SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA) — A small piece of closure was given to five grieving families Wednesday as a jury recommended convicted mass-murderer Zephen Xaver be put to death.
Xaver pleaded guilty to killing Debra Cook, Marisol Lopez, Jessica Montague, Cynthia Watson and Ana Piñon-Williams back in 2019.
“It’s been a long five years and justice has finally been served,” said Deni Keyes, Watson’s daughter.
Xaver did not show much, if any, emotion as he found out nine jurors wanted him put to death.
“I feel some type of closure right now, but the verdict won’t bring her back,” Lopez’s husband Victor Lopez said.
Five women each lost their life in the mass shooting at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring.
Xaver pleaded guilty and nine out of 12 jurors found it worthy of the death penalty.
“I’m happy with the verdict,” Debra Cook’s husband, Michael said. “It doesn’t fix anything, and everybody’s going to feel this for the rest of their lives.”
“He deserves it,” Michael said. “He’s a coward. This delay has just been trying to keep him alive.”
Xaver’s defense was that he had a dysfunctional childhood, suffered severe mental illness and heard voices going back to his teenage years.
Prosecutors argued Xaver’s actions were heinous, calculated and pre-meditated.
Days after Xaver surrendered himself to law enforcement at the bank, the state announced it would seek the death penalty.
Xaver entered a plea of not guilty and requested a jury trial.
Before the trial was set to begin in 2022, it was delayed because of medical issues with the public defender’s office.
Xaver pleaded guilty again in March 2023.
He waited another year before a jury was finally seated in the case, leading to Wednesday’s decisive recommendation.
It’s a verdict that came down after more than five agonizing years for the families of the victims, like Watson’s daughter, April Nelson.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize that you have to continue to live that same day over and over again until you do go to trial,” she said. “There are constant court hearings, constant conference meetings with lawyers.”
“It just eats you alive,” Nelson said.
To her, Xaver got what he deserved.
But she says nothing will bring her mother back.
“I’m glad that I don’t have to keep dealing with the court system anymore, but I’ll never be the person I was before my mother was murdered,” Nelson said.
The judge gets the final say in a hearing next month.
The expectation is she will follow the jury’s recommendation, and sentence Xaver to death.
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
