You’ve probably heard the name Tina Brown if you follow Florida’s most notorious criminal cases. But it isn't just about a name on a docket. It’s about a case so brutal that it essentially changed the landscape of how we look at the women currently awaiting execution in the Sunshine State. Honestly, the details of what happened in 2010 are enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
Tina Lasonya Brown. She's currently the only woman on Florida's death row. For a while, she had company, but after Margaret Allen passed away from natural causes in late 2024, Brown stands alone at the Lowell Correctional Institution.
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The Night That Changed Everything
It started in a trailer park in Ensley, Florida. This wasn't some random act of violence by a stranger. It was personal. Tina Brown, her 16-year-old daughter Britnee Miller, and their neighbor Heather Lee knew the victim, 19-year-old Audreanna Zimmerman. They lived in neighboring trailers. They were once friends.
But things went south. Fast.
There were arguments over slashed tires and broken windows. There was talk of reports to child protective services. Basically, it was a pressure cooker of neighborhood drama that boiled over into something demonic. On March 24, 2010, Brown lured Zimmerman to her home. She told her they were going to "rekindle" their friendship.
It was a trap.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Crime
People often think death row cases involve a quick, albeit tragic, moment of violence. This wasn't that. It was torture.
Inside that trailer, the attack began. Brown used a stun gun on Zimmerman while her daughter beat the 19-year-old with a crowbar. They even stuffed a sock in her mouth to keep her from screaming. But they weren't done. They forced her into the trunk of a car and drove to a remote clearing in the woods.
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The level of premeditation here is what sealed Brown's fate. Once they were in the forest, Brown pulled Zimmerman from the trunk. She doused her in gasoline. Then, she lit a lighter.
Zimmerman didn't die immediately. She lived for 16 agonizing days. She actually managed to crawl nearly a third of a mile to find help, despite having burns over 60% of her body. Before she was placed into a medically induced coma, she told the EMTs exactly who did it. She named Tina Brown. She named the others.
Why Tina Brown is Still on Death Row
The legal journey has been a marathon. Brown was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in 2012. The jury was unanimous in recommending death. Since then, the appeals have been constant.
Her lawyers have tried everything:
- Claiming her trial counsel was ineffective.
- Arguing that a key witness, Corie Doyle, lied on the stand.
- Highlighting Brown’s own horrific childhood, which included sexual abuse and being prostituted by family members.
Despite these efforts, the Florida Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed her sentence. Just recently, in mid-2024, another appeal was rejected. Judge Gary Bergosh ruled that new evidence didn't raise enough doubt to vacate the conviction.
It’s worth noting that her accomplices didn't get the same fate. Her daughter, Britnee Miller, is serving life because she was a minor at the time. Heather Lee took a plea deal and got 25 years; she might actually walk free around 2031.
The Current Status in 2026
As of January 2026, Tina Brown remains at Lowell Correctional Institution. Florida’s death row for women has shrunk significantly over the last decade. Tiffany Cole and Emilia Carr had their sentences commuted to life. Margaret Allen is gone.
This leaves Brown in a unique, albeit grim, position. She is the sole female inmate in Florida facing the ultimate penalty.
The case remains a focal point for discussions on the death penalty, specifically regarding how "mitigating factors" like a defendant’s traumatic past should weigh against the "aggravating factors" of a particularly cruel crime. In Brown’s case, the court decided the cruelty of the act—the fire, the crowbar, the premeditated trap—outweighed the tragedy of her upbringing.
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Actionable Insights for Following the Case
If you're tracking this or similar cases, here is how you can stay updated without getting lost in the weeds:
- Check the Florida Supreme Court Online Docket: You can search for case SC2024-0931 or use Brown's full name to see the most recent filings. This is where the real "news" happens before it hits the tabloids.
- Monitor the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC): They keep the most accurate, up-to-date lists of women on death row across the U.S., including state-by-state breakdowns.
- Look for Clemency Petitions: In many Florida cases, once the legal appeals are exhausted, the final stage is a petition for clemency to the Governor. This is often the last hurdle before an execution date is set.
The story of Tina Brown is a grim reminder of how neighborhood disputes can spiral into irreparable tragedy. It’s a case defined by the "dying declaration" of a young mother who, even in her final moments, fought to make sure the truth came out.