STAFF REPORT

BAY MINETTE – Floyd Cardale Casey of Elberta has been convicted of capital murder.

Following a two-week trial, a Baldwin County jury today found the 22-year-old guilty of capital murder in the stabbing and beating death of Edward Wayne McCrory. The jury deliberated approximately six hours before returning guilty verdicts on the capital murder charge and first- and second-degree theft of property charges.

A capital murder conviction carries a potential sentence of death or life in prison without possibility of parole. The trial’s penalty phase for Casey was set for 9 a.m. today in Circuit Court Judge Charles Partin’s courtroom.

“Finally, this cold-blooded killer is being brought to justice,” said Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon. “It has been a long four years that Mr. McCrory’s family had to wait for closure. This conviction is the product of a comprehensive investigation, and a meticulous prosecution. It required a close working partnership with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, particularly Investigator Donnie Payne, and an effective prosecution team led by Assistant District Attorney David Matheny.

“The law enforcement community really came together for the victim’s family,” Dixon added, thanking the Bay Minette Police Department for standing watch throughout the night to secure a witness during the trial.

Matheny characterized the murder at McCrory’s Magnolia Springs home as particularly “savage.”

“Mr. McCrory, who was 52 years old at the time of his death, was attacked in his workshop that he had fashioned from a semi-trailer,” Matheny said.

“Prior to the attack, Mr. McCrory had been listening to Christmas carols that could be heard inside and outside the buildings,” Matheny said. “Two days later, he was found dead in his mobile home, with 11 stab wounds and 11 blunt-force wounds from a hammer and a rake handle. Nearly all of the wounds were inflicted in his back or the back of his head. Investigators saw blood spattered throughout the semi trailer showing evidence of a vicious attack.”

The prosecution presented evidence and testimony from more than 20 witnesses – including Cortez Porter, 22, who also is charged in McCrory’s death.

Porter, who took the stand in shackles and a striped jail uniform, testified that he left McCrory and Casey in the workshop. The next time he saw McCrory, he said, McCrory was covered in blood.

Porter identified a steak knife found at the scene and used in the stabbings as the one that Casey had previously kept in the glove box of the car he drove. A hammer and rake handle also were recovered at the scene, and expert testimony confirmed that they were consistent with the blunt-force injuries inflicted on McCrory’s head and back.

Porter testified that McCrory managed to obtain his handgun from the camper trailer and fired four rounds at him and Casey as they ran away.

Cell-phone records, a parking lot video and witness statements confirmed that Porter and Casey returned to the scene a few hours after the murder to retrieve the four-wheeler and a black strongbox containing about $2,000. Days later, Casey was seen “joy-riding” on the four-wheeler and put money down on a new car, witnesses said. Casey’s shoes were found to have McCrory’s blood on them.

Casey’s attorneys did not call any witnesses to the stand.