A former prison guard trainee named Zephen Xaver was recommended by a jury to receive the death penalty for murdering five women in a Florida bank in 2019. The final decision will be made by Circuit Judge Angela Cowden after a sentencing hearing next month. The jury voted 9-3 in favor of the death penalty, with a recent Florida law allowing for such a decision without a unanimous verdict.
Xaver, who pleaded guilty to the murders, showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict. The victims included a customer, bank employees, and a bank teller trainee, who were all killed execution-style by Xaver.
The prosecution argued that Xaver deserved the death penalty for his premeditated and heinous act, while the defense claimed he was mentally ill and heard voices urging him to commit the murders. Xaver had a history of violent thoughts dating back to his teenage years and sought help but did not receive adequate treatment.
Despite Xaver’s troubled past, jurors believed he should face the death penalty for the brutal massacre. The state attorney emphasized the importance of focusing on the victims and their families, rather than glorifying Xaver as the central figure in the case.
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