2018-11-08 21:46:14
A STATEMENT FROM SHERIFF MASCARA IN REGARDS TO THE TISDALE DECISION Today, the Supreme Court of Florida issued an opinion in the appeal of Eriese Tisdale, the murderer of Sgt. Gary Morales. While affirming all convictions in this case, including the conviction of first degree murder of a law enforcement officer, the court overturned the sentence of death in light of the Hurst decision of the Supreme Court, and ordered that Tisdale face a new penalty phase and be re-sentenced. “Though incredibly unfortunate, this decision does not come as a great surprise,” said Sheriff Ken Mascara in response to the ruling. “Once the Supreme Court ruled in Hurst that Florida’s sentencing procedure was unconstitutional, we expected that this was a possibility. Nonetheless, it is another tragic moment in one of the greatest tragedies our agency has ever experienced. Now, both the Morales family and Gary’s Sheriff’s Office family will have to once again relive the horrific act that took away a hero, a son, a dad, a husband, and a friend. And we will have to once again listen to the litany of pathetic excuses Tisdale offered in mitigation of his sentence. I have already confirmed with State Attorney Bruce Colton and Chief Assistant State Attorney Tom Bakkedahl that they will once again vehemently seek the death penalty, and I trust that justice will be done.”