Kadel Piedrahita Found Guilty of Murder

Elzie Wagers was found guilty of murder for the 2022 killing of Pangie Smallwood in Clay County, Kentucky, with sentencing scheduled for November 4. Meanwhile, in Miami, Kadel Piedrahita was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault for the 2019 shooting of cyclist Alexis Palencia on the Rickenbacker Causeway. The Miami jury reached their verdict after reviewing video evidence, rejecting the self-defense claim presented by Piedrahita's defense. Jurors focused on whether Piedrahita exhibited 'depraved indifference to human life' and ultimately concluded that he escalated the situation unnecessarily. Prosecutors celebrated the Miami verdict as a significant achievement after five years of legal proceedings. Both cases underscore ongoing issues of violence and the legal system's responses to homicide.