On January 19, 2017, a court camera in Orlando filmed Markeith Loyd's first appearance before a judge. He had a bandage over his left eye and a padded vest on his chest. He refused to fill out the form for a public defender and said he would represent himself. When the judge asked if he understood the charges he faced, he answered: "It don't matter."
Two days earlier he had been caught after a 9-day manhunt for killing a police officer.
It started on December 13, 2016. Loyd shot his ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon, 24, at her home in Pine Hills. She was 3 months pregnant and had two kids, ages 2 and 8. Her brother was shot too and survived.
On January 9, 2017, Master Sgt. Debra Clayton, 42, was leaving a Walmart when a shopper told her the man everyone was looking for was standing in line. She went to stop him. He shot her four times. Prosecutors said the last shot came as he stood over her. A deputy searching for Loyd that day died in a crash.
Police found him hiding at a house on January 17. He was wearing body armor and carrying guns. He came out with a bloody face, a broken eye socket and an eye he would never see out of again. He was cuffed with Clayton's own handcuffs. The officers were later cleared.
In the video below, Loyd starts quiet. Yes, no. Then he tells the judge police made everything up. He says he never resisted arrest. He says the penalties don't matter to him. When the judge ends the hearing, he curses at her over and over as deputies lead him out. The next day, facing the charges for Clayton's death, he told the same judge he wasn't Markeith Loyd and kept asking for her name. That hearing lasted under two minutes.
The local state attorney then refused to seek the death penalty against him in any case. The governor took the case away from her.
In 2019 a jury convicted him of killing Dixon and gave him life. In 2021 another jury convicted him of killing Clayton and unanimously recommended death. His lawyers argued he believed the judge and prosecutors were slave masters trying to kill him. On March 3, 2022, the judge sentenced him to death. He had one more outburst on the way out.
He said it didn't matter. Five years later, it did.
Was Markeith Loyd a cop killer playing games with the court, or a broken man who never should have been allowed to stand there alone?
Had an amazing season with these guys. We finished 8-1. The defense locked things down giving up only 12 points per game and created a ton of turnovers. The offense scored close to 34 points per game. Blocking was great and receivers and backs made things happen.
Looking forward to next season!
Highlights from games 7-9 of freshman season.
Season stats:
8-1 record
26 touchdowns (11 rush, 15 passing)
1,231 passing yards
702 rushing yards
Pulled early in several blowout wins.
Thanks coaches and teammates for a great season!
Thank you @PrepRedzoneMI and @ScoutTyGraham for the great write up and ranking me #5 overall and #3 QB for the c/o 2030 in Michigan. Blessed to be in an awesome program and have great coaches and teammates! #Dewittpantherfootball
Grateful to get a few varsity carries, including a TD, in last week's win over Okemos. Thanks coaches for the opportunity and a big shout out to my teammates for the great blocks! #2030qb