But Ayala’s decision not to pursue the death penalty for Markeith Loyd — accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and the execution-style killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton — sparked outrage from Republican lawmakers, Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi and resulted in calls for the state attorney’s ouster.
Ayala is challenging Scott’s removal of her from the Loyd case. The governor reassigned it to Brad King, an Ocala-area state attorney who is an outspoken proponent of the death penalty. Meanwhile, more than 100 law professors and legal experts — including two former state Supreme Court chief justices and onetime Florida State University President Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte – have accused Scott of overstepping his authority by ousting Ayala as prosecutor in the case.
For many blacks, especially in Southern states like Florida, the death penalty is rooted in a history of discrimination and remains a stark reminder of lynch mobs. Adding to racial tensions, Florida has never executed a white defendant whose victim was black, something critics are quick to highlight.
