The Florida Supreme Court recently affirmed the conviction and death sentence of Steven Matthew Wolf, now 65, who was found guilty in January 2023 of the murder and sexual assault of Michelle Osborne. Wolf’s conviction and sentence, imposed by Circuit Judge Mark H. Jones after a unanimous jury recommendation, will now stand as the court issued its mandate.
The case began on Nov. 21, 2018, when Osborne’s body was discovered near Vaca Cut Bridge in Marathon. Investigators quickly tied Wolf to the crime through DNA evidence, his van and his own admissions of cleaning and disposing of evidence. After a six-day trial, a Monroe County jury found Wolf guilty of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual battery with force likely to cause injury and tampering with physical evidence.
The jury also unanimously found that the murder was committed while Wolf was engaged in the commission of a sexual battery and that the crime was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel. Trial testimony revealed that Osborne endured extreme injuries and strangulation while still alive, circumstances that underscored the cruelty of the attack.
At sentencing, Judge Jones said:
“The court has identified, analyzed and weighed all the aggravating factors and mitigating circumstances. In balance, the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating circumstances by an overwhelming margin, which means the scales of justice tip unquestionably to the side of death. The murder of Michelle Osborne is among ‘the worst of the worst,’ making it one of those cases for which the death penalty is reserved. You have not only forfeited your right to live among us, but under the laws of Florida you have forfeited your right to live at all. May God have mercy on your soul.”
“This decision brings closure to a long and painful case and affirms the hard work of so many dedicated professionals,” said State Attorney Dennis Ward. “This was an extraordinary effort by multiple agencies, and their teamwork made it possible to secure justice for Michelle Osborne and her family. The court’s decision ensures that the jury’s verdict and Judge Jones’ sentence will stand.”
