Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Floyd

October 10, 2013

Wednesday, an Escambia County jury recommended the death penalty for an Atmore man for shooting and killing his girlfriend in early 2012.

Monday, an Escambia County (Ala.) jury returned a guilty verdict on a capital murder charge against Cedric Jerome Floyd for the January 2, 2012, murder of Tina Roshell Jones, 43, inside her 5th Avenue residence in Atmore. It took the jury only about 30 minutes to reach their verdict.

Wednesday, that jury took less than 40 minutes to recommend Floyd die by lethal injection on an 11-1 vote Wednesday. Circuit Judge Bert Rice will choose to follow the jury’s death penalty recommendation or send Floyd to prison for life without parole when Floyd in sentenced in January.

Floyd’s attorneys, Charles Johns and Kevin McKinley, contended during the trial the Atmore Police Department did not properly handle evidence in the case. They also unsuccessfully tried to obtain a change of venue in the case because of pretrial publicity they said would make it impossible for Floyd to receive a fair trial in Escambia County, Ala.

Floyd represented himself during his sentencing hearings this week.

The Murder

Jones called 911 at 12:46 Sunday morning, January 2 to report that Floyd was breaking into her home. Two minutes later, Atmore Police officers arrived and found Jones lying in the floor of the home with what appeared to be several gunshot wounds, according to Atmore Police. She was transported to Atmore Community Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

“Witnesses at the scene said they were asleep, but were waken by Floyd demanding keys to a vehicle.  After several moments, Floyd fled the scene on foot,” said Jason Dean, Atmore Police chief, said shortly after the crime.

“While officers were at the residence, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Cedric Jerome Floyd, 28 years of age,  the boyfriend of Jones, stating he wanted to turn himself in.  Deputies responded to Freemanville Drive where Floyd met officers.  Floyd was then taken into custody,” said Dean.

Police said Floyd made forcible entry into the home through Jones’ bedroom window in the rear of the home.

Escape To Pensacola

Floyd escaped from the Escambia County (Ala.) Detention Center in Brewton in October 2012. After a massive manhunt, he was captured the following day as he was walking near Pace Boulevard and Clarinda Lane, just south of the Pace-Palafox split, in Pensacola.

Comments

5 Responses to “Jury Recommends Death Penalty For Floyd”

  1. David on October 13th, 2013 8:41 am

    I really abhor jury duty–people spend a lot of time on cases before they make a decision on guilt. IN the end its up to the judge if he or she wants to go by the juries recommendation. That makes it a judge trial in my book from the get go. So whats the point of a jury?

  2. Gnarlywerewolf on October 11th, 2013 4:24 pm

    Agree. No doubt of guilt…..out the door to the tree and string him up.

  3. perdido fisherman on October 10th, 2013 1:09 pm

    Now he will sit on death row for 30yrs and die of natural causes. I think when their is no doubt of guilt, these folks should be taken straight from the court house to the nearest tree and hanged by the neck until dead. Stop wasting money on murderers.

  4. Kendrick Henderson on October 10th, 2013 3:39 am

    He need to die for what he done.. Her kids had to witness dis and he doesn’t have any remorse ..

  5. proud ala resident on October 10th, 2013 1:33 am

    The jury made the right choice

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News