William Tollard, a 50-year-old man from Port Charlotte, Florida, was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in the fatal shooting of his 40-year-old ex-girlfriend, Angela Ziegler, at a bank drive-thru.
The Sarasota County man was found guilty by a 12-person jury after a five-day trial under the adjudication of Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Thomas Krug. This verdict was delivered on November 17, 2023.
The incident occurred on the morning of October 5, 2020, at the BB&T bank on Pointe Loop Drive in Venice.
Surveillance footage shows Tollard trapping Angela Ziegler’s Jeep between his truck and a work van at the bank’s drive-thru teller line. After a brief conversation with her on the driver’s side, he fired three close-range gunshots at Ziegler. He then circled around to the passenger side and fired two more shots. Ziegler’s vehicle drifted forward about 100 yards before crashing into a light pole.
In an extreme act of anger, Tollard, still armed, approached the crashed Jeep and fired several more shots into the front windshield. Eyewitnesses reported hearing him shout, “Who the [expletive] do you think you are? You can’t do this to me.”
Following the attack, Tollard was apprehended by Sarasota County deputies near Jacaranda and Sklar Drives. A semi-automatic firearm, a magazine containing eight rounds, and binoculars were found in his truck.
The investigation revealed that Tollard and Ziegler had been in a tumultuous relationship for approximately 18 months. She had ended the relationship just five days before the shooting.
Assistant State Attorney Karen Fraivillig highlighted the determined efforts of Sarasota County Sheriff’s Detective Carlos Verdoni and his team in the investigation. Their analysis of Tollard’s phone records uncovered numerous manipulative text messages to Ziegler, her estranged husband, and family members, evidencing his intent for revenge.
Tollard’s defense had planned to use a mental health defense, citing involuntary intoxication due to legally prescribed medications, but they amended this strategy shortly before the trial. He is now facing a mandatory life sentence in prison, with his official sentencing date yet to be set.
Jonathan Ziegler, listed as Angela Ziegler’s husband, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tollard on behalf of her estate. The civil suit, filed in November 2021, seeks damages exceeding $30,000.
In response, Tollard’s attorney filed a motion for a limited stay on discovery requests by Jonathan Ziegler’s attorney, citing the ongoing criminal proceedings. This motion was granted by Sarasota Circuit Court Judge Stephen Walker in June 2022, pending the conclusion of the criminal trial.
