Death penalty being dropped in several cases, including Todt murders
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - The death penalty will not be sought in several murder cases, including against a man who is accused of killing his wife and three children in their Celebration home.
Aramis Ayala, the State Attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit in Orange and Osceola County, filed a notice on Monday that her office will not seek the death penalty in several murder cases, including:
- Anthony Todt: A man accused of killing his wife and three children in their Celebration home in 2019.
- Ishnar Marie Lopez and Alexis Ramos-Rivera: Two of three suspects in a murder-for-hire plot in 2018 where 42-year-old Janice Zengotita-Torres was kidnapped and killed.
"I have personally reviewed each of the three cases and provided a specific rationale for my decision. As is our protocol, we notified the families of the victims in advance of each filing," the Office of the State Attorney said. "The pursuit of real justice has always been a priority for me, right up until my last day in office. Difficult decisions like these are made with the utmost concern for all involved."
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Ayala's notice regarding Todt cited his mental health as a factor in deciding against the death penalty, stating that "it is not in the best interest of the people of the State of Florida to pursue the death penalty as a potential sentence."
Then, regarding Lopez and Ramos-Rivera, Ayala's notice cited the age and absence of a significant criminal history of the defendants as reasons "it is not in the best interest of the people of the State of Florida to pursue the death penalty."
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Ayala is set to be replaced by incoming state attorney Monique Worrell.
Worrell, who has been working for the agency under Ayala since October, was elected in November. She said in a statement Tuesday that her new administration "did not coordinate with" Ayala on the death penalty decisions.
Ayala decided against seeking a second term in office, citing her continued opposition to the death penalty as among her reasons for leaving the agency. It has been a source of tension throughout her tenure.
Soon after Ayala took office she announced she would not seek the death penalty in any cases. This included the case of Markeith Loyd, who was accused of killing an Orlando police officer. The decision caused outrage in the law enforcement community.
Ayala said then that capital punishment had been unevenly applied and was not a deterrent for serious crimes — a stance she had not publicly expressed during her campaign.
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