ORLANDO, Fla. — Markeith Loyd will be executed for murdering Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton in 2017, a judge ruled Thursday morning.
Circuit Judge Leticia Marques announced her decision during a brief sentencing hearing at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando.
The 12-member jury that found Loyd guilty of Clayton’s murder and other charges in November the following month unanimously recommended a death sentence, though it was up to Marques to either adhere to their findings or sentence Loyd to life behind bars.
“Although nothing can undo the heartache created by the defendant’s heinous actions, we hope that this brings solace to our community, knowing a dangerous murderer will face the highest penalty provided by the law,” Orlando police Chief Orlando Rolón said in a statement.
Loyd, 46, killed 42-year-old Clayton during a shootout Jan. 9, 2017, at the Walmart on Princeton Street after she tried to arrest him for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon.
Loyd was spotted by a shopper at Walmart who recognized him and alerted Clayton, who had also been shopping at the store. The officer attempted to stop Loyd, who initially ran. It remains unclear who fired first, but Loyd during a gun battle wounded Clayton four times.
The fugitive fired the fatal shot into Clayton’s neck while standing over her as she lay prone in the parking lot, according to prosecutors.
Clayton, a sergeant at the time of her killing who was promoted posthumously, was hailed as a pillar of the community following her death.
She made a strong impact in nearly two decades on the police force, often volunteering with kids in the “dragon boat” program and participating in community forums. Clayton also started a nonprofit for young women and girls who were victims of violence.
In his statement Thursday, Rolón noted Clayton’s involvement in Operation Positive Direction, a youth mentoring program launched in 2009.
Clayton “impacted the lives of those around her throughout the City of Orlando,” the police chief said. “Her leadership and involvement in programs like Operation Positive Direction is still felt today by seeing the dedication our officers and staff have in mentoring our youth through this program.”
Loyd claimed he fired in self-defense after Clayton shot at him, while also denying that he intended to kill her. His attorneys argued Loyd was insane, having become convinced the police wanted to kill him.
Loyd’s mental health has been a subject of debate during and since his trial. Marques a week ago ruled Loyd competent to proceed with his sentencing, following hours of dueling evaluations and testimony on that subject from experts for the state and his defense.
Clinical psychologist Xavier Amador testified Loyd suffers from the delusional belief he is a “slave” whom his “slave masters” — the judge and prosecutors — are intent on killing. Psychiatrist Jeffrey Danziger opined that Loyd can’t effectively work with his defense team.
Loyd, Danzinger said, is still fixated on his conviction in Dixon’s killing. Loyd has claimed he was also acting in self-defense when he fatally shot Dixon and injured her brother outside her home in December 2016.
The jury that found Loyd guilty of Dixon’s murder spared him the death penalty. Marques then handed down five consecutive life sentences.
In ruling Loyd competent to proceed in the Clayton case, Marques relied on the testimony of psychologist Katherine Oses, who said Loyd suffers from antisocial personality disorder, not schizophrenia or psychosis.
Loyd’s defense has also suggested he suffered brain damage when, after a nine-day manhunt, he was beaten, kicked and struck with rifle muzzles by four Orlando police officers after crawling out of an abandoned house in Carver Shores where he’d been hiding.
The beating caused Loyd to lose an eye. The officers were later cleared of criminal wrongdoing and exonerated of excessive force claims.
____
