Man Gets Death Sentence for Murder of Orlando Officer
Loyd was found guilty on five charges, including first-degree murder, in the shooting death of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton outside of a Walmart in January 2017 while he was on the run for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, in December 2016.
Convicted cop killer Markeith Loyd was sentenced to death by a judge Thursday morning for the murder of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton in 2017.
Judge Leticia Marques made her final decision months after a jury recommended the death penalty for Loyd, 46. Loyd was found guilty on five charges, including first-degree murder, in the shooting death of Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton outside of a Walmart in January 2017 while he was on the run for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, in December 2016.
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Orlando police officers who were working with Clayton when she was killed were in the courtroom to hear the judge’s decision. One of Clayton’s cousins gasped with relief when Marques announced Loyd would be sentenced to death, ClickOrlando reports.
The murder of Lt. Clayton indirectly caused the death of a second officer. Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Norman Lewis died in a motorcycle crash while assisting in the search for Clayton's killer.
Loyd asked to address the court afterward and when he was denied, he was taken away rambling.
Loyd was already serving a life sentence for the murder of Dixon.
Can an individual be prosecuted for despicable criminal conduct based on evidence obtained in violation of the United States Constitution? Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit judges wrote, “In the circumstances of this case (United States v. Holcomb, 23-469 (9th Cir. 2025)), respect for the Constitution and the rule of law requires an answer of “no.”
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