Eriese Tisdale sentenced to death for 2013 murder of St. Lucie County Sgt. Gary Morales

Eriese Tisdale has been sentenced to death for a second time for the 2013 murder of St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Morales during a traffic stop. Following a 2018 Florida Supreme Court ruling that required unanimous jury votes for death sentences, Tisdale's case was retried under new laws that now allow a supermajority vote. In September 2024, a jury recommended the death penalty by a 9 to 3 vote, leading to the formal sentencing by Circuit Judge Lawrence Mirman. Sgt. Morales, a dedicated officer with a family, was shot while attempting to pull Tisdale over. This case highlights the evolving landscape of Florida's death penalty laws and their implications on capital punishment cases. Tisdale's sentence will automatically be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.