tampa cruise port parking

Directly across the street from all main port terminals.

24/7 Security ・ Gated/Lighted ・ Free Shuttle 

Park Safely In The Channel District - 300 Steps To Terminals!

See Routes Below - Yes We Are Really That Close!!

Planning a cruise that departs from Port of Tampa?

We specialize in parking needs for Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Norwegian cruises leaving the Port of Tampa terminals located on Channelside Drive.

Simply park your car and we will shuttle you to your cruise ship, in about 1 minute; of course, we'll pick you up upon your return.

Take advantage of our immensely popular parking with an online reservation. 

• Use our convenient park and cruise lot
• Avoid terminal traffic and Tampa Port parking congestion
• Our lot is simple and easy to maneuver

PARK4CRUISE saves you up to 70% compared to port rates!

• Located safely in the heart of the Channel District
• Less than 1 minute by shuttle
• Less than 6 minutes by foot.

It's as easy as 1-2-3!

• Get a Parking Pass online or at Park4cruise Port Tampa and park your car in our 100% security fenced parking lot.
• Ride to your cruise terminal in comfort and style in our air conditioned luxury shuttles. But don’t get too comfortable…it’s less than a 1-minute ride.
• Cruise away on one of Port Tampa’s  cruise ships!  When you return to Park4cruise Port Tampa, we will be waiting there to take you to your car.
• Serving all cruise ship terminals at Port Tampa.
• Port Tampa’s Closest Parking Shuttle Service!

Our dedicated Port Tampa Shuttle transports people to from the Cruise Terminals faster than any other Port Tampa Cruise Parking Service. Due to the close proximity of our location to the cruise terminals you will experience extremely fast shuttle times both to and from your terminal.

Drive Guides – Cruise Port Guides – Camping Guides

2024 Guide to Cruise Parking at Port Tampa Bay

Table of Contents

Introduction

This is a complete guide to Port Tampa Bay Cruise Parking for Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity Cruise lines.

Port Tampa Bay Cruise Parking – The 3 available options:

• SHIP-SIDE PARKING AT Port Tampa Bay 
• COMMERCIAL OFF-SITE PARKING (private lots near the Port)
• HOTEL PARKING

NOTE: If you arrive in the area on the morning of your cruise then you cannot park at a hotel. 

What is best for some may not work for others so ultimately you have to pick what fits your budget and needs!

Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminal and Area Map

Here is a detailed map of the Port Tampa Bay Cruise Ship terminals and parking lots for passengers. You will find accurate locations of:

• Cruise Hotels
• Rental Car Agencies
• Cruise Terminals
• Cruise Terminal Parking lots and garages
• Public Transportation Maps – Trolley

Please go here to open a full-screen map in your browser – Cruise Port Tampa Bay Map

Port Tampa Bay Parking Ship-side: The most convenient and expensive option

Here is a map of the cruise terminals and parking garages/lots at Port Tampa Bay.

Officially the parking lots/garages open early for entry. In reality, if you arrive before 9 am then you have to deal with vehicles slowly departing the current cruise meaning you may not get a spot near the ships or elevators (yet)!

• You drive up to the cruise terminal, drop your family and/or luggage at the porters, then
• Drive around to park your vehicle in the garage (terminals 2 and 3) or open parking lot (terminal 6), and
• Walk back to meet your family.
• Valet parking is available at extra cost and is recommended if you have trouble walking.

No hassles and no waiting on shuttle buses especially after your cruise when the family is tired and grumpy!

TIP – Please know there are many attendants ready to direct you when you arrive at the cruise terminal. DO NOT BE WORRIED about a thing! Just get yourself to the correct terminal and the attendants will show you where to drop your luggage, where to park, how to pay, etc .

This convenience is not cheap ($15 per day – you must include your departure and arrival days). Credit cards only. Attendants are available in case you need assistance.

3-NIGHT CRUISE – $45 4-NIGHT CRUISE – $60 5-NIGHT CRUISE – $75 6-NIGHT CRUISE – $90 7-NIGHT CRUISE – $105 8-NIGHT CRUISE – $120

Oversized vehicles such as RVs must park in open-surface lots nearby. Special rates apply.

You can reserve and prepay for parking online – there is a $5 convenience fee. Simply pick your cruise ship and date on the Port Website and complete the booking process in just a few minutes! You will then receive a bar code via email that will be scanned by an attendant when you arrive. You may or may not be handed a parking sign to place on your dashboard.

For the latest information please visit the Official Port Tampa Bay website

The Official Parking Garage

There are two official Port Tampa Bay parking areas –

• Surface Lot at Terminal 6
• Multi-level Garage across from Terminals 2 and 3

Both are managed by The Car Park with properties nationwide.

Note the entrance to the Garage. It is at the northern end of the building at 810 Channelside Drive as shown in the photo below. It is best to approach the entrance from the north because turning right is easier than making a left across oncoming traffic.

The maximum height of the parking garage is 8’2″ as shown in the photo below.

The parking garage has 6 floors. There is an ATM on the ground floor. Be careful when crossing Channelside Dr. It is a very busy road at times.

Terminal 2 – Royal Caribbean

It gets very busy at the entrance to Terminal 2 because the location is in the middle of several Downtown attractions. It is best to approach the entrance from the south along Channelside Dr so you can turn right into the Terminal. Coming from the north is frustrating because you have to turn left facing endless oncoming traffic.

• Set your GPS to 651 Channelside Drive, Tampa.
• Try to approach from the South (drive north along Channelside Dr)
• Turn right into the Terminal then keep left towards the luggage handlers/valet and drop your luggage/passengers. If you paid for valet parking your job is done! Otherwise,
• Drive out and veer left and around to return to Channelside Dr.
• Turn right on Channelside Dr and get in the left lane to turn left into the Parking Garage.
• Attendants will assist you at the pay stations.
• You continue to drive higher until you find a place to park.
• You then take the stairs or elevator down to busy Channelside Dr, cross the street to meet up with your family and enter the main building where you clear security.

Terminal 3 – Carnival, Norwegian

Terminal 3 is easier to navigate than Terminal 2 because there is less traffic further north along Channelside Dr.

• Set your GPS to 815 Channelside Drive, Tampa.
• At the traffic light, turn onto E York Street towards Terminal 3 and then take the first right.
• Veer left towards the Terminal and find the luggage handlers/valet. Drop your luggage/passengers. If you paid for valet parking your job is done! Otherwise,
• Drive out and turn left to E York St and left again at the traffic light on Channelside Dr.
• Drive south on Channelside Dr in the right lane to turn right into the Parking Garage.
• You then take the stairs or elevator down to busy Channelside Dr, cross the street and walk back to Terminal 3 to meet up with your family, and enter the main building where you clear security.

Terminal 6 – Celebrity, Royal Caribbean

Terminal 6 has a surface parking lot adjacent to the terminal building.

• Set your GPS to 1331 McKay Street, Tampa.
• At the traffic light, turn onto McKay St towards Terminal 6 and then take the first right.
• Veer left towards the Terminal and look for the luggage handlers/valet. Drop your luggage/passengers. If you paid for valet parking your job is done! Otherwise,
• Drive out and turn left to McKay St and left again into the surface parking lot.
• You then walk back to Terminal 6 to meet up with your family and enter the main building where you clear security.

Port Tampa Bay Parking Off-site Near the Port – Shuttle bus services at a lower cost

There are six commercial off-site Port Tampa Bay parking options – shown on my map above.   Some are booking agents – online companies that offer parking via discounted contracts with local hotels and parking partners.

If you drive up on the day of your cruise looking for discounted parking, off-site parking will save you money. You will use a shuttle bus to and from the cruise terminals – it is not as convenient as ship-side parking – but cheaper!

If you stayed at a hotel you will most likely park your vehicle at the hotel for the duration of your cruise. Generally speaking, the hotel security is not as good as the fenced & gated off-site parking facilities. So you have to consider more than just cost when comparing your parking options.

Booking Agents

When you search online for cruise parking at Port Tampa Bay, you will see ads for several booking agents. These online agents don’t own parking lots (or transport vans in most cases). Instead, they have agreements with local hotels, parking facilities, and transport companies to sell parking spaces/transfers online – often at a discount to the consumer.

They change partners and rates quite often and it is hard to keep up with their parking options! Please visit their respective websites for the latest choices.

How safe is it to book parking with agents instead of booking directly with a parking facility? Agents come and go and change names and partners all the time. So it is impossible to generalize but you should be OK with established agents. Just know that you are not dealing directly with a parking facility/operator. Should something go wrong, you cannot address the problem in person at a parking facility. You must deal with an online agent who may be thousands of miles away from Tampa!

Rightway Parking – A nationwide agency with parking partners at many airports and cruise ports. At Port Tampa Bay, they offer several parking options, including hotel parking.

Park Connect – A local agency with good deals for cruise parking near Port Tampa Bay. They offer nearby parking garages at a lower cost than booking direct.

Parking Cost Comparison:

Always check the websites for the latest pricing because they change often. Book online for the best rates :

Ship-side parking  for 8 days – 7-night cruise –  $110 

• 241 Car Services . $8.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $74.65 for 8 days.
• Park4Cruise . $10.50 + taxes + booking fee = $83.03 for 8 days.
• Rightway Parking – Hampton $12.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $119.99 for 8 days.
• Rightway Parking – 26th St . $6.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $70.21 for 8 days.
• Rightway Parking – Channelside . $9.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $97.78 for 8 days.
• Rightway Parking – 1063 Channelside . $7.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $85.57 for 8 days.
• Rightway Parking – Union Station . $4.99 per day + taxes + booking fee = $51.04 for 8 days.
• Park Connect . $75.25 for 8 days.

Location considerations for off-site parking:

• 241 Car Services   – Two locations. The main lot is a short distance to the north of Terminal 6 across the road at 1236 Channelside Dr. There is a small lot behind the Port Parking Garage at 223 South 12th Street. You must leave your keys at both locations because they squeeze the vehicles into the lot spaces. Security gate at the Channelside lot only. Shuttles available.

• Park4Cruise – Across the road from Terminal 6 at 1016 Channelside Dr. Security gate. Shuttles available.

• Rightway Parking – 5 lots with free shuttle service. The lot near Union Station is the least used. No security gate. The 26th St lot near Ikea is the largest and cheapest. Security gate. The busiest lot is across the road from Terminal 3. Security gate. The 1063 lot across the road from Terminal 6 is small with no security gate. If you want a parking garage, I strongly suggest the garage connected to the Hampton Inn / Home 2 just a few blocks away. This lot is expensive.

• Park Connect – A local discount parking agent. They use garages within a block of the cruise terminals. Garage directions are emailed upon booking. No shuttle services – you can walk to the terminals.

Port Tampa Bay Parking At Hotels Near The Port

We think there are excellent parking deals at some hotels but the negatives often negate the positives!

Please read my article about Hotel Parking near Port Tampa Bay .

TIP – Do not worry about parking until much later in the booking process. First, book the perfect hotel for your family, then start to think about your parking options.

For example, if you have young kids who like pools then pick a hotel with a fun pool design. If you want to watch the cruise ships come and go then pick another. Or do you want to overlook the ocean and beach, or just hope to stay as cheap as possible anywhere within 30 minutes or so from the port ?

Cruise Parking in Tampa

Last updated on January 21st, 2024 at 01:14 pm

Parking near the cruise port in Tampa is convenient and accessible. Passengers can choose from on-site parking or nearby lots, ensuring easy access to the port and worry-free parking during their cruise.

Tampa Cruise Terminal - Onsite Parking

Parking maps for terminals 2 & 3, parking map for terminal 6, tampa cruise port - offsite parking, tampa hotels with park & cruise packages, cruise planning at this port.

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Cruise Planning Tips

Ultimate guide to tampa cruise parking and transportation.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• There are multiple parking options available for cruise passengers at the Port of Tampa, including covered garage parking, open-air lots, and off-site parking lots with shuttle services.
• The parking fee at the Port of Tampa is $15 per day, with valet parking available for an additional fee.
• Off-site parking options such as 241 Car Services, Park 4 Cruise, and Parkway Parking offer lower rates starting at $9 per day.
• Some hotels in the Tampa area offer free or discounted parking for cruise passengers with a one-night stay, providing an alternative to paid parking options.

Port of Tampa Official Parking Options

Affordable Tampa Cruise Parking Lots

Convenient shuttle services for tampa cruise parking.

Best Hotel Park and Cruise Packages in Tampa

Comparing tampa cruise parking rates.

Tips for Choosing the Right Tampa Cruise Parking Location

Transportation options from tampa airports to cruise port, ensuring timely arrival at the port of tampa, exploring additional amenities and benefits of tampa cruise parking options, :what are the best transportation options for getting to tampa cruise port from miami, frequently asked questions, are there any discounts available for long-term parking at the port of tampa official parking, can i reserve a parking spot in advance at park 4 cruise, are there any parking options for oversized vehicles at the port of tampa, do any of the tampa hotels with cruise parking offer shuttle services to the port, what is the average cost of transportation from tampa international airport to the port of tampa.

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team.

From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

Ultimate Cruise Cabin Tips for a Perfect Voyage

Meet Asra, a talented and adventurous writer who infuses her passion for exploration into every word she writes. Asra’s love for storytelling and her insatiable curiosity about the world make her an invaluable asset to the Voyager Info team. From a young age, Asra was drawn to the power of words and their ability to transport readers to far-off lands and magical realms. Her fascination with travel and cultures from around the globe fueled her desire to become a travel writer, and she set out on a journey to turn her dreams into reality.

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• Choose the cabin type based on the length of your cruise and budget.
• Be mindful of the food you bring into interior cabins to avoid unpleasant smells.
• Avoid opening both balcony doors at the same time to prevent a wind tunnel effect.
• Use magnetic hooks to hang items in the cabin and take advantage of the available space.

Cabin Types and Length of Trip

Avoid Smelly Food in Interior Cabins

Wind tunnel effect in balcony cabins.

Don’t Hang Clothes to Dry on the Balcony

Ordering water for the cabin.

Magnetic Hooks for Hanging Items

Ideal cabin location, how can i ensure a flawless experience in my cruise cabin, are there any restrictions on bringing outside drinks into the cabin, what amenities are typically included in a cruise cabin, how can i ensure a quiet and restful sleep in my cabin, can i request a different bed configuration in my cabin, what should i do in case of an emergency in my cabin, ultimate guide to great stirrup cay: free activities, food options, and more.

• Great Stirrup Cay offers a range of free activities such as enjoying the beautiful beaches, finding quiet spots away from the crowds, and capturing Instagram-worthy photos on the swingsets.
• There are various food options available on the island, including a free buffet with tasty options, taco stands, hot dog carts, and a restaurant offering ceviche, pulled-pork sandwiches, and rum cake.
• Paid activities on Great Stirrup Cay include ziplining, renting private cabanas or villas for a luxurious experience, renting floating mats for relaxation, and taking a tour of the underwater snorkel garden.
• Additional tips include bringing polarized sunglasses, exploring the sculptures and aquatic life on the island, renting snorkel gear, participating in stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking, and enjoying jet ski tours.

Free Activities on Great Stirrup Cay

Food Options on Great Stirrup Cay

Paid activities on great stirrup cay, zipline prices, cabana prices.

Villa Prices at Silver Cove

Are bonine and dramamine effective for motion sickness relief while visiting great stirrup cay, what is the best time of year to visit great stirrup cay, are there any age restrictions for the free activities on great stirrup cay, can you bring your own food and drinks to the island, is there a limit to how long you can use the rented floating mats, are there any restrictions or requirements for participating in the snorkel garden tour, tips for choosing the perfect cruise cabin.

Did you know choosing the perfect cruise cabin can greatly enhance your vacation experience? With so many options available, it’s essential to keep in mind a few key factors.

First, consider the location of the cabin. Whether you prioritize easy access, breathtaking views, or a peaceful atmosphere, the right cabin location can make all the difference.

Secondly, setting a realistic budget is crucial. While basic cabins can still provide a great experience, it’s important to factor in additional expenses such as excursions and onboard activities.

Lastly, utilizing space-saving techniques and seeking assistance from a travel professional can help maximize your cabin’s potential.

In this article, I will provide you with valuable tips and insights to help you choose the perfect cruise cabin for your next adventure. So, let’s dive in and ensure you have the most enjoyable and memorable vacation possible.

• The location of the cabin is crucial for the overall cruise experience
• Consider your budget and factor in additional expenses when choosing a cruise cabin
• Different cabin locations offer different features and views, so choose based on your preferences and the destination
• Utilize space-saving techniques and consider seeking assistance from a travel professional for an enhanced experience

Tips for Location

When it comes to choosing the perfect cruise cabin, I always consider the location based on my preferences and needs. Cabin location plays a crucial role in the overall cruise experience.

The first thing I consider is the deck level. If I tend to get seasick, I opt for a cabin on a lower deck and in the middle of the ship, as it minimizes the motion felt. For easy access to various amenities and facilities, a cabin in the central area is a great choice. If I want to enjoy breathtaking views, I go for an upper deck cabin. Aft cabins offer a great view of the ship’s wake, while forward cabins provide a unique perspective of the ship’s direction. Interior-facing cabins are perfect for those who enjoy overlooking public deck areas. It’s also important to note that lower deck cabins may experience engine vibrations.

Depending on the destination, I choose my cabin location accordingly. For example, cabins with prime views of the Na Pali coast in Hawaii or cabins in Alaska for wildlife and glacier sightings are highly recommended. If I plan to transit the Panama Canal, a cabin with a window or better is a must for a memorable experience.

Overall, understanding the different cabin types and their locations is essential for finding the perfect cruise cabin.

Budget Considerations

Considering your budget is an important factor when selecting a cruise room. It is essential to be aware of the various cabin categories available and their corresponding prices.

Higher-end cabins, such as suites or balcony rooms, often come with a higher price tag, while interior cabins tend to be more budget-friendly. However, keep in mind that additional fees may apply, such as gratuities, daily service charges, and specialty dining. These costs can quickly add up, so it’s crucial to factor them into your overall budget.

To make the most of your budget, consider booking in advance and taking advantage of cruise promotions and discounts. Additionally, joining loyalty programs can provide booking discounts, and using a cruise line credit card may offer opportunities for upgrades or onboard credit.

Don’t forget to consider guarantee cabins for potentially lower prices and be open to bidding on upgrades or hoping for a free upgrade. By carefully considering your budget and exploring all available options, you can find the perfect cruise cabin that fits your financial needs.

Utilizing Space and Assistance

To maximize the limited space in smaller staterooms, I find it helpful to utilize space-saving techniques and seek assistance from a travel professional. Space-saving techniques can make a big difference in creating a more comfortable and organized cabin. Some techniques include using collapsible hangers, packing cubes, and over-the-door shoe organizers. These simple tricks can help maximize storage space and keep your belongings easily accessible. Additionally, utilizing the expertise of a travel professional can greatly enhance your cruise experience. They can help with flights, activities, and pricing, ensuring you get the best value for your money. Having a point person for assistance during the trip is also beneficial, especially if any issues arise. While a small service fee may apply, the benefits of using a travel professional far outweigh the cost.

Are there any specific cabins recommended for families traveling with young children?

For families traveling with young children, I recommend choosing cabins with baby amenities like cribs and high chairs. Additionally, cabins with connecting doors are great for easy access between rooms, ensuring everyone stays together.

Can I request a specific cabin location, or is it assigned randomly?

You can request a specific cabin location on a cruise, but it is not guaranteed. Cabin assignments are typically random, but cruise lines try their best to accommodate requests based on availability.

Are there any cabins that offer extra privacy or are more secluded?

Yes, there are cabins that offer extra privacy or are more secluded on certain cruise lines. Some cruise lines offer suites with private balconies or secluded locations on the ship for a more exclusive experience.

Are there any cabins that are closer to the dining areas or entertainment venues?

There are cabins with ocean views and balcony access that are conveniently located near dining areas and entertainment venues. These cabins provide easy access to all the onboard activities and amenities, making your cruise experience even more enjoyable.

Can I bring my own bedding or pillows to make the cabin more comfortable?

Yes, you can bring your own bedding or pillows to make the cabin more comfortable. Many cruise lines allow guests to bring personal items to personalize their cabin. Just make sure to check the specific guidelines of your cruise line before packing.

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Tampa now homeports eight vessels from five cruise lines: Offering the variety of 4, 5, 7,   10, 11   and 14-day cruise itineraries. 

Why choose anywhere but Tampa?

As any itinerary planner knows, cruises provide guests with a unique and wonderful way to explore the world, allowing them to continuously move between beautiful locations and make memories that will last a lifetime. Every port of call on an itinerary plays a vital role in creating an enjoyable cruise experience, but what about the homeport?

Embarkation is as crucial to the overall cruise experience as the ship, its onboard amenities and the itinerary of picturesque ports. A homeport that is easy to navigate, and provides a variety of unique and interesting activities just steps from the ship? Now that’s an attractive prospect for guests. And that’s exactly what cruise operators and their itinerary planners will find at Port Tampa Bay on Florida’s West Coast.

Positive impressions start from the moment the cruise guests arrive at the modern, award-winning Tampa International Airport. The airport is a convenient 15-minute drive from the Channelside District in Downtown Tampa, which enables travellers to get a view of the water and soak up the Florida vibe and sunshine before they arrive at one of the three cruise terminals.

But that’s just the beginning. One of the growing trends both cruise lines and their itinerary planners are seeing is an increase in the number of guests who are interested in extending their cruise by enjoying the pre- and post-cruise activities in the homeport city.

Tampa is ideally suited for catering to this trend, given that it is located between some of the world’s most popular theme parks (including Busch Gardens in Tampa) and acclaimed beaches with crystal-clear waters in the cities of Clearwater and St. Pete Beach. In addition, guests are just steps from the sights, sounds and experiences of Downtown Tampa. The district is a destination in itself, thanks to attractions like the Florida Aquarium, Sparkman Wharf, new shops and restaurants on Water Street, the unique Ybor City (Tampa’s Latin Quarter) and Downtown Tampa’s Riverwalk, which has spectacular views and is close to eateries and nightlife. 

Port Tampa Bay and the city’s tight network of forward-thinking tourism organisations work together to provide cruise lines’ itinerary planners with the high-quality services they need to help their guests make the most of these tourist attractions during their time in Tampa. For example, Visit Tampa Bay (the city’s tourism agency) collaborates closely with Port Tampa Bay and Tampa International Airport to assist itinerary planners with transportation options that can handle all sizes of guest groups.

Multiple cruise lines have already reaped the benefits of homeporting their ships at Port Tampa Bay. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise and Carnival Pride, Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas, Celebrity Cruises' Constellation,  Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jade and Margaritaville at Seas' Islander all sail out of the city, enabling cruise travellers to explore multiple destinations across the Caribbean and Central America.

To learn more about the various destinations our cruise partners sail to, visit our Cruise Destinations page. 

• Pre-Pay For Parking bit.ly/porttbpark

Moffitt Cancer Center at Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay is proud to partner with Moffitt Cancer Center on a new community outreach and education center. Health care professionals, community leaders and advocates who are committed to making a difference in the fight against cancer have a new location to better connect with the Tampa Bay area community. Moffitt Cancer Center at Port Tampa Bay is located in the busy Water Street district across from The Florida Aquarium at Port Tampa Bay’s Cruise Terminal 2.

Port Tampa Bay Cruise Port Parking

Find the best place to park and the cheapest parking rates, what can you save with airportparkingreservations.com.

Save up to 70% off on our site compared to the cost of on-cruise port parking.

It's easy to compare parking at all major cruise ports. Booking a reservation is quick & simple!

Guarantee your parking spot by booking in advance. Can't make it? Cancellations are free.

Park Sleep Fly Hotels Near TPZ Airport With Parking Packages

Quality inn & suites near fairgrounds ybor city.

The Quality Inn & Suites Near Fairgrounds Ybor City provides travelers a great location to rest before heading to Port Tampa Bay. The hotel offers many amenities such as an outdoor heated pool, a fitness center, and wireless high-speed internet access. Shuttle is complementary for ParkSleepFly (cruise) packages! There is also a free deluxe continental breakfast and coffee offered to all guests daily.

Rodeway Inn Near Ybor City - Casino

Rodeway Inn Near Ybor City - Casino provides travelers a great location to relax and rest up at before heading off to Port Tampa Bay. The hotel includes amenities such as a fitness room to get a work out in, laundry services, free coffee, and an outdoor pool to swim in. There is a shuttle service to and from the port included in the Park Sleep Cruise packages. All rooms include a TV, microwave, and refrigerator!

Port Tampa Bay (TPZ) Parking Reservations

We provide safe and convenient options for Port Tampa Bay cruise port parking from many trusted parking lot operators. 

All of our partner parking lots are able to offer free shuttles to your cruise terminal at Port Tampa Bay. We aim to provide the best parking service at cheap rates. Reservations made here on AirportParkingReservations.com are safe, secure and guarantee your space.

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5 Easy Ways to Get to the Tampa Cruise Port (Port Transportation)

If you’re flying into Tampa to take your cruise, you can’t start your vacation without getting to the cruise terminal first! Below we have all the information you need to get to the Tampa port by Uber, Lyft, taxi, or shuttle.

Before getting too far, however, it’s helpful to understand where the Port of Tampa is in relation to the airport and city. The Port of Tampa (lower right) is roughly 10 miles from the Tampa airport and right near downtown:

The port’s official address is 1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33602 if you wish to map your route using GPS. It’s about 10 miles from Tampa International Airport.

If you are parking for your cruise, click here for more info on all your options .

Getting to the the Tampa Cruise Port Without a Car

If you’re flying into the Tampa airport, it’s very easy to get back and forth to the cruise port. In our opinion, the two best options are a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft, or to take a taxi. Both are fairly convenient.

Uber/Lyft (Recommended)

If you are familiar with rideshare companies, then you’ll be happy to know that both Uber and Lyft operate in the Tampa area. If you don’t know these companies, they operate a service where you can request rides around a city from your smartphone. The entire transaction takes place through the phone — from requesting a ride to paying.

Uber/Lyft are a great option whether you are coming from the airport or anywhere else around town as they offer service in Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, and surrounding areas. Thus, if you are staying in an area hotel or want to explore the city, you can get a ride to spots other than the port.

You’ll likely find that Uber/Lyft also offer cheaper fares than taxis and potentially better service than most taxis. For example, Lyft estimates a ride from the Tampa airport to the cruise port would run $25-30 . Considering taxis charge a $35 flat fee from the airport to the cruise port, rideshare services are a cheaper deal.

That’s why we would have to favor using Uber or Lyft over a taxi if we were needing transportation to the Tampa cruise port. Here are a number of estimated costs from points around the area to the cruise port…

Estimated costs to the cruise port from select points:

• Tampa International Airport: $25-30
• Orlando International Airport: $100-120
• St. Petersburg: $35-40
• Ybor City: $8-12
• Disney World: $70-80
• Lakeland: $35-45
• Clearwater: $35-42
• Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa: $15-20

Of course, while Uber and Lyft have taken a bite out of their business, taxi cabs aren’t extinct. They are also a decent option on getting from the airport to the cruise port, or from other points around town.

The ride is short (less than 10 miles, or about 15-20 minutes) and the fare is very reasonable. Taxicabs leaving the Tampa airport have a set rate of $35 from the airport to the cruise port. Given that several people can ride for this amount, taxis are a reasonably convenient way to get to your cruise.

You can also call a cab from points all around town, such as if you are staying in an area hotel. 

Cruise Line Transfers

The cruise lines will offer transfers from the Tampa airport to the cruise port, however, they can be expensive. For example, Carnival charges $24.99 for each person , one way, for a shuttle between the the airport and cruise port. So a family of four would spend $200 round-trip, just to go about 10 miles each way.

Meanwhile, you are on the shuttle’s schedule, can only go directly from the airport to the cruise port, and it is only available on the day of your cruise. If you come in a day early, you can’t use the cruise line shuttle.

For that reason, we recommend other forms of transportation.

Public Transportation

Want to get to the port without spending a bundle? If you are in the right spot you can get to your ship with public transportation.

Tampa has the TECO Streetcar System . This route offers rides on a retro trolley car, running from Ybor City down Channelside Drive (where the terminals are located) to the edge of downtown Tampa. The great news is that the trolley runs seven days a week from early in the morning until late at night, and it’s free to ride . (There are a number of hotels near trolley stops as well .)

Unfortunately, this is the only route that runs right near the port. You can make connections at the Whiting Street Station from other routes throughout the city to the TECO Streetcar, but we’ll be honest: unless you are familiar with the area or staying directly on the streetcar route, you’ll likely want to just pay for the convenience of getting a ride to the cruise port.

Cruise Hotel Shuttles (Recommended if Staying in the Area)

One way that some hotels in Tampa compete for cruise passenger business is by offering rides to the cruise port.

The premise is simple — book at a hotel with a shuttle (often there is a cruise package you can reserve) and you’ll get your night’s stay plus a ride to the cruise port in the morning.

It makes things very simple and takes the headache out of figuring out transportation on cruise day. Keep in mind that the packages usually cost extra compared to just booking the normal base hotel rate.

You can see our list of Tampa hotels with cruise shuttles here . In addition, there are a number of hotels also listed that are near the free TECO Streetcar line that goes right by the ports.

Getting from Orlando to the Tampa Cruise Port

It may be that you find cheaper fares into Orlando International Airport, or maybe you want to visit Orlando attractions while you’re in the area. Whatever the case, there are many people who need to get from the Orlando area to the Tampa port.

What most cruise passengers don’t realize is that the two cities are about 90 miles (1.5 hours) apart. For that reason, there aren’t a lot of options to get back and forth.

Uber and Lyft will provide rides for about $100-120 each way.  There are some private car options, but the long drive makes them expensive. As well, taxis will run hundreds of dollars round-trip.

The best option we’ve found is a one-way car rental . We’ve found rates of about $70 one-way (and sometimes cheaper). If you’re needing a ride back, then you’ll need to book round-trip. As well, you will need to pay for cruise parking in Tampa for the rental during your cruise. ( You can search Kayak for car rentals here .)

You’ll want to keep this expense in mind when selecting flights. While it might be cheaper to fly into Orlando, the extra transportation cost could make a costlier flight to Tampa worth it.

More on Cruising From Tampa

Getting to the Port of Tampa  — Transportation options from airports and the area to the cruise port. Everything you need to know to get to the port and start your vacation.

Tampa Cruise Parking — Parking at the port? We’ve got you covered with all your parking options, including costs and discounts.

Tampa Park and Cruise Hotels — If you plan to stay in the area the night before your cruise, look at this list of hotels that offer cruise parking with a one-night stay.

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Wondering how to get to the port from Palm Harbor. Uber, lyft and taxis of course but any other options?

Where does Lift or Uber pick you up at the port? Is there a designated area? We need a ride home once we return from our cruise

I have a friend dropping me off for Celebrity, all cruises share same terminal?

There are several terminals. When you arrive, you’ll be able to see the ship and just head toward it for drop-off. Tampa doesn’t have too many terminals, so it shouldn’t be difficult.

Is their a shuttle service company that will take you from orlando international airport to the port of tampa and how much and how can I get in touch with them?

Hmm, not that we’ve heard of. We’d suggest getting in touch with companies that offer car service like a limo company in Orlando. Often they have other cars (not just limos) and will take you anywhere you want to go.

We use to take Supershuttle to the cruise port and TPA for a low price but we just got notice that they are going out of business at the end of the year December 31st, 2019. We are going on a cruise out of Port of Tampa on Jan 6th, 2020. I guess we will have to use Lyft or Uber now as it doesn’t look like any company decided to take over in the Tampa area where Supershuttle used to service.

Uber and Lyft are pretty easy to use and shouldn’t be that expensive.

We are flying into Tampa and cruising out of Tampa. We are arriving the day before our cruise but will be on a flight that’s coming in real late on a Friday night. What’s our best means of transportation to get to a hotel. Hoping to stay in one near the port.

We’d suggest getting an Uber/Lyft or Taxi.

What is cheapest transportation from Tampa cruise port to St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport?

We’d check out Uber or Lyft.

Is a taxi rate the same from the port to Tampa airport? Readily available or need to reserve? I found a shuttle service that can be reserved for $22. We have a 4PM flight so plenty of time to get there. Not sure the latest we can get off the ship.

Bev, what is the name of that shuttle service, please?

We are arriving the day before our cruise so we will be in a hotel (Harborside Suites in Ruskin, FL). We Uber here in VA alot. Debating whether to Uber from hotel to cruise ship. Three of us.

That’s what we would use personally.

Bajo del crucero y desde ahi quiero ir a miami Como viajo?

Renting a car is your best option. You could also rent a private driver to take you there.

We are planning to come to Tampa Florida and we would like to take a cab from the airport to Port of Tampa, we are planning to book a taxi and we have made a prearrangement pickup with Tampa Taxi Service , we would like to know what is your thought about it or if there is any additional option from the Airport. Thank you.

We don’t know anything specific about that company, but a taxi from the airport to the cruise port is perfectly fine. In fact, there is likely no need to pre-arrange. Just go tot the taxi line and let them know you want to go to the port when you arrive. Should be a flat fee of $28. Uber/Lyft might be a little cheaper, but it won’t be much.

There are four of us going on a cruise from Port of Tampa. Because of the flat-fee taxi service, is it cheaper to take a taxi? I have used both Uber and Lyft, but it’s usually by myself or with one other person, so I don’t know if they charge per mile, per person, or flat rate.

The taxi runs $28 flat fee. Lyft estimates it to be about $20. With Uber and Lyft you are paying per car, not per person. So they are about the same, with a cab being slightly more. However, it’s not a big difference.

I have my family of 7 going on a cruise in March is better to Uber between two cars or arrange transportation for all 7 of us together to get to the port from the airport.

That’s a tough one. You might try a shuttle service that lets you rent a van to see what the cost would be. Otherwise, two Uber cars won’t be too expensive.

Ride cheap but tip good because we are not slave.We drive for those companies because we are unemployed and need to pay our bills or we get homeless.

I thought lift was running more expensive than Uber. But in your article it looks like lift is cheaper?

It really depends, but usually they are around the same. Sometimes they run specials, discount the rates, offer sign-up bonuses for new customers, etc. Whatever the difference, it won’t be dramatic.

We are looking to get 24 people from Zephyrhills to the port of Tampa: any bus companies you would suggest?

Linda, since we’ve never personally used any of the bus services, we can’t recommend anyone specific. However, with that many people, you should be able to get a decent deal on a per person basis. Enjoy your cruise!

We are coming off a cruise at Fort Lauderdale port and need to join another cruise at the Tampa Port on the same day. Please let us know the most cost efficient way to get there.

That’s a tough one. The ports are about 250 miles apart (4 hours). We’d suggest getting in touch with a private car service to see what they would charge. You could also see about one-way car rentals from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa.

We need a ride from New Port Richey to the Tampa Cruise Port Terminal. What companies would provide such a service?

You might look into either rideshare (Uber/Lyft) or private car services.

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Welcome to Park Connect

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Welcome to Park Connect – the solution to all your parking needs. We offer you hassle free parking at affordable prices. Our simple reservation system allows you to book your parking in advance taking away the hassle and frustration of looking for parking.

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You sail for a 100% money back guarantee. We appreciate in these uncertain times that plans can change at short notice, that is why here at Park Connect we offer the flexibility that our competitiors can only dream about.

We offer secure covered parking in a safe environment with free cancellation and a guaranteed best rate. Unlike other facilities there are no hidden fees or unwelcome extras you only pay what we quote.

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Tampa Cruise Port Terminals: Ultimate Guide for Port Tampa Bay

If you’re going on a cruise out of Tampa and need some helpful advice about the Tampa cruise port, we’ve got you covered.

This cruise port currently serves cruise passengers sailing on Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises.

Here is everything you need to know about Port Tampa Bay and some tips to help make your embarkation day as easy and smooth as possible.

We’ll start with the gritty details about directions, cruise parking, hotels, and various other information that you should know while making your plans. We’ll even provide some help in getting from the Tampa International Airport to the cruise terminal.

Info About Cruise Terminals

Port Tampa Bay has three terminals for cruise ships. All three have ample parking nearby, complete with valet services available through the port’s official parking vendor, Carpark. Located nearby, and within walking distance from terminal #3 and #6 are the Sparkman Wharf and The Florida Aquarium.

The cruise terminal you sail from will depend on which cruise line you’re traveling with. You should always check with your cruise line to make sure which terminal they are using for your cruise.

• Terminal #2 : Carnival Cruise Line
• Terminal #3 : Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International
• Terminal #6: Various cruise lines

Port Tampa Bay is located at 1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602. However, each terminal has its own address, so if you are driving directly to the terminal it is important to know what address to use in your GPS or map program.

• Cruise Terminal 2: 651 Channelside Drive (Parking Garage is at 810 Channelside Drive)
• Cruise Terminal 3: 815 Channelside Drive (Parking Garage is at 810 Channelside Drive)
• Cruise Terminal 6: 1333 McKay Street (Self-Parking Lot is at the same address)

If you have any questions about any of the terminals you can call 813-905-7678 or call toll free at 800-741-2297

Port Facilities

The Port Tampa Bay offers a 75-minute Educational Harbor Tours for passengers free of charge on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. You must make reservations for the tour in advance by calling 813-905-7678.

Visit the port’s website for more information.

When it comes to official port parking , many ports will charge an outrageous amount ($20 per day and up), simply because of the convenience. This will often force people to look for parking elsewhere so they can save money.

Port Tampa Bay parking is one of the few exceptions to this. Their standard rate for parking is $15 per day, with a flat upgrade of $20 for valet parking. If you have an oversized vehicle, the port charges double the standard rate.

You can pre-pay for parking online as well. Simply visit the port’s webpage on Tampa cruise parking , select the cruise line you’re sailing on, select the date of your departure and you will have 3 options. You can choose self-parking, valet parking, or oversized vehicles parking. Since you selected your particular cruise the system knows how many days you need to pay for. As mentioned earlier it’s a flat rate of $15 per day but sometimes there are promotional rates.

Of course you don’t have to pre-pay for your parking. You can also just show up at the port and pay there, just in case you totally forgot that little detail in the cruise planning process.

Parking is free for the disabled (including disabled veterans) as the following conditions are met:

• Foot and hand control modifications
• Wheelchair lift and ramp
• Disabled Veterans license plate with vehicle registration

Other Off-site Parking Options

Although Port Tampa Bay has some of the best official parking rates, it can weigh a little heavy on some budgets. Therefore, here are a few other parking options near the cruise port that could possibly let your wallet breathe a little easier. Some of these parking lots are so close to the port you can practically walk to your cruise terminal.

Park 4 Cruise

http://park4cruise.com/ | 800-720-9150 | 1016 Channelside Drive

Park 4 Cruise offers parking that is very close to the port of Tampa. The Orange Lot, which is adjacent to all three cruise terminals, is as low as $10.50 per day (plus 7% sales tax and a $4 processing fee). This parking lot is practically on the premises of the port itself, being less than a quarter mile away. Their website says they are only 300 steps to the terminals from their parking lots, so that’s hard to beat. They will also shuttle you for free to and from the Tampa cruise terminal.

241 Car Services

https://241parking.com | 877-886-1583 | 122 Channelside Drive

241 Car Services are located as close to the cruise terminals as the port’s official parking lots and at much cheaper rates. Depending on your ship and the length of your cruise, you’re looking at paying roughly $7 to $9 per day, including tax and a $5 service fee.

They will also provide you with free shuttle service and luggage assistance and will give you a free car wash while you’re gone.

Park Connect

https://www.myparkconnect.com/ | 813-334-1303 | 107 N 11th St

Just .3 miles from the Channelside Bay cruise terminal in Tampa, Park Connect has no hidden-fees in their pricing. The cost is $10 per day plus tax and again, there are no service fees. Park Connect offers covered parking areas, free cancellation up to 24-hours before your cruise and an easy to user interface for pre-paying for parking.

Getting to Port Tampa Bay

No matter how you plan to arrive into Tampa, you need a way to get to the port. Driving yourself is easy enough, you just have to find a place to park.

However, if you’re not driving, there are other various ways to get to the port, especially if you’re flying into the Tampa airport.

Getting to the Tampa Bay Port from Tampa International Airport

The cruise port is only 10 miles from the airport and is one of the easiest and most accessible cruise ports in the US. The trip will take 17-20 minutes depending on traffic

While there are taxis available in Tampa, they often charge a flat $30 and up for the short ride from the airport to Port Tampa Bay. If pinching pennies is your preference, consider, instead, using a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft.

Booking a ride is as simple as downloading the app and choosing a driver. The estimated cost for Uber or Lyft is about $17-$21. But keep in mind that is just an esimate based on the time of the writing of this article.

Cruise Line Transfers

For the sake of convenience, many cruise lines will offer transfers for their passengers from the Tampa airport. Although this is a great service, it can get expensive if you’re traveling with a lot of people. Also, your shuttle is only going to be available on cruise day, so if you fly in the day before you’ll have to seek alternate means of transportation.

Traveling from Orlando

If you live in Orlando, or you decide to fly into Orlando instead and go visit one of the various parks there before your cruise, getting to Tampa for your cruise can be tricky as the two cities are roughly 90 miles apart.

For this we recommend getting a one-way car rental. You should be able to find rates as low as $50-$60 for a car.

If cheaper airfare is the reason you’re considering flying into Orlando, factor in the extra transportation costs between Orlando and Tampa. $100 or more on rental cars (round trip) could end up costing you more than flying into Tampa.

Park & Cruise Hotels Nearby

For those of you that prefer having an extra day or two buffer before or after your cruise, you’re in luck because there are several hotels nearby that offer cruise packages, free parking, or free shuttle service.

Tahitian Inn Café & Spa

601 S Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa FL 33609 | 5 miles from cruise port

This hotel features a “park and cruise” package that gives you free shuttle to and from the cruise port, up to 2 weeks of free parking, and a 10% discount at the hotel spa. Be sure to let them know at check-in that you wish to use their free shuttle service to reserve your seat.

Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown

1301 E 7 th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605 | 1 mile from cruise port

Along with a free hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, if you book this hotel’s Park and Cruise package, you’ll receive free roundtrip transportation to the cruise port, as well as parking for up to 7 days.

Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa Downtown

101 E Tyler St, Tampa, FL 33602 | 1.5 miles from cruise port

Residence Inn’s “Fly Here, Cruise There” package provides guests with shuttle service from the hotel to the cruise port, along with free internet and breakfast. This package accommodates 2 people. Additional passengers will cost an extra $10 each.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District

1700 E 9 th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605 | 1.5 miles from the cruise port

While staying at this hotel you will enjoy free access to the hotel’s fitness center and various other amenities. They do not have a specific cruise package, but they do offer free parking, as well as a free shuttle to anywhere within a 3 mile radius, which includes the cruise port.

Top Things to Do in Tampa

If you’d like to do some sightseeing before you ship out, go out to dinner, or visit an attraction or two, Tampa certainly does not disappoint. Although Orlando may be the tourist and theme park hot spot, Tampa has a few things up its sleeves as well.

Restaurants

The city of Tampa has over 2,000 restaurants in and around downtown Tampa, offering a variety of cuisines and menus to satisfy any one’s culinary cravings. Here are just a few of the tops ones we think you should check out before leaving on your cruise.

Columbia Restaurant

Located in the heart of the Ybor city district where you’ll find a large Latin community is the Columbia Restaurant. They have been in business since 1905 and they make a mean Cuban sandwich on fresh Cuban bread.

Fourth Street Shrimp Store

If seafood is your style, come on over to the Fourth Street Shrimp Store. Originally just a shrimp store, over the years since it first opened in 1984 it has evolved into one of the best seafood restaurants in Tampa Bay.

Eddie & Sam’s NY Pizza

Featuring the best New York style pizzas anywhere other than New York is Eddie & Sam’s, located on Twiggs St in Tampa. They even use water shipped directly from New York to make the dough more authentic.

Cappys Pizzeria

The only pizza restaurant that can possibly rival Eddie & Sam’s is Cappys, offering the best in both New York style and Chicago deep dish, as well as a variety of salads and subs.

The Brunchery

Take an extra day to sleep in a little bit and enjoy being on vacation. When you wake up, head on over to the Brunchery located in South Tampa. There you’ll find the best in comfort food, including steak and eggs, Belgian waffles, French toast, and so much more.

The Refinery

If you have severe allergies and need a menu that’s gluten-free, you can either go to The Columbia for their gluten-free options, or try out The Refinery. Here the menu changes every week, so you’ll always be able to get something different. And on the menu each week are tasty gluten-free options.

Attractions in Tampa

Along with tasty restaurants, Tampa has plenty of attractions to offer. You won’t want to miss out on any of these, so plan your trip accordingly so you can experience as much as you want.

Busch Gardens Tampa

Anyone who’s ever been to a Busch Gardens knows just how much fun it is. You get to visit some of your favorite countries within the park and each one provides different cultural elements to enjoy. The Tampa Bay Busch Gardens features various countries found in Africa, such as Egypt, Morocco, Nairobi, and so much more.

Additionally, you’ll find some of the best theme park rides here, including the SheiKra, which is only located at the Tampa Bay Busch Gardens. This 200-foot tall floorless dive coaster provides an extreme thrill for anyone willing and able.

Sparkman Wharf

Located within walking distance from the cruise terminals is Sparkman Wharf. Here you will find all you could ever want in dining and shopping, as well as an open-air biergarten that includes over 24 taps of Florida craft beer, all with a breathtaking waterfront view.

The Florida Aquarium

Also within walking distance of the port (on the other side) is the Florida Aquarium for anyone fascinated by underwater creatures. Visit a large variety of animal habitats from otters, sharks, and octopuses, to seahorses and turtles. They house many exhibits, a splash pad for the kids, and a 4-D theater.

Henry B. Plant Museum

Henry B. Plant was the mastermind behind building the Tampa railway system in the 1800s. This, along with the port, helped Tampa to grow into the bustling metropolis that it is today. He also built the Tampa Bay Hotel, which is now the University of Tampa’s Plant Hall, where the museum is located.

If you’re looking for another great place for the family that’s educational and filled with animals, come over to the ZooTampa at Lowry Park. If you come on the weekend, at 1pm you can stand eye-to-eye with a giraffe and feed them some lettuce. You can also visit a variety of other animals, all safely behind glass enclosures.

Planning your next cruise doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Understanding the city you’ll be traveling to and the logistics involved will give you a great start to making trip planning as painless as possible.

Luckily, transportation, parking, and lodging is very easy to find here, and won’t cost you too much (depending on the options you go with). Additionally, Tampa is filled with rich history, dining, and entertainment for anyone in your group to experience and enjoy. Plan to stay for an extra day or two so you can enjoy as much as can before shipping out on your cruise.

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Port Tampa Bay

It's islander time.

Please note: Check-In, Arrival and Embarkation/Debarkation processes are specific to departure Ports and third-party terminal operations staff and can change over time. Even if you have sailed with Margaritaville at Sea or from Port Tampa Bay previously, please take a moment to carefully read through all policies and procedures below to make your journey as easy-breezy as possible.

Pre-Sailing Check-In

Travel documentation.

Each member of your sailing party is required to bring current, valid and accepted forms of travel documentation to check-in for your sailing at Port Tampa Bay. No photocopies, photographs or digital copies are ever permitted.   To learn more about what kinds of documentation are accepted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol when sailing with Margaritaville at Sea, please visit our Travel Requirements page.

Luggage Tags

Your sailing party will be assigned a Luggage Zone according to your stateroom location for the easy identification and delivery of your luggage to your stateroom.    Your Luggage Tags will be sent via email approximately 7 days prior to sailing, along with your boarding pass. It is recommended that you download these tags and pre-tag your baggage for convenient check-in at Port Tampa Bay. Please tag all bags you plan to check-in; it may also be helpful to tag all carry-on baggage in case it is accidentally separated from your sailing party.   You may also view and download your Luggage Tags via our Guest Portal, beginning approximately 7 days prior to your sailing date. You will need the Booking ID and Primary Guest's Last Name to sign in to your sailing reservation.   To learn more about checked luggage allowance and fees associated for extra/overweight luggage, please visit our FAQs page.

Assigned Arrival Time

To comfortably manage the flow of guests throughout the check-in process, Margaritaville at Sea guests departing from Port Tampa Bay are assigned a specific arrival window based on your stateroom location .   Guests with pre-booked Express Passes, pre-purchased Signature Packages containing Priority Boarding and guests staying in Suites are assigned the earliest arrival windows and should enter through the VIP Check-In Lane. Learn More about Islander's Signature Packages and Priority Boarding options here . 

Your assigned arrival window will be sent via email and available to view in the Guest Portal approximately 21 days prior to sailing. You will need the Booking ID and Primary Guest's Last Name to sign in to your sailing reservation in the Guest Portal.

Boarding Pass

Your Boarding Pass will be used to confirm your party's arrival time once you arrive at Port Tampa Bay and contains easy access to helpful reservation information.

Please print a copy of this boarding pass and bring it with your sailing party when you arrive at Port Tampa Bay. Guests without a printed or digital version of their Boarding Pass will be required to check in via the Standby line and may experience delays in the check-in and embarkation process.

Terminal Information

Margaritaville at Sea sails out of Terminal 6 at Port Tampa Bay.

The address for Terminal 6 is: 1331 McKay Street, Tampa, FL, 33602    Terminal 6 opens at 9:30am on embarkation days. Terminal doors close promptly at 3:00pm. You will not be permitted to enter the Terminal or embark your sailing after 3:00pm.     Passengers that arrive after 3:00pm will be denied boarding and will constitute a "no show," subject to the penalties and fees outlined in our Cancellation Policy.   Terminal 6 is conveniently located in Tampa’s Channel District, near downtown, with easy access to The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf, along with plenty of hotels, restaurants and other attractions. Check out our friends at Visit Tampa Bay to learn more.

Arrival and Parking

Guests departing from Port Tampa Bay have three parking options: •    Pre-Pay Self-Parking •    Pre-Pay Valet Parking •    Self-Parking and Pay Upon Arrival   Self-parking spaces closer to Terminal 6 are limited, and Port Tampa Bay encourages guests to pre-pay for self-parking to ensure you can reserve the closer spaces available.   For directions, parking rates, and more information on parking options, please visit Port Tampa Bay's Terminal 6 Departure Guide .

Check-In and Embarkation

To ensure the safety and comfort of our guests and to comfortably manage the flow of guests throughout the check-in process, Margaritaville at Sea guests departing from Port Tampa Bay are assigned a specific arrival window based on your stateroom location.   Guests with pre-booked Express Passes, pre-purchased Signature Packages containing Priority Boarding and guests staying in Suites are assigned the earliest arrival windows and should enter through the VIP Check-In Lane.

Your assigned arrival window will be sent to the Primary Guest's email on the reservation approximately 21 days prior to sailing, along with your boarding pass. Please print a copy of this boarding pass and bring it with your sailing party when you arrive at Port Tampa Bay.   There will be a member of our terminal operations agency to confirm your arrival window and check your boarding pass as you arrive.   Guests without a boarding pass or who arrive before their assigned boarding time will be required to enter through the Standby Check-In Lane and may experience delays in check-in and embarkation.   To board the Margaritaville at Sea Islander from Port Tampa Bay, please have the following available for all members of your sailing party.   1.    Current, valid and approved travel documents for each person in your sailing party (please see our Travel Requirements page for detailed information on what documentation is required to sail aboard Margaritaville at Sea vessels). 2.    Boarding Pass (one per stateroom) 3.    A valid credit card for onboard charges 4.    Your flips flops, shakers of salt, and your license to chill!

Set Sail With Us

Learn more about Islander's Signature Packages and Priority Boarding options.

Your Stateroom Key

Upon check-in, each member of your sailing party (including minors) will be provided a personalized stateroom key with their name, stateroom number and other key sailing information.   Your stateroom key will be used to debark and embark the ship at all ports and to make cashless transactions around the ship.   Many guests find it helpful to bring a lanyard or other card-carrying accessory, as it's recommended that each guest always carries their stateroom key on their person. We also have Margaritaville at Sea branded lanyards for purchase at onboard retail stores.

We look forward to seeing you in Tampa and welcoming you aboard our newest flagship resort-at-sea, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander.

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Breaking Down All Major Cruise Departure Ports In The U.S. And What Makes Each Unique

E xperience the explosive growth of the cruise industry firsthand as we explore the major departure ports in the United States. Don’t be left behind; join the millions of satisfied cruisers who have discovered the ultimate vacation experience. But we know that hopping on board can be intimidating, especially when choosing the right port, ship, and cruise line. That’s why I’m here to guide you through it all.

Starting in the North Atlantic and working our way down to the South Atlantic, including the bustling ports of Florida, we’ll cover everything you need to know. We’ll then move on to the Gulf of Mexico and, finally, the beautiful Pacific. Learn about several American ports, from suggestions on getting to the port to a detailed list of all the cruise lines that sail from each location.

But that’s not all — I’ll also highlight each port’s unique features and attractions so you can make the most of your vacation before and after embarking on your cruise. Get ready for a vacation that gives you the most bang for your buck — starting with the perfect departure port.

Buckle in and get your popcorn; this will be a long one.

North Atlantic

The North Atlantic region has quite a few ports. It primarily sails to Bermuda, New England, and Canada. However, they also do trans-Atlantic and other specialty cruises from a few ports.

Pro Tip : Always label and prepare your luggage for easy transport . When driving, simply drive to the cruise terminal and hand over your bags. No need to fret if you need tape or a stapler — the friendly baggage handlers will assist you. Remember to show appreciation by tipping them before parking or returning your car.

Boston Cruise Port – Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Terminal (Massachusetts)

Simplify your cruise parking experience at the Flynn Cruiseport in the Seaport District near Boston Harbor. Park easily at Congress Street parking or take a free shuttle from your hotel. Boston Logan International Airport is just a quick 10-minute drive away. The MBTA Silver Line bus stops within one block of the terminal for even more convenience.

Parking will cost you $27 per night.

Sailing From Here: Celebrity, Holland America , Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn

Points Of Interest: Boston Fish Pier, Fenway Park, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. 

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal (Red Hook Section, New York)

Discover the best cruise ports in New York. Brooklyn and Cape Liberty (in Bayonne, New Jersey) take center stage, with Manhattan playing a supporting role. As a premier cruise destination, New York offers voyages to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond.

Parking at Brooklyn Cruise Port may seem challenging, but a constant flow of arrivals and departures keeps things moving. While the $45 daily fee offers stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, other convenient options are available, such as private taxis, Uber, shuttles, or the subway. For a unique experience, consider taking the train from Penn Station or Grand Central Station.

Sailing From Here: Cunard , MSC Cruises, Princess

Points Of Interest: Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park

Fun Fact: Per CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), most cruise passengers arrive in a port city a day in advance and spend nearly $400 per person on food, hotel, and transportation.

Cape Liberty Cruise Port (New Jersey)

Parking is slightly cheaper here than at Brooklyn’s cruise port and there are overflow lots during the busy season with free shuttles available. Cars run $30 per day and RVs $60. 

Sailing From Here: Celebrity , Royal Caribbean

Points Of Interest: Teardrop Memorial, Hudson River Waterfront, The Mills at Jersey Gardens (outlet mall)

Port Of Baltimore (Maryland)

I find the Baltimore cruise port one of the most accessible places to embark in the country. Parking is $15 daily (cashless) and you can walk to the terminal after parking. There is also RV parking for $30–$40 daily, depending on the size of your rig. Royal Caribbean and Carnival both offer shuttles to and from BWI airport. 

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess , Royal Caribbean 

Points Of Interest: National Aquarium, Inner Harbor, Maryland Zoo, Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine

South Atlantic/Florida

Welcome to the sunniest region in the world, where cruise passengers flock in droves! With state-of-the-art terminals and buzzing activity, this destination offers an incredible array of choices. However, be prepared to master the art of patience, as navigating through crowds can be challenging. As someone who has been on 54 cruises, I can attest that more than half of my voyages have departed from these ports.

Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)

Prepare to be amazed! Contrary to popular belief, getting to Port Orlando (also known as Port Canaveral) requires a 48-minute drive, as Orlando is not on the coast. Despite the distance and expense of transportation (an Uber is $98), Port Orlando remains the country’s busiest and most powerful cruise port. Your best option is to take the cruise shuttle from Orlando (airport or hotel) to save the hassle of getting there, traffic, and parking fees. If you decide to drive, however, keep in mind that parking costs $17 per day, including RVs.

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Disney , MSC Cruises, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean 

Points Of Interest: Kennedy Space Center , Exploration Tower, Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum (in Orlando), Disney, Universal, Lake Eola Park, Harry P. Leu Gardens

Port Of Miami (Florida)

Discover the colossal cruise port just minutes away from Fort Lauderdale. PortMiami is a bustling hub, welcoming an impressive average of 12 cruise ships daily and 4.1 million passengers annually. Boasting 11 cruise terminals, it is the second busiest cruise port in the country.

While you can park at the port for $22 a day, I highly recommend avoiding the chaos by opting for Uber or a hotel shuttle. With my 10 years of experience living in Florida, I found navigating the port’s parking confusing and lacking proper signage. Thankfully, there are much simpler alternatives to reaching your cruise ship.

But fear not! Despite the initial challenges, PortMiami (known as the Cruise Capital of the World ) is renowned for its efficiency and seamless operation. Like a finely tuned machine, they ensure a hassle-free experience from start to finish. Indulge in the modern marvel that is PortMiami and embark on your dream cruise effortlessly.

Pro Tip: It is important to park in the garage that coincides with your terminal letter (example: Cruise Terminal B — Multi-Level Garage B); though terminals F, G, and V all use Garage G.

Sailing From Here: Azamara Club, Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, MSC Cruises , Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas , Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Virgin Voyages

Points Of Interest: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Bayside Marketplace, Wynwood Walls, Little Havana, Jungle Island

Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

This one may throw you for a loop since Port Everglades is the cruise port you’ll want for departing out of Fort Lauderdale. It is only 3 miles from FLL/Hollywood Airport and 25 miles north of Miami International Airport. Uber or Lyft is your best bet and is relatively inexpensive. Secure parking at Port Everglades (4,000 spaces) runs $15 per day or $19 for oversized vehicles.

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises , Cunard, Disney, Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking Ocean

Points Of Interest: Las Olas Boulevard and Riverwalk, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Everglades Holiday Park

Port Tampa Bay (Florida)

Tampa is a treat to sail out of, as the cruise terminal and port are well-marked and laid out. It is secure and monitored 24/7. Parking is $16 per day, or you can use Uber or Lyft for getting dropped off or picked up. Tampa International Airport is 21 minutes from the Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminal or 90 minutes from Orlando (MCO).

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Royal Caribbean

Points Of Interest: Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, Historic Ybor City

Port Of San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Discover why San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the ultimate destination for incredible cruise lines. From its advantageous Atlantic Ocean location to potential cost savings, this place is a true gem. If you’re planning a trip, I recommend arriving early and staying overnight to avoid airline hiccups.

While some hotels provide free shuttle services, taxis are readily available for a quick 8-mile journey to the cruise port. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to set sail from Old San Juan, which is a vacation before the cruise vacation begins.

Sailing From Here: Celebrity, Crystal, Disney, Norwegian, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Viking Ocean, Virgin Voyages  

Points Of Interest: Castillo San Felipe del Morro , Old San Juan, Casa Blanca Museum, Fortaleza Street

Gulf Of Mexico

Discover hidden gems and unbeatable prices on Gulf of Mexico cruises! Escape the crowds and embark on an adventure from Galveston, New Orleans, and Mobile. Immerse yourself in vibrant cities and soak up the magic of the gulf. Don’t miss your chance to experience the best-kept secrets of these charming destinations! I plan to include these three embarkation ports in my cruising future over the next few months.

Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal (Alabama)

While Carnival is the only cruise line that sails from Mobile, it is an excellent option for those seeking a quick vacation option between Texas and Florida. Parking will run you $18 daily, though the closest airport is Pensacola, Florida, an hour away. This is definitely a drive to the cruise port destination. Check out the Mobile Carnival Museum or the USS Alabama in your free time.

Port Of New Orleans (NOLA, Louisiana)

A boatload of ships departs the Port of NOLA, making it the 6th busiest cruise port in the country. It is in the heart of the city with a plethora of amazing things to see and do. It is also a port for the three major river cruises (my bucket list!), which adds a feature most cruise ports don’t offer. Parking runs $25 daily at the Erato and Julia Street terminals.

Sailing From Here: American Cruise Lines , American Queen Steamboat Co., Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Viking River Cruises

Points Of Interest: New Orleans City Park, Jackson Square, Mardi Gras World, French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral, National WWII Museum

Port Of Galveston (Texas)

Discover Galveston — the vibrant heart of Texas and the state’s sole major port. With its convenient location, you’ll have easy access to all the city offers. Enjoy hassle-free parking for just $18 per day (discounts available for prepaying) and take advantage of the close proximity to the cruise terminal from the lots.

Port of Galveston’s only downside? The nearest major airport is 40 minutes away in Houston. However, worry not! Numerous shuttle services are available to whisk you directly to the cruise terminal.

Fun Fact: It is hard to believe that 2.2 million cruise passengers use this terminal annually.

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Disney, Royal Caribbean

Points Of Interest: Moody Gardens , Pleasure Pier, Seawall, The Strand

The cruise ports on the West Coast of the United States offer a wide range of fabulous cities, diverse weather, and opportunities for sailing around the area, trans-Pacific crossings, and specialty cruises.

Port Of San Diego (California)

Experience the beauty and convenience of the exceptional Port of San Diego . Getting to the port is a breeze, with various parking options and a convenient cruise ship shuttle from the airport. And that’s only some of it — many cruise lines even offer a complimentary pre-night hotel room.

I personally loved taking advantage of this option before setting sail from the Port of San Diego. Book your cruise now and let the cruise line shuttle take care of the rest. San Diego’s weather is exceptional year-round and the flights are relatively quicker and smoother than in other parts of California. I call this a stress-free cruise port.

Sailing From Here: Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian , Princess

Points Of Interest: San Diego Zoo , Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, USS Midway Museum. 

Port Of Los Angeles (California)

Discover the luxury and cruise lines variety at World Cruise Center at Port of Los Angeles (actually in San Pedro, California). Arriving at this massive port is a breeze, whether driving a car or using transportation options like shuttles, taxis, or Uber. Parking is $20 per day.

Avoid the high cost of taxis and enjoy a ride from LAX for just $40 with a rideshare service. From John Wayne Airport, expect to pay around $60, though nearly $100 for a taxi. Embark on your dream cruise effortlessly and at a great price from the World Cruise Center.

Sailing From Here: Azamara , Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Seabourn, Silversea , Viking Ocean

Points Of Interest: Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios

Port Of Long Beach (California)

Discover the convenient and stress-free Port of Long Beach , just a stone’s throw away from the Los Angeles cruise port. As a cruise port owned by Carnival Corporation , it offers an easier and more accessible experience than LA. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Queen Mary , this gem provides an alternative West Coast sailing experience away from the bustling cities. Located just 23 miles from LAX, you can park your car for only $23 per day. Plus, ample parking options exist for oversized vehicles adjacent to the covered garage.

Points Of Interest: Knott’s Berry Farm , Long Beach Museum of Art, Aquarium of the Pacific 

Port Of San Francisco (California)

For a city this big, I was surprised that the Port of San Francisco was not busier and bigger, but honestly, it is not one bit intimidating. Parking runs around $18 per day and there are many options for getting there, including bus, Uber, Lyft, and shuttles.

Sailing From Here: Crystal Cruises, Disney, Princess, Royal Caribbean

Points Of Interest: Alcatraz Island, Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Park

Port Of Seattle (Washington)

The cruise port of Seattle is your gateway to Alaska , so hopefully in your lifetime, you’ll explore this one for yourself. There are two terminals (Piers 91 and 66), with parking running $22–$27 per day, though shuttles and Lyft are the most popular ways to get there. The airport is 40 minutes away.

Sailing From Here: Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania , Princess, Royal Caribbean

Points Of Interest: Pike Place Market, the Space Needle , Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass

This article originally appeared on TravelAwaits

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The Marked Man

• Christopher Spata Times staff
• Dan Sullivan Times staff
• A Life, Cast Into Chaos
• Surviving a Death Sentence
• Who Killed Barbara Grams?
• After Prison, a Search for a Good Life

About the story

I: a life, cast into chaos, a teen goes on trial in a sensational murder case hinging on a bite mark..

The maintenance man climbed to the country club roof at dawn. As he reattached a loose panel to a leaking air duct last fall, the placid fairways glowed, and his mind went back years — to another rooftop, another brief moment of peace, when he’d gazed out at a vista of razor wire. Back then, while laboring in prison blues, he’d called out to his boss for a tool. A guard threw him in solitary confinement for raising his voice.

Most of Robert DuBoise’s memories go something like that.

These days, DuBoise walks carpeted hallways in orthopedic work boots, carrying his ladder. Members of Ardea Country Club in Oldsmar see a sweet 59-year-old with puffy eyes and a grin. “How are you today?” he asks in his froggy voice. “Is there anything I can do?” They may have heard about his 37 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, but few know how his unlikely freedom intertwines with a bigger Tampa saga.

DuBoise’s 2020 exoneration in a single murder and rape case revealed what authorities call a vicious spree of serial killings, the links between them buried in case files and a morgue cabinet for decades.

When he walked free, much lay ahead: his bid for compensation, a search for the true killers, a political power struggle — and the question of how to salvage what was left of his life.

Yet DuBoise doesn’t complain. Stuck in traffic, he smiles: “I’m grateful to even be sitting at a red light.” He possesses what a judge called “an uncommon capacity for grace and forgiveness.” Pressed on the matter, however, he eventually relents.

“Just because I have a good attitude,” he said, “does not mean I’m not mad about what was done to me.”

Home after a long workday last year, DuBoise leaned back on his faux-leather loveseat. He gazed off, seemingly beyond the bounds of his one-room efficiency with its twin bed against the wall, positioned just like in prison. People kept telling him his story mattered. If that were so, he wanted it told in its entirety.

His name was clear. But he was still living like he had something to prove.

TAMPA, 1983

An 18-year-old Robert DuBoise pedaled his 10-speed across the city at twilight. From the red-brick Seminole Heights rental where he lived with his family of seven, he streaked past Cuban cafes, bars and trailer parks along the shoulder of Hillsborough Avenue to his job at Noel’s Auto Upholstery near Town ‘N Country. His long, dark hair blew in the warm wind and auto exhaust.

The kid was a worker, had been ever since he’d dragged a lawnmower up the street at age 8 to bring cash home. He’d dropped out his sophomore year but could fix nearly anything, an almost preternatural ability he’d honed alongside a handy father who’d been paralyzed after slipping in a meat freezer.

“I was his hands,” DuBoise said. “We couldn’t pay someone to fix things.”

After a long day at the shop, DuBoise would load his bike into a coworker’s trunk. At his friend’s apartment, they’d share dinner — taking turns holding his friend’s baby. DuBoise saw possibilities.

He’d always been a bit of a romantic. At 13, he’d had a cousin ink an older girl’s initials on his forearm and the name of her little daughter on his bicep with a homemade tattoo gun. Even as a kid he dreamed of a wife and children.

DuBoise’s own family was close. He had a brother and four sisters. From 14 on, he did the driving, with everyone piling in for errands. While his mother shopped for bologna and instant mashed potatoes, his dad and grandma read the Tampa Tribune in the car.

On top of the family’s government assistance, DuBoise used his pay from odd jobs and the upholstery shop to help provide. Sometimes, they ate rice from the church pantry. When the rent went up, they moved. It was a modest life. He counted on little more.

They knew tragedy — their father’s crippling fall, a 2-year-old sister’s sudden death, their Ballast Point home’s destruction in a spectacular fire. An older sister claimed “a dark cloud” followed the family. She ran away at 15, alleging abuse by an uncle and violent discipline at the hands of her grandmother.

When DuBoise was 17, a sheriff’s deputy caught him and a friend sitting on a car hood in a Brandon apartment complex. A hose dangled from the gas tank of a Ranchero, with gasoline siphoning into a bucket. A stolen toolbox and extension cord sat nearby. DuBoise fessed up.

His mom, Myra, worried about her son running with an iffy crowd, like an older guy who’d been busted for drugs. She knew they killed time at a sleazy motel on Hillsborough Avenue and a service station in a rough stretch of town.

One night, DuBoise and his family dropped off his little sister at Tampa Skating Center. His favorite station, Q105-FM, had been playing The Police’s new single nonstop. “Every breath you take,” sang Sting, “I’ll be watching you.”

In the parking lot, a middle-aged Tampa police detective strode over. Phillip Saladino knew the family from patrolling their old South Tampa neighborhood. He peered in, past DuBoise’s father, toward the teenager. Maybe, he suggested, DuBoise could help him with an investigation?

DuBoise didn’t know he could say no. What he also didn’t know was that Saladino had been looking for him. A woman about his age had been found dead behind a dentist’s office — stripped, raped and beaten. Police had no clear suspects, but a gas station clerk near the scene had pointed to DuBoise as part of a group known to “cause problems.”

THE BOOMING ‘80S

Freshly paved neighborhoods sprouted where swamps and orange groves once stood. Out-of-towners bought up suburban Carrollwood and Brandon, while hotels multiplied along West Shore Boulevard. Anchoring the sprawling region was Tampa, a hardscrabble port town shaped by its Latin heritage and a belief that the city could be something greater.

Amid all the ribbon cuttings, violent crime surged. By mid-1983, local cops and prosecutors were inundated with murder cases.

Barbara Grams lived close to downtown, a 19-year-old with lots of friends. She worked a fast food job at the Tampa Bay Center mall, taking it seriously enough to report an employee for stealing from the register — though not so seriously that she didn’t slip free baked potatoes to her friends. Her boss noticed she hung out with “acid rocker types.”

Late that August, as the skylights darkened, Grams wound down a shift at the Hot Potato, spooning cheese sauce and turkey cubes onto steaming spuds.

She clocked out past 9 p.m., after workers rolled down security cages and exited past the dormant carousel and the “Risky Business” movie poster with Tom Cruise peering over his Ray-Bans.

She stepped into the warm Tampa air, a thin braid swinging in her loose brown hair.

Grams had moved out of her parents’ place a couple of years earlier. She shared a home with three male roommates and their mom in Riverside Heights. Wanting the exercise, she’d declined a ride from one of her housemates who’d stopped by for a plate. She was taking amphetamine diet pills, “black beauties,” worried about her figure.

She crossed the mall parking lot with the Buccaneers’ sombrero-shaped stadium at her back. She wore a pink tube top, toting her work clothes in a County Seat shopping bag. She passed dark offices and glowing storefronts, crossed the Hillsborough River and turned onto North Boulevard, her street.

She kept away from Memorial Park Cemetery. The gravestones creeped her out, especially after dark.

Friends making a run for sodas and cigarettes at Hutto’s Corner Grocery honked when they spotted her, but she waved them off. She was four blocks from home.

When they doubled back minutes later, she was gone.

The next morning, Saladino and Kenneth Burke, another veteran investigator, stood at an autopsy table, looking over the young woman’s battered body.

A medical examiner pointed to a semicircular mark over Grams’ left cheekbone. It looked like a bite.

UNDER SCRUTINY

Thirty-nine days after Grams was found, the detective picked up DuBoise on a weekend morning. Downtown in the empty detective division, Saladino handed the teenager a yellow block. DuBoise bit down, feeling gooey beeswax press against his tongue and cheeks, like thick Jell-O.

Years later, DuBoise would testify that they passed two young women on a sidewalk as Saladino drove him home from the station.

“Blondes or brunettes?” he recalled the detective asking.

“What does it matter?” DuBoise replied.

Detectives had been busy collecting wax tooth impressions from more than a dozen of Grams’ acquaintances and other men. Improvising, they had a mouthpiece fashioned at a high school’s machine shop, to use with beeswax from a police captain’s hive. They sent the results to a dentist they’d enlisted to seek a match.

Everywhere DuBoise went in the following days, it seemed Saladino had been there first. He’d questioned people at the upholstery shop and the Journey’s End bar where DuBoise shot pool. DuBoise tried calling to see what was up, but Saladino brushed him off.

Not long after, the dentist notified detectives that he’d found a match.

On Friday, Oct. 21, DuBoise accepted an invite from Joanne “Josie” Suarez to go bar hopping. He’d met Suarez earlier that year when she nearly ran him over in a bar parking lot. She was four years older and dressed differently than the people he knew, like someone on TV. She was still recovering from a violent car crash that left her scarred and taking a lot of prescription painkillers, but DuBoise liked her.

To her, DuBoise was just some strange, poor kid she let hang around. “A lowlife,” she said years later.

Closing in on DuBoise, police approached Suarez. Your pal killed someone, she remembers them telling her. You need to help us bring him in.

DuBoise didn’t know he was being led to his arrest when he rented one of the Peter Pan Motel’s rickety rooms off Hillsborough Avenue before their night out, hoping Suarez would come back with him. Around 2 a.m., after stopping at one last bar, he drove Suarez there. They’d just gotten inside when the police knocked.

Years later, DuBoise testified that the officers claimed his mother was in trouble. Come with us, they’d said.

Confused, he went. An officer sat with him in a sergeant’s office, chatting idly about fishing. DuBoise was half-listening, worrying about his mom, when the man asked: “Why did you do it?”

“Why’d I do what?” he replied.

“Why’d you kill her?”

“Kill who?”

DuBoise tensed as four men held him down and shackled his wrists and ankles.

He yelled that he wasn’t a killer, all the way to the Morgan Street Jail.

Dragged into a cell, his face hit a concrete bunk. A nurse approached with a syringe.

His heart pounded as the sedative hit his bloodstream. He drifted into blackness.

DuBoise awoke groggy. He tried to move his arms, but they were strapped. He stared at the ceiling. A day earlier, he’d cruised wide open streets.

At his first court appearance, he learned he’d been charged with first-degree murder. Who’d been killed, or how, he did not know. He had no sense of what evidence the state might claim to have.

The detainees on the 16-cell block that became his new world acted strangely. Sedated, they walked in place like zombies. The inmates called it “the Thorazine shuffle.”

As months passed, he got drips of information. It felt like forever before he met his court-appointed lawyer, and forever before he saw him again — and by then it was a different guy.

He took a polygraph. He was told he’d passed, but nothing changed. He had no idea how any of this worked. Legally, DuBoise had reached adulthood, but he was still a teenager who lived at home. This was simply too big of a mistake, he thought, clinging to the idea that the people in charge would fix it.

Days blurred as he gazed out his skinny cell window, until one day, he saw familiar faces — Saladino and another officer. Soon, he watched cellmates get called out, one by one.

As they returned, he heard whispers that the detectives were asking about him.

The men came back quickly, except for one. Claude Butler was a small-time criminal, mostly a go-between for drug deals and prostitution. Detectives pulled him aside again and again.

When Butler introduced himself in the dayroom later, DuBoise thought he seemed like a con artist.

“Why do they keep calling you out?” DuBoise asked.

“They’re just trying to help you,” Butler said.

TRIAL, FEBRUARY 1985

DuBoise had waited 16 months in jail when sheriff’s deputies walked him into a courtroom. His grandmother had bought him a gray three-piece suit with wide lapels. His hair had grown scraggly, but he’d declined a cut. They want me to look like a schoolboy, he’d thought, but that’s not me.

His muscles ached after standing in a holding cell since 4 a.m., but he felt oddly relieved. His trial — the truth, as he saw it — had finally arrived. Soon he’d be back to helping his dad around the house and driving for his mom, who’d never learned.

The victim’s parents held hands in the front row. Judge Harry Lee Coe III peered down from the bench through thick glasses. People had called him “Hangin’ Harry” ever since he was a minor league pitcher slinging curveballs said to hang in the air. By then the name referenced his harsh sentences — 99 years for a teenager who’d robbed a cabbie of $14, or life for a man who fell $41 behind on probation payments.

DuBoise stiffened as lawyers probed potential jurors, asking their opinions on the death penalty.

He eyed the prosecutor, broad and tall with Beatles-style hair. Mark Ober led the state attorney’s “major crimes” division, meaning mostly homicides. He knew how to manage a case that wasn’t an easy win. In 1980, for instance, he put away a former cop who’d killed a security guard during a supermarket robbery.

In his calming drawl, Ober told the jury that the young man at the defense table was a murderer.

Not until right then did DuBoise fully comprehend the detailed story built against him.

A dentist had discovered Barbara Grams after pulling up to his office near Hutto’s Corner. He spotted an emptied purse and wallet first, then a woman on her back, nude but for a tube top pulled over her breasts.

Bloody boards lay in the grass. A pair of knees, it seemed, had dug ruts in the dirt during a struggle.

The woman had been raped and bludgeoned — the center of her face an open wound. She also had an odd semicircular mark over her left cheekbone with fainter ragged edges above it. A bite mark, Ober told the jury.

DuBoise watched Ober gesture toward him, explaining how, “in a fit of violent rage,” he was the one responsible.

Over two weeks, Ober called a parade of witnesses, and DuBoise felt more and more like he was outside, watching through a window.

Some of the physical evidence actually pointed away from him. Hairs lifted from Grams’ body, for instance, didn’t match his. Ober began by building his case on words.

A neighbor recalled a late-night scream, a loud radio and tires screeching.

Another witness lived at the Peter Pan Motel. He claimed he’d met a sullen DuBoise at a party and that DuBoise said, “I’m wanted for murder.”

I don’t even know this guy, DuBoise thought.

Josie Suarez took the stand. She called DuBoise a friend, though she believed he harbored a crush. She said he’d bragged about fighting and killing and that she’d seen scratches on his chest and back. Another time, she said, he’d flashed a ring on his pinkie like one missing from Grams’ finger.

Why, DuBoise wondered, was she saying this crap? Was she scared of the cops?

Claude Butler took the stand in jail clothes. He was, by then, serving time for robbery and kidnapping.

He told the jury he’d known DuBoise before lockup. They were “real good friends.”

DuBoise gaped. They’d met on the cell block.

DuBoise had initially proclaimed his innocence, Butler said. But on Christmas 1983, as the prisoners gathered to watch TV, he said, DuBoise confessed.

In Butler’s retelling, DuBoise had been riding around, drinking and getting high with his brother, Victor, and their friend Ray Garcia. Short on money, the men tried to snatch Barbara Grams’ purse, but she recognized Garcia. They threw her in the car.

“The next thing he know, he said that he was having sex with the girl,” Butler said, “and he said then, while he was having sex with her, said that Ray hit the girl with a stick, said that it grossed him out, so he got up off the girl.”

Butler claimed a tearful DuBoise described watching the other men rape the woman before his brother hit her again.

Ober asked Butler if he’d been promised anything in exchange for his testimony.

No, he said.

THE BITE MARK

It soon became clear that the heart of the state’s case was the bite mark.

Ober’s star witness was Richard Souviron, a suave dentist famed for his role in securing a conviction against serial killer Ted Bundy. A “founding father” in the nascent field of forensic odontology, he’d testified in a handful of bite-mark cases by 1985 and would go on to testify in dozens more.

In the DuBoise case, he explained, he’d tried examining the actual bite mark, but the formaldehyde it was preserved in had shrunk it. Instead, Souviron reviewed photographs.

He’d excluded other suspects, such as Grams’ roommates and a man who’d given her diet pills, by looking at the beeswax models of their teeth, he said.

Souviron held a cast of DuBoise’s teeth over a photo of Grams’ wound as he narrated exactly how they’d gripped the young woman’s cheek.

“The teeth of Robert DuBoise, upper and lower, left the bite mark on the left cheek of Barbara Grams,” the dentist said, “to a reasonable degree of dental certainty.”

During cross-examination, Robert Nutter, one of DuBoise’s defense attorneys, grilled Souviron about a speech the dentist had given about three months earlier to a convention of police chiefs. Nutter quoted:

“If you tell me that is the guy that did it, I will go into court and say that is the guy that did it.”

“I have no problem with that if you tell me the guy confessed.”

Souviron suggested the defense lawyer took his statements grossly out of context.

Angelo Ferlita, the other defense attorney, ridiculed Souviron as “the great super sleuth.” He’d already lambasted bite mark evidence as unscientific and called to the stand another expert dentist who said DuBoise was not the biter.

To the jury, Ober acknowledged the evidence was imperfect. There was not a single eyewitness tying DuBoise to the victim or the scene. There were no fingerprints, no hairs or other physical evidence. But, he argued, there was no evidence to prove DuBoise wasn’t there.

Later, the prosecutor sipped a soft drink in the courthouse hallway. Another lawyer, who’d been observing the trial, walked past and quietly declared, “That’s not guilty. That’s called not guilty.”

THE VERDICT

DuBoise studied the jurors as they took their seats after 1½ days of deliberation. Some of the women, he thought, looked like they’d been crying.

The foreperson passed a sheet of paper to a bailiff, who gave it to Judge Coe, who asked DuBoise to stand.

Guilty of first-degree murder.

Guilty of attempted sexual battery.

“Fuck this shit,” DuBoise muttered. He kicked a chair as deputies hustled him out of the room to cool down.

When he returned, the bailiffs had taken his necktie. “I know you’re in a tough position …” Coe started.

“You don’t know how tough it is,” DuBoise yelled.

He turned to his attorneys.

“I don’t want them to kill me,” he said. “Get me out of here!”

Coe moved to the trial’s death penalty phase, a process that lasted mere minutes.

Ober displayed a photo of Grams’ injuries and spoke of the pain she’d have felt. He suggested to jurors that they had made a promise to her: nothing less than DuBoise’s death.

The defense called DuBoise’s father. Victor DuBoise Sr. entered in his wheelchair to describe his “good son” as a “typical teenager.”

None of the jurors voted for death.

That wouldn’t matter. After they’d left, Ober asked the judge to overrule.

Coe called the killing “especially wicked, evil, atrocious, and cruel.” Calmly, he ordered that DuBoise “be sentenced to die in the electric chair.”

WELCOME TO DEATH ROW

With chains running from his wrists to his ankles, DuBoise stared from the back seat of the sheriff’s cruiser, desperate to be out there in the dark fields flying by along Interstate 75.

Florida State Prison appeared as the sun was rising, green and gloomy and bigger than he’d imagined. A lieutenant stood at the back ramp barking rules. DuBoise heard none of them. For all he knew, he was going to be killed right then.

Guards marched him down a long hallway, through the general population, every door sealed tight for the arrival of a condemned prisoner.

Entering death row as the newest of more than 200 men awaiting execution, he heard the clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk of his cell door cranking open, then slamming shut. There was no mattress.

Someone tossed a note by his door, “You sure are pretty.”

DuBoise stood by the bars and screamed.

Your support makes a difference

The Marked Man is based on more than a year of research and reporting by Times reporters Christopher Spata and Dan Sullivan. They reviewed over 11,000 pages of documents and spoke with more than 50 people, including 25 hours of interviews with Robert DuBoise.

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II: Surviving a Death Sentence

There’s no easy fix to a murder conviction. it would take a moonshot..

After 502 days in county jail and a bewildering trial, Robert DuBoise’s freckled face had turned pale and scabbed with acne. Before a Florida State Prison official took his mug shot, someone chopped off the feathery rocker hair he’d kept as a way of holding onto himself.

Incarceration does not make a man a criminal, but in prison, what was the difference? His insistence that he had nothing to do with the 1983 rape and murder of Barbara Grams was all but worthless inside, except to his own small flame of dignity. Every day that passed in here was another gone forever.

That first summer, 1985, a record heat wave baked the building. DuBoise, now 20 years old, lay on the bare concrete with the roaches, trying to get cool. The place stunk of sweat. Like the 96 other men on his wing, he washed his socks in the sink and hung them from the bars to dry. His toilet leaked, making puddles of grime.

Though the state provided death row prisoners with a lawyer, DuBoise was fuzzy on what his might be doing. He had a dim sense that challenging the prosecution’s specious trial evidence would take a very long time, if it were even possible.

DuBoise had no way of knowing then what it would require to be cleared of a capital murder conviction. He would need not only a first-class legal effort, but scientific advances and the compassion of strangers. Ten years could vanish between court moves. The elements of a successful exoneration would need to line up like 7s on a slot machine.

“I knew,” he said, “it wasn’t an easy fix anymore.”

DEATH ROW DAYS

What everyone tried to avoid thinking about was the electric chair. The lights flickered whenever staff tested “Old Sparky.” The dreadful buzz of a twin-engine propeller plane meant the delivery of another death warrant signed by the governor. During DuBoise’s first year, the state executed seven men.

If the plane came for him, he imagined charging the fence, forcing the tower guards to shoot. But you only learned your warrant was signed after you were cuffed and locked down in a death watch cell.

Executions left DuBoise wracked with sadness. In prison, he learned not to judge people by their old ways but by how they treated him. Most of the inmates struck him as pretty good guys. “That’s a human life,” he thought.

Twenty-three hours a day inside a cell felt far longer. He waited for another tray of cold rice and gravy to come through the slot. He flipped through the same worn True Detective magazine. He usually managed three or four hours of sleep.

Several times a week, water ran cold over DuBoise’s shorn head in a dirty shower stall — those five minutes being, for the first few weeks, his only time outside a windowless, sickly green cell.

“The yard,” an unshaded concrete pen, was the one place death row inmates came face-to-face. DuBoise remembers seeing his first stabbing there.

The arrival of deodorant from the canteen meant Mondays. Overpriced ice cream marked Fridays — until someone melted a pint of vanilla to smuggle in a $50 bill, leading to a ban. The newscast on his cell’s tiny state-provided, black-and-white TV signaled 6 p.m. Such mundane events offered desperately needed proof that time still moved.

Many inmates tried to get pen pals to fall in love with them and send money. Writing consumed DuBoise’s days, only his letters went to the Tampa Tribune, the St. Petersburg Times and The Ledger in Lakeland. He wrote to the little weekly paper that covered the prison town, the Bradford County Telegraph. He wrote to journalists in Washington and New York, to the mayor of Tampa and the governor of Florida. He wrote to investigators in detective magazines and shows he watched, like “60 Minutes” and “20/20.” In exacting handwriting that could stretch beyond 20 pages, he’d detail his arrest, his trial, the flimsy evidence. Would someone, please, look at the facts?

Sometimes he wondered about who’d really killed Barbara Grams. Whose place was he in? Then he’d think, What’s that matter to me? But the system demands closure. To go free, there’d likely need to be an answer: If you didn’t do it, who did?

Three years had dripped by when a prison administrator appeared at the gate of his cell. DuBoise’s lawyer had gotten his death sentence reduced to life in prison.

“Are you kidding me?” DuBoise said.

“I thought you’d be happy,” the administrator said.

DuBoise wanted to fight his conviction, not his sentence. Leaving death row, he knew, meant losing his state-funded attorney. His mother could place $5, maybe $10 a week in his account, enough for stamps or ramen noodles, but hardly a lawyer. He needed help, but from where, he didn’t know.

Departing the relative calm of death row for the boisterous halls of general population meant trading the 15 highly confined inmates in his section for about 1,000 men — many of them lifers — with the freedom to roam.

The gate to DuBoise’s new cell popped open at 5 a.m. Each morning, he stood inside, alert, wondering if this would be the day men would step in to rob him or worse.

In this way, decades passed.

Decades of heavy steel doors slammed shut to seal off the wing where people were brawling. Decades of wondering if the brush of another man’s sleeve might turn deadly. Decades entombed by concrete and steel, with no shortage of items that could be ground into a sharp point. He saw about a dozen stabbings.

DuBoise navigated the finicky prison codes. He weighed letting things go against the mortal danger of appearing to be a pushover. Everyone had a hustle. “What game is this person running,” he learned to ask himself, wary of both inmates and guards.

He heated instant coffee with the current from a bare wire and toasted stale slices of wheat in a tinfoil box he’d rigged with light bulbs. It was a poor substitute for the tiny cups of espresso he enjoyed from West Tampa’s Fourth of July Cafe, always with a buttered hunk of Cuban bread. Using ingredients slipped from the kitchen, he avoided the drama of the chow hall by eating decades of American cheese sandwiches in his cell.

Years passed with sporadic family visits. “Sorry it’s been three years …” a sister would write. DuBoise never held it against them. His letters home avoided mention of his troubles, “because that’s like sentencing your loved ones to be in prison with you.” He cried when the guards called him into the chapel to tell him his father died, but those were his last tears. Emotion, he knew, gets used against you.

He was 20. Then 30. Then 40.

Work proved his saving grace. His first-ever job, he remembers, came at his own request: Could he repair the broken warmers on the carts that brought cold food to death row? After that, his aptitude for solving mechanical mysteries got him assignments servicing air conditioners and electrical fixtures, even the warden’s car. Off the clock, he’d ingratiate himself by fixing inmates’ radios or the lights in their cells.

Work acted first as a distraction, then a sort of meditation, and finally a salvation from the stigma of guilt. If he said he could fix something, then did, no one could deny he was telling the truth. No one could deny his worth. “You show (the guards) you can do that,” said a friend of DuBoise’s from prison, “and they treat you like a human.”

Countless hours passed in monkish devotion atop ladders, between walls, on rooftops and even outside the fence. His tool belt let him roam where few prisoners could.

Still, prison is prison. By the time George W. Bush became president, DuBoise had logged about nine months combined in solitary confinement for a dozen offenses, from smoking a joint to having dirt on his cell bars to possessing a jar of peanut butter. Once, when he wasn’t in his cell at the end of the day, the prison charged him with an escape attempt.

Another time, DuBoise got in trouble when, instead of listening to the guards, he’d simply “kept on writing his letter.” He never stopped writing.

“My family has no money to hire an attorney and every one I’ve written to over the years wants money first,” he wrote in April 2006 to the Innocence Project, the famed nonprofit law firm in New York. “If only I could get someone to read my case and see that I’m telling the truth and help me.”

One more plea cast into the ether.

HELP FROM OUTSIDE

By late 2006, DuBoise’s hope had dimmed. He was 41, more than half his life spent inside. His hairline receded into a widow’s peak. Wrinkles creased his forehead.

While working maintenance in the kitchen at Polk Correctional Institution, he spotted what he recognized as a civilian employee’s key ring left hanging from a door. If caught with it, he’d surely be thrown in the hole. He pocketed the keys anyway.

“Grab this,” he whispered to food service manager Lurdes Sanchez in the kitchen the following day.

“What?” the diminutive woman with long black hair answered in her heavy Nuyorican accent. “I’m not grabbing nothing.”

She glanced down and saw her keys. If he’d turned them in, she’d have lost her job, maybe even been charged with a crime.

DuBoise was working on an ice machine days later when Sanchez found him to say hello.

“Are you an idiot?” asked another inmate later. “That girl likes you.”

Next time, she appeared with a plate of tacos she’d cooked. DuBoise noticed how hurt she looked when he explained he was vegetarian. He took extra care in telling her it was nothing personal.

Sanchez was divorced, in her 40s. He crafted her a jewelry box. She snuck in Calvin Klein cologne. They shared discreet “kisses” by sipping soda from the same straw. “He’d turn so red,” Sanchez said. Later, they’d actually kiss in the walk-in refrigerator. Soon DuBoise was sending letters to her teenage daughter, Lisette, too. He imagined adopting her, thinking he’d probably have a daughter her age if he’d stayed free. Strict rules barred relationships with inmates, but Sanchez believed in DuBoise’s innocence enough that she quit.

The 25th anniversary of the killing of Barbara Grams was approaching, along with DuBoise’s first chance at parole. In 2007, Sanchez, by then his fiancée, drove to Tallahassee with his mother to face the commission that would decide whether he was suitable for release.

A 10-minute timer began to tick down. There were mistakes in his case, the women pleaded. “My son,” Myra DuBoise sobbed, “is innocent.”

The commissioners interrupted. They weren’t there, they said, to retry the case.

They turned to a woman who read a letter by Grams’ mother, who described how she’d been kept from seeing her daughter’s body because it had been so disfigured.

“Exceptionally brutal,” the commissioners called the crime. They said DuBoise’s release could “cause unreasonable risk.” They set his presumptive parole date in the year 2094, when he’d be 130.

He’d get another parole hearing soon enough, they said. “See you again in five years.”

THE PROMISE OF DNA

DuBoise’s disappointment was tempered, if only because he had another plan.

For years, he’d watched “World News Tonight” and “48 Hours.” He read USA Today and any local newspapers he could get, paying particular attention to murder cases and DNA analysis.

First introduced as evidence in a criminal court in 1986 — a year after his own trial — DNA had proliferated, even leading to exonerations. He’d heard it was possible to file a motion for post-conviction DNA testing.

For how much media attention DNA exonerations could attract, it seemed maddeningly tough to convince the state to dig up or test evidence. Even then, DNA results might not set someone free. But maybe they might be a start.

DuBoise’s fiancée and sister found a lawyer willing to work for cheap, and by 2008, they’d managed to get a hearing on a request to test DNA evidence. His family felt so sure he’d go free that Sanchez packed him jeans and a button-down, which sat folded on the seat of her car as DuBoise stepped once more into a Tampa courtroom.

At the bench was a new judge — a fresh set of eyes that gave DuBoise hope.

The judge who’d presided over his trial 23 years earlier was dead. Harry Lee Coe III had gone on to win election as Hillsborough County’s state attorney. Years later, media reports revealed he’d sunk into gambling debt and borrowed money from employees. Amid the scandal, Coe took his own life.

Mark Ober, the popular lawyer who’d sent DuBoise to prison, succeeded Coe as the elected state attorney.

Now one of Ober’s assistant prosecutors would be fighting the challenge to one of his signature wins.

Meanwhile, DuBoise’s inexpensive lawyer seemed overmatched. She told the court that DuBoise had testified at his trial. He hadn’t. And in a bizarre move, she suggested that DNA testing would turn up not DuBoise’s DNA, but his brother’s and a friend’s. That would have only bolstered the theory that all three men had participated in the killing.

Another blow: DuBoise’s best shot at DNA evidence — biological swabs, nail clippings and hair samples from the autopsy — had been destroyed. Disposed, the evidence log said, in 1990, during a routine post-appeals cleanout. Rape kit samples taken by the medical examiner, a detective told the court, were also long gone.

What remained were microscope slides with hair and debris from the scene, but experts said the chemical process to unseal those slides likely would destroy any DNA. There seemed to be nothing else to test.

The prosecutor argued that they shouldn’t bother. After all, a witness had claimed DuBoise confessed.

DuBoise couldn’t believe the pushback. Why not just test those slides and see?

“I have never bombarded this court with frivolous filings,” he wrote to the judge. “I have never tried to beat this case by technicalities. ... I am asking that you test evidence. Not someone’s word or speculation.”

Three weeks later, the judge ruled: No.

Not long after, Sanchez moved to New Jersey to work as a nurse caretaker, a job she needed after spending so much on DuBoise’s lawyers. She kept the wedding dress she’d bought and said she’d intended to stay engaged. But DuBoise felt sure she’d met someone new.

How could he really know, with this chasm separating their worlds? They may have still loved each other, but their relationship required a level of trust that prison blighted. He wrote to her to say they should both move on.

It hurt, losing the dream of a family yet again, but he wasn’t mad at her. No one, he thought, could wait forever. And maybe it was easier for him, too. In prison, the harder someone holds on to the outside, the worse it hurts.

ONE LAST CHANCE

Parole was all that remained, so he tried playing that game anew. In 2012, he provided the commission with certificates from the sorts of self-help courses he’d heard they liked, such as anger management classes, and his recent baptism.

Denied. See you in five years.

In 2017, his records showed no disciplinary incidents in nearly two decades. The commission wanted remorse. “I can’t be remorseful,” he said, “for something that I didn’t do.”

Denied. See you in seven years.

Sunlight blanketed the path before DuBoise the day he got news of that last rejection. He walked the concrete stretch between prison buildings called “the street.” He was in his mid-50s. No appeals left. He rubbed his hands together and said a little prayer.

Sometime after that, his eye caught his name on a sheet posted by a door. Legal mail. That puzzled him. Eight years had passed since any court activity.

The next morning, he picked up an envelope from the mailroom. It bore a return address from the Innocence Project — 13 years after he’d first written.

Within a week, he sat across from a sharply dressed young woman born in Brooklyn the year he got locked up. Susan Friedman held degrees in law and biomedical sciences. She had expertise in emerging DNA technology and experience representing people whose convictions rested on unreliable forensic science. She’d visited plenty of prisons, but the first thing she noticed about DuBoise was how respectfully the guards treated him, like no prisoner she’d seen before.

As his new lawyer spoke, DuBoise heard things he’d always believed about his case but had been helpless to prove — things about bite mark evidence and jailhouse informants. Finally, someone was promising to unravel what happened in 1983.

What DuBoise didn’t know was that it was good timing at last in Hillsborough County. It had only taken 35 years.

A different kind of state attorney — for Tampa, at least — had swept into town.

Andrew Warren, a wiry, polished, progressive politician, stood before a few dozen local lawyers and judges in early 2020. They’d gathered for a luncheon at a downtown law center, and Warren was the featured speaker — there to showcase a new initiative.

“From my first days as a prosecutor, I had the same concern that all good prosecutors should,” Warren said over clanking cutlery. “What happens if I get it wrong?”

Warren four years earlier had shocked the Tampa establishment by winning the job of top prosecutor in old-school Hillsborough County. The ambitious political newcomer, who’d mostly been a white-collar federal prosecutor outside Florida, managed to unseat Ober by riding a wave of support for criminal justice reform.

Imagine, Warren told the crowd, that of the 15,000 felony prosecutions his office handled each year, they got 99.9% right. “That means in 15 cases a year, people are wrongfully convicted.”

To that end, he’d created Hillsborough’s conviction review unit to investigate closed cases in which defendants claimed innocence. With far easier access to case files, evidence and witnesses, Warren said, prosecutors can investigate such claims in ways defense lawyers simply can’t. That efficiency can spare innocent people years or decades behind bars. Similar review entities had cropped up across the country as false convictions made big news.

To run it, Warren had selected another outsider to Tampa’s insular legal scene. Teresa Hall was short and self-assured, with a disarming Midwestern folksiness. She was right for the job, she believed, in part because of her respect for street-level police work. Before taking up law in her mid-30s, she’d started her career as a paramedic in Indianapolis, working alongside cops.

“It’s one thing to sit in an office,” she says, “but it’s another when you’re in the home and someone’s brains are splattered all over the wall.”

Reviewing convictions required a willingness to highlight uncomfortable mistakes from inside an organization — something she’d done in a previous gig, assessing a hospital’s treatment of its patients. Warren hired her, in a way, to do that again.

It could get isolating, being the lone lawyer scrutinizing convictions in an office filled with lawyers working to secure them. Hall believed her prosecutor colleagues got things right most of the time. Everyone treated her cordially, but she knew some rolled their eyes, thinking: That’s what defense attorneys and appeals courts are for.

To those who said her work was a waste of time, she’d reply: There are about 3,000 people in the national database of exonerees who may disagree.

At the luncheon, Hall took the microphone after her boss and explained how prisoners’ petitions came to her. A few were typed by defense attorneys. Others arrived from prison cells, barely legible, scrawled in faded ink.

They told tales of injustice, convoluted yarns about malfeasance and faulty forensics. Asked to explain why they were innocent, many delivered a generic refrain: Because I didn’t do it .

Each time, Hall imagined that she was re-prosecuting the case. Could she convict this person again? Most often, her answer was yes.

In her first year, hundreds of petitions and their files filled her cubbyhole of an office. She moved to a larger space, and again the banker boxes piled toward the ceiling. After 15 months, she had not recommended freeing anyone.

The day that Hall spoke, another months-old petition waited on her desk, this one in the case of the State v. Robert Earl DuBoise.

DIGGING INTO DUBOISE

In February 2020, when Hall started reading the 156-page document the Innocence Project filed on DuBoise’s behalf, she bristled.

The petition, in her opinion, went over the top in disparaging Tampa police and prosecutors, as if they’d been willfully out to get DuBoise in 1983.

As Hall read on, however, she couldn’t deny the case’s weakness.

Friedman, the Innocence Project lawyer, had left the prison after her first meeting with DuBoise determined to begin her own step-by-step reinvestigation of the murder of Barbara Grams.

Police reports, trial transcripts, interviews with experts — she’d collected it all. She flew to Tampa, drove to the site of the long-gone mall, to Grams’ home and the unremarkable path behind a dentist’s office where the young woman died. Then Friedman had put together a blow-by-blow account of the holes in the case.

First, the bite mark. Friedman referenced several studies underscoring the fallibility of bite mark analysis. One found that forensic dentists got it wrong as much as 91% of the time. Another found a 63% error rate. There was a lack of standards for expert testimony on bite mark analysis, she noted, and nationwide, she cited 26 forensic dentists who’d been involved in 31 wrongful convictions secured through bite marks.

These days, dentists are barred from testifying that a particular mark is a “match” to a set of teeth. In addition, the National Academy of Sciences and other research groups have concluded that bite mark analysis has little basis in science.

Friedman would later obtain the help of Adam Freeman, a former president of the American Board of Forensic Odontology. He identified problem after problem with the DuBoise case, from untrained police using beeswax — a medium that can easily distort — to low-quality Polaroids taken of Grams’ skin.

The biggest error he saw was the oddly shaped wound itself. It was, he believed, not a bite mark at all.

Then there was the analysis of Richard Souviron, the dentist who’d insisted in court that DuBoise had bitten Grams. He had retracted his testimony in similar cases.

Back in Tampa, Hall, too, pulled the case files, police reports and trial transcripts to begin a review of her own. Some 3,500 pages of documents arrived around March 2020, just as the world shut down. Hall placed the massive stack on her dining room table and reviewed them from a recliner with a TV tray as a desk.

She noted that Souviron and another dentist who had been consulted in the case had told police the biter may have gaps in his upper front teeth. DuBoise had none.

She found unsettling the fact that police and prosecutors said DuBoise killed Grams with his brother and a friend but had only charged DuBoise.

Documents concerning jailhouse informant Claude Butler seemed particularly curious.

When he spoke up, Butler had been facing a possible life sentence after pleading guilty to robbery and kidnapping charges. Days after first telling prosecutors about DuBoise’s supposed confession, he received five years. And soon after he testified, a document appeared in his file. No promises had been made, it said, but “the interests of justice” required a mitigated sentence. Signed, Mark Ober.

Butler walked free.

Hall searched for Butler, hoping he could explain. When he finally called her back, he was two states and a lifetime away from his troubled youth in Tampa. Hall asked if he had been offered anything in exchange for testifying.

Butler told Hall that he stood by his claims. He described again DuBoise’s supposed confession, adding, “He got this glazed look in his eyes, like he was reliving it.”

Butler’s account struck Hall as odd. She hung up, still questioning his credibility.

Other than the bite-mark testimony and jailhouse informant — both red flags for wrongful convictions — nothing showed that DuBoise and Barbara Grams had known each other. No one said they’d ever seen them together. Hall saw nothing tying DuBoise to the crime.

A STUNNING DISCOVERY

Hall was not expecting to like Friedman, but she couldn’t help it.

As the women talked on the phone, they discussed their growing sense of DuBoise’s innocence. Convincing a judge, Hall cautioned, might take something stronger, like DNA.

Most DNA evidence had been destroyed, but Hall knew the Tampa Police Department still had some odds and ends from the scene, so in the summer of 2020 she asked to see whatever was left.

Days later, Hall stood inside a cramped evidence room as personnel laid out butcher paper. They wheeled in boxes and crates and crumpled brown bags. With gloved hands, they unearthed plaster casts, teeth models, fingerprint cards, cigarette butts. They laid out DuBoise’s old wallet and a copy of his work schedule.

As it began to seem less likely that there was DNA to test, Hall chatted idly with Tampa police Detective Joseph Sustek, who was supervising. He’d heard that medical examiners sometimes keep rape kits of murder victims.

Hall, leaving disappointed, didn’t dwell on the remark. In late July, remembering what Sustek had said, she emailed the medical examiner to ask if, by some long shot, they might have anything. A morgue supervisor unbolted a secure room, unlocked a small, refrigerated drawer and browsed samples from homicides dating back to the 1960s. There they were: three tiny, glass plates, smeared and dyed red, purple and white — samples taken from a body.

A label on each bore handwriting: Grams . Dated 8-19-83 .

No one had ever asked or thought to look.

Hall called the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about testing, but that would likely take months.

To bypass the bureaucratic grind, the Innocence Project offered to pay for testing at a lab in California. Hall wanted an assurance: The state would get the results, even if they wound up proving DuBoise guilty.

On Aug. 17, 2020, DuBoise was working maintenance at Hardee Correctional Institution when officers called him into an office. A prison nurse took out two cotton swabs.

“Open your mouth,” he was told.

He felt the stick scraping his tongue and cheek.

A nurse had DuBoise sign the envelope, marked with a biohazard symbol.

Three days later, Hall was watching an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” at home when her phone chimed.

The lab in California had found epithelial cells — the kind that slough off from skin or other tissue — on the Grams autopsy slides, Friedman told her. Sperm cells, too.

None of it belonged to Robert DuBoise.

The next evening, Hall sat with friends in Ybor City along the sidewalk of Seventh Avenue, people-watching and puffing an Acid cigar with a sweet tip. Her phone chimed again.

Another lab had examined the results, this one with access to an FBI database with the names of millions of felons across the U.S. The sperm cell DNA had produced a match. It wasn’t DuBoise’s brother or their friend Ray Garcia.

It was a man in prison. He was serving a life sentence for another murder in the Tampa Bay area committed on Oct. 22, 1983 — the same day DuBoise was arrested. In a report, he would be referred to as “Person X.”

DuBoise got a call on Monday morning, strange in itself, because inmates could not receive calls. The guards brought him to a back room of the dormitory. On the phone was Friedman, her assistant, two paralegals and several interns at the Innocence Project. Everyone who’d worked on his case.

“You’re going to be free,” Friedman told him. “And they know who really did it.”

III: Who Killed Barbara Grams?

While police targeted robert duboise during tampa’s ‘summer of hell,’ a murder spree went undetected..

Robert DuBoise pulled up to a Love’s truck stop in Jasper, Florida, hauling a semi full of Tropicana orange juice. It was August 2022, almost two years after he walked beyond the razor-topped prison gate into a new, free life. He threw his clothes in the coin laundry and slid into a booth with a coffee.

Cleared, finally, of the murder he didn’t commit as a teenager, DuBoise was 57. His youth was gone. He couldn’t go back to 1983 and make investigators connect the sparse clues sooner. He’d have to settle for the truth, however belatedly it had arrived.

On the truck stop TV he recognized Andrew Warren, the state attorney who’d reviewed his wrongful conviction and facilitated his release.

Warren was talking about two middle-aged faces staring blankly from mug shots — Amos Robinson and Abron Scott.

These were the real killers of 19-year-old Barbara Grams, Warren announced. And, he asserted, she wasn’t their only victim.

‘JAMMED UP WITH HOMICIDES’

The summer of 1983 became, in the words of one cop, a “summer of hell.” Murder cases piled up.

By Halloween, Robinson and Scott would be captured and charged with killing a man. But their links to a series of other murders and rapes — borne out in court documents and new charges — would stay hidden for decades.

With the DNA brought to light by DuBoise’s case as a catalyst, Robinson and Scott are now directly tied to three 1983 murder cases, when the young friends were 18 and 20 years old.

Neither man spoke to the Times for this story.

Beyond the crimes these two men are accused of, the summer of 1983 unfolded in chaos and bloodshed.

When Grams’ body was found behind a dentist’s office, detectives were already swamped. Women’s slain bodies had been turning up in public places in quick succession.

The killings alone weren’t an anomaly given the overall number of homicides, but eight dead women from July to early October with no immediate suspects? People were scared.

As police insisted there were no connections between the crimes, newspapers kept the grim tally. A woman’s nude body was found wrapped in a blanket outside a Busch Gardens-area Burger King; a student was drowned in a ditch after playing Pac-Man at a convenience store; a nurse’s aide was run down by a car and left in a Seminole Heights alley.

Someone raped and stabbed a young woman behind a Thonotosassa gas station. A slain runaway, only 14, was discovered semi-clothed and dumped in the woods near Oldsmar City Hall.

“We don’t have a mad killer (on the) loose,” a police spokesperson told the Tampa Tribune in August after reporters kept asking.

In some of the crimes, that assertion proved true. As fall approached, police apprehended three suspects who confessed or pleaded guilty. Then they arrested DuBoise. Another case closed.

But the remaining homicides stumped detectives until DuBoise went free and modern technology offered fresh leads. Only now can a fuller story be told.

The summer of 1983 began as skyscrapers were rising in the little downtown and concrete spread among the palm trees. Leaders saw the once-sleepy port city as a magnet for opportunity. “Tampa,” went the slogan, “where the good life gets better every day.”

Some locals were still scraping by, like 41-year-old Linda Lansen.

Lansen spent much of Sunday, July 10, with her cats and two birds in the little central Tampa apartment that doubled as her darkroom.

Photography was a newer ambition for the divorced, single mom, but it was going well. Tampa’s top radio station, Q105, had hired her to shoot its crowded “Q-Zoo” events where listeners dove into pools of Jell-O to win a car.

She called her mom that afternoon and told her she’d earned $40 photographing the Bunny of the Year contest at the Playboy Club in St. Petersburg the night before. She’d get $40 more when she developed the film, helping her make the $147 rent.

After eating potato soup, Lansen got into her Dodge Diplomat with the Q105 stickers and drove off into the summer evening. The Dodge had no air conditioning, but she could roll down the windows. She didn’t tell anyone where she was going.

Kids found her purse near a creek later that night. Tampa police discovered her car ditched on a residential street. They peered in with flashlights and wondered aloud: Another murder?

A morning walker spotted Lansen’s body in the weeds near a dead end of Old Memorial Highway, barefoot and stripped below the waist. Bruises marked her lower legs and feet, as though she’d been kicking something. A blood-stained white towel shrouded her head, marked by four small bullet wounds.

Detectives questioned the Q105 DJ, Scott Shannon, on whom she’d had a crush. They queried classmates at Hillsborough Community College, where she’d taken photography and psychology classes, and men with whom she’d had casual flings. They talked to her ex-husband.

They lifted fingerprints from a window in her Dodge, but they wouldn’t find any matches for decades. With little to go on, the prints were filed away, and the investigation went cold.

A few weeks after Lansen was killed, Barbara Grams was attacked as she walked home from the mall — left, raped and beaten, with a suspected bite mark on her cheek. What would later become key evidence from her autopsy was stowed away in the medical examiner’s office and forgotten.

Weeks after that, a woman’s body was found by firefighters in the trunk of her burning car.

Herminia Grillo Castro, a 57-year-old seamstress, had driven to the Krispy Kreme on North Florida Avenue to drop off her sister-in-law, who worked the early shift. She never made it home.

The car smoldered in a field near Memorial Park Cemetery. Castro had been shot in the head with a shotgun. A gold ring was still on her finger, but a gold cross necklace and a medal that read “World’s Greatest Grandmother” were missing.

Police drew anger by chasing suspicions that a Castro family member might be involved. They followed another relative’s off-the-cuff speculation that “this was Cuban work.” When struggling investigators asked the grandmother’s family to do their own digging, her daughter felt the cops were clueless.

Witnesses wouldn’t talk for years. Her case stalled, too.

Decades later, Mark Ober, who’d prosecuted DuBoise, remembered authorities were “jammed up with homicides.”

“We had more,” he said, “than we could deal with.”

Aside from the killings, Tampa felt infected with corruption and tragedy in 1983. It was the year a man entered a Winn-Dixie east of Tampa, doused shoppers with gasoline and lit a flame. Three county commissioners were convicted of extortion, and a circuit judge faced trial for misconduct. So much cocaine flowed into Florida that the drug dropped to bargain prices.

Public fears were ushering in a “tough on crime” era nationwide, along with the roaring return of capital punishment. Florida led the country in executions.

The media took particular interest in Grams’ killing. Maybe it was the unusual “bite mark.” Maybe it was because she was young and pretty. Maybe it was where she worked. Everyone knew the Tampa Bay Center mall.

Even DuBoise had occasionally strolled past the chlorinated fountain or ridden the glass elevator to the second level of the mall where Grams had a job at the Hot Potato. They could have been friends, had they ever met. They knew some of the same people.

The same October night police arrested DuBoise in connection with her slaying, Amos Robinson and Abron Scott, the killers whose faces DuBoise would see on the news 40 years later, cornered a new victim as he left a bar across town.

ROBINSON AND SCOTT

Long before they were getting drunk and high, robbing gamblers of their pool-hall winnings, cruising dark streets in stolen cars and stashing them down the block so their parents wouldn’t see, Amos Robinson and Abron Scott grew up amid violence.

Court testimony and interviews with those who’ve known them paint a dismal picture.

Both were misfits who became troubled teens, shipped off at the same age to live with their fathers across the state — reunions that ultimately didn’t change their course.

Scott was broad and burly. Family called him “Spike,” and other kids tormented him with “egghead” for his misshapen skull. His brother shoved him from a parked car as a toddler, inflicting a head injury. A neighborhood boy cracked him with a bat at age 9, knocking him unconscious. His mother’s boyfriends hit him, too.

When Scott and his siblings gathered their mother’s bottles of booze, they drank the leftovers. When their mother convulsed from drinking, they held her down. At their apartment in North Boulevard Homes, a West Tampa housing project, Scott cried a lot. He went to school drunk.

In his early teens, he reconnected with his father, a pastor in Cocoa. He joined the Cocoa High School wrestling team but dropped out of school.

“It was just hard for him to trust me,” the Rev. Abron Scott Sr. said in court years later. “Mostly he just wanted to be accepted, wanted to be wanted again.”

He couldn’t read a job application, his family said, or make change. His IQ was pegged in the 50s or 60s, low enough to be considered mentally disabled.

When Scott’s older sister found a stable home in Oldsmar, she brought teenage “Spike” along.

He cut grass or labored at the docks for a little money, but he blew it quickly, going to dances on weekends and picking up drugs like “black beauties” and cocaine. Out came paranoia, a guy who liked to fight.

He first crossed paths with Robinson in a juvenile home. A group of boys was wrestling, and Scott pinned the baddest of the bunch. An impressed Robinson shook his hand.

Robinson was smaller and nearly two years older. His family had a touch more stability. “Middle class,” he’d insist to detectives. He ran track and played youth baseball in Graceville, near the Alabama line. His mother worked as a lumber mill machine operator.

Disturbing signs emerged early, like when he hit his sister with a glass vase, sending her to the hospital. Relatives remembered him as “devilish” for the things he did to cats, dogs and other kids. He once told a family member he enjoyed seeing others in pain.

At 14, Robinson went to live with his father, Amos Sr., in Tampa. Trouble followed: At 15, purse snatching. At 17, a robbery. He was held at the adult jail with grown men, but he still proved to be a danger.

A 1981 police report describes a man brought to jail immediately fending off other detainees, including Robinson, who ordered the young new arrival into the showers. Robinson got two years in prison for the rape.

Weeks after that assault, Scott, then 16, landed in the same jail for robbery. He recognized Robinson from the juvenile home. Other inmates threatened the new kid, but Robinson stopped them. “That’s what kind of, like, tied us in a little bit,” Scott said years later.

The pair met as boys but emerged from incarceration, legally speaking, as men.

Scott had been out for a few months, working for a company that repaired X-ray machines, when Robinson was released and showed up at Scott’s house looking to hang out.

After prison, Robinson found steady work at a Morrison’s cafeteria in downtown Tampa, impressing manager Marla Dubinsky with his tidy appearance and punctuality.

She knew about his robbery and sexual battery conviction but believed him when he said he didn’t want to go back. She entrusted him with $6,000 cash deposits and assigned him to help with catering. He worried, she remembered in court, about a female employee walking alone at night.

Robinson would sometimes appear at Scott’s sister’s home in Oldsmar unannounced, letting himself in to watch TV or take Scott to bars. “Disrespectful,” was how Scott’s family saw him. “Mean.”

When Scott lost his job, he said years later, he spent more time with Robinson, fighting in bars and strong-arming people for cash.

Scott’s brother-in-law went to a bar with them once. A fight erupted over a woman. When a man hit the floor, Robinson grabbed a bar stool and beat him bloody. He was pulled away and told he couldn’t do that to people.

“He scared me,” the brother-in-law said in court. “He wanted to take everything he wanted.”

END OF THE ROAD

After sundown, a certain stretch of Kennedy Boulevard became “the meanest street in town,” populated with sex workers and bikers, drunk brawlers and “sweating muscle men” darkening doorways, the Tampa Tribune wrote in 1983. On the night of Friday, Oct. 21, Scott and Robinson joined the chaos.

Their night started at Robinson’s house in Riverside Heights, where they chatted with Robinson’s parents before walking to a nearby lounge. They sipped from a bottle of Seagram’s gin en route to a dive on Nebraska Avenue, then Manila Bar in Ybor City. They drank beers and snorted cocaine.

They were drunk and high and looking for someone to rob by the time they walked down Kennedy, a few blocks east of downtown, into a parking lot outside the Old Plantation Lounge.

Earlier that night, Carlos Orellana’s sister saw her brother getting ready to go out. To her, Orellana was the man of the house, her adviser and protector. He’d immigrated as a young man with his family from their native Honduras. He held multiple jobs, learned to speak five languages and hoped to be a professor. The staff at the Old Plantation, which catered to gay men, remembered the 33-year-old sitting alone with a Dewar’s, wearing a tuxedo shirt and cummerbund.

When Orellana left the bar after midnight and stepped toward his beige Toyota Celica with his keys in hand, Robinson and Scott approached.

They pushed Orellana against his car. They punched him. They choked him unconscious and shoved him into the back seat. Scott steered west on Hillsborough Avenue and out of the city. They passed the sign reading “Oldsmar, the last of the new frontiers.” Scott turned on an unfinished road and drove until it became dirt and trees.

It was dark. Orellana fought back. “Let me run the guy over,” Robinson suggested. When he tried, the man kept fighting with Scott.

“Take the car,” Orellana pleaded weakly. “Leave me alone.”

Scott got in, pressed the gas and crushed Orellana into the ground.

The car got stuck in the sand, the men later said, so they went to a bar down the road and asked two guys with trucks for help. The helpers apparently didn’t notice the body as they used chains to free the Toyota. They handed Robinson and Scott a couple of Busch beers, then left before the killers drove away in the dead man’s car. Robinson went to work a few hours later.

Why kill Orellana, when they could have just robbed him, ditched him and taken his car? A prosecutor asked Scott decades later.

“Don’t ask me, ma’am,” he replied. “I don’t know.”

CHASING KILLERS

The next day, Scott and Robinson pulled up outside a house in Tampa. They told two friends the Toyota belonged to Scott.

After more gin and cocaine, the men climbed in for a ride. One noticed a cassette of ABBA’s Greatest Hits Vol. 2. That seemed odd for Scott’s taste. Then he noticed blood.

Scott pulled up near railroad tracks in East Tampa, where he and Robinson tossed out credit cards and a checkbook. The items belonged, they told the men in the back seat, to some guy they’d “hit” the night before.

Their joyride led them across the bay to Clearwater, to another parking lot and another robbery.

A call went out over police radio: Purse snatching outside the Countryside Mall. Toyota Celica. A young Dunedin officer named Bob Gualtieri launched into pursuit. The officer’s headlights followed the car as it zipped over dark lawns and plowed down a mailbox, then crashed in some bushes. Four men bailed out. Gualtieri, the future Pinellas County sheriff, grabbed one.

The man Gualtieri arrested gave the names of the others. Police soon arrested a friend who’d ridden in the back seat, and both told officers matching stories about Robinson and Scott bragging as they’d dumped evidence.

Days later, a construction worker pulled up to the isolated road, dead-ending into weeds and forest. He noticed men’s slip-on shoes, two Busch cans and a foul smell.

Tire tracks formed deep grooves leading to a divot where Orellana lay on his back.

NOWHERE LEFT TO RUN

The following day, 300 miles north, police surrounded a little house in Graceville, Robinson’s hometown. Robinson’s mother said he wasn’t home, but police caught him and Scott as they slipped out the back door.

We found the body, detectives said.

“I don’t want to go to prison,” Robinson said, his eyes welling.

He was quiet, then spoke quickly. Scott had moved first, he said, pushing Orellana against the car.

A sheriff’s plane carried the men home, where they’d be charged with murder. They said little over the din of wind and engines, but when they landed, Scott asked to talk to his friend alone. They spoke briefly in a hangar before Scott turned to a detective.

“It was an accident,” Scott said. “It was not meant to be a murder.”

When Scott later gave his full account, it was mostly the same, except he blamed Robinson for attacking first.

“We smoked a lot of cocaine and drank a lot. I can’t remember it all,” Scott said. “But I know I was involved.”

At their trials, attorneys for each suggested the other man was more to blame. Psychologists described each as “a follower.” Scott, his attorney said, was “a child in a man’s body.”

It didn’t matter. Robinson and Scott soon became the newest residents of Florida’s death row. No more than 200 feet away sat a bewildered Robert DuBoise, unsure whether he’d ever get out.

PROBED IN MORE KILLINGS

Robinson and Scott ultimately had their sentences changed to life in prison on appeal.

In one hearing, Orellana’s mother urged a judge to keep Robinson on death row, then collapsed, sobbing, on a courtroom table.

“I’m sorry what I did,” Robinson said.

“You have to say that to God,” Orellana’s sister told him.

Over the years, cold case detectives probed the men for links to other crimes.

In the early 1990s, a grand jury charged Robinson and his brother with murdering Herminia Castro, the grandmother found in her burnt car weeks after the Grams slaying. Scott was implicated but not charged.

Witnesses — some relatives of Robinson’s — had come forward after years of fear. They described sitting outside an apartment one morning in 1983 and seeing a car erupt in flames.

They recounted seeing the men running through a nearby cemetery and appearing outside the home, boasting that they’d “hit a good lick.” From one man’s pocket came a ring, a gold cross necklace, a Timex watch and cash.

“Did you hear that lady screaming and begging for her life?” a woman heard Robinson utter. “I just put the old bitch out of her misery.”

Others gave inconsistent accounts, though, and shortly before trial, a witness gave Robinson and the other man an alibi. The charges were tossed. Castro’s homicide remains unsolved.

Other open homicides from that era include Rose Haney, the 14-year-old runaway who turned up dead in a wooded lot in Oldsmar the same month that Orellana was killed less than a mile away. No suspects have been named.

In prison, Robinson remained a threat. In 1998, he stabbed and stomped to death 22-year-old Arturi Verra, who other prisoners said was trying to end their sexual relationship. He spent years in solitary confinement. In 2004, he beat to death 29-year-old cellmate Sang Nguyen during a sexual encounter.

In 2007, improved technology matched a print from Lansen’s driver’s-side window to Scott’s left thumb. Detectives went to question Robinson about his old friend. Robinson refused to talk. But as they rose to leave, he blurted out: “What did he do? Rape and kill a lady?”

Investigators tried DNA testing the Lansen evidence then, but the science wasn’t yet advanced enough. More than a decade later, when the pair’s DNA turned up in the Grams slaying, investigators tried again, using enhanced analysis. They matched Scott to a bloody towel. Samples from Lansen’s rape kit matched both men.

Scott and Robinson, charged in both Grams’ and Lansen’s murders, remain persons of interest in at least three other unsolved cases throughout Tampa Bay.

Had the conviction review unit not uncovered the DNA evidence in DuBoise’s case, Lansen’s family might still be without answers.

“There are no words to describe what it’s like to go through 39 years of grief and not knowing what happened,” Lansen’s niece, Linda Sheffield, said in 2022. “The void stays and the pain stays and the crying stays, it doesn’t go away.”

In the years after DuBoise’s release, as he realized there were only a handful of people on Earth who could relate to his experience, he’d sometimes think of the victims’ families. He’d only seen them on TV, but he felt a kinship.

He imagined they also knew how it felt to lose so much, to live with a black hole of uncertainty. Surely they understood, as he now did, that a person can be happy after tragedy, but the pain goes on, too.

That, sometimes, evil steps into your life. There’s no peace in asking why.

IV: After Prison, a Search for a Good Life

Exoneree robert duboise adjusts to freedom, even as some doubt his innocence..

In his first nights of freedom, after the hugs and the cameras and the celebratory lunch, when Robert DuBoise was finally alone — maybe the most alone he’d ever been — he opened his front door, stepped onto the damp grass and stared in awe at the midnight sky.

He settled into one of four pale yellow cabins on the property of the Sunny Center, a small foundation in Tampa’s Lowry Park North offering housing to exonerees. Normalcy came slowly.

In a single day, 186 Amazon packages arrived with clothes and household items from people who’d heard his story. Much of it he gave away. “I didn’t know what to do with an Instant Pot,” he said. Another day, he took his fraying 1980s driver’s license in for renewal, and the clerk gawked. He bought a pickup truck, then stumped a car insurance agent: “It’s like you don’t exist.”

In some ways, he was haunting his old life while trying to make something of what was left. He felt it was only fair that the people and institutions who’d stolen 37 years pay up and admit their wrongs, but he’d also have to live knowing there were powerful people who still insisted he was a killer.

What was he to do with all this freedom, anyway? Was it too late to realize his old dreams?

Freedom, at first, left DuBoise exhausted.

For decades, he’d earned nothing for his labor. He felt compelled to make up for that now. He got handyman and remodeling jobs by referral from the Sunny Center’s volunteer manager, Dorothy Wheeler.

Tampa had grown huge and chaotic to DuBoise’s eyes. He made sandwiches to hand out to the homeless as he cruised streets he’d known by heart but which now felt overstuffed and strange. He’d never seen a Walmart or a Home Depot.

A giant cowboy boot sculpture in a Publix parking lot caught his eye, and he realized the last time he’d been there, the sprawling Shoppes at Boot Ranch plaza was an actual cattle ranch. At the site of the grubby upholstery shop where he used to work stood an immaculate apartment complex. The Journey’s End, a cinderblock biker dive where he’d met the crush who’d testified against him, was a ghost of its former self.

“I didn’t have one friend left,” DuBoise said. His closest buddy from the shop had died, as had the man’s son, whom DuBoise had held as a baby. His sister, Harriet, who’d greeted him at the prison gates, died from COVID-19 months later.

Lurdes Sanchez, his ex-fiancée, saw him on the news and texted him, but responding felt like opening a wound that had long scabbed over.

Sometimes he felt out of step with his family’s quotidian complaints. How were so many people so negative when they’d woken up free?

His new iPhone buzzed day and night — overwhelming. “How you doing?” cousins and well-wishers asked when he picked up. “Good,” he said, “but I don’t have nothing else to talk about right now.”

His health had suffered in prison. A surgeon inside had removed part of his thyroid, but after his release, a doctor said he should have taken medication for years. He was anemic, possibly from his prison diet of mostly American cheese sandwiches. A doctor suggested giving up his vegetarianism.

He found pleasure in small things, like a slice of pizza by the water at Ballast Point Park. Staffers he’d befriended at a doctor’s office insisted on bringing him there, then to Dairy Joy for ice cream.

On the subject of joy, DuBoise spoke measuredly, but he did use the term “amazing” to describe one thing — encountering children again.

Wheeler, the manager, was becoming a close friend. She invited DuBoise to her daughter’s wedding. When the bride’s toddler, May, met DuBoise at the reception, she raised her arms. He scooped the girl up. She rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep under a pink “Trolls” blanket. He held her for hours. Wheeler occasionally asked if he needed a break.

“No,” he’d reply. “I’m good.”

In 2006, at age 40, he’d written from prison: “I always had a goal in life and that is to have a wife and children. I know I’m still young enough to meet this goal.” In 2021, at 56, he conceded to a documentary interviewer: “That wasn’t the case, of course.”

Still, DuBoise expressed gratitude for his new life to anyone who asked, and also in his prayers.

He enjoyed driving again, traversing wide-open spaces in solitude, listening to JOY-FM Christian radio. He trained to become a long-haul truck driver.

His first trip was to California. He slept in the Mojave Desert when he couldn’t make it to a truck stop before his mandated rest time, and he saw the sun rise over the Sierra Nevada on his way back. It was good, for a while.

An idea had crept back in: Maybe there was time. Maybe he could adopt children if he had the money and a house to raise them.

FIGHTING FOR COMPENSATION

The state told DuBoise he was owed nothing.

Florida law pays exonerees $50,000 for each year they spent in prison, but the state’s “clean hands” rule bars those with prior felonies. DuBoise had stolen tools from a car and siphoned gas as a teenager.

He fought for the money, and his dignity, by taking off his work boots and donning a crisp gray suit to trek the four hours to Tallahassee week after week. He walked with lobbyists through state Capitol halls and shook hands with legislators, his pleading eyes searching their faces as he asked them to pass a bill awarding him $1.85 million.

Then he sued the Tampa Police Department, retired Detectives Kenneth Burke and Phillip Saladino, the estate of their former boss, the late Detective John Counsman, and dentist Richard Souviron. The complaint claimed detectives conspired with the dentist to “fabricate” a match.

The suit accused detectives of excluding evidence that could have helped DuBoise — chiefly that they’d pressured their jailhouse witness to deliver a confession tale they knew to be false.

Lastly, DuBoise’s lawyers accused the Tampa Police Department of fostering policies in those years — official and unwritten — that led to badly trained officers violating DuBoise’s constitutional rights.

The retired detectives and the dentist all disputed in court that there was any evidence to support the claims.

“I’m just telling you, that whole lawsuit is accusing us of things that are not a word of truth,” Burke said by phone, “and I have no other comment.”

The money wasn’t all about money . What he’d lost was clearly priceless. But DuBoise wanted recognition from the state that his life had value. And through the lawsuit, he wanted to show how a poor kid who didn’t even know enough to ask for a lawyer could get railroaded.

DuBoise attended mediations in the lawsuit, where dollar figures were negotiated and he felt like the defendants were trying to avoid admitting their mistakes. Settling the suit could mean a faster payday, but he hoped for a more public trial.

“So people know,” he said. “So that it doesn’t happen again.”

REOPENING GRAMS

In 2020, new detectives went searching for Barbara Grams’ true killers with a leg up on their predecessors: DNA implicating convicted killers Abron Scott and Amos Robinson.

Further testing of Grams’ rape kit had shown that not only was Robinson’s DNA present — Scott’s was, too.

Yet as they interviewed more than a dozen people, detectives seemed reluctant to move past the idea of DuBoise’s guilt. They often left interviewees with the impression that’s who they were after, even still.

“(DuBoise) got out,” state investigator Chuck Massucci said while interrogating an old friend of DuBoise’s, Ray Garcia. “I don’t know how to say it nicely, other than bullshit.”

Cops in the 1980s had theorized that DuBoise, Garcia and DuBoise’s brother, Victor, killed Grams. The other men were never prosecuted.

Massucci showed Garcia a photo of the mark on Grams’ cheek. “I’m all about reasonable doubt,” he said. “But that’s his fucking teeth mark.”

Every now and then, detectives would grasp a scrap of intrigue, like a mall worker who remembered a man talking to Grams the last night she saw her. Forty years on, the coworker believed it was DuBoise, though this was the first she’d mentioned it.

Mostly, though, their old theory led to dead ends.

The investigators interviewed Victor DuBoise at an Alabama jail shortly before he went to prison in an unrelated manslaughter case. In his youth, Victor had been deemed intellectually disabled. He answered slowly as the cops prodded him fruitlessly about the Grams killing, and others, seemingly struggling to understand.

When investigators met with Robinson, they pressed for connections between him and DuBoise, again getting nothing.

It could be easy to write off the cops’ doubts as a reluctance to concede their predecessors’ mistakes, but there could be consequences. A defense lawyer might seize on their skepticism to undermine the cases against Robinson and Scott.

Meanwhile, in the light of the present day, the evidence used against DuBoise in the 1980s looked ever weaker.

“Today, I would never say what I said 37 years ago,” Richard Souviron, the dentist who’d matched DuBoise’s teeth, told the Times after DuBoise’s exoneration. Though he still wouldn’t rule DuBoise out, “There could have been a million other people whose teeth fit.”

The science had been new at the time, he said, and he was wrong to make a definitive judgment. Within 10 years of the DuBoise case, he’d changed his thinking on matches. He no longer believes bite mark comparison is useful in identifying suspects, only in excluding them. It was painful, he said, to know he helped send an innocent man to prison.

However, the dentist flatly denies conspiring with the police or fabricating anything. He called those claims in DuBoise’s lawsuit “baloney.”

The gas station clerk who’d pointed detectives toward DuBoise said she never meant to suggest the teenage troublemaker might be a murderer. “Tell him I’m sorry,” she said.

Joanne “Josie” Suarez, the woman who’d led DuBoise to his arrest, moved far from Tampa, married and raised a family — a world apart from that “very low point in my life” in the ‘80s when she’d been “on heavy, heavy drugs” to cope with the scars of a near-fatal crash. Though she’d testified differently, she insisted now that the ring police showed her — the one they said was missing from Grams’ finger — was not the same one she’d once seen DuBoise wearing.

“If he really didn’t do it,” she said, “it’s terrible what happened to him.”

And then there was Claude Butler, the jailhouse witness. He’d stuck to his story for decades, but in 2022 Butler told DuBoise’s civil lawyers he was ready to unburden himself.

He said he’d lied.

Butler felt “squeezed from both sides” in 1984 when two detectives visited him as he awaited trial for kidnapping and robbery. He was 21 and facing life. The detectives told him how DuBoise committed the crime, he said, and offered help.

So Butler cozied up to DuBoise by offering him pills, he said, and cigarettes lit off electrical outlets. He waited for DuBoise to admit his crime, but DuBoise said nothing.

“Other than he wasn’t guilty,” Butler said. “You’d hear him saying that all the time.”

When Butler got cold feet about testifying, he said prosecutor Mark Ober promised to get him released if he went through with it, which Ober vehemently denies, saying Butler’s small-time charges virtually guaranteed an early release.

“Have I always felt bad about it? Yes,” Butler said. “I had to pick the worst of two evils.”

A CONFESSION

After more than two years of prodding at the Grams case, investigators caught a break: a confession.

Abron Scott’s family urged him to say what he knew, so last year he laid it all out.

Scott was 58 now, graying, and wore glasses. But he remembered 1983.

He told investigators he’d seen Grams on North Boulevard. He and Robinson were alone, walking back from Robinson’s brother’s house.

“And Amos say, ‘Look at that bitch … I want to get her,’” Scott said. “He grabbed her arm.”

Robinson raped Grams behind the dentist’s office, he said, while Scott went around the side of the building and smoked a joint.

He said he heard a noise — “pap, pap, pap,” — and watched Robinson beat her with a board, “So the bitch won’t get up and run and tell.”

His guilty plea in both the Grams and Lansen murders would eventually buy him a deal: Prosecutors wouldn’t seek the death penalty. And he’d testify against his old friend, who awaits trial.

Scott told investigators he remembered driving Lansen, the photographer, out to a wooded area where the road dead-ended, near where he’d gone to elementary school, and looking on as Robinson shot her at close range.

As for Herminia Castro, Scott denied involvement, but he claimed Robinson had bragged about raping and killing her, then setting her car on fire.

“He had a hate,” Scott said of Robinson. “It was like he enjoyed doing what he was doing.”

Investigators pressed him on the unsolved case of a man hit with a hammer in a December 1982 robbery blocks from Robinson’s workplace. Before the victim died, he’d described two assailants. Scott said he didn’t remember such a thing, though he and Robinson did rob people.

Scott hadn’t known Grams was dead, he said, until months afterward, when Robinson told him he’d read in the paper that police arrested someone else. Robinson thought it was funny.

“It didn’t faze him,” Scott said. “I mean, he was happy. Bragged about what he did. And he was happy that they got the wrong dude.”

LIFE AFTER THE MONEY

In the summer of 2023, DuBoise became a millionaire — the Florida Legislature had voted to pay him the $1.85 million he was owed — but he stayed in the little shack at the Sunny Center, feeding the cats and possums on his doorstep. He drywalled the country club building where the golf carts were stored, never considering playing nine holes himself.

If he wasn’t working maintenance at the club, he was fixing something at one of Wheeler’s properties, doing free renovations at the Sunny Center or making repairs at a friend or family member’s place.

He drove one neighbor’s kids to school, shopped for another who was elderly and checked in on the guy next door with COVID. He drove to Jacksonville to testify as a character witness when a man he knew from prison was up for resentencing.

Any perceived injustice makes him restless. When an acquaintance mentioned her movers were gouging her on fees, he drove her rental truck to Michigan himself. When he met a woman in a Clearwater parking lot who’d been towed despite paying, he waited for hours to record the tow truck doing it again.

The idea of relaxation almost confused him. “I just don’t really care to do that,” he said. People invited him to do things for fun, like take a boat ride on the bay, but he declined. A nice restaurant meal? “I tried it, but once was really enough.”

He checked up on his mother, for whom it seemed he was always making appointments or sending an Uber Eats order. He talked to her physical therapists and installed a camera so he and his sister could see if she needed something. She’d told the parole board she needed his help years ago. He could finally be there.

His demeanor remained, typically, Zen-like. He’d become practiced at telling his story with gravity — the shock of arrest, surreality of trial and horror of death row. How he’d focused on work and wrote his letters until someone listened. How could he be anything but grateful?

He’d been asked the same questions so many times, he hardly seemed to think about the answers, unless he was asked something new, like, “What moment in your life would you relive, if you could, to change it?”

DuBoise leaned back on his love seat and thought.

When he was 17, he said, he’d had a 19-year-old girlfriend. They spent whole days watching black-and-white Bogie and Bacall movies. One day they were supposed to hang out, but he wanted to work on a mullet boat. She told him, “If you leave, that’s it.” He didn’t believe her, so he went fishing. But she’d meant it.

Or maybe he’d relive the day he tried to join the Army. They told him to come back when he turned 18, but he could have joined with his parents’ signature. He could have been shipped far, far away.

“Maybe,” he said. “But it don’t bother me.”

One friend attributed the way DuBoise lives to his Christianity. “He doesn’t talk about it much,” said Rick Bishop, a coworker at the country club who also served time with DuBoise, “but he walks it.”

Some friends and family wondered whether he’d fully processed his experiences. He was, said one former Innocence Project employee, thriving more than most. One 2022 study showed more than half of exonerees exhibit signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Asked if he’d ever talked to a therapist, Duboise responded, “What happened, happened.”

He wanted a partner who’d make a good mother, he said, but he had not dated in his three years free. “I can’t even think about that yet.”

The things that brought DuBoise satisfaction were ordinary — finishing a job, taking a drive, feeding the cats, helping his mom. All he ever wanted was a normal life.

He still woke before sunrise on full alert. He could still tick off the names of every guy on his wing of death row. In his mostly empty refrigerator sat the cheese that still constituted most of his meals, still eaten alone in a safe space. He’d upgraded, slightly, from the processed American singles of prison to Member’s Mark natural cheddar.

THE PROSECUTORS

When Mark Ober won the trial that sent DuBoise to prison, police gave him a set of plaster teeth left over from the investigation. He kept it on his desk for decades, even after he was elected state attorney.

If he still ran things, Ober would not have freed DuBoise just because someone else’s DNA was found on the murder victim. Yes, Ober told the Times, he knows bite mark evidence is now “controversial.” He downplayed the science but stressed that it remains admissible in all 50 states. Yes, he knew the jailhouse informant had recanted, but only after DuBoise’s lawyers “got to him.” Yes, in his time as a defense lawyer, he’d seen people he believed were innocent go to prison. But not in this case.

Ober had taken DuBoise’s exoneration personally, partly because Andrew Warren, the outsider who’d upset Ober in the 2016 election, had led the way.

“I’ve had an honorable career,” Ober said last year in DuBoise’s lawsuit. He felt Warren had questioned his integrity via DuBoise’s exoneration — particularly offensive since Warren, who Ober likes to say has never tried a case in state court, “couldn’t try his way out of a paper bag.”

Ober believes in the system of appeals. In his mind, Warren created the conviction review unit, a flashy way to sidestep all that procedure, to get votes. If new evidence had emerged in the DuBoise case, he said, DuBoise’s lawyer could have simply pushed for a new trial.

But DuBoise says the evidence would have never been discovered without the conviction review unit cutting through the red tape. That he’d lost decades of his life just trying to find a lawyer. That he’d begged for DNA testing all the way back in 2008.

“He has no clue about real life,” DuBoise said of Ober. “He just thinks about courtrooms.”

What if Ober had to mount a new case against DuBoise today? With his best evidence tossed out, he might drop the charges, he said — but not necessarily. “It’d be razor-thin,” Ober said, but he could still make a case for DuBoise’s guilt.

Whatever fueled Ober’s comments, whether high-minded philosophies on the law or resentment for a political foe, it’s clear that local politics influence an innocent person’s chances of going free.

Warren had hoped the conviction review unit would thrive through greater cooperation with police, but his progressive ambitions turned off much of the Tampa criminal justice establishment.

Brian Dugan, Tampa’s police chief at the time, said he was skeptical of DuBoise’s innocence simply because of Warren’s involvement. “If that guy cured cancer,” Dugan said of Warren, “I’d be like, ‘You’re gonna have to prove it to me.’”

If Warren’s rise felt like it came out of the blue, it ended even more abruptly. On the morning of Aug. 4, 2022, as Warren watched a grand jury indict the alleged true killers in the Grams case, he got an email: You’ve been suspended.

Gov. Ron DeSantis had yanked Warren from office, citing his statements in support of abortion seekers and transgender people, as well as his reluctance to prosecute certain nonviolent crimes. Though a deputy escorted Warren from the building, he still went on TV later to announce the murder charges — the press conference DuBoise had seen at the truck stop.

In Warren’s place, DeSantis appointed political ally Suzy Lopez, another prosecutor who has raised doubts about DuBoise’s innocence. She recently approached a Times reporter in a courthouse hallway and suggested the presence of Robinson’s DNA didn’t mean DuBoise wasn’t also at the murder scene. She quipped, “You should ask the (Tampa Police Department) what they think of the DuBoise case.”

Asked if the state attorney’s office stands behind DuBoise’s exoneration, a spokesperson said Lopez believes in thorough conviction reviews but felt her predecessor’s handling of the DuBoise case fell short. She criticized Warren for not personally speaking to the prosecutor or detectives from 1983.

DuBoise shudders now when he thinks about how small the window was for his release.

THE STATE OF CONVICTION REVIEWS

The state attorney’s conviction review unit has gotten less of a spotlight since Lopez took over.

The unit has not alerted the media when its investigations have led to a rare prisoner release. The reasons are unclear, though past news coverage has prompted waves of prisoners to seek reviews.

“Our focus is seeking justice,” said a state attorney’s spokesperson, “not creating headlines.”

Few, then, heard about Cornelius Marion, who walked free in 2023 after serving 33 years for a Tampa robbery. His attorney highlighted procedural flaws in the police investigation, particularly in a photo lineup shown to the only witness. The state attorney’s office agreed to release Marion with time served but would not overturn his conviction. He remains a felon, ineligible for money from the state.

Two other prisoners have been freed under Lopez, both with time served.

Seth Miller, a lawyer and executive director of the Innocence Project of Florida, said cooperation between their lawyers and the state attorney’s office “tapered off” after Warren’s removal. He stressed that he wants to work with Lopez.

“Under whatever leadership is there now, we don’t have any collaborations,” Miller said.

That’s not true, said a spokesperson for the state attorney’s office. The Innocence Project cut off communication in 2023, she said, upset over the outcome of a state attorney’s investigation into one of their clients.

Teresa Hall, who led conviction reviews during DuBoise’s exoneration, left the office last summer, after leaders said she was dishonest about a vacation taken while on paid medical leave. Asked about the state attorney’s suggestion that the DuBoise case wasn’t thoroughly re-investigated, Hall said, “I proudly stand by the work I did for the state attorney’s office.”

Her replacement left in February, and the office is again interviewing candidates. A spokesperson said a senior attorney is reviewing innocence cases in the interim.

In the meantime, the panel of former judges tasked with helping review cases has been disbanded, with plans for the new leader to refill the panel.

Lopez declined an interview with the Times. A spokesperson said conviction reviews remain a small but important part of her office’s work and that their procedures have not changed under Lopez.

“No one should be incarcerated for a crime they did not commit,” Lopez said in a written statement. “When our office learned of new information that eroded confidence in three previous convictions, we did the right thing and released them from prison.”

DuBoise still brings cookies to the State Attorney’s Office each year around Christmas.

He worries about the fate of the conviction review unit, about innocent people stuck in the bowels of the system, desperate for “that little flicker of light.”

FINDING HOME

In January, DuBoise finally got to put a dollar value on 37 lost years: $14 million.

When the Tampa City Council approved the settlement of his lawsuit, each member spoke dramatically of DuBoise’s tragedy. The city, the police and the dentist conceded no wrongdoing. Mayor Jane Castor, who previously served as the city’s top cop, said Tampa police have advanced “light years” in technology and training from the time of DuBoise’s arrest in the 1980s and that she hoped the settlement helped in his healing.

Though not the trial he’d imagined, it was a moment of public recognition. But DuBoise wasn’t there. He was driving east on Interstate 4, having promised to deliver a wheelchair lift to a friend flying into Orlando for a medical visit.

Soon after, he paid cash for a house in South Tampa: four bedrooms, a three-car garage and a heated pool that cost just under $1 million. He arrived on the day of the home inspection, smiling a little more than usual.

The seller, a talkative firefighter, reclined on his remaining furniture and pointed out to DuBoise the zany comedy he was watching in which Will Ferrell is wrongly sentenced to 10 years in prison and hires Kevin Hart to toughen him up. DuBoise glanced at the screen and turned away.

The seller ribbed DuBoise that his soon-to-be neighbor had inquired about whether DuBoise was good-looking. Then he tried to show DuBoise a photo of a woman he’d dated. DuBoise ignored all of that, politely, and talked about some light fixtures he planned to switch out.

Yes, he’d be moving in by himself, DuBoise told the man. Yeah, maybe he’d get a dog, but he had bigger thoughts about filling the home. No, he said, he wasn’t worried about meeting a woman. Yes, he politely answered, prison food was bad.

DuBoise walked off, down a hallway and into one of the bedrooms, where he stood looking.

“A boy and a girl, maybe,” he said, “like siblings who were going to get split up. I could adopt them and keep them together.”

DuBoise was free to pursue his life as he wanted for what remained of it. In that moment, he chose to live with hope. DuBoise, months shy of 60, felt like it was all beginning.

He’d still go to work, but maybe take on less, coming home to jump in that pool. He’d learn to prepare more than cheese sandwiches in his big kitchen with the island, because he’d have to provide for more than himself. It’d be a normal life. He’d never expected more.

The Marked Man is based on more than a year of research and reporting by Tampa Bay Times staff writers Christopher Spata and Dan Sullivan. The reporters reviewed over 11,000 pages of documents and spoke with more than 50 people, including 25 hours of interviews with Robert DuBoise.

The Times reviewed DuBoise’s 1985 trial transcript and myriad other court, prison and parole commission records. Reporters reviewed the Innocence Project’s petition to the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office conviction review unit and the findings of that office’s investigation by attorney Teresa Hall, as well as reports documenting the DNA testing. Additional details came from testimony in DuBoise’s federal lawsuit against the city of Tampa.

To chronicle the murders of 1983 and the ongoing prosecutions, the Times reviewed investigative reports by Tampa Police and sheriff’s offices in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, along with public records from the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office.

Details about Robinson and Scott’s personal histories came from various records and transcripts from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and county clerk of court, the Florida Archives, the state Department of Corrections and courts in Escambia and Washington counties.

To find details and verify recollections about events and places from the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, the reporters drew from archives of the Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Palm Beach Post, Florida Today, Fox 13 Tampa Bay and the Charleston Evening and Columbia Record newspapers in South Carolina. Other information came from the NFL Network, lawyers and a former Florida prison warden.

About the reporters

Christopher spata.

is an enterprise reporter covering Florida culture. Read more.

Dan Sullivan

is a criminal justice reporter. Read more.

Additional credits

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jefferee Woo, Martha Asencio-Rhine, Ivy Ceballo

PHOTO EDITOR: Martha Asencio-Rhine

ILLUSTRATIONS: Sean Kristoff-Jones

ANIMATIONS: Aya Diab

PRINT DESIGN: Sean Kristoff-Jones, Beth McCoy

DIGITAL DESIGN: Justinian Hatfield, Jason Katzwinkel, Sean Kristoff-Jones

COPY EDITOR: Amy Gehrt

ENGAGEMENT: Alexandra Urban, Neha Seenarine, Aya Diab, Hannah Farrow, Meaghan Habuda, Jenna Duncan

EDITORS: Claire McNeill, Mark Katches, Chris Tisch, Carolyn Fox

PROJECT MANAGER: Claire McNeill

Christopher Spata is an enterprise reporter covering Floridians and culture. He can be reached at [email protected].

Dan Sullivan is a criminal justice reporter. Reach him at [email protected].

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