Pensacola Man Sentenced for Mother's Death

A Pensacola man who fatally shot his mother was sentenced to just over a decade in prison.

David Allan Ohlson, 19, initially faced charges of second-degree murder for the death of his mother, Adrianna Ohlson, after shooting her with a shotgun on April 8, 2022, in front of his father.

Despite Ohlson's attorney arguing that he suffers from severe mental illness requiring medical care outside of prison, Circuit Judge John Simon sentenced him to 124.5 months in the Florida Department of Corrections. After serving his sentence, Ohlson will complete two years of community control followed by 15 years of probation, according to Assistant State Attorney Trey Myers.

Attorney Sharon Wilson had planned to use the insanity defense, but Ohlson ultimately signed a plea agreement on May 17, 2023, pleading no contest to one count of manslaughter with a firearm instead of facing a murder charge. The case hinged on whether Ohlson's mental health met the criteria for legal insanity. Pensacola psychologist Dr. Stephen Zieman testified that while Ohlson had "the most severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder" he had ever encountered, it did not meet the legal standard for insanity.

"Do you have an opinion as to whether this incident would have occurred had David not been mentally ill?" Wilson asked Zieman.

"I think the mental illness directly contributed to his actions," Zieman replied. He explained that Ohlson's severe OCD had also caused attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and an anxiety disorder since birth, leading to intrusive thoughts and difficulty maintaining a normal life. Wilson argued that Ohlson had never experienced a "normal" or "successful" life. "Just because he doesn't suffer from the legal definition of insanity doesn't mean he's OK," Wilson told the judge.

Since Zieman's evaluation indicated Ohlson did not meet the legal threshold for insanity, Myers maintained that mental health issues were not an excuse for the crime.

"This is a tragic case. It was a killing that was not necessary," Myers said. "It was not justifiable and certainly not excusable. Judge, the state recognizes his mental conditions, and as such, we made a plea offer reflecting it. Although this is a tragic event and the defendant may be a sympathetic person ... his mental deficiencies are not an excuse for this crime. He deserves to be punished with a sentence not less than 20 years in state prison."

During the hearing, Ohlson expressed remorse, acknowledging his need for mental health treatment.

"Your honor, I would like to say what happened that night — I'm very sorry that happened. It is my fault that everything happened," Ohlson told the judge. "I'm very willing to receive help, mental help. I know I need it. I've always known I needed it, and I really feel like I need mental help."

Ohlson attributed his state of mind on April 8, 2022, to the stress and confusion caused by his parents' divorce announcement three weeks prior.

His father, David Aaron Ohlson, testified about the family's struggles and his son's lifelong battle with mental illness. Through tears, he described the challenges they faced and his love for his son.

"He is my only child. Neither one of us really had a life," the elder Ohlson said with a trembling voice. "(Adrianna) tried really hard. He's a great kid, and I'm not just saying that because he's my son.

"I love my family. I never had one. It was the first time I had a family," he continued. "I love my son, and I'm proud of him. I always just wanted him to love himself and be proud of himself."