ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — After days of deliberation, jurors reached a verdict in the penalty phase of a man convicted of killing a Winter Park nanny.
The jury recommended life in prison for Scott Nelson Thursday evening, who was convicted of killing Jennifer Fulford.
Nelson told the jury earlier in the week that he wished to be executed.
A juror told Channel 9 that she believed the decision came down to one juror who refused to vote for death and could never explain why.
"This was not in reaction to him saying on the stand that he wanted to be executed," the juror told Channel 9 in a phone conversation.
Questions about Nelson's mental health seemed to dominate the jury's deliberations, indicated by notes passed to the judge.
Nelson claimed Fulford was "collateral damage" after he said she witnessed him breaking into a family's home in Winter Park that she worked for.
Fulford was later reported missing on September 27, 2017 after her boss received a call that she never arrived to pick up his son from school. An Orange County Sheriff's Office helicopter located Fulford's body in the woods three days after she was reported missing, where a medical examiner said she had been stabbed repeatedly and suffocated, with her arms bound behind her back with zip ties.
Nelson was arrested two days later.
The jury has been dismissed. Their part is done in this case. @WFTV
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) July 11, 2019
At least one member of the jury wanted life in prison without parole and a death sentence must be unanimous which is why Nelson got life. @WFTV
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) July 11, 2019
#BREAKING Jury has reached a verdict: recommendation is for Scott Nelson not to be given the death penalty for the murder of Jennifer Fulford @WFTV
— Samantha Manning (@SamManningNews) July 11, 2019
Previous story:
Jurors continued to deliberate Thursday between recommending a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty for a man convicted of killing a Winter Park nanny.
Two weeks ago, Scott Nelson was convicted of kidnapping and killing Jennifer Fulford in 2017.
Prosecutors claimed in court Wednesday that Nelson murdered Fulford because he wanted to end up in the courtroom on the witness stand.
Defense attorneys have mounted their case against giving Nelson the death penalty by calling their own client a liar.
Part of the defense's argument involves accepting that Nelson is a liar: “He said he twisted the knife in her heart during his confession. But I asked Dr. Stephanie about that and he said there was no evidence of that. Just straight in and out.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) July 10, 2019
Hicks: “There was a purpose behind everything he did. This was a calculated plan that he had. There was a purpose to everything. From buying the supplies to leaving the body in broad daylight in a field.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) July 10, 2019
Hicks: “Jennifer Fulford is dead because he accomplished his goal. And that accomplishment warrants the imposition of the death penalty.” #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) July 10, 2019
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