough are stricter than in Pinellas. Sheriff's Col. David Parrish, who has run Hillsborough's jails for nearly 20 years, said the Bolin visits violated longstanding policy that dates back to at least the mid-1980s. For security reasons, he said, only licensed people such as lawyers and private investigators can have face-to- face contact with prisoners. Others have to visit through glass windows, or by telephone or electronic hookups.

The Bolin-Martinez case was one "where staff didn't necessarily follow policy, and they allowed her to have contact when she should not have," Parrish said. The aide trying to visit Clemente is a mitigation specialist, a court- appointed researcher for the defense who works closely with a death penalty defendant to obtain personal information about family, childhood and legal histories. The work can involve the exchanging of documents and highly personal conversations. Clemente is accused of operating a drug network that moved methamphetamine to Dade City and other Central Florida locations. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, reserved for federal defendants convicted of the most serious drug and racketeering offenses. From the bench Thursday, Judge Lazzara said he wasn't inclined to second-guess Hillsborough Sheriff Cal Henderson, adding, "I've got a great deal of respect for him, the way he runs things." Nevertheless, Lazzara said, because death penalty cases are scrutinized and re-scrutinized for legal error, he has to provide the defense whatever legal leeway it needed to do its job.-

For the 9th timevictim's moms reunite for trial ~ 11/1/2006

They sat side by side in the courtroom Tuesday for their ninth grim reunion.

Donna Witmer, mother of Stephanie Collins.

Natalie Holley, mother of Natalie Blanche Holley.

Kathleen Reeves, mother of Teri Lynn Matthews.

The daughters have been gone since 1986. Twenty years later, their mothers are sad, tired, sarcastic, hopeful, resolute. And united, always united, against one man: Oscar Ray Bolin.

He sat in the front of the courtroom, on trial for the ninth time for first-degree murder. Three times each for Holley and Matthews, now a third for Collins.

Ninety-six jurors have found Bolin guilty eight times; six of the convictions and death sentences were vacated on appeal. Two years ago, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Bolin's death sentence for murdering Matthews in Pasco County. Last year, a judge sentenced him to life in prison after his second-degree murder conviction in Holley's case.

Witmer is counting on the latest 12 jurors and prosecutor Mike Halkitis for finality in her daughter's case.

"We hope it's the last one," said Witmer, 57. "That's what we keep telling ourselves."

A judge, a defense attorney, a medical examiner and a key witness all have died since Bolin's 1990 arrest for the murders. Witnesses have moved across the country, scattering to North Carolina, Georgia and Arizona. Bolin's hair has gone from brown to gray. Holley, 81, walks with a cane.

The women don't chat much between trials. But successful appeals have brought plenty of chances to catch up, with trials and retrials in 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999 and 2005. They attend every one.

"They're my rock," Witmer said. "We're unfortunate that we're together, but we're fortunate to have each other."

Witmer testified Tuesday of seeing her 17-year-old daughter get ready for school the morning of Nov. 5, 1986. When the mother returned home that evening, Collins' schoolbooks were there but she was not.

Authorities found the Chamberlain High School senior's empty car at a shopping center parking lot in Carrollwood.

A county worker found Collins' decomposed body in a ditch a month later, her feet clad in white sneakers, her torso wrapped in sheets and a towel.

A hair on the towel matched Bolin's DNA, experts testified.

Jurors watched videotaped testimony from Bolin's deceased ex- wife, Cheryl Jo Coby. Her account has served as the linchpin of his appeals, with higher courts ruling that it violated Bolin's right not to have his spouse testify against him. An edited version shown Tuesday included what Coby witnessed but not what Bolin told her.

Witmer, Reeves and Holley listened stoically throughout the day. Witmer left once in tears when the prosecutor showed jurors a large picture of her daughter's body amid the roadside weeds.

"I don't want to deal with it anymore," she said later. "I just don't want to deal with his existence."

Her sisters in sorrow share her frustration. They will return to the courtroom as testimony continues today, but they will wish for a different reunion in the near future.

"I hope," Reeves said, "our next trip is to Starke."

Poached from the mayhem.com comment section

"During the trials in the early 90's I was training to be a victim advocate. I was privileged to sit with and "support" the parents of the 3 women Bolin murdered. I was present during the first trial AND the 1st retrial of Terry Lynn Matthews. I was present when Rosalie Martinez was evicted from the court room for "trying" to intimidate Bolin's half-brother while he was testifying. (it was quite heartening for the mother of Matthews I might add) I just finished reading her ridiculous letter to this site saying he was only tried for the one murder and was not a serial killer. In fact, I nearly fell off my chair. He has been tried AND convicted 6 (maybe 7 times for Christ's sake)

When I think of Rosalie Martinez Bolin I can't help but remember her truly outrageous statement of "I feel pretty" when 20/20 asked her what in the world could she possibly be thinking marrying this headcase. I wonder how pretty SHE would feel with a tire iron across her head. And lets not forget that the tire iron was only used because Bolin's stabbing and drowning didn't kill Matthews. How pretty she would be. On behalf of all of us women out here, I would like to make a collective sigh of relief that he is not on the streets. Perhaps THAT is why Martinez is hopping around making noise? She's safe. Sit down and shut up sweetheart. Your 15 minutes are over, and I will say an extra prayer tonight that your soon to be dearly departed will get a "date" soon."

This comment was found here almost to the bottom of the page

I also found this:

"I am Mrs. Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. Where do you get your info? Totally inaccurate! My name has never been "Rosie" and I am not 'strangely idiotic' -- Oscar has one conviction -- and has not been tried on other two cases -- he is not a suspected serial killer -- he has been kicked out of the club! I am curious to know who provides your web site with this information and I want my husband's name taken off of it -- if you won't do this, at least put accurate information -- don't provide profile unless you can verify -- thank you for your attention -- Rosalie Bolin"

The Political Connection

Robert (Bob) Martinez ~ Rosalie's ex father in law and her children's grandpa

Term Served: (1987 - 1991)

A picture of Governor Martinez, First Lady Mary Jane Martinez and family.

The 40th governor of Florida, Bob Martinez, was the first U.S. governor of Hispanic descent and the second Republican elected chief executive of Florida since Reconstruction. Martinez was born in Tampa in 1934, the grandson of Spanish immigrants. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Tampa and a master's degree from the University of Illinois. He was head of the Tampa teachers' union in the 1960s and mayor of Tampa from 1979 until his run for governor in 1986.

Governor Martinez's term is distinguished by many environmental protection and land saving programs. These programs help preserve wilderness areas and surface waters of Florida. The Surface Water Management and Improvement Act, better known as "SWIM," helps protect such bodies of water as Lake Okeechobee, Tampa Bay, Lake Jackson, St. Johns River and the Kissimmee River. Martinez is also remembered for his aggressive stance on wasteful spending by legislators and the bolstering of Florida's drug control programs.

The Governor's Mansion received one of its most popular works of art during the Martinez term. First Lady Mary Jane Martinez was responsible for the addition of the bronze sculpture entitled, Manatee Dance, to the north courtyard. This ingenious sculpture by artist Hugh Nicholson celebrates the state marine animal.

After his term in office, Governor Martinez was appointed by President Bush to be the director of the National Campaign Against Use of Drugs. He now operates an international consulting firm in his hometown of Tampa.