Jury recommends death for 2008 murder

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WALA) - A Baldwin County jury recommended the death sentence for Floyd Cardale Casey on Tuesday.

Last week, the jury found 22-year-old Casey guilty of capital murder for the death of Edward Wayne McCrory in December 2008.

The jury deliberated about two hours before they voted 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. A capital murder conviction carries a potential sentence of death or life in prison without possibility of parole.

Circuit Court Judge Charles Partin set the sentencing hearing for October 30 at 9 a.m. The judge has the discretion of delivering either sentence.

“This case was a heavy burden,” Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon said, “on the prosecution team, the defense, the judge and most particularly the jurors.  We ask a lot when we ask people to recommend the death penalty, and the decision to seek that penalty is not made lightly.”

Dixon said the murder was committed “savagely and brutally.”

“Such a merciless act deserves the harshest punishment available under the law and I am proud of the prosecution team and the jurors for having the courage to mete real justice to this defendant,” she said.

Assistant District Attorney David Matheny, who prosecuted the case, said the murder at McCrory’s Magnolia Springs home as particularly violent, noting that McCrory, 52, was found dead in his home two days after the attack, with 11 stab wounds and 11 blunt-force wounds from a hammer and a rake handle.

 “Casey showed no mercy to Mr. McCrory during that vicious attack,” Matheny said. “The jurors made the right decision. This kind of act is not acceptable in Baldwin County.”