Aramis B. Ayala Deborah Barra Chit Asian Setter State Attorney unde AMinth Judicial Circuit Harold V. Bennett IL Orange and Osceola County, Florida ee Governor Ron DeSantis, Governor, State of Florida 400 S Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32399-6536 February 11, 2020 Dear Governor DeSantis, I received your Executive Order taking the cases related to the death of Nicole Montalvo from my office and moving them to Brad King’s office. Since that time, Mr. King has been contacting me requesting, not only records, but also our assistance. We are expeditiously providing all documents, but it is my understanding that your Executive Assignment prohibits us from being involved beyond that. Out of respect for the Order, I suggested that he and his team develop their own strategy, especially since our judgment and discretion were in question. Because we remain committed to seeing her killer or killers brought to justice, we are eager to receive an amended Order that makes the need for our experience and judgment plain, if that is the case. Itappears you based your decision on misrepresentations and meritless allegations made by Sherif Gibson, Had you consulted with me and my excellent homicide team, you would have had an opportunity to ask questions, We would have provided you with extensive insight on the facts of the case and how my office has consistently acted in the pursuit of justice both for the family of Nicole Montalvo and our community, while Sheriff Gibson has acted to protect his own political interest and has jeopardized the integrity of this case. As lawyers and prosecutors, it is my agency, and not Sheriff Gibson’s, that has a thorough knowledge of the law and extensive experience in courtrooms and classrooms to proceed in a manner that would ensure the killer or killers would be brought to justice. Had you consulted with me, prior to pulling the cases from my office based on Sheriff Gibson’s slander of me, I would have highlighted the following three key facts 1. Itis the premature arrestin this case, which I strongly advised Sheriff Gibson against, that created the problem. It is the Sheriff and his team who are responsible for investigating this case My office is an independent law enforcement agency that receives cases and assesses each individually to determine if we can establish guilt under the law. It is the sole responsibility of the Sheriff to investigate and gather sufficient, credible evidence to which he can testify about in court Any attempt to blame me or my office for his failure to complete the investigation prior to an arrest is indicative of his motivations. His letter to you alleged that my staff did not assist in his investigation, While that could not be any further from the documented truth, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office is solely responsible for that investigation 415 North Orange Avenue - P.O. Bex 1673 - Orlando, Florida 32801 407-836-24002. Tunwaveringly share the common goal of justice and believe the killer or killers of Nicole Montalvo should be held accountable, The Sheriff, however, has shown interest in an express train that aligns with his campaign reelection bid, But unfortunately for Sheriff Gibson, justice does not move according to his election timetables. Justice for Nicole Montalvo requires a thorough investigation, a legal and evidenced-based prosecution, and an appropriate sentence, With an incomplete investigation, the Sheriff potentially put justice in jeopardy in the name of his own political ambitions. While he has impacted this case, I am still hopeful that justice will prevail. 3. My opposition to the death penalty has absolutely no impact on this case. Although I do not waiver in my opposition to the death penalty, | also do not waiver in my commitment as State Attorney to follow the law, In response to the Florida Supreme Court's ruling, not only did I create a death penalty review board, my office currently has three death penalty cases pending in Osceola County which all were investigated by the Sheriff. Your conclusion that justice would best be served by removing the case from my office sadly turns a blind eye to the fact that the Sheriff's own self-interests caused him to ignore the multiple requests from my office not to arrest and not to rush our pursuit of justice. It seems he is seeking to blame me, whom he perceives to be an easy target given past decisions by the Governor's office. I can assure you that I will not sit back silently as he blames chaos created by his own political ambitions on me and attempts to manipulate other decision makers. In describing our November 14 meeting, not only was he disingenuous, but arguably self-serving Lam disheartened, by your decision to take Sheriff Gibson’s flawed assessment of this case at face value without any input from me or my team of lawyers who have been tirelessly devoted to this case in the pursuit of justice for Nicole Montalvo and her family. Lam disheartened by your decision because I would hope to work with your office to help victims of crime, not only in my jurisdiction but throughout the state, Although, I am disheartened, I am not surprised or deterred from my mission of serving the residents of Orange and Osceola County. This is unfortunately what I have been forced to deal with during my tenure as State Attorney. As the first woman in this circuit, and the first African American elected to this position in the state's history, I have been met with misogyny, racism and political ambitions cloaked as manufactured concerns about me or my capability to run my office. Governor DeSantis, I will tell you what I have told Sheriff Gibson and all the others who have tried to discredit me throughout my tenure as State Attorney, you do not have to like me or agree with me, But one thing I can assure is that if you are truly in the pursuit of truth and justice, I will ‘meet you on the other side. That is where I stand, have stood and will always stand. Respectfully, i) Aramis D. Ayala