Capital case set to start

Authorities said his intention was to die firing. He wanted to make a stand and face off with pursuing law enforcement.

John Kalisz took one of them out. The other deputies took him down. They wounded him, but didn't kill him.

Now the 57-year-old convict faces a life of solitary confinement awaiting a death sentence. If history is any indication, his death might not be that premature.

In two weeks, Kalisz could be the first Hernando County defendant in 19 years sentenced to death.

He would join Freddie Lee Hall as the two cop killers from Hernando to land on death row.

The subtle difference between the two cases is that Kalisz killed a law enforcement officer in Dixie County one hour after shooting four women — and killing two — outside Brooksville the afternoon of Jan. 14, 2010.

Hall, now 66, was convicted of fatally shooting Hernando County sheriff's deputy Lonnie Coburn 34 years ago outside a Ridge Manor store.

Hall's extended stay on death row has drawn the ire of law enforcement officers, prosecutors and many more people who think capital punishment is the only appropriate sentence for a criminal like Hall.

Time will tell how long Kalisz will remain on death row if he is convicted. He barely escaped death in the gunfight he had with deputies, and he's had lingering health problems since. He was confined to a wheelchair during his most recent court appearances.

In February 2011, Kalisz pleaded guilty to murdering Dixie County sheriff's Capt. Chad Reed, 33. Reed was slain when Kalisz opened fire outside a highway gas station in Cross City.

While he eluded deputies for an hour, law enforcement was warned Kalisz was armed and dangerous. While driving north along U.S. 19, he told a friend over the phone he was prepared to gun down any police officer who got in his way, according to reports.

In exchange for his plea in Dixie, Kalisz received a life sentence and avoided the death penalty for killing Reed.

Hernando County jurors will decide whether to convict Kalisz of murdering his sister, Kathryn "Kitty" Donovan, 61, and her employee, Deborah Buckley Tillotson, 59. If he is convicted, the same jurors will decide whether to recommend sentencing him to death.

In addition to the double murder, Kalisz also was accused of wounding Manessa Donovan and Amy Wilson.

The younger Donovan, who was a teenager at the time of the shootings, was eight weeks pregnant when she was gunned down. Her fetus died during emergency surgery.

All of the Hernando victims were shot outside Kitty Donovan's home at 15303 Wilhelm Road near State Road 50.

Local prosecutor Pete Magrino has said the plea agreement in Dixie had no bearing on how he approached the Hernando case.

The day Kalisz entered his plea and apologized to Reed's widow — his written statement was read aloud by his attorney in court — Magrino said he would proceed as normal.

"I think 12 Hernando County citizens should make the decision on whether he lives or is subject to a premature death by legal and lawful means," he said 11 months ago.

"When the death penalty is appropriate … here in the 5th Judicial Circuit, we seek the death penalty."