ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman accused of helping murder suspect Markeith Loyd avoid capture during a month-long manhunt bonded out of jail Tuesday after her bail was reduced from $500,000 to $20,000.
Jameis Slaughter, Loyd’s ex-girlfriend, walked silently out of the Orange County Jail and got into a waiting vehicle.
Loyd is accused in the killing of a different ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, who was pregnant at the time, in December and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton outside a Pine Hills-area Walmart in January.
Slaughter is facing charges that she funneled him money while he was on the run and is one of three people arrested in connection with Loyd’s flight from law enforcement.
Charges against Loyd’s niece, Lakensha Smith-Loyd, were dropped Tuesday due to a lack of evidence and the bond for Zarghee Mayan was lowered to $20,000 from $400,000.
Prosecutors accused Mayan of having hidden money and property. Authorities said he never contacted law enforcement to report his contact with Loyd, and they said he provided him with free food from a restaurant.
Jameis Slaughter didn't say a word before she jumped into a waiting car. #WFTVat11 #WFTV pic.twitter.com/MfrxcWBec4
— Mike Manzoni NBC10 Boston (@MikeNBCBoston) February 8, 2017
Jameis Slaughter bonded out of jail within the past hour. She didn't answer any of my questions. Watch the story on #WFTVat11. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/Yis024guvB
— Mike Manzoni NBC10 Boston (@MikeNBCBoston) February 8, 2017
As it concerns the bond reductions of Slaughter and Mayan, the state would only say that it’s "still investigating.”
The state refused to specify what prompted the sudden change of heart after prosecutors had fought so hard to keep those bonds high.
Attorneys for Slaughter filed paperwork last week requesting a bond reduction because they said she's disabled and mentally ill. But prosecutors said they want her to remain jailed.
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Watch Jameis Slaughter's court appearance below:
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Slaughter is accused of going after tenants for money to give to Loyd while he was on the run for the alleged killings of pregnant ex-girlfriend Sade Dixon and Orlando police Lt. Debra Clayton.
"Based on the facts of the case, and the continuous communications with unknown numbers and her appearance at the scene of a fatal shooting that Mr. Loyd was involved in, I think $500,000 is absolutely appropriate,” a judge said during a court appearance last month.
Mayan, asked a judge last week to lower his nearly half-million dollar bond.
The judge said no, and Mayan's lawyer argued the courts were being unfair.
Attorneys for Slaughter filed for a bond reduction, saying that she had lost her disability checks because she got locked up.
Slaughter, who court records said is nicknamed “Tiny,” has said she has anxiety, depression and a bipolar disorder.
Cox Media Group