In February of 1998, while incarcerated at Hardy Correctional Institution, James Winkles requested to speak with officers from Pinellas County. Winkles was serving a life sentence for the kidnapping of Donna Maltby. Winkles confessed to the Elizabeth Graham and Margo Delimon murders, which took place nearly 18 years earlier. He gave the officers detailed information about both murders.
Sometime between September 9, 1980, and July 3, 1981, Winkles abducted and murdered Graham.
Winkles had seen a young woman who worked for an area dog grooming business, The Pampered Poodle. Winkles called the business and requested service to the address of an abandoned house in hopes of abducting the woman. The girl whom he had picked out did not arrive instead, Graham arrived at the address.
Winkles decided Graham was just as good as the original girl he had wanted and carried out his plan. When Graham opened the van’s side door, Winkles attacked her. He pushed her down, put a pistol to her head, handcuffed her, gagged her, blindfolded her and put her in the back of his station wagon.
Winkles claims to have held Graham prisoner for four days and nights at his grandmother’s house. During the captivity, Graham was kept in shackles and forced to engage in several sexual acts with Winkles.
Winkles feared Graham knew their location so he gave her four Flexeril muscle relaxants, which put her to sleep. He then shot her three times in the top of her head.
Winkles abducted Delimon sometime between October 3 and October 21, 1981.
Delimon was a realty salesperson. Winkles asked Delimon to show him secluded properties in the country. Delimon took Winkles out to the properties and he kidnapped her.
Winkles held her captive for four days in an abandoned house neighboring his grandmother’s house. During this time, he sexually assaulted her several times.
Winkles claims that he had to kill Delimon because she knew their location and could identify him. Delimon was killed by an overdose of 17 sleeping pills.
Florida Commission on Capital Cases
Sometime between September 9, 1980, and July 3, 1981, Winkles abducted and murdered Graham.
Winkles had seen a young woman who worked for an area dog grooming business, The Pampered Poodle. Winkles called the business and requested service to the address of an abandoned house in hopes of abducting the woman. The girl whom he had picked out did not arrive instead, Graham arrived at the address.
Winkles decided Graham was just as good as the original girl he had wanted and carried out his plan. When Graham opened the van’s side door, Winkles attacked her. He pushed her down, put a pistol to her head, handcuffed her, gagged her, blindfolded her and put her in the back of his station wagon.
Winkles claims to have held Graham prisoner for four days and nights at his grandmother’s house. During the captivity, Graham was kept in shackles and forced to engage in several sexual acts with Winkles.
Winkles feared Graham knew their location so he gave her four Flexeril muscle relaxants, which put her to sleep. He then shot her three times in the top of her head.
Winkles abducted Delimon sometime between October 3 and October 21, 1981.
Delimon was a realty salesperson. Winkles asked Delimon to show him secluded properties in the country. Delimon took Winkles out to the properties and he kidnapped her.
Winkles held her captive for four days in an abandoned house neighboring his grandmother’s house. During this time, he sexually assaulted her several times.
Winkles claims that he had to kill Delimon because she knew their location and could identify him. Delimon was killed by an overdose of 17 sleeping pills.
Florida Commission on Capital Cases