A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Markeith Loyd in two first-degree murder cases, Ninth Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced.
Loyd is accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, 24-year-old Sade Dixon, in December and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton, 41, last month. Clayton was attempting to approach Loyd Jan. 9 when he allegedly fatally shot her at a Wal-Mart on John Young Parkway and Princeton Avenue.
Ayala also announced an internal restructuring that will create a new, 25-member domestic violence unit within the State Attorney’s Office.
“What my office has not and will not lose sight of is that these tragedies all stemmed from domestic violence,” Ayala said.
Loyd is also charged with killing an unborn child by injuring the mother; attempted murder; attempted murder of a law enforcement officer; and carjacking.
Ayala said her office has not yet determined whether it will seek the death penalty. Florida does not currently have a valid death penalty statute since various courts struck down previous laws because they gave too much power to judges, not juries.
A Florida House panel approved a new death penalty bill on Wednesday.
Orlando police released Thursday dark aerial video footage of murder suspect Markeith Loyd’s capture.
Orlando police released Thursday dark aerial video footage of murder suspect Markeith Loyd’s capture.
“We are eagerly anticipating a new statue from the legislature, and at that point we will determine whether to seek the death penalty for Markeith Loyd,” Ayala said.
Loyd was arrested Jan. 14 after a week-long manhunt for him across the region.
Loyd faces two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Dixon and Clayton; one count of unlawfully killing an unborn child; attempted murder, aggravated assault, and carjacking with a firearm. He also has a misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence charge.
He is also charged in a separate case from August with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, court records show.
The newly-created domestic violence unit will be lead by prosecutor Michelle Latham, who has in the past handled murder cases. It will include 24 other prosecutors, victims’ advocates and paralegals, Ayala said.
The Ninth Circuit had a similar unit for domestic violence cases until 2013, when Ayala’s predecessor Jeff Ashton merged it with a sex crimes unit as part of an internal restructuring. During her campaign, Ayala said the merger was part of the reason she decided to run for the office.
cdoornbos@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6931; glotan@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5774
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Markeith Loyd in two first-degree murder cases, Ninth Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced.
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Markeith Loyd in two first-degree murder cases, Ninth Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced.
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Markeith Loyd in two first-degree murder cases, Ninth Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced.
A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Markeith Loyd in two first-degree murder cases, Ninth Circuit State Attorney Aramis Ayala announced.
A man wearing a bulletproof vest fled from DeLand police this morning, leading law enforcement on a chase that ended with a fiery crash in Lake County.
A man wearing a bulletproof vest fled from DeLand police this morning, leading law enforcement on a chase that ended with a fiery crash in Lake County.
Security footage shows two men taking off the lower assembly of a motor from an Oviedo boatyard.
Security footage shows two men taking off the lower assembly of a motor from an Oviedo boatyard.
Cpl. Shelby Riggs-Hopkins of the Orlando Police Department has been disciplined after making a false arrest based on an incorrectly-administered drug test which identified Krispy Kreme dougnut glaze as amphetamine.
Cpl. Shelby Riggs-Hopkins of the Orlando Police Department has been disciplined after making a false arrest based on an incorrectly-administered drug test which identified Krispy Kreme dougnut glaze as amphetamine.
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