‘The verdict won’t bring them back’: Families speak out after jury recommends Zephan Xavier’s death

SEBRING, Fla. (WFLA) – Five grieving families found some closure Wednesday when a jury recommended the execution of convicted mass murderer Zephen Xaver.

Xaver pleaded guilty to killing Debra Cook, Marisol Lopez, Jessica Montague, Cynthia Watson and Ana Piñon-Williams in 2019.

“It’s been a long five years and justice has finally been served,” said Deni Keyes, Watson’s daughter.

Xaver showed little to no emotion when he learned that nine jurors were calling for his execution.

“I feel like I have closure right now, but the verdict will not bring her back,” said Lopez’s husband, Victor Lopez.

In the mass shooting at a SunTrust Bank in Sebring, five women each lost their lives.

Xaver pleaded guilty and nine of the twelve jurors found that the death penalty was appropriate.

“I’m happy with the verdict,” said Debra Cook’s husband Michael. “It doesn’t change anything, and everyone will feel that for the rest of their lives.”

“He deserves it,” Michael said. “He’s a coward. This delay is just to keep him alive.”

In his defense, Xaver stated that he had had a disturbed childhood, suffered from a serious mental illness and had heard voices since his youth.

The prosecution argued that Xaver’s actions were heinous, calculated and premeditated.

A few days after Xaver surrendered to law enforcement at the bank, the state announced that it would seek the death penalty.

Xaver pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

The trial was originally scheduled to begin in 2022, but was postponed due to medical issues with the public defender.

In March 2023, Xaver pleaded guilty again.

He waited another year for a jury to finally hear the case, which led to Wednesday’s decisive recommendation.

It is a verdict that came after more than five agonizing years for the families of the victims, such as Watson’s daughter April Nelson.

“I think a lot of people don’t realize that you have to live the same day over and over again until you go to court,” she said. “There are always court hearings and constant conference meetings with lawyers.”

“It just eats you alive,” Nelson said.

For them, Xaver got what he deserved.

But she says nothing will bring her mother back.

“I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the court system anymore, but I will never be the person I was before my mother was murdered,” Nelson said.

The judge will have the final say at a hearing next month.

She is expected to follow the jury’s recommendation and sentence Xaver to death.