Zephen Xaver Sentenced to Death for 2019 Murders

Zephen Xaver, who pleaded guilty to the murder of five women at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, Florida in 2019, has been sentenced to death by Judge Angela Cowden, following a 9-3 jury recommendation. The crime was described as a 'torturous murder' that was 'heinous and cruel', with Xaver ordering the victims to lie on the floor before shooting them. Families of the victims expressed a measure of closure with the verdict, although they continue to grapple with the loss. The case highlighted Florida's revised law requiring only an 8-4 jury vote for the death penalty, a change from the previous unanimous requirement, influenced by the Parkland school shooter's trial outcome. Despite defense claims of Xaver’s mental illness and a benign brain tumor, the court prioritized the deliberate nature of his actions. Victims' families, such as Marisol Lopez's daughter and Debra Cook's husband, vehemently criticized Xaver, labeling him a coward and expressing no sympathy.